ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE "CUMBERLAND" AND "MERRIMACK"
By Rear Admiral Charles O'Neil, U. S. Navy, Retired
The eighth of March, 1862, was a calm and beautiful day of early spring at Newport News, Virginia. It was Saturday and the frigate Congress and the Cumberland were lazily riding at anchor to the end of the flood tide at the mouth of the James River. There was a light breeze from the N.N.W., and nothing occurred to disturb the serenity of the forenoon. Commander Radford of the Cumberland was absent from the ship, being a member of a court of inquiry in session at Hampton Roads.
The crew had just had dinner when at 12:40 p.m., heavy black smoke was seen in the direction of Craney Island, and soon after the hull of a large vessel shaped like the roof of a house, with one smokestack, appeared in sight accompanied by two small steamers, steaming slowly in the direction of Sewell's Point. We knew at once that the large vessel was the former Merrimack which had been converted at Norfolk into an iron-clad and renamed the Virginia. We afterwards learned that she was commanded by Flag-Officer Franklin Buchanan of the Confederate States navy, and that the smaller vessels were the Beaufort, lieutenant commanding, W.H. Parker; and the Raleigh, Lieutenant commanding. J.W. Alexander. At about the same time two steamers were observed coming down the James River, which proved to be the Patrick Henry of twelve guns, Commander Robert R. Tucker; and the Jamestown of two guns, lieutenant commanding, W. A. Webb. As soon as the enemy's vessels were discovered, the sails, which had been loosed to dry, were furled; the wash clothes were piped down; the boats were lowered and dropped astern, springs were put on the port cable, to which the ship was riding, and the "quick beat" to quarters was sounded. The guns, which were already loaded, were double breeched; the pumps were rigged; the decks were sprinkled and sanded, and all the usual preparations for battle were made. In the absence of Commander Radford the Cumberland was for the time being in command of Lieutenant George U. Morris, who was the executive officer; Lieutenant Selfridgecommanded the forward gun-deck division of five nine inch guns on each side, and I was stationed in his division; the next four guns on each side were under the command of Moses S. Stuyvesant, the master, and the two after guns on each side were manned by marines. The forward ten-inch pivot gun on the upper deck was in charge of Acting Master Wm. N. Kennison, and the after pivot gun was in charge of Acting Master Wm. P. Randall. Sailmaker David Bruce and Gunner Eugene Mack were in charge of the powder divisions. The Merrimack kept on her way towards Sewell's Point, and owing to the contour of the land was lost to our view for nearly an hour, and we were uncertain as to her movements, and thought perhaps she had gone to Hampton Roads to attack the vessels there, but all doubts upon this point were dispelled when she again appeared in sight at about 2:30 p. m., heading directly for us. As we were heading downstream, our guns could not be brought to bear upon her and efforts were made to spring the ship, but owing to its being slack water, they were futile. Nor could we see the approaching enemy from the broadside gun ports, as she was almost directly ahead of us, and while the guns' crews were waiting for an opportunity to open fire, I stepped forward to a bridle port in which there was no gun and had a good look at the Merrimack as she passed the Congress, only a short distance from us, when I was summoned back to my station.
She appeared to have one bow gun and three or four on each side, and flew the Confederate flag, which at a distance looked not unlike the French flag.
As she passed the Congress that vessel fired a broadside into her at short range, apparently without effect, as she slowed down and maneuvered for position, ahead of us, and it seemed uncertain as to on which side we were to receive her attack. Her first shot at us swept across the quarter deck, crashing through the bulwarks and skylights, and mowing down some of the marines who were drawn up in that part of the ship. The crash and the cries of the wounded as they were carried below was the introduction to a scene of carnage and destruction which cannot be adequately described. Finally the Merrimack took a position three or four hundred yards distant, on our starboard bow, from which she delivered shot after shot at us, with precision from her seven-inch rifle gun which wrought terrific havoc among the men of the forward gun-deck division of the Cumberland, which received the brunt of the attack, while she herself was so far forward that none of our guns could be brought to bear upon her. Early in the engagement, a seven-inch shell from the Merrimack burst in the forward part of our gun deck, filling it with smoke, demolishing the galley, and practically wiping out the whole of No. 1 gun's crew, the captain of which, a man named Kirker who was formerly the commodore's coxswain, had both arms shot off. From her favorable position, the Merrimack kept up a deadly and destructive fire on our ship for from ten to fifteen minutes, during which we had swung slightly so as to expose more of our starboard side, when she started ahead under full steam and in a brief interval struck us a staggering blow below the water line, just forward of our starboard fore chains. The crash of timber could be heard as the Cumberland surged on her chain cable and reeled under the force of the blow. The two vessels lay motionless for some moments when the Merrimack cleared herself from the encounter and forged slowly ahead, presenting her starboard side to ours, and both vessels then opened fire on each other at a range not exceeding two hundred yards. In this position we had eleven nine-inch, one ten-inch, and one six-inch rifle guns bearing on the enemy, which were served with great rapidity, and the range was so short that it would have been next to impossible not to hit her. The Merrimack's boats and flagstaffs were soon shot away; her smokestack was riddled, and the muzzles knocked off of two of her guns, but apparently her hull suffered but little, if any, from our heavy fire which would have demolished a wooden vessel in a short time. The shot and shell from the Merrimack crashed through the wooden sides of the Cumberland as if they had been made of paper, carrying huge splinters with them and dealing death and destruction on every hand. Many were killed outright and others wounded and terribly mangled, and the scenes in the cock-pit and sick-bay, whither the wounded were carried, must have been heart-rending. The dead on the gun deck were carried to the opposite, the port side, and the wounded sent below as fast as possible, their stations at the guns being filled by those remaining. Several shot and shell entered on one side and passed out through the other carrying everything before them, and the smoke, the booming of the guns, the crash of splintered woodwork and the cries and groans of the wounded, were appalling, but were offset in a measure by the cheering of the men at the guns, who fought with determination and enthusiasm. The once clean and beautiful deck was slippery with blood, blackened with powder and looked like a slaughter house, and was a scene of destruction and wreckage throughout. A couple of soldiers from the camp on shore were on board as visitors during the forenoon and as they could not get on shore they turned to and helped at the guns. They were both killed and could be distinguished from the sailors by their red shirts.
The water was rushing in through the rent made by the prow of the Merrimack and the pumps were manned, but they were inadequate as the water came in faster than it could be pumped out, and as it was only a question of time when the forward magazine would be flooded, whole tanks of powder for the forward guns were passed up on to the berth deck, and ultimately it became necessary to get powder from the after magazines for the entire battery. At one time the Merrimack came so near us that it looked as if she was coming alongside and our boarders were called away, and repaired with their cutlasses and pistols to the upper deck. My station required me to accompany them and I also went to the spar deck, but as the vessels drew apart, we were ordered back to our stations on the gun deck.
Our marines and such of the crew on the upper deck as were armed with rifles, were firing at the enemy's port holes in hopes of doing some execution, and subsequent reports showed that they, did kill and wound some of the Merrimack's crew. In the meantime, the Congress had slipped her cable, set her jib and topsails and with the aid of the tug Zouave was run ashore, bows on, near Signal Point and saved from being sunk, but for another fate. Orders were given to slip our cable, and Master's Mate Harrington and myself were directed to attend to the matter. The ship was riding by the port chain and Mr. Harrington was to attend at the forward compressor, and I was to have the chain unshackled, further aft. My part was attended to all right, and finding that something had evidently gone wrong, I ran forward to see what the matter was, and looked round for Harrington and in a moment saw his lifeless body lying flat on its back, a shell having completely cut his head off, while the four men who were to tend the compressor were stunned, and spattered with the blood and brains of that unfortunate officer. The ship was gradually settling by the head and listing to port and it was evident that she was sinking, but the battle went on without interruption. Lieutenant Selfridge encouraged his men and certainly set them an example of courage and coolness. The guns from the battery on shore at Newport News, consisting of four Columbiads and one forty-two-pounder James rifle, kept up a steady fire on the enemy and with those of the Confederate vessels and our own created a din that was appalling and deafening. In from twenty to thirty minutes from the time we were rammed, the Cumberland had settled so far by the head that her gun-deck bow ports were within a foot or so of the water, and at this time Lieutenant Morris stepped down from the spar deck, and seeing that the ship must immediately sink, gave the order for the crew to save themselves, and then, but not till then, did they leave their stations. In a few moments more the water rushed in at the bow ports: the ship listed heavily to port and soon went down with a rush of escaping air in a seething whirlpool: her flag still flying, but carrying with her all the dead and wounded. The condition of those below decks, especially the wounded, must have been pitiful in the extreme, there being no possible escape for most of them. The ship sank in about fifty-four feet of water so that everything above the tops was out of water, including the peak of the spanker gaff to which the colors were still flying, when she rested on the bottom. I made my escape through one of the hatches leading to the spar deck, and when I reached it the ship had heeled over so far to port that it was with difficulty that I ran aft along the waterways to the stern, where I threw off my coat and sword and jumped overboard and scrambled into the sailing launch, which with the rest of the boats was lying astern.
There were men in the water all about and among them I saw Lieutenant Morris, struggling by himself, so I passed him a boathook to take hold of, and drew him alongside, and with the aid of some others he was hauled aboard, saying, "Don't let go of me for I can't swim."
The men climbed into the various boats which were soon filled, and many who had escaped through the port holes and the forward hatches took refuge in the rigging until they were rescued by some of our boats later on, and all who got out of the ship were now practically safe as the enemy ceased firing at us when the ship went down, and made no attempt to molest us afterwards. As the ship heeled over in the act of sinking, some of the starboard guns got adrift and crashed across the deck, adding to the dangers to which the crew had already been exposed. In fact, the after pivot gun flew across the deck just after I had passed it. The boats pulled ashore and the survivors disembarked at the little wharf abreast the camp, and one of General Mansfield's aides. Captain Drake DeKay, who was on the wharf shouted rather excitedly to our men "to help man the battery on the bluff," and then left. As soon as our men were landed Lieutenant Morris took one of the cutters and pulled back to the ship to see if he could recover the flag and if any more men were to be found, and I went with him but we found neither. Lieutenant Selfridge pulled out in another cutter for the same purpose, and he informed me at a later period that he recovered the flag and took it on, shore and rolled it up in a bundle and placed it under a sofa in General Mansfield's quarters, intending to get it when the excitement was over, and late in the day after the battle was over he went to look for it and it was gone. Who took it or what became of it has never been learned. The Merrimack had gone up the river a short distance to turn round, and having disposed of the Cumberland now turned her attention to the Congress. As I was on the gun deck throughout the engagement except during the brief interval when the boarders were summoned, I could not tell what took place on the upper deck, but on one or two points I have a decided opinion. It has been stated by what might be called good authority, that after the Merrimack had rammed us, she hailed us, demanding our surrender, and that Lieutenant Morris replied that "we would sink first." Lieutenant Morris makes no mention of this in his official report of the engagement, which it is true is very meager, making no reference to any details, nor does Flag Officer Buchanan in his report to the secretary of the Confederate States navy, which is very full, refer to such an incident. As the Merrimack struck us forward and Lieutenant Morris was aft, it would have been extremely difficult if not impossible for him to have heard a hail from the Merrimack amid the din of the cannonading, and no one on board of the Merrimack could have ventured outside of her armored casemate or pilot house without having been picked off by our sharpshooters. Moreover, as she had already given us our "coup de grace," it would seem foolish to demand the surrender of a sinking ship, so that I am very doubtful if the incident occurred. It has also been said that the Merrimack rammed us a second time, but if she did, I have no recollection of it nor do I think she did, for to have done so would have necessitated her abandoning a very favorable position off our starboard beam and making a complete circle which not only would have occupied several minutes but would have seriously interfered with her gun fire, and as Flag Officer Buchanan makes no reference to such a proceeding I am strongly of the opinion that it did not take place. The vessels lying in Hampton Roads could not see the Merrimack coming out from Norfolk until a good while after we did, owing to the interference of the land. As soon, however, as they saw her and found that she was heading for the James River, the Minnesota, a fifty-gun frigate, slipped her cable and started up the river to go to the assistance of the vessels lying off Newport News. The Roanoke, a sister ship to the Minnesota, which was lying in Hampton Roads with a broken shaft, was taken in tow by two tugs and also started for Newport News. When seven or eight miles from Fortress Monroe, the Minnesota grounded at about 3 p.m. and stuck fast in the mud. The Roanoke proceeded some distance but got into three and one-half fathoms of water, and was aground aft, so she, with the aid of her tugs, was turned round and headed for Hampton Roads.
The sailing frigate St. Lawrence, also at Hampton Roads, was taken in tow by the U. S. S. Cambridge, and started for our relief, but she also got aground, but was gotten afloat again but too late to be of any assistance, so she returned to the Roads. While passing the batteries at Sewell's Point they opened fire on her and also on the Roanoke, one shot going through the foresail of the latter vessel and cutting away two of her shrouds. It was quite apparent that no relief was to be expected from the fleet at Hampton Roads, owing to its distance away, and to intervening shoal water. When Commander Radford learned that the enemy had come out and was heading for Newport News, he went on shore from the Roanoke and obtaining a horse, set out for that place, but long before he arrived there, his ship, the Cumberland, had been sunk. In his official report of the disaster to the navy department, Commander Radford gives the following list of officers saved from the Cumberland:
William Radford, Commander. (Not on board.)
George U. Morris, Lieutenant.
Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr., Lieutenant.
Moses S. Stuyvesant, Master.
William P. Randall, Acting Master.
William N. Kennison, Acting Master.
Charles Heywood. Lieutenant of Marines.
Lewis Smith (Civilian), Pilot.
Charles Martin, Surgeon.
Edward Kershner, Assistant Surgeon.
Edward B. Bell, Boatswain.
Eugene Mack, Gunner.
William L. Leighton, Carpenter.
David Bruce, Sailmaker.
Charles O'Neil, Master's Mate.
Henry Wyman, blaster's Mate.
E. V. Tyson, Master's Mate.
Hugh Nott, Paymaster's Clerk.
Cramer Burt, Paymaster. (Absent on leave.)
Lewis Ketchum, Captain's Clerk. (Not on board.)
Officers Killed:
John Lenhart, Chaplain. (Drowned.)
John M. Harrington, Master's Mate. (Killed.)
Officers and men, when action commenced 376
Officers and men, when action was over 255
Number of killed and drowned 121
At about 3:30 p. m. the Merrimack took a position astern of the Congress, at a distance of not over three or four hundred yards and opening fire on her, raked her fore and aft, and the smaller steamers kept up a continuous fire on her and the camp on shore, which replied from its battery. On January 13th, 1862, the Congress had paid off some three hundred of her crew, and owing to the difficulty of filling their places, Company D of the 99th Regiment, New York State Volunteers, under the command of Captain William J. McIntire, was detailed to help fill her complement and was on board at the time of the engagement with the Merrimack, as was also Second Lieutenant George Elder and eighty-seven enlisted men. Owing to the position taken by the Merrimack, the Congress could only bring her two stern guns to bear upon her, and these were soon disabled by the enemy's fire, one being dismounted and the other having its muzzle knocked off. Lieutenant Joseph B. Smith, who was in command of the Congress, was killed and the command devolved upon Lieutenant Austin Pendergrast. Commander William Sm.ith, U. S. N., was also on board the Congress, having recently been in command of her, but had received his detachment, the command devolving upon Lieutenant Joseph B. Smith, who was killed as before stated.
The Congress being in a defenseless position, her decks being raked fore and aft by the enemy's shot and shell, and having lost many lives, and being on fire in several places, hauled down her colors at about 4 p.m. Lieutenant Pendergrast in his official report says "upon consultation with Commander William Smith, we deemed it proper to haul down our colors without further loss of life on our part."
This took place at ten minutes to four o'clock on the afternoon of March 8th, 1862. In a short time after, the Confederate States tug Beaufort ran alongside the Congress which had hoisted a white flag, and an officer from the tug boarded the latter and ordered the men ashore, saying he would take the officers as prisoners and burn the ship. At this point, the troops on shore opened fire on the Beaufort with such effect that she was forced to retire in haste, some twenty of the crew of the Congress jumping on board of her, which were the only prisoners taken. As soon as the Beaufort was well clear, the Merrimack again opened fire on the Congress, whose boats had been lowered, and such of the crew as were left alive, jumped into them, taking the wounded with them, or swam ashore, and the ship, which was on fire in several places, was abandoned to her fate. Brigadier General Joseph K.F. Mansfield commanding the military post at Newport News, in his report to Major General John E. Wool, commanding the department of Virginia, says, concerning the surrender of the Congress, when she hauled down her flag and hoisted a white flag and ceased action, "The enemy then sent two steamers with Confederate flags flying, and made fast on either side of her (the Congress) with a view to haul her off or burn her. As soon as I saw this I ordered Colonel Brown of the Twentieth Indiana Regiment, then close at hand, to send two rifle companies (A and K) to the beach. The two rifle guns under Captain Howard, and a rifled Dahlgren howitzer manned by Master Stuyvesant and fourteen sailors of the Cumberland went into action from a raking position on the beach, covered by sand banks and trees against these steamers. We here had them at about 800 yards to advantage, and immediately they let go their hold on the Congress and moved out of range, with much loss. They endeavored to approach her again with a steamer and row boat but were beaten off with loss, till finally the Merrimack finding her prize re-taken, approached and fired three shots into her and set her on fire."
Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan, who commanded the Merrimack and whose brother Paymaster McKean Buchanan was on board the Congress in this engagement, makes the following remarks, in his official report to the Hon. S. R. Mallory, secretary of the Confederate States navy, under date of March 27th, 1862. "The carnage, havoc and dismay caused by our fire, compelled them (the Congress) to haul down their colors and to hoist a white flag at their gaff, and half mast another at the main. The crew instantly took to their boats and landed. Our fire immediately ceased, and a signal was made for the Beaufort to come within hail. I then ordered lieutenant commanding, Parker, to take possession of the Congress, secure the officers as prisoners, allow the crew to land, and burn the ship. He ran alongside, received the flag and surrender from Commander William Smith and Lieutenant Pendergrast, with the side arms of these officers. They delivered themselves as prisoners of war on board the Beaufort, and afterwards were permitted at their own request to return to the Congress to assist in removing the wounded to the Beaufort. They never returned, and I submit to the decision of the department whether they are not our prisoners. While the Beaufort and Raleigh were alongside the Congress, and the surrender of that vessel had been received from the commander, she having two white flags flying, hoisted by her own people, a heavy tire was opened upon them from the shore and from the Congress, killing, some valuable officers and men. Under this fire the steamers left the Congress—and I took it for granted that my order to Lieutenant Parker to burn the vessel had been executed, and waited some minutes to see the smoke ascending the hatches. The steam frigates Minnesota and Roanoke and the sailing frigate St. Lawrence had previously been reported as coming from Old Point, but as I was determined that the Congress should not again fall into the hands of the enemy, I remarked to that gallant officer. Flag Lieutenant Minor, 'That ship must be burned.' He promptly volunteered to take a boat and burn her, and the Teaser, lieutenant commanding, Webb, was ordered to cover the boat. Lieutenant Minor had scarcely reached within fifty yards of the Congress when a deadly fire was opened upon him, wounding him severely and several of his men. On witnessing this vile treachery (see note following) I immediately recalled the boat and ordered the Congress destroyed by hot shot and incendiary shell." (Note by C.O.N.: The term "vile treachery" used by Flag Officer Buchanan in his report was unwarranted, as the troops on shore had not surrendered and it was their duty to prevent as far as lay in their power the enemy from taking possession of the Congress even if she had struck her colors. In fact, they would have been culpable if they had not done their utmost to drive away the enemy. It does not appear that anyone who was attached to the Congress at the time of her surrender, participated in the act which Flag Officer Buchanan stigmatizes as "vile treachery.") Flag Officer Buchanan also says in his report, referring to the Cumberland, "In about fifteen minutes after the action commenced we ran into her on starboard bow: the crash below the water was distinctly heard, and she commenced sinking, gallantly fighting her guns as long as they were above water. She went down with her colors flying."
Many years after this event, I made the acquaintance of Hunter Davidson at. Buenos Aires, where he had charge of the Argentine steamer Fulminante which was used as a torpedo depot and mining school for the Argentine navy, and of John Taylor Wood at Halifax, Nova Scotia, both of whom were officers on board the Merrimack during the engagements off Newport News, and in Hampton Roads on March 8th and 9th, 1862, and we had many interesting talks with regard to them. The Congress having been set on fire by the enemy's projectiles continued to burn throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening; her loaded guns being successively discharged as the heat and flames reached them, until a few minutes past midnight when her magazine exploded with a loud report and she was completely wrecked. Lieutenant Pendergrast reported to the secretary of the navy the casualties which occurred on board the Congress on March 8th as follows:
Total number of officers and men on board at the beginning of the engagement 434
Total number accounted for, saved 298
Number of killed, wounded, and missing 136
Number of wounded taken on shore 26
Number of killed and missing no
Number of wounded since died 10
Total number of killed, missing, and died on shore 120
Lieutenant Pendergrast in his official report dated March 9th, 1862, gives the following version of the surrender of the Congress:
"At about 4:30 I learned of the death of Lieutenant Joseph Smith, which happened about ten minutes previous. Seeing that our men were being killed without the prospect of any relief from the Minnesota, which vessel had run ashore in attempting to get up to us from Hampton Roads; not being able to bring a single gun to bear upon the enemy, and the ship being on fire in several Engagement Between "Cumberland" and "Merrimack" 875 places, upon consultation with Commander William Smith, we deemed it proper to haul down our colors without any further loss of life on our part. We were soon boarded by an officer from the Merrimack who said he would take charge of the ship. He left shortly afterwards and a small tug came alongside whose captain demanded that we should surrender and get out of the ship, as he intended to burn her immediately. A sharp fire with muskets and artillery was maintained by our troops on shore upon the tug, having the effect of driving her off. The Merrimack again opened fire upon us, although we had a white flag at the peak, to show that we were out of action. After having fired several shells into us she left us and engaged the Minnesota and the shore batteries. We took this opportunity to man the boats and send the wounded ashore.
"We then ourselves left, the ship being on fire near the after magazine and in the sick bay. In fact the ship was on fire from the commencement to the end of the action; three times in the sick bay and wardroom and twice in the main hold, produced by hot shot thrown from the Merrimack. I lament to record the deaths of the following officers: Lieutenant Joseph B. Smith; Acting Master Thomas Moore and Pilot William Rhodes (wounded), since dead."
It will be observed that there are some discrepancies between the reports of Lieutenant Pendergrast and Flag Officer Buchanan with regard to this affair, which was a peculiar one, the victors not being able to reap the fruits of their victory owing to the interference of our military forces. Under the circumstances there was nothing for the Confederate naval forces to do but to again open fire on the ill-fated Congress and set her on fire. During the time the Confederate officers were occupied with the surrender of the Congress, Flag Officer Buchanan was, according to his own account and report, disabled by a minie ball from shore which passed entirely through the fleshy portion of the left thigh, grazing the femoral artery and inflicting a serious wound, and the command of the Merrimack devolved upon her executive officer. Lieutenant Catesby, ap R. Jones, who reported: "Our loss is two killed and eight wounded; two of our guns have the muzzles shot off. The prow was twisted and the armor somewhat damaged; the anchors and flagstaffs shot away, and smokestack and steam-pipe were riddled."
The officers of the Merrimack in this memorable engagement were as follows:
Franklin Buchanan, C. S. N. Flag Officer, commanding.
Catesby ap R. Jones, Lieutenant, Executive Officer.
Lieutenant Simms, C. S. N.
Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, C. S. N.
Lieutenant John Taylor Wood, C. S. N.
Lieutenant J. R. Eggleston, C. S. N.
Lieutenant W. R. Butt, C. S. N.
Captain Thom, Marine Officer. C. S. N.
Paymaster James A. Semple, C. S. N.
Surgeon D. B. Phillips, C. S. N.
Assistant Surgeon Garnett, C. S. N.
Midshipmen—Foute, Marmaduke, Craig, Littlepage, and Long.
It is fair to assume that Flag Officer Buchanan's report as to the time he was wounded, and how, is correct, and yet I have been told that a medal was presented to a corporal of marines, by his friends, who claim that he fired the shot which wounded the flag officer from the deck of the Cumberland, whereas the flag officer states that he received his wound by a ball from shore, long after the Cumberland was sunk, and I prefer to take his statement of the fact as the correct one.
The officers and men from the Cumberland who reached the shore became scattered throughout the camp at Newport News. Some went to the battery, and others were watching the attempts of the enemy to take possession of the Congress. After my return from the trip to the wreck of the Cumberland with Lieutenant Morris, I met our pilot, Mr. Smith, and with him walked down to the beach in the direction of the Congress, which had two white flags flying, her ensign having been hauled down. We saw the two tugs go alongside of her and also saw them driven off by the fire from the camp, after which the Merrimack again opened fire on the Congress. The shells were flying over our heads in a very uncomfortable manner, when we met Lieutenant Selfridge near some large trees. A shell came whizzing along, passing over our heads and the pilot and I involuntarily ducked our heads and each of us got behind a good-sized tree, seeing which Lieutenant Selfridge, who was very much affected, said. "Don't dodge, I wish one would kill me; I'd rather be killed than be whipped," but we thought otherwise and our trees gave us a sense of security, if nothing more. We watched the proceedings until the Congress was abandoned and then went into the camp. Being minus a coat and being wet and beginning to feel cold, I went to the tent of one of the officers I knew and helped myself to a gray military overcoat and a pair of boots. The camp was of course under arms and it was thought that an attack would be made upon it from the rear, but none came.
When the destruction of the Congress was assured beyond a doubt, the Merrimack and her consorts withdrew at about 6 p. m., firing a few parting shots at the camp, and steamed in the direction of Norfolk.
We wandered about the camp and later I found my friend whose coat and boots I had taken, who not only insisted on my keeping them but also gave me a cap which was dry, whereas mine was wet and uncomfortable, so I gladly accepted it, and for the time being I was rigged out in soldier clothes. The darkness came on and there seemed to be no rallying place for our men, and we went from place to place, finding a few here and a few there. We managed to get some hot coffee and a bit of something to eat from some of the army officers, which was most acceptable, and we strolled to the rear of the camp which was protected by a stockade, behind which was a depression, and here we found quite a number of terrified women and children who had come up in the morning from Fortress Monroe to visit friends in camp, and as they could not get away they had been sent here during the engagement as the safest place.
It was now quite late in the day and finding ourselves quite adrift and not knowing what to do or where to go, Doctor Kershner, Pilot Smith and myself concluded that we would go down to Old Point and report ourselves to the senior officer at Hampton Roads, which of course was a very improper proceeding on our part as we should have remained at Newport News, but we were inexperienced and a good deal rattled by the events of the day, so off we started for a good ten-mile tramp along the shore. It was hard walking and we had to wade through a couple of small streams one of which was waist deep and the other deeper, which did not add to our comfort, and before our journey was half over we were very tired. The doctor was completely done up, and we had to rest awhile on his account. He told us to go ahead and never mind him, but we would not do that but rested every now and then. After awhile we reached Hampton, Virginia, and went to the hospital there and got some good hot coffee and bread and butter which quite braced us up, and after a good rest and a smoke we set out again and reached Old Point at about ten o'clock at night, and went to Kimberly's store on the wharf, which stood about where the Hotel Chamberlin stood, where we were all well known and Mr. Kimberly took us in, gave us dry clothing and some supper and not only took care of us for the night, but supplied us afterwards with such money as we needed. Everybody who had been to Old Point knew Kimberly who had the only store there of any consequence, and supplied the ships with fresh provisions. There was great excitement at Old Point and as we were just from the scene of the engagement, we were objects of interest to many persons who wanted to learn the particulars about it. The quartermasters department of the army was busy sending steamers to the relief of the Minnesota, which was still aground, hoping to pull her off, but their efforts during the night were fruitless. We were told that the Monitor had arrived in Hampton Roads at nine o'clock that evening and had gone up to the Minnesota, but no one knew what she was or anything about her. We could see the light from the burning Congress over the point of land behind which lay Newport News, and a little after midnight she blew up in a spectacular manner, the fire having reached her magazines. This was certainly the most eventful day of my life, unless perhaps it was the day I left the Oliver Putnam in an open boat, during a storm in the Indian Ocean. It was the second time I had been obliged to abandon a sinking ship in a hurry, and with nothing but the clothes I stood in. Worn out with fatigue and excitement, I turned in a little after midnight and slept soundly until the morning. As I look back after the lapse of many years, I am surprised to find how little notice the navy department took of the gallant manner with which the Cumberland was fought in the face of such overwhelming odds. I cannot find among the official records of the navy department, published as War Records, that even a commendatory letter was written to Lieutenant Morris, who commanded her in the memorable engagement with the Merrimack. There were no medals or thanks bestowed, which seems very remarkable compared with the Spanish-American war, after which medals were awarded for the most trivial engagements, and in some instances to ships which were not under fire. I cannot help thinking also of the cruelty of war.
Take for instance the case of the Cumberland: everyone on board knew from the moment she was rammed by the Merrimack that she would sink, and as the battle progressed it became more and more evident, and yet everyone was so intent upon fighting the enemy that no one, apparently, gave a thought to the great number of wounded men below the decks, and nothing was done to save them from the terrible fate which finally befell them when they were all drowned, for not one of them escaped. During the heat of the engagement no one would have thought of bringing them up from below and putting them, or some of them, into the boats, and in fact such a proceeding would have been impracticable while we were firing and under fire. The only way would have been to have ceased firing which meant to haul down our flag, which would have been equivalent to a surrender, which was something not to be thought of, and in consequence many wounded men were sacrificed to the horrible necessities of war.
The "Merrimack" and "Monitor"
Sunday, March 9th, 1862. Notwithstanding the fatigue and excitement of the preceding day and the fact that I had but a few hours' sleep during the night, I was up bright and early the following morning and went down to the end of the wharf to look at the fleet then lying in Hampton Roads. The Roanoke and St. Lawrence were anchored between Fortress Monroe and the Rip Raps and there were several tugs, a few small gun boats, the Cambridge, Mount Vernon, Mystic, and the barque Brasiliera, and a lot of army transports, both steamers and schooners, at anchor in various directions. The store ship Brandywine, a mast-less hulk, was also at anchor in the Roads.
The Minnesota was still aground some seven miles above, and a large tug, the Dragon, and some quartermaster's steamers were trying to pull her off the bank on which she had grounded. The Ericsson battery Monitor was near her, having reported alongside at 2 a.m. by order of Captain Marston, the senior naval officer present in the Roads, the commander-in-chief, Flag Officer Louis M. Goldsborough, commanding the North Atlantic blockading squadron, being then in the Sounds of North Carolina. The morning was mild and pleasant, with a slight haze which was dispelled as the sun got higher. There was scarcely any wind and the waters of the Roads were perfectly smooth.
After an early breakfast at Kimberly's, I went again to the wharf to wait until one of the Roanoke's boats should come in, and when one did come alongside a little later, I got a passage off to the ship in her and there reported to Captain Marston, my former captain on the Cumberland, who received me personally and congratulated me on my escape the day before and then asked me a number of questions regarding the battle, and as to affairs at Newport News. He overlooked the fact that I had left there without permission, and gave me authority to proceed home and report by letter to the navy department.
At about 8 a.m. the Merrimack, Jamestown, and Patrick Henry could be seen off Sewell's Point. At 8:45 a.m. the Monitor opened fire on the Merrimack, steaming slowly towards her. The Merrimack returned her fire, firing also at the Minnesota, and the two ironclads maneuvered about each other firing, sometimes at very close quarters, and then at longer range. Once the Merrimack succeeded in ramming the Monitor, striking her a glancing blow, but apparently doing her no material damage as she moved freely afterwards. Once the Merrimack got aground and backed her engines for fifteen minutes before she was again afloat. A shell from the Merrimack struck and blew up the boiler of the Dragon which was alongside of the Minnesota. The duel between the two ironclad vessels continued until noon, neither seeming to have gained any advantage over the other, though the withdrawal of the Merrimack early in the afternoon to Norfolk might be considered a victory for the Monitor. In this engagement, the Monitor was struck twenty-one times, viz.: pilot house twice; turret nine times; side armor eight times; deck three times. She expended forty-one solid cast-iron eleven-inch shot, and she was steered during the action by Quartermaster Peter Williams.
Commander John L. Worden, who commanded the Monitor, was injured in the eyes at 11:30 a.m. by the explosion of a shell from the Merrimack upon the outside of the sight hole in the pilot house, exactly opposite his eye, after which the vessel was in charge of her executive officer, Lieutenant S. Dana Greene. The Monitor carried two eleven-inch cast-iron smooth bore Dahlgren guns, which were muzzle loaders.
The Merrimack's battery consisted of two seven-inch and two six-inch Brooke rifles and six nine-inch smooth bore Dahlgren guns. While I was on board the Roanoke, a shot or shell from the Merrimack every now and then flew over the ship, and cut some of her rigging, and before she retired from the field it was thought she might make a dash into the Roads and try conclusions with the vessels there, and Captain Marston said to me, "It looks as if you might have another day of it." The Minnesota was struck a number of times and had three men killed and sixteen wounded and three men were wounded on the Dragon alongside of her. She fired a great many rounds at the enemy but apparently did her no damage. Her gunner reported ammunition expended as follows, viz.: 78 ten-inch shot; 67 ten-inch shell; 169 nine-inch shot; 180 nine-inch shell, and 35 eight-inch shell, a total of 529 rounds. Fearing that his vessel could not be got afloat Captain Van Brunt of the Minnesota had made preparations to abandon and destroy her, but the withdrawal of the enemy's vessels rendered such a course unnecessary. At two o'clock on the morning of Monday, March 10th, she was pulled off, having thrown overboard seven of her eight-inch spar-deck guns, and 150 of her crew were landed and in Fortress Monroe, according to the report of Colonel Wm. D. Whipple, assistant adjutant general. When afloat, the Minnesota proceeded to Hampton Roads and anchored there. Every one was jubilant when the Merrimack retired from the field though it was uncertain when she might return.
The Minnesota was undoubtedly saved from destruction by the presence of the shoal water around her, preventing the Merrimack from ramming her before the Monitor arrived. The arrival of the Monitor was most opportune, for had it not been for her presence the Merrimack could have made a clean ssweep of every vessel in Hampton Roads.
Things soon quieted down on board the Roanoke and after lunch with the midshipmen I went on shore and as I was walking about I ran across one of the Cumberland's best men, Jerry Lamphry, who was the bo'sans mate of the gun deck, sitting on a pile of boards, "piping sweepers." He had strayed down to Old Point and had evidently had more grog than he was accustomed to. I knocked about until late in the afternoon and then took the Bay Line steamer for Baltimore.
Commander Worden of the Monitor was on board, being sent home for treatment, and he was accompanied by Commander Henry A. Wise, U. S. N.
While the battle between the Merrimack and Monitor was a notable affair it seemed tame enough to me as seen at a distance of three or four miles when compared with the stirring scenes and events of the preceding day. On Sunday morning, March 9th, the assistant secretary of the navy, Hon. G. V. Fox, arrived at Old Point having come from the capital as soon as the news was received there of the naval battle off Newport News. Before I left Old Point the store ship Brandywine was towed out by the Mount Vernon, which was to take her to Baltimore.
The appearance of the Merrimack created intense excitement throughout the North, especially in the seaports where there were grave apprehensions of a visit from this formidable craft which was credited with much greater scope of action than she really possessed, for the fact became known later that she could not safely venture outside the Capes of the Chesapeake, though within them she was a very formidable vessel against which we had nothing which could contend with any prospect of success except the little Monitor, so that any accident to the latter would be a national calamity. Had the Monitor had a fairly respectable armament she could easily have disposed of the Merrimack, but her two smooth bore eleven-inch guns of low velocity were of very little count even against thin armor of ordinary quality at short range.
I arrived at Baltimore early on Monday morning, March 10th, 1862, and took a train for New York where I arrived some time during the afternoon. I was a shabby-looking customer and no one seemed to care for my company, until an old gentleman who could not find a vacant seat in the car was obliged to share mine with me. He looked at me once or twice and finally said, "Going home on leave, I suppose." This riled me and I said, "No, going home to get some clothes to wear so I can go back to duty again." This seemed to soften the old fellow who asked me several questions and finally I told him who I was and where I came from, which interested him very much, and as we proceeded on our journey he found opportunity to tell some of the other passengers, and before we reached New York I was quite a personage and a newspaper man urged me to go with him to the office of his paper, assuring me I would be well repaid for giving the version, of an eye witness of the late battles, but I was not to be tempted and when we arrived in New York I got away from my new acquaintances and went to the Astor House to dinner, after which I had an hour or two to spare when I got a newspaper and read its version of the events I had witnessed and participated in, and in due time I took a night train for Boston and had the privilege of sitting up all night varied with some little sleep which I acquired in a very uncomfortable position curled up on an ordinary day car seat, with a billet of wood for a pillow which took from the pile near the stove. It was rather cold and my feet felt several sizes too large for my boots, but morning came after what seemed a very long night, and we finally arrived in Boston and I made my way home to Roxbury, reaching there on Tuesday, March nth, before breakfast, giving the family a surprise as they did not know what had become of me. I must have made a sorry figure in my gray soldier's coat and military cap, but that did not affect my welcome, and everything that could be done for my comfort and pleasure was done, and I was quite a hero among my old friends and neighbors. Before going on with my story this seems a suitable place to complete the history of the two vessels which had already become famous in history.
Reappearance of the "Merrimack"
During the battle between the Merrimack and Monitor the former was commanded by Lieutenant Catesby ap R. Jones, C. S. N., but after that she was placed in command of Flag Officer Josiah Tattnall, C. S. N., on March 25th, 1862, he being ordered to the defense of the waters of Virginia. The vessel which had been lying at Norfolk since her engagement with the Monitor got under way on April nth, 1862, and steamed down to Sewell's Point to within long range of the guns of the forts and ships at Old Point. She was accompanied by the Jamestown and some small gunboats. The Jamestown and Raleigh were sent to capture some merchant vessels which were at anchor inside of Hampton Bar, and they succeeded in bringing out the brig Marcus of Stockton, New Jersey, the brig Sahoah of Providence, Rhode Island, and schooner Catharine T. Dix of Accomac, and these prizes were towed up to Norfolk, Virginia. The crews made ho resistance arid some of them escaped in small boats, but thirteen of them were captured. The Merrimack and her consorts then retired no demonstration against them having been made by the federal forces. She was made fast later to the buoy off Sewell's Point, and this was her last appearance. Various schemes for her capture or destruction, should she again appear, were made by our people and one or two large steamers were kept in readiness at Hampton Roads to run her down, should she again come out.
The easy victory of the Merrimack over the Cumberland and Congress startled the whole country. The secretary of the navy, Hon. Gideon Welles, relates what took place at a cabinet meeting called by President Lincoln immediately after the events at Hampton Roads and Newport News. "The Merrimack," said Stanton, "will change the whole character of the war: she will destroy seriatum every naval vessel. She will lay all the cities on the seaboard under contribution. I shall immediately recall Burnside: Port Royal must be abandoned. I will notify the governors and municipal authorities in the north to take instant measures to protect their harbors."
The London Times, after describing the battles, said, "Whereas we had available for immediate purposes 149 first-class warships, we have now but two, these two being the Warrior and her sister Ironside. There is not now a ship in the English navy apart from these two that it would not be madness to trust to an engagement with that little Monitor." That these views were exaggerated was shown in the near future when it became known that both the Merrimack and Monitor were deficient in seagoing qualities and could fight only in smooth water, but this fact was not then known.
Destruction of the '"Merrimack"
On May nth, 1862, at two minutes before five o'clock in the morning, the Merrimack blew up. She was set on fire by her own people at about three o'clock and her destruction was made the subject of a general court martial convened in Richmond, Virginia, on July 5th, 1862, to try Flag Officer Josiah Tattnall S. C. N. The court was composed of Captains Lawrence Rousseau, Franklin Buchanan, and Sidney S. Lee; Commanders Robert G. Robb, Murray Mason, Eben Farrand, A. B. Fairfax, M. F. Maury, and Robert B. Pegram. To this detail Captain George N. Hollins was subsequently added. Mr. Robert Ould was appointed judge advocate. The charges were: First. Culpable destruction of an armed steamer of the Confederate States navy. Second. Negligence. Third. Improvident conduct, to which the accused pleaded "Not Guilty." The trial lasted about twelve days and resulted in the honorable acquittal of Captain Tattnall.
History of the "Merrimack"
The steam frigate Merrimack, of 3,200 tons displacement, was one of a group of five vessels which were built about the year 1855.
The others were the Minnesota, Colorado, Wabash, and Roanoke. At the time they were built they were without exception the finest specimens of naval architecture afloat, and were much admired wherever they went. They were full ship-rigged, having auxiliary screw engines, and were designed to hoist their single screws when under sail. They had fine sailing qualities and when under a full spread of canvas presented an imposing appearance. The Merrimack was launched June 14th, 1855, at the Boston navy yard. Her hull cost $513,778 and her machinery, which was built under contract by R. P. Parrot at Cold Spring on the Hudson, cost $172,064, making the cost of hull and machinery $685,842. She was completed in February, 1856. Her length was 275 feet—beam thirty-eight feet six inches—and her draft when ready for sea was twenty-two feet eleven inches forward and twenty-four feet three inches aft. Her original battery consisted of fourteen eight-inch guns of sixty-three cwt., and two ten-inch pivots on the spar deck, and twenty-four nine-inch Dahlgrens on the gun deck, all being cast iron, smooth bores. She was first commissioned at Boston on February 2oth, 1856, under the command of Captain G. J. Pendergrast, and on April 19th when in the Severn River, below Annapolis, she was visited by the President, the secretary of the navy and a number of Congressmen. During this commission she visited Havana, Key West, Boston, New York, Southampton, Brest, Lisbon, Cadiz, Barbados, St. Thomas and Hampton Roads, and was put out of commission at Boston on April 22nd, 1857. She was re-commissioned at Boston on September 1st, 1857, under the command of Captain R. B. Hitchcock and for a few months was flag-ship of the Brazil station, flying the flag of Commodore J. C. Long. In January, 1858, she went round Cape Horn and became the flag-ship of the Pacific station, visiting Valparaiso, Pisco Bay, Callao, Payto, Panama, Honolulu, Acapulco and Realijo. On August 17th, 1859, Flag Officer Long was relieved by Flag Officer J. B. Montgomery, who on October 14th, 1859, shifted his flag to the Levant, the Merrimack being ordered home. She was at Rio de Janeiro on December 17th, 1859, in Hampton Roads February 4th, i860, and was put out of commission at the Norfolk navy yard February 16th, 1860, and was there when the war broke out in 1861 and was burned and sunk by the Federal forces on Saturday, April 20th, 1861, and was raised by the insurgents May 30th, 1861, and was by them cut down and converted into an ironclad and was completed in March, 1862. On March 8th, 1862, she engaged and destroyed the Cumberland and Congress off Newport News, Virginia, and on March 9th, 1862, she fought the Monitor and retired to Norfolk, neither vessel having been defeated. On May 11th, 1862, she was set on fire and destroyed by her own officers and crew off Craney Island, just below Norfolk. Such is the brief history of one of the most notable vessels that was ever built. This vessel might have been saved to the Union if a little more nerve and decision had been displayed by the naval authorities at Norfolk and by the government at Washington.
The following extracts from The History of the U. S. Navy Yard at Gosport, Virginia (near Norfolk) by Commander Edward P. Lull, U. S. N., written in 1874, throw some light on the subject as he says: "She (the Merrimack) was reported ready to leave the navy yard, two days previous to her destruction, every preparation having been made by Commander James Alden, even to engaging a pilot; the coal and the engineer's stores were on board and forty-four firemen and coal heavers had been engaged for the trip to Philadelphia. For some reason the necessary orders to depart were withheld by Commodore C. S. McCauley, the commandant of the navy yard, and two days later she, with the following vessels, were set on fire and scuttled by the Federal forces which were then in possession of Norfolk:
Ship of the Line Pennsylvania, 120 guns. Receiving Ship.
Ship of the Line Columbus, 74 guns. In ordinary.
Ship of the Line Delaware, 74 guns. In ordinary.
Ship of the Line, New York, 74 guns. On the stocks.
Frigate United States, 50 guns. In ordinary.
Frigate Columbia, 50 guns. In ordinary.
Frigate Raritan, 50 guns. In ordinary.
Sloop Plymouth, 22 guns. Ready for sea.
Sloop Germantown, 22 guns. Ready for sea.
Brig Dolphin, 4 guns. Ready for sea.
The U. S. S. Cumberland, twenty-four guns, the flag-ship of Flag Officer Pendergrast, commanding the home squadron, was lying off the Norfolk navy yard, fully manned. She had been under orders to proceed to Vera Cruz, but these orders had been countermanded. The navy department had ordered Commodore Hiram Paulding on April 18th, 1861, to proceed to Norfolk forthwith, to take command of all the naval forces there afloat, vesting him with full power to command the services of the entire naval force and directing him if necessary to repel force by force, in carrying out his instructions. The U. S. S. steam sloop Pawnee, Commander S. C. Rowan, then at Washington, was placed at his disposal and on April 19th, 1861, Commodore Paulding with the other officers detailed to assist him embarked on board of her, received one hundred marines from the Marine Barracks and proceeded to Fortress Monroe, where he arrived on the afternoon of the twentieth. Colonel Wardrop's regiment of Massachusetts volunteers were embarked and at 6:45 p. m. the Pawnee's head was turned towards Norfolk. At 8 p. m., April 20th, less than two hours after leaving Fortress Monroe, the Pawnee appeared in sight of the navy yard and ships and proceeded to the yard where Commodore Paulding learned that he was too late: that the ships he had been sent to save were already rapidly sinking at their moorings. An examination was at once made to see whether it was possible to arrest the leaks and save the vessels, but it was found to be too late. The only alternative left to Commodore Paulding was to complete the destruction of the property as he had not the means at his disposal to defend it, nor was there any prospect of further aid from the government. It was imperatively necessary to send the Pawnee back for the defense of Washington. The Cumberland was a sailing vessel and was in a measure helpless and there was danger that the insurgents might barricade the channel below Norfolk and prevent her egress. Preparations were made for setting fire to the ships and the shops, and several barrels of powder were placed in one of the culverts of the dry-dock, everything being ready at 1:45 a. m. of Sunday, April 21st, 1861. At 2:25 a. m. the Pawnee left the wharf and passed hawsers to the Cumberland and at 4 a. m. the latter slipped her moorings, the tide then serving, and the two vessels, assisted by the chartered steamer Yankee, started down the river. The Cumberland and Pawnee picked up their boats and stood down for Hampton Roads, the former vessel hanging for some hours near Sewell's Point, having struck on the obstructions which had been placed in the channel, but was finally dragged off with the assistance of the chartered steamers Keystone State and Yankee. Within a month after the Merrimack had been burned and scuttled, she was raised by the Confederates. On April 25th, 1861, her battery was removed and despatched to Sewell's Point and other places for the defense of Norfolk, and the vessel was placed in the dry-dock, which had been repaired sufficiently to receive her. "The work of her transformation into the Virginia began immediately by cutting her down to her old berth deck to within three and a half feet of her light waterline. Both ends for seventy feet were covered over, and when the ship was in fighting trim were just awash.
"On the midship section, for a length of 170 feet was erected, at an angle of forty-five degrees, a roof of pitch pine and oak twenty-four inches thick, extending from the water line to a height over the gun deck of seven feet. Both ends of this structure were rounded, so that the pivot guns could be used as bow and stern chasers and on the bows and quarters. Over the gun deck structure was a light grating, making a promenade about twenty feet wide and nearly 170 long. The iron plating which covered the wood backing was rolled at the Tredegar Iron Works at Richmond and was two inches thick. The under layer being placed horizontally, and the upper laid up and down, the two being four inches thick, were bolted through the wood and clinched inside.
"The Virginia thus armored was further provided with a cast iron prow or ram which projected four feet, but it was imperfectly secured as the test of battle proved. Another defect was the unprotected condition of the rudder and propeller. The pilot house was forward of the smokestack, and was covered with the same thickness of armor as the casemate. The motive power of the old Merrimack propelled the new Virginia, but it was so radically defective that both engines and boilers had been condemned during the last cruise of the Merrimack. The armament of the Virginia consisted of two seven-inch rifle guns, heavily reinforced around the breech with three-inch steel hoops, shrunk on. They were the first heavy guns so made in this country, and were the work of Lieutenant Brooke, C. S. N., and these guns formed the bow and stern chasers of the battery; there were also two six-inch guns of the same make, and six nine-inch smooth bores in broadside, making ten guns in all." (The above is from Sharf's History of the Confederate Navy, pp. 152 and 153.)
History of the "Monitor"
The U. S. S. Monitor was built under contract with John Ericsson for the sum of $275,000. Her keel was laid in the shipyard of Thomas F. Rowland at Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in October, 1861, and she was launched on January 30th, 1862. On February 25th, 1862, she was commissioned and turned over to the government, and nine days later she left New York for Hampton Roads.
The following is an extract from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, page 719. "The length of the Monitor was 179 feet, beam forty-one feet six inches: tonnage 776: armament two eleven-inch Dahlgren guns.
"The crew was composed of volunteers, Lieutenant Worden having been authorized by the navy department to select his men from any ship of war in New York harbor, addressed the crews of the North Carolina and Sabine, stating fully to them the probable dangers of the passage to Hampton Roads, and the certainty of having important service to perform after arriving. The sailors responded enthusiastically, many more volunteering than were required." Her appearance in Hampton Roads and "the services rendered by her in those waters have already been described. She remained in that vicinity a little over nine months and then was ordered to Charleston, S. C, and was taken in tow by the U. S. S. Rhode Island and when twenty miles S. S. W. of Cape Hatteras on December 31st, 1862, she foundered, being under the command of Commander Bankhead. She took in water around her turret and probably sprung a leak as well. Occasional comments appearing in the newspapers, intimating that there had been opposition on the part of naval officers to the building of the Monitor, induced me to write the following article.
Navy Department,
Bureau of Ordnance,
Washington, D. C.
March 14, 1901.
To the Editor of the Army and Navy Journal.
Sir:
It is not infrequently stated that there was much opposition on the part of naval officers to the building of the original Monitor, and it has even been stated that it was only accomplished by the direct intervention of the President.
That such was not the case appears in Senate Document No. 86, 2nd Session, 40th Congress, entitled "Letter of the Secretary of the Navy, communicating in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 24th inst. (July, 1868) information in relation to the construction of the ironclad Monitor."
As nearly forty years have elapsed since the inception and construction of this remarkable vessel, it may be of interest to many of your readers to learn the true facts of the case, which are taken from the official document above referred to.
At the extra session of Congress, which convened on the 4th of July, 1861, pursuant to the proclamation of President Lincoln, a report was submitted by Hon. Gideon Welles, secretary of the navy, in which he adverted to the fact that other governments were constructing armored vessels, and he recommended that initiatory measures should be taken by our government for the construction of "one or more iron-clad steamers or floating batteries."
Congress responded promptly and liberally to this recommendation, and on August 3rd, 1861, passed an act authorizing and directing the secretary of the navy to appoint a board of three skilful naval officers to investigate the plans and specifications that might be submitted for the construction or completing of iron- or steel-clad steamships or steam batteries, and appropriating the sum of $1,500,000 for the construction of one or more of the same, should the plans be approved.
On August 7th, four days after the passage of the above act, the navy department issued an advertisement "for the construction of one or more iron-clad steam vessels of war, either of iron or of wood and iron combined, for sea or river service, to be of not less than ten nor more than sixteen feet draft of water: to carry an armament of from eighty to one hundred and twenty tons weight, with provisions and stores for from one hundred and sixty-five to three hundred persons, according to armament, for sixty days, with coal for eight days…The vessels to be rigged with two masts with iron rope standing rigging, to navigate at sea.
"Propositions to be received for twenty-five days."
From the above it will appear that the navy department lost no time in carrying out the provisions of the act of Congress above referred to.
On the following day (August 8th, 1861) the secretary of the navy appointed a board of three distinguished officers to investigate such plans as might be submitted. This board was composed of Commodore Joseph Smith, Commodore Hiram Paulding, and Captain Charles H. Davis.
The secretary of the navy visited Connecticut early in the month of September, 1861, and while at Hartford, C. S. Bushnell, Esq., of New Haven brought to him the plans of the original Monitor designed by Captain John Ericsson of New York. It received the instant favorable approval of the secretary, who requested Mr. Bushnell to proceed to Washington without delay and submit it to the board then about to decide on the plans presented. He was assured that in case of unavoidable delay beyond the time limited for receiving proposals, an exception should be made in favor of this novel invention of a submerged vessel with a revolving turret, and that it should be embraced among the plans on which the opinion of the board would be required. In compliance with the suggestion made at the interview in Hartford, Mr. Bushnell proceeded to Washington and exhibited his plans to the board. On September 16th, 1861, the board submitted its report which embraced the plans presented by seventeen bidders.
Three propositions were favorably considered, namely, those of John Ericsson of New York, C. S. Bushnell of New Haven, and Merrick and Sons of Philadelphia. With regard to Ericsson's design the board remarks: "This plan of a floating battery is novel, but seems to be based upon a plan which will render the battery shot- and shell-proof. We are somewhat apprehensive that her properties for sea are not such as a seagoing vessel should possess, but she may be moved from one place to another on the coast, in smooth water. We recommend that an experiment be made with one battery of this description on the terms proposed, with a guarantee and forfeiture in case of failure in any of the properties and points of the vessel as proposed."
Price $275,000; length of vessel 172 feet; breadth of beam forty-one feet; depth of hold eleven feet six inches; time 100 days; draft of water ten feet; displacement 1,255 tons; speed per hour nine statute miles. On October 4th, 1861, the navy department entered into contract with Mr. Ericsson for a vessel on his plan, which was described as "an iron-clad, shot-proof steam battery of iron and wood combined." Payments were made as the work on the vessel progressed, there being five payments of $50,000 each and one of $25,000, each with a reservation of twenty-five per cent; the reservations amounting to $68,750 being paid on March 14th, 1862.
The Monitor left New York for Hampton Roads on March 6th, 1862, reaching the latter place on March 8th, and on the following day (the 9th) she had her memorable encounter with the Confederate iron-clad Merrimack. About this time erroneous statements were current that "certain parties built the Monitor at their own risk, having agreed not to call upon the government for remuneration until the vessel had been tested in action. Strong in faith, receiving but a negative support from the navy department, they completed the Monitor at their own cost," and an affirmation was made on the floor of the House of Representatives that "a member from New York advanced the money and paid the entire expenses out of his own funds, in order to get the Monitor built, which met the Merrimack in Hampton Roads." Whereas in point of fact, the money which was applied to build the Monitor was appropriated by Congress on the recommendation of the secretary of the navy in August, 1861. The plan of the Monitor was submitted to him as above stated in the early part of September, 1861, and was sent by him at once to the board which he had appointed, was favorably reported upon by that board and a contract for its construction was entered into immediately. Although the department received but little encouragement from any quarter in regard to this novel experiment, its confidence in her success was unshaken. After the wonderful achievement of the Monitor, the tone of many was changed, and there were then persistent efforts to deny the department any credit for the adoption or construction of the Monitor. These misrepresentations led the inventor, Mr. Ericsson, to write the following letter which constitutes a part of the history, called for in the resolution of the Senate.
New York, April 25th, 1862.
"Sir:
"In your remarks on the administration of the navy department in today's Herald you have inadvertently done the secretary of the navy great injustice relative to the construction of the Monitor. A more prompt and spirited action is probably not on record in a similar case than that of the navy department as regards the Monitor. The committee of naval commanders appointed by the secretary to decide on the plans of gunboats laid before the department occupied me less than two hours in explaining my new system. In about two hours more the committee had come to a decision. After their favorable report had been made to the secretary, I was called into his office, where I was detained less than five minutes. In order not to lose any time, the secretary ordered me to 'go ahead at once.' Consequently, while the clerks of the department were engaged in drawing up the formal contract, the iron which now forms the keel plate of the Monitor was drawn through the rolling mill.
"I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,"
J. Ericsson.
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To James Gordon Bennett, Esq.
Hon. Gideon Welles, then secretary of the navy, in submitting the foregoing to the president of the senate, says:
"To the distinguished inventor of this new-class vessel, to his sureties, to the board of naval officers who reported in her favor, to the vigilant and very able naval officer who superintended her construction, the secretary has on repeated occasions tendered his obligations and his thanks for their patriotic services in coming to the assistance of the department and the government in a great emergency.
"Great praise and commendation are due to them respectively, but no one can be justified in attempting to arrogate to himself undue merit at the expense of the others.
"Under misapprehensions and misstatements that have been made in regard to this vessel, it is proper that the real facts should be made public, and the department has gladly embraced the opportunity in communicating the official documents, records, and facts connected with the construction of the ironclad Monitor."
From the foregoing it will appear that instead of opposition on the part of the navy department or officers of the navy to the building of the Monitor, the scheme received their hearty approval and co-operation. It is possible and probable that the proposed vessel did not commend itself to all the officers of the navy, but it is quite evident from the above that no serious opposition manifested itself, notwithstanding frequent assertions to the contrary.
Respectfully,
Charles O'Neil, Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy.