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Watching the Merrimac
By R. E. Colston, Brigadier-General, C.S.A.
During the night I had sent an order
to bring down from Smithfield to Ragged Island the twelve-oared
barge that I used when inspecting the river batteries, and at
the first dawn of day I embarked with some of my staff, and
rowed in the direction of the Minnesota, confident of
witnessing her destruction or surrender; and, in fact, nothing
could have saved her but the timely arrival of the anxiously
expected Monitor.
The sun was just rising when the Merrimac,
having anchored for the night at Sewell's Point, headed toward
the Minnesota. But a most important incident had taken
place during the night. The Monitor had reached Old Point
about 10 o'clock; her commander had been informed of the events
of the day, and ordered to proceed at once to the relief of
the Minnesota.
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Battle
of March 9, 1862
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
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As soon as the Merrimac approached
her old adversary, the Monitor darted out from behind the
Minnesota, whose immense bulk had effectually concealed
her from view. No words can express the surprise with which we
beheld this strange craft, whose appearance was tersely and graphically
described by the exclamation of one of my oarsmen, "A tin can
on a shingle!" Yet this insignificant-looking object was at that
moment the most powerful war-ship in the world. The first shots
of the Merrimac were directed at the Minnesota,
which was again set of fire, while one of the tugs alongside of
her was blown up, creating great havoc and consternation; but
the Monitor, having the advantage of light draught, placed
herself between the Merrimac and her intended victim, and
from that moment the conflict became a heroic single combat between
the two iron-clads. For an instant they seemed to pause, as if
to survey each other. Then advancing
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Battle
between the Monitor and the Virginia
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
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cautiously, the two vessels opened fire as soon as they came within
range, and a fierce artillery duel raged between them without
perceptible effect, although the entire fight was within close
range, from half a mile at the farthest down to a few yards. For
four hours, from 8 to 12 (which seemed three times as long), the
cannonading continued with hardly a moment's intermission. I was
now within three-quarters of a mile of them, and more than once
stray shots came near enough to dash the spray over my barge,
but the grandeur of
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Captain
Van Brunt of the USS Minnesota
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
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the
spectacle was so fascinating that they passed by unheeded. During
the evolutions, in which the Monitor had the advantage
of light draught, the Merrimac ran aground. After much
delay and difficulty she was floated off. Finding that her shot
made no impression whatever upon the Monitor, the Merrimac,
seizing a favorable chance, succeeded in striking her foe with
her stem. Soon afterward they ceased firing and separated as
if by common consent. The Monitor steamed away toward
Old Point. Captain Van Brunt, commander of the Minnesota,
states in his official report that when he saw the Monitor
disappear, he lost all hope of saving his ship. But, fortunately
for him, the Merrimac steamed slowly toward Norfolk,
evidently disabled in her motive power. The Monitor,
accompanied by several tugs, returned late in the afternoon
and they succeeded in floating the Minnesota and conveying
her to Old Point.
Go to Main Category:
The Battle of Hampton Roads: March 8 & 9, 1862
Go to other documents in this category:
"The Battle of March 8, 1862" -
H. Ashton Ramsey
"The Men of the Cumberland" -
Rev. R.T.S. Lowell
"In the Monitor Turret" - S.D.
Greene
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