Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-20

Il. Tucker tvirEinla). and at about
L. s. $. Cumberland which sank in
thiriy-tive minutes. AZ = y. NJ. che
took position near the L. s. =. Con
Srcss, which soon ran up a white flag
but us !ire was continued upon the
Confederate fleet from vessels and
shore batteries, the Congress was
shelled and destroyed. The Mime
sofa was riddlcd with shells. and
when the Mcrrimac. leaking badly
and with Lieutenant Cntesby ap. l..
Jones in command. Captain Buchanan
being severely wounded. returned to
her dock. the enemy was thorouGhly
dcmoralized.
Monitor Engages McrrImar.
The next day Lieutenant Jones
brought her down again to renew the
attack, and found the Ericsson Mon
itor had arrived in the night. From
. TO II these iron monsters fired at
one another. often from a distance of
a few yards. with no decisive result
and upon the woundins of Captain
Wordcn. the Monitor returned to
shoal water. where She could not he
followed. Twice aftcrward the Mer-
rimac came out to offer battle to the
Federal fleet. capturing vessels with
In a short distance In order To pro-
woke action. but the Federal authori-
ties had directed that the Monitor he
not too much exposed Gideon
Wells. March 10, lS62). and she was
not.
The evacuation of Norfolk. as Ma
Erudcr withdrew up the James River.
May 10. 1862. compelled the burning
OF the Merrimac the next day, hut as
her blackcned ribs sunk under the
waves In Hampton Roads. a new
chapter OF naval construction had
been writtcn--thc iron ship had come
TO stay.
Active In Other Arenas.
Resides these contributions in her
own waters, Virginia furnished wor-
thy actors. who, in other arenas. re
nccied credit to their State-AlcIn-
toSh on the Louisiana. yielding his
lifc at the battle OF New Orleans.
Mnury. who magniiiccntiy aided as
purchasing agent in Europe: Wilkin-
son. the daring blockade runner az
Wilmington. who engineered more
than sixty trips. bringing back ncccs-
stiles for the needy Confederate
army: Parker in the Palmetto State.
raising the blockade of Charleston
harbor; Hunter Davidson. who origi-
mated the torpedo service for the
Confedcracy. which injured or de-
stroycd forty Federal vessels: Pcgram
ana W Hltlic, OF tho cruiser Nashville
Fauntlcroy. on the Florida-our
space is too limited to even name
them all.
IL ~ no new thing to state that
virginia was in this. as in other wars
of commanding Importance. and the
recital of her men. her works and
her suffcrings show that she merits
such judgment So long as man can
rise to the heights OF sacrifice and
look down and back upon those who
so bravely bore the heat and burden
OF the day. 80 long will Eirgininus
proudly say as they recall the little
navy OF GIGS, There we're my fore
bears. surely honor and courage are
my inheritance and patriotism my re-
ward"
Into this as into other wars, The
saiiormen OF the Old dominion Jared
forth to chance the battles gage, and
without her contributions the struS-
gle Of the young Confcdcracy would
have been BRIEF indeed
when the Weary banner was
furled they returned to rebuild the
fortunes OF their state. and in the
peaceful pursuits OF commerce and
professions they show the quality OF
tho highest citizenship. IL was a
Confederate sailor" Is still a guaran-
tee OF duty well done. OF noble self
sacrifice and of patriotic fortitude-