The Washington herald., 1922-03-10

Congress, which had run onto the
fats to prevent sinking" =
! Quoting historical references to
the defense Of the Cumberland be-.
fore she sank. Admiral O'Neil
stated that as the Merrimac APP
preached. the frigate opened UP on
her with her two heaviest guns,
only to see the heavy shot fall
harmlessly on the iron plating.
Cumberland Goes Down.
I'VE had no thought of surren-
der" Admiral O'Neil explained. ION
came the Merrimac head on. de-
spite second broadside which rat
tied off her sides like pebbles on
corrugated roof"
Then the iron ram of the Con-
federate ship crashed through the
stout oaken timbers of the Cum
bertrand and at the same time all
the Merrimac's guns that could be
brought to bear were fired at point
blank range, piercing her timbers
and exploding on her decks, piling
planking, men and guns into a con-
fused and bloody wreck. With
drawing her ram, the Merrimac
steamed away, but still followed by
the guns of the sinking frigate.
which continued to fight until she
sank with her dead and wounded
and part of her crew.
O'NeiI Reaches shore.
Finishing up the Congress. which
she finally set on fire by her shells.
the Merrimac withdrew. apparently
pleased with her days work. In
one of the boats of the Cumber-
land, into which he had climbed
from the sea as the great vessel
sank. Admiral O'Neil finally reachtd
the shore with some Of the crew,
and late that night. after walking
for many miles, he reached Old
Point Comfort. where he remained,
and on the following day saw the
great battle between the ironclads.
Headed up stream the Merrimac.
remaining nearly stationary against
the flow of current, commenced f1r-
ing, but the Monitor continued to-
ward her holding her fire. When
within a short distance. Capt. Wor-
den drew up almost parallel to the
Merrimac. and stopping his engines.
commenced firing with the twin
guns in his single turret. Although
ne ledTeu d Hll jam
her turret revolving machinery.
two such blows did not interfere
with it's operation and he turned
about to pass his enemy again.
The close quarter engagement was
continued. shots from the Merri-
mac ratified against the round turret
and some struck the pilot house.
~-hich the enemy hoped to destroy
a. Nd hA oh y1'g oil
Move to Ram Monitor.
after the engagement" Admiral
O'Neil declared. Capt. Worden re-
ported that at close quarters all
his shots took effect upon the huge
sides of our adversary. stripping off
the iron freely. Once he ran close
across the Merrimao's stern hop
ing to disable her screw and rud-
which protruded to the rear,
missing by scant two feet
An exciting maneuver occurred
y turn the Merrimac attempt
ed to ram the Monitor. but by adroit
seamanship. Capt. worden avoided
= direct blow and the vessel glanced
off the starboard quarter inflicting
no damage.
The battle waged until noon, when
the Monitor was struck with a shell
n the pilot house near the lookout
hole through which the captain was
looking, filling his face and eyes
with powder. practically binding
him. The ship was withdrawn tenn
ncrarily. but soon returned to the
battle with Lieut.. Comdr 3 D.
Greene in command. only to find
the Merrimac retiring. so he re-
turned to the Minnesota and stood
by until she. f1oatrd from where
she had gone aground.
Dispute over Victory.
The fight looked to me like a
victory for the North" Admiral
O'Neil concluded. yet there has
been a lot of controversy on the
subject. Considering the object of
the Monitors mission. which was to
prevent the Merrinac from sink
ing and destroying the wooden feet
of the North, however. it must be
admitted that she did this especially
in the defense of the Minnesota
Undoubtedly there were orders from
Washington advising against a fur
Their battle with the iron ship Of
the Cenfederacy., az none followed
despite the fact that she appeared
apparently looking Tor trouble.
The end of the Merrimac. &C.
cording to history came by her
being run aground and destroyed.
while the Monitor was lost at sea
while being towed South.
Was Government ship.
1T is wrong to say the Monitor
was not a government ship. for she
was built, by Thomas F Rowland,
of Brooklyn. n. Y. on plans made
by Ericsson and paid for by Con-
gress: all but a few thousand dol
lars was paid before the battle and
after that the final payment was
made"
Compared with our monster cap
ital ships today, these vessels were
indeed pigmies. the Monitor being
179 feet long and of 776 tons with
two 2-XL Dahlgren guns. while the
Merrimac was a larger vessel only
as to supefstructure rebuilt from
the old ship of that name and COW
cred with steel and carrying two
finch rifles. fore and aft. and two
6-inch and six 9-inch smooth bore
broadside guns.