Goldsboro weekly argus., 1914-01-08
A HISTORICAL SKETCH
INTERESTING ORIGINAL DESCRIP.
TION OF THE MOST FAMOUS
NAVAL BATTLE IN ALL
HISTORY.

4Cdl anu personal SkeCCn OI d ho1CANC
of this section-a brother of Mrs. M
S. Witherington of this city, which
Argus readers generally will, we feel
sure, read with interest: 81
Gan Appreciation-by w. A. Rawls) II
A little while ago, we read in the
press dispatches, a special from Sc
wannee, Tenn, announcing that j. K.
Eggleston, said to be the last survivor
of the Merrimac, had died at that
place.
Leon County, Florida, claims, as one
of her very best citizens, one who still
lives, and who was an officer on that
historic ship, which revolutionized the
art of naval warfare, and who bore
a very active part in the engagements
of March 9Th and 9th, 1862, in Hamp-
ton Roads.
1t will be remembered that the
steam frigate "Merrimac," lying at
Norfolk, had been set on fire, scuttled
and sunk She was subsequently rails
ed, by the Confederates, her hull plat
ed with railroad iron bars, and named
the Virginia" She was then the first
iron clad ever built.
On that morning the Virginia, at
tended by two small steamers, came
down from Norfolk, to give battle to
the entire Federal fleet, blocading the
harbor, and lying nearly under the
protecting guns of Fortress Monroe.
The little f1otilla Iassed close to the
U. S. warship Congress, and the Vir-
ginia received from her a terrific
broadside, which fell harmlessly from
her iron sides, but which she most
effectively returned. So close was she
to this ship, that lieutenant on the
Congress, related, afterward, how he
being in command of one of the gun
crews, cut the fuse of a she'll as short
as possible, for close action, and as
the laniard was pulled he gave the
command Cali hands lie down. the
shell rebounded from the Virginia, ex-
ploded on his own ship, and killed
every man who was serving the gun
except himself
The Virginia steamed directly for
the U. S. S. Cumberland, which she
struck with her iron PROV, making
large hole, and then opened fire from
her battery. The Cumberland sank in
As minutes.
The Congress, meanwhile, endeavor-
ed to escape into shoal water, where
the Virginia could not follow, but ran
aground, while the Virginia took VI
a position close under her stern, and
poured into her heavy fire, by which
the frigate was soon disabled, and set
on fire. The U. S. ships st. Lawrence
and Roanoke had in the meantime
fed. The Minnesota lay fast aground
and the remaining ships of the great
Federal fleet had put to sea.
AS night came on, and there was
nothing left to fight, the Virginia with
drew.
During that night the Union iron
clad, turreted vessel, the Monitor came
into Hampton Roads, and the next
morning the Virginia steamed out an6
gave battle. In the great duel of that
day neither of these vessels received
any material damage, but the Virginia
had lost her great iron prov the da.
before, when she left it sticking into
the side of the Cumberland, SO she
failed to effectively ram the Monitor
Her engines also gave trouble, and she
was not easily maneuvered, because
of this, and on account Of her deer
draught. On the other hand the Moni
tor did not need to be maneuvered, be-
cause her turret revolved, and as she
easily steamed all around the Virginia
vain1y trying to find vulnerable spot
she could be constantly fired from any
position.
AS the success of the Virginia de-
pended largely upon her ability to
come into actual contact with her op-
ponent, her commander had to depend
largely, if not entirely, upon the skill
of her engineers. These brave men
down in the bowels of the ship, could
not know whether success or failure
was the outcome of their efforts, nor
could they have the inspiration which
the din of battle brings to the heart
of the warrior, for they could scarcel!
hear the laundering of the mighty
guns which was going on over their
devoted heads. At least once did all
believe they were doomed to instant
death, since the Virginia rode straight
upon the deck of her antagonist, and
only when destruction seemed immi
nent, was she backed off into safety.
No pen can do justice to the heroism
of such Valor as these sons of the
South exhibited in the great struggle
such as has never had a parallel in
history, but I avail myself of this op-
portunity, which I esteem high priv
i1ege, to write this tribute to one, who
we rejoice to say, still lives, and whom
we all love.
Benjamin Simms Herring, second
child of Bryan Whitfield Herring and
Penelope Simms, was born in Dup1in
County, N. c., March Ia, 1887.
His paternal grandparents were Will
liam Whitfield Herring and Rachel
Bryan Whitfield, widow of Nathan
Bryan; and his maternal grandparents
Benjamin Simms and Tabitha Thorn
as.
He was educated at the University
of Mississippi, and the Gosport Navy
Yard.
Was appointed from Virginia Form