THE FIRST FIGHT OF IRON-CLADS.
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the Navy, to locate and organize the Naval Academy , and he launched thatinstitution upon its successful career. Under him were as capable a set ofofficers as ever were brought together in one ship. But of man-of-war’s menor sailors we had scarcely any. The South was almost without a maritimepopulation. In the old service the majority of officers were from the South,and all the seamen from the North. $
Every one had flocked to the army, and to it we had to look for a crew.Some few seamen were found in Norfolk , who had escaped from the gun-boatflotilla in the waters of North Carolina , on their occupation by Admiral Grolds-borough and General Burnside. In hopes of securing some men from the army,I was sent to the headquarters of General Magruder at Yorktown, who wasknown to have under his command two battalions from New Orleans , amongwhom might be found a number of seamen. The general, though pressedfor want of men, holding a long line with scarcely a brigade, gave me everyfacility to secure volunteers. With one of his staff I visited every camp, andthe commanding officers were ordered to parade their men, and I explainedto them what I wanted. About 200 volunteered, and of this number Iselected 80 who had had some experience as seamen or gunners. Othercommands at Richmond and Petersburg were visited, and so our crew ofthree hundred was made up. They proved themselves to be as gallant andtrusty a body of men as any one would wish to command, not only in battle,but in reverse and retreat.
Notwithstanding every exertion to hasten the fitting out of the ship, the workduring the winter progressed but slowly, owing to delay in sending the ironsheathing from Richmond. At this time the only establishment in the Southcapable of rolling iron plates was the Tredegar foundry. Its resources were
& The officers of the Merrimac were : Flag-Officer, Algernon S. Garnett; Captain of Marines, ReubenFranklin Buchanan; Lieutenants, Catesby ap R. Thom; Engineers , H. A. Ramsey, acting chief;Jones (executive and ordnance officer), Charles C. Assistants, Tynan, Campbell, Herring, Jack, andSimms, R. D. Minor (flag), Hunter Davidson, John White ; Boatswain, Hasker; Gunner, Oliver; Car-Taylor Wood, J. R. Eggleston, Walter Butt; Mid- penter, Lindsey; Clerk, Arthur Sinclair, Jr.; Vol-shipmen, Foute, Marmaduke, Littlepage, Craig, nnteer Aides, Lieutenant Douglas Forrest, C. S. A.,Long, and Rootes; Paymaster , James Semple; Captain Thomas Kevill, detachment of NorfolkSurgeon, Dinwiddie R. Phillips; Assistant-Surgeon, United Artillery; Signal Corps , Sergeant Tabb.
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Lt. R. L. Blackford , del. March 7, 1862.THE “MERRIMAC,” FROM A SKETCH MADE THE DAY BEFORE dd iron under water.
THE FIGHT. / propeller.