504

IMPORTANCE OF THE CONTEST.

Throughout the North, one burst of wild enthusiastic delight bore testimony at once, to the terror which the first day's operation of the Merrimac had inspired, and to the gratitude and joy felt for the miraculous deliverance. The name and fame of Ericsson were gratefully cherished by thankful millions, who felt that his genius had saved the nation from dire calamity.

It is difficult to estimate the extent of the mischief which the Merrimac might have done, had her career not been arrested by the timely appearance of the Monitor. The former vessel had shown her invulnerability to our shots on the 8th, the terrific force of her guns, and her irresistible power as a ram. But for the Monitor, we had nothing to check her career; and had she proven sea-worthy, our navy and our cities would have been completely at her mercy.

Her success might have given an entirely new turn to the contest, and arrested the victorious onsets of our fleets upon the rebel coast; and, when aided, as in case of success she doubtless would have been, by the formidable iron batteries then preparing in New Orleans, who can over-estimate the importance to us, of the possession at that time of the Monitor? A favoring Providence, guiding American genius, saved us, and for which a nation's gratitude and thanks were spontaneously rendered.

The Merrimac was so seriously injured in her conflict with the Monitor, as to require some time for repairs, and the lesson taught by the "Monitor" compelled the rebels to add farther and stronger mail to certain portions of the vessel. In this, many weeks were spent.

In the meantime the Government was not idle. The Naugatuck and Galena, new iron clad vessels, had been completed, and were in readiness to join in any new combat. The large and fast steamer, Vanderbilt, had been fitted with ponderous iron prows, and so mailed, that she could be safely used as a

DESTRUCTION OF THE MERRIMAC.

505

ram. The Minnesota had been put in complete trim for the service, and the re-appearance of the Merrimac, was waited for with constant and eager interest. She, however, aware of the formidable preparations made for her reception, and conscious, no doubt, of her inability to cope with it, contented herself, after she had been fully re-fitted, with lying under the guns of the batteries, and occasionally moving out, as a blind, to keep up the impression that she meditated a new attack. Her only purpose now, was to blockade James river, and prevent the ascent of our fleet, to co-operate with the army of Gen. McClellan, in its movements before Yorktown and on the peninsula. This she continued to do, until the decision was made by the rebels to abandon Norfolk, when it was concluded to run her up the river, as far as possible, for the defense of Richmond. Com. Tatnall states that he was deceived by the pilot as to the depth of water; and after so lighting the ship as to raise her unprotected hull out of the water, and thus to render her unfit for action, the pilot informed him that the westerly wind had so lowered the water in the river, that the ship could not then be taken up, as he had intended. The nearness of our fleet decided the Commodore to blow up the vessel, which he proceeded to do. The ship was, therefore, run near the mainland off Craney Island, the crew put on shore, and the vessel fired, a little before five o'clock on the morning of the 11th of May, and after burning for nearly an hour, blew up. Such, in brief, is the statement of the rebel, Com. Tatnall, of the reasons which induced him to destroy the ship. The reader will give them all the weight to which they are properly entitled; remembering, that if not blown up, her capture was certain, and the reasons assigned for her destruction, if not the true ones, are certainly ingenious. Though the terror excited by her first fearful visit had subsided, and the fullest confidence was felt that the preparations made by the Government for her

506

FOUNDERING OF THE MONITOR.

capture and destruction were ample and certain to effect it, yet, when the fact of her destruction became known, there was an evident feeling of relief and gratification. The Monitor foundered at sea early in January, 1863, in a furious gale off Hatteras, being so strained as to sprink aleak. The experiment had proved entirely successful, so far as regarded her efficiency as a battery, but her construction as a seagoing vessel was faulty—a defect which was early seen, and corrected in the other iron-clads, subsequently constructed.

CHAPTER XIX.

SHIP ISLAND EXPEDITION-FORT PICKENS-THE FRENCH LADY-GALVESTON-CAPTURE OF

FORT PULASKI-CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS.

Situation of Ship Island-Force of the Expedition-The Mortar Fleet — Description of Fort Pickens-Its Occupation-Investment-Attack on the Wilson Zouaves-The Punishment - Bombardment of the Enemy's Works -Pensacola Abandoned-Col. Richard Thomas, the French Lady - Bombardment of Galveston-Its Evacuation - Fort Pulaski - The Preparations for Attack-Bombardment and Surrender - The Expedition to New Orleans -Bombardment of the Forts-Passage of the Fleet — Terrific Fight on the River-Surrender of the City and Forts-General Butler's Administration Ship Island, sixty miles from New Orleans, is one of a series of islands forming the southern boundary of Mississippi Sound, an interior communication between Mobile and New Orleans. On the island is found excellent water, and timber and grass on portions of it. The fort and light-house on the island, were destroyed by the Confederates, who, however, commenced fortifications early in July, and held possession of it until the 16th of September, when, under the impression of an attack in force, they abandoned the island. A Federal force was landed upon it on the 17th, by which it was afterwards held. The expedition for the capture of the island, was projected soon after Gen. Butler's return from Hatteras, but owing to differences between him and Gov. Andrew, of Massachusetts, respecting the appointment of field officers, in the regiments which the former was authorized to raise in. that State, the first body of troops for it did not leave Boston until Nov. 19th. The force comprised two regiments of in

508

PORTER'S MORTAR FLEET.

fantry and a battery of artillery, and was commanded by Brig. Gen. John W. Phelps. He proceeded to Fortress Monroe, whence he sailed for Ship Island on the 27th of Nov., and arrived there on Dec. 3d, and occupied the island. He issued a long and an injudicious proclamation, the only effect of which was to create exasperation, as he had no foot-hold upon the main land, and could give no practical effect to his theories. Gen. Butler, the commander of the expedition, had not yet arrived. Additional forces were afterwards sent thither, and the object of the expedition was shown to be one of the steps to the investment and capture of New Orleans.

Porter's Mortar Fleet, so called in honor of its projector and commander, Com. Porter, was fitted out at Brooklyn Navy Yard. It consisted of twenty strong schooners, of from two to three hundred tons, re-fitted for the particular service. Each schooner carried a single mortar, weighing eight and one-half tons. The length of the bore was three feet three inches, and the diameter fifteen inches; the empty shells weighed two hundred and twelve pounds. Each schooner also carried two rifled thirty-two pounders. The first rendezvous of the Mortar Fleet was at Key West, whence it proceeded to Ship Island, and participated in the subsequent attack upon the defenses of New Orleans, and on the Mississippi, and which are recorded in connection with those transactions.

Fort Pickens, Florida, commands the harbor of Pensacola, one of the most capacious on the southern coast, and was the seat of the principal naval station in that quarter. The fort is situated at the extreme west end of the Island of Santa Rosa. Opposite Fort Pickens, on the main land, is Fort McRea, a large and strong work, mounting one hundred and fifty heavy guns. Lower down the channel, is Fort Barrancas, which is also a heavy and important work, mounting fifty guns.

On the main land, besides the two works last named, is