CAPTAIN G. J. VAN BEUNT, U. 8. N. Commander of the “Minnesota." (From a photograph.)
THE UNION SIDE.
IN THE “ MONITOR ” TURRET.
BY 8. DANA GREENE, COMMANDEE, U. 8. N.
Executive Officer of the “Monitor.”
*
laid in the ship-yard of Thomas F. Rowland, at Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in Octoher, 1861, and on the 30th of January, 1862, the novel craft was launched. On the 25th of February she was commissioned and turned over to the Government, and nine days later left New York for Hampton Roads, where, on the 9th of March, occurred the memorable contest with the Merrimac. On her next venture on the open sea she foundered off Cape Hat-teras in a gale of wind (December 29th). During her career of less than a year she had no fewer thah five different commanders; but it was the fortune of the writer to serve as her only executive officer, standing upon her deck when she was launched, and leaving it but a few minutes before she sank. So hurried was the preparation of the Monitor that the mechanics worked upon her day and night up to the hour of her departure, and little opportunity was offered to drill the crew at the guns, to work the turret, and to become familiar with the other unusual features of the vessel. The crew was, in fact, 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. Of the crew Captain Worden said, in his official report of the battle, “A better one no naval commander ever had the honor to command.”
CONGRESS” FROM HER ANCHORAGE.
Coming, as it did, after a number of disasters in the South and West, it was particularly grateful. Then again, under the circumstances, so little was expected from the navy that this success was entirely unlooked for. So, from one extreme to the other, the most extravagant anticipations were formed of what the ship could do. For instance: the blockade could be raised, Washington leveled to the ground, New York laid under contribution, and so on. At the North, equally groundless alarm was felt. As an example of this, Secretary Welles relates what took place at a Cabinet meeting called by Mr. Lincoln on the receipt of the news. “ ‘ The Merrimac,’ said Stanton, ‘will change the whole character of the war; she will destroy, seriatim, 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.’ He had no doubt, he said, that the monster was at this moment on her way to Washington; and, looking out of the window, which commanded a view of the Potomac for many miles, ‘ Not unlikely, we shall have a shell or cannon-ball from one of her guns in the White House before we leave this room.’ Mr. Seward, usually buoyant and self-reliant, overwhelmed with the intelligence, listened in responsive sympathy to Stanton, and was greatly depressed, as, indeed, were all the members.” . . .
A few days later we went down again to within gun-shot of the Rip-Raps, and exchanged a few rounds with the fort, hoping that the Monitor would come out from her lair into open water. Had she done so, a determined effort would have been made to carry her by boarding. . . .
THE “MERRIMAC” DRIVING THE “
sent for me. I found him at the Naval Hospital, badly wounded and suffering greatly. He dictated a short despatch to Mr. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, stating the return of the ship and the result of the two days’ fight, and directed me to proceed to Richmond with it and the flag of the Congress, and make a verbal report of the action, condition of the Virginia, etc.
I took the first train for Petersburg and the capital. The news had preceded me, and at every station I was warmly received, and to listening crowds was forced to repeat the story of the fight. Arriving at Richmond, I drove to Mr. Mallory’s office and with him went to President Davis’s, where we met Mr. Benjamin, who, a few days afterward, became Secretary of State, Mr. Seddon, afterward Secretary of War, General Cooper, Adjutant-General, and a number of others. I told at length what had occurred on the previous two days, and what changes and repairs were necessary to the Virginia. As to the future, I said that in the Monitor we had met our equal, and that the result of another engagement would be very doubtful. Mr. Davis made many inquiries as regarded the ship’s draught, speed, and capabilities, and urged the completion of the repairs at as early a day as possible. The conversation lasted until near midnight. During the evening the flag of the Congress, which was a very large one, was brought in, and to our surprise, in unfolding it, we found it in some places saturated with blood. On this discovery it was quickly rolled up and sent to the Navy Department, where it remained during the war; it doubtless burned with that building when Richmond was evacuated.
The news of our victory was received everywhere in the South with the most enthusiastic rejoicing.
LIEUTENANT JOSEPH B. SMITH, U. 8. N.*
Acting Commander of the “ Congress.” From a photograph.
power and efficiency of the ram as a means of offense. The side of the Cumberland was crushed like an egg-shell. The Congress and Minnesota, even with our disabled bow, would have shared the same fate but that we could not reach them on account of our great draught.
It also showed the power of resistance of two ironclads, widely differing in construction, model, and armament, under a fire which in a short time would have sunk any other vessel then afloat.
The Monitor was well handled, and saved the Minnesota and the remainder of the fleet at Fort Monroe. But her gunnery was poor. Not a single shot struck us at the water-line, where the ship was utterly unprotected and where one would have been fatal. Or had the fire been concentrated on any one spot, the shield would have been pierced; or had larger charges been used, the result would have been the same. Most of her shot struck us obliquely, breaking the iron of both courses, but not injuring the wood backing. When struck at right angles, the backing would be broken but not penetrated. We had no solid projectiles, except a few of large windage, to be used as hot shot, and, of course, made no impression on the turret. But in all this it should be borne in mind that both vessels were on their trial trip, both were experimental, and both were receiving their baptism of fire.
On our arrival at Norfolk, Commodore Buchanan
*According to tlie pilot of the Cumberland, Lieutenant Smitli was killed by a allot. His death was fixed at 4:20 p. m. by Lieutenant Pendergrast, next in command, who did not hear of it until ten minutes later. When his father, Commodore Josefili Smith, who was on duty at Washington, saw hy the first despatch from Fort Monroe that the Congress had shown the white flag, he said, quietly, “Joe’s dead! " After speaking of the death of Lieutenant Smith, Lieutenant Pendergrast says, in his official report: “Seeing that our men were being killed without tlie prospect of any relief from tlie Minnesota, . . . not being able to get a single gun to hear upon tlie enemy, and the ship being on fire in several places, upon consultation with Commander William Smith we deemed it proper to haul down our colors.” Lieutenant Smith’s sword was sent to his father hy the enemy under a flag of truce.