The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-21

leVcl--;o that the shot would skip
along the surface like pebbles the boys
'skcll along pond. Gut Davidson,
wili his ride guns. just forward OF
mo was actually "pluinnims the tar
get ~ direct fire. as we learned later
by the cneWy's official report. At the
time, wc could mot sec that we We're
iuilicting any serious damage on her
The Monitor had fought us sallantly
for over three hours, aud We had
continued Our alt;tcll on Shc Mime
sofa FOR nearly another hour when
Jones. rausing at each division az he
passed along tic deck. held an inform
al council Of war with his iieuteuAnts.
tlis is what he said 20 me in cnect;
TIE Monitor mas given up the night
and run into shoal water. the pilots
cannot take US any nchrcr TO the
Minnesota this ship is leaking from
the loss o: het prov; the men are cX-
hausted by being so long at thoir
guns. the tide Is cbbing. SO that we
unless wc leave at once. propose TO
return 10 Norfolk FOR repairs. What is
your cpiniou?"
answered: 1T things are rs you
say. / agree with you So did the
other lieutenauts, with the exception
OF Lieutenant John Taylor Wood re
stepped over from his gun 10 mine for
mcinent ina said Il proM--- ~.
Jones TO run down TO Fortress Monroe
and clean up the Yankee ships there
on run thcm out to sea"
THIS alternative course suggested
by wood shows that the Monitor was
no longer a factor in the situation.
As for the proposition on it's merits,
20 attack vastly superior naval force
protected by the guns Of one OF the
greatest fortrcsscs in tho world, was
too hazardous 10 be considered by a
cool-headed commander like Jones,
With all the responsibility OIL his
shoulders.
tribute TO Wood
While writing Mt the age Of seventy
five, necessarily with a lying pen. this.
my last ar,icle on this subject, let me
pay one passing tribute TO the memory
OF my gallant old friend, my classmate
at Annapolis. my nessmate on the Vir-
Ginia, the late Commander John Taylor
Wood. C. 5 y, n grandson of General
Zachary Taylor. He had inherited the
indomitablc pluck OF that old hero.
During tho night with tho Monitor he
had called for volunteers to go with
him TO board that vessel from an open
boat. and try to wedge her turret to
prevent her frome turning it. The
WITHDRAWAL OF Inc monitor iruStratcu
the attempt.
subsequently,. during the war Com
inander Wood received The Joint thanks
"f tie Confederate Congress for cap
during At different times aud places.
by boarding them. sword IN hand,
eight vessels belonging To the Federal
navy.
That 10 the dead: This 10 the living:
To my former mcssmate and senior on
the Virginia, the gallant Hunter
davidson. commando {. ;. a, now liN-
ing IN Paraguay. at AN age exceeding
eiEhty' tha world owes 10 the Con-
iedera;e states the use OF the torpedo
In war. and Jhe Confederate states
owe II to Davidson lie received the
thanks OF the Confederate states OF
america Congress for attacking the
minnesota WIN Il torpedo carried at
NE ent OF POLE IN an open boat.
The main OBJECT OF TINS article is
20 II III IN" MINDS OF the younger gen
erauoh the TACT mat the Virginia
'Merrlmac) defeated the Monitor IN
hrf encounter WIN that vessel instead
OF nt'nE dictates by me Monitor e
- iftselF stated ny Northern writers
! VII conoiuNe TINS article ny heapinS
t!'oh "a. ossa ~ ,he shape OF
fro"ls, me Two opposing armies on
al To-. V