The Words of War

by Donagh Bracken

  Fort Donelson was a major victory for the Union. It was its first significant victory and brought distinction to Grant.

  4

  Hampton Roads

  The Battle That Changed the Nature of Naval Warfare

  AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY

  When, on April 17, 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union, the Confederate Navy took over the Gosport Naval Yard at Portsmouth. They raised several scuttled Federal ships, including the Merrimac.

  On March 8, 1862, the Merrimac, now an armored Goliath of 275 feet and 3200 tons, complete with a brutish ramming device, sailed into Hampton Roads to tackle the wooden-hulled ships of the Blockading Squadron of the Union Navy. It headed straight for the Cumberland. On board the nearby Minnesota, a reporter for The New York Times saw the action up close. In a dispatch worthy of Stendhal, he described the scene:

  “Now she nears the Cumberland sloop-of-war, silent and still, wierd [sic] and mysterious, like some devilish and superhuman monster, or the horrid creation of a nightmare. Now, but a biscuit toss from the ship, and from the sides of both pour out a living tide of fire and smoke, of solid shot and heavy shell. We see from the ship’s scuppers running streams of crimson gore. Now the ram has taken her position bow on, and slowly she moves and horribly upon the doomed vessel. Like a rhinoceros she sinks down her head and frightful horn, and with a dead, soul-rendering crunch she pierces her on the starboard bow, lifting her up as a man does a toy.”

  On the following day, Goliath met David. The Monitor, a fraction of the size of the Merrimac, neutralized the larger ship with a four-hour display of maneuverability, speed, and firepower from its revolving gun turret. The Monitor’s gun turret, which changed naval warfare the world over, is considered one of the most important innovations in warship design.

  Mar. 13, 1862: From the Charleston Mercury THE GREAT NAVAL VICTORY—The Virginia papers teem with additional details of the recent Southern naval victory in Hampton Roads. We collate from various sources the more interesting portions of these accounts. The following graphic narrative of the battle on Sunday (written by an eye-witness), is taken from the Norfolk Day Book of Tuesday.

  The Battle on Sunday

  On Sunday morning faint cannonading was heard below. When the thick vapors that overhung Hampton Roads lifted, Lieutenant Commanding C.A.P.R. Jones got under weigh, and began his attack upon the enemy. At 10 o the steamer Harmony shoved off from the Dock Yard and shot down the harbor. After threading our way through the barriers, and passing the forts, dark, as on the previous day with masses of soldiers of all arms, we saw a strange picture—a picture at once novel and beautiful. The gunboats were lying in line of battle under SewellPoint, with the thick masses of smoke floating lazily above them, firing now and then a shot, while the Virginia, looking grim and mysterious as before, steamed in pursuit of a wonderful looking thing that was justly compared to a prodigious box on a plank, and box being of a Plutonian blackness.

  THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE MERRIMAC AND THE MONITOR AT HAMPTON ROADS ON THE 9TH OF MARCH 1862 (E. SACHSE) LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  The Fight with the Ericsson Battery

  At first we could see the great puffs of white smoke jetting out, now from the Virginia, now from the Minnesota, and at long intervals from the black box. But these white wreathes of smoke blew off to seaward without a sound reaching us, for the wind had now risen, and the warm calm of early morning was succeeded by a piercing Northeaster. Away we went across Craney Island flats, and presently we could hear the guns, louder and louder. But the strange looking battery, with its black, revolving cupola, fled before the Virginia. It was, as somebody said, fighting a ghost. Now she ran down towards Old Point, now back towards Newport News, now approached to fire, and then ran away to load, but evidently fighting shy, and afraid of being put ‘chancery,’ as the pugilists call it, by her powerful pursuer. The projectiles from her great piece of ordnance, a 10 inch solid shot gun, came dancing across the water with a series of short, sharp pops, which made a music more exciting than melodious. Now she overshot the Virginia, and the spray flew more than 30 feet high. Now she shot to this side, now to that. Now she steamed close up, and hit her fairly. In one of these encounters we thought her iron castle had been shot away, but when the smoke cleared away, there it was and the long, plank-like hull in shore again, driving along like the ‘Flying Dutchman.’

  SKETCH PLAN OF THE CSS VIRGINIA (LT. B.L. BLACKFORD, MARCH, 1862) NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER.

  The Virginia Aground

  Meanwhile the Virginia crept up towards the Minnesota, crept up and paused in that mysterious silence which fell upon her at all times—a silence awfully impressive to us aboard the tug. Was she aground? One thought yes. Another could make out that she was moving. A third discovered that it was our forging ahead which imparted to her the apparent motion we had a moment before congratulated ourselves upon. The minutes seemed like hours as we stood watching the noble ship, against which the combined batteries of the Minnesota and Ericsson were now directed. The shot fell like hail, the shells flew like rain drops, and slowly, steadily she returned the fire. There lay the Minnesota with two tugs alongside. Here, there, and everywhere, was the black box. There lay the Virginia, evidently aground, but still firing with the same deliberate regularity as before. Presently a great white column of smoke shot up above the Minnesota, higher and higher, fuller and fuller in its volume, and beyond doubt, carried death all along her decks, for the red tugboiler had been exploded by a shot, and that great white cloud canopy was the steam thus liberated—more terrible than the giant who grew out of the vapor unsealed by the fisherman in the fable.

  SKETCH INBOARD PLANS OF THE USS MONITOR, NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER.

  The Virginia Gain Afloat

  And now the Virginia moves again. There can be no error this time, for we see her actually moving through the water, and can mark the foam at her prow. And, strange to say, these long, painful hours, measuring time by our emotions, are condensed by the unsympathetic hands of our watches into fifteen minutes! At 12 m. she was steaming down for Sewell, while the strange looking battery bore away for the frigate ashore. We steamed down to meet her, mustered all hands, and running close alongside, gave her three cheers—three cheers which came from the bottom of our hearts—which were expressive of praise and thankfulness—of benediction and delight. Her company was mustered on the grating and returned our cheers. We ran in closer, and there was her Commander, Catesby A. P. R. Jones, looking as calm and modest as any gentleman within the jurisdiction of Virginia. The Commodore hailed the ship, heard the reply, complimented the quiet, thoughtful looking man who had managed and fought her from the time Flag Officer Buchanan was wounded up to that moment, and then, with cordially spoken eulogies upon the gallant men on board, we shot ahead.

  The same scene was enacted and re-enacted as she passed each vessel, and, with Flag Officer Forrest in the van, the squadron steamed cautiously along towards the barricades. As the ships grouped against the soft, hazy sky, followed the Virginia, the picture was one never to be forgotten, the emotions excited such as can never be described.

  From The New York Times

  March 11, 1862

  The Battle in Hampton Roads

  Special Dispatch from Washington

  Washington, Monday, March 10 – A gentleman who witnessed the naval engagement in Hampton Roads, on Saturday and Sunday, says that only one man was killed by the shelling of Newport’s News. The fire of our ships had no effect on the Merrimac until the arrival of the Monitor. The Merrimac can do no damage to a vessel or fort, unless within a half mile, on account of the lowness of her guns, which are barely above the level of the water. In a gale she would be powerless.

  NAVAL ENGAGEMENT IN HAMPTON ROADS: THE CONFEDERATE IRON-PLATED STEAMER MERRIMAC (OR VIRGINIA) RAMMING INTO THE FEDERAL SLOOP CUMBERLAND (T. NAST). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  The report of the Monitor’s guns was much heavier than those of the Merrimac’s. Not a man was to be seen on eith
er ship—all being housed.

  One informant says the Merrimac is a “devil,” but the Monitor a little more so—and that unless a gun explodes on the Monitor, she would have the advantages over her adversary.

  The Monitor has the advantage of being all the time broadside on, and able to deliver her fire from any position. Her guns being so arranged that she can rake her own decks, if necessary.

  The Merrimac was struck seventy-five times, but no perceptible effect was produced, though she hauled off and returned to Norfolk. The Monitor was wholly uninjured.

  Washington, Monday. March 10 – P. M. – The Government has no uneasiness about the Merrimac. The Monitor is considered by naval men to have clearly established her superiority in the conflict of Sunday. The Merrimac cannot escape.

  Lieut. WORDEN, who handled the Monitor so splendidly, and who was the only man wounded in the engagement, arrived in Washington to-day, and reported to the Navy Department in person. WORDEN is injured about the eyes, which are closely bandaged, and he has to be led from place to place. He gives many interesting incidents of the fight, and is quite sure that three of his heavy shot penetrated the Merrimac.

  When the news was received in Washington of the Merrimac’s advance, and the havoc she was committing among our war-vessels, there was a burst of indignation against the Navy Department for not having been prepared to meet her.

  It was for the moment forgotten that Congress had made noappropriation to enable Secretary WELLES to build ironplated ships, although he had urged it three months ago, and, if Congress had acted, the iron-plated ships might now be in service.

  Editorial and Historians

  A Panic on a Small Scale – We hope the recent news from Hampton Roads has somewhat reassured the timid souls who were certain, on Sunday night, that the Merrirnac would speedily visit this harbor and lay New York in ashes. Their magnificent project of sinking stone-boats in the channel, for the purpose of keeping her out, may safely be postponed for a few weeks. Naturally enough the exploits of the Merrimac excited some consternation. Her movements were bold and brilliant and if she had met nothing more formidable than the ordinary wooden frigates of our navy, it is not easy to limit the amount of mischief she might have done. But it was absurd to suppose that under any circumstances, she might have been tempted to visit New York. In the first place, it is very doubtful whether she could possibly stand the sea voyage. In the next, there is scarcely one chance in three that she could pass the forts that guard the entrance to the harbor. And in the third place, even if she could get in, it is not easy to see how she could possibly get out. In any event, she is not likely to embark upon such an adventure as a hostile visit to this port; and it is not worth while to destroy the harbor by way of protecting the City just yet.

  What the Historians Say

  The naval battle at Hampton Roads, known also as the Monitor vs. Virginia (Merrimac) and the Battle of the Ironclads, took place on March 8-9, 1862, at Hampton Roads, Virginia, and was the beginning of the Peninsula campaign of March-September, 1862. The Principal Commanders were Lt. John Worden of the U.S. Navy commanding the Monitor and Capt. Franklin Buchanan and Lt. Catesby R. Jones of the Confederate Navy. The estimated casualties were 409 Union and 24 Confederate sailors respectively.

  On March 8, 1862, from her berth at Norfolk, the Confederate ironclad Virginia steamed into Hampton Roads where she met and sank the U.S.S. Cumberland and ran the U.S.S. Congress aground. On March 9, the Union ironclad Monitor arrived to do battle and initiated the first engagement of ironclads in history. The two ships fought each other to a standstill, but the Virginia retired. The results were inconclusive. The neutralizing of the Virginia had an important effect on the continuation of the Peninsula campaign.

  USS MONITOR IN ACTION AGAINST THE CSS VIRGINIA, MARCH 9, 1862 (J.O. DAVIDSON) NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER.

  5

  Shiloh

  The First Union Victory in a Large Land War

  AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY

  Neither The New York Times nor the Charleston Mercury had correspondents at the great battle in the West. Only ten correspondents happened to be there. Franc Wilkie, the Times’ reliable correspondent, had been covering the important Army-Navy joint operation at Island Number Ten. Wilkie was in Cairo, Illinois, when he first heard of the battle from a correspondent for The Cincinnati Gazette.

  The New York Times’ first reportage, however, came from a less direct source, a reprint from another Cincinnati paper, the Cincinnati Daily Times. A reporter for that newspaper, along with one from the New York Herald, a newspaper some considered to be of unscrupulous repute and The New York Times’ biggest competitor, had been at the battle. The morning after, under the pretext of being on General Grant’s staff, both men entered the Army’s telegraph service and got their stories out to their newspapers, virtually scooping all other reporters who had been at the battle.

  Information of the battle to southern newspapers was much slower and less certain. The Charleston Mercury, perhaps spoiled by early Confederate victories in the East, proclaimed it a southern victory before less certain news filtered in. Hermes, the Mercury’s columnist, facetiously claimed in the April 21st edition that they hoped to receive an official report of the battle, which occurred on April 6th and 7th, by the fourth of July.

  Apr.18, 1862: From the Charleston Mercury

  News by Telegraph

  The Great Battle of Shiloh

  Full and Interesting Accounts

  Death of Gen. A. S. JOHNSTON

  General BEAUREGARD’S Despatch

  Richmond, April 7

  The following official despatch was received at the War Department this morning:

  Battlefield of Shiloh

  April 6

  To S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector-General:

  We this morning attacked the enemy in a strong position in front of Pittsburg, and, after a severe battle of ten hours, thanks be to the Almighty, gained a complete victory, driving the enemy from every position.

  The loss on both sides was heavy, including the loss of the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. A. S. JOHNSTON, who fell, gallantly leading his troops in the thickest of the fight.

  Signed

  G.T. BEAUREGARD, General Commanding.

  The Charleston Mercury

  April 11, 1862

  News by Telegraph

  The Latest from the West

  Further details of the Victory at Shiloh

  Chattanooga, April 9

  By passengers on the train this morning from Corinth, we learn that on Monday Gen. BUELL, with an overwhelming force – composed partly of fresh troops and partly of those who had fled in dismay and disorder from before our troops on Sunday, and which he had succeeded in rallying – attacked Gen. BEAUREGARD in his new lines, in advance of the battleground of Sunday. The two armies fought desperately with heavy loss on both sides, yesterday and today, with short intervals of rest.

  Gen. BEAUREGARD, pressed by vastly superior numbers, finally fell back, in masterly style and in good order, to his former position, which is naturally strong and well fortified. Gen. BUELL was expected to renew the attack today, at the head of all the forces under his command.

  General HINDMAN’S leg was shot off. General BRECKINRIDGE won immortal honors. His clothes were shot off and two horses were killed under him. Cols. WILLIAMS and HATTEN, of Arkansas, were killed. Lieut. J. J. JACOBUS, of the Washington Artillery of Augusta, Ga., was killed. Gen. JNO. K. JACKSON, of Georgia, and his staff, are safe.

  The remains of Gen. A. S. JOHNSTON will be brought for temporary interment to Atlanta, where his sister and one or more nieces are sojourning. His wife is in California, and thither, at some future day, his body may be carried for permanent interment.

  PLACE OF PEACE, THE BIBLICAL MEANING OF “SHILOH,” WAS ANYTHING BUT PEACEFUL ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 6, 1862. IN THE BLOODIEST BATTLE OF THE WAR, CONFEDERATE GENERAL ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSON ATTACKED THE UNION ARMY, COMMANDED BY U.S. GRANT, AT PITTSBURG LANDING, TENNE
SSEE. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  The Latest

  Mobile, April 10. The latest intelligence from Corinth says that the enemy are badly whipped. Our loss in killed and wounded is less than 1,000. We took nearly 3,000 prisoners. Their gunboats prevented our troops from making the victory complete. A despatch, dated last night, says that 500 of our cavalry had attacked the enemy, killing many and capturing 48 prisoners. Advices received by the train this morning give positive information that BUELL has been killed. We have also the intelligence that under a flag of truce an armistice of two days had been agreed upon to bury the dead. The enemy only attacked us when they were reinforced; and every time they were beaten back under cover of their gunboats. General PRENTISS told BEAUREGARD that he had 65,000 of the flower of the Federal army, but could not whip 125,000 Confederates. BEAUREGARD replied that he had only 38,000 in the field, and could whip the Federals three to one on a fair field. The 21st Alabama Regiment covered itself with glory; but all behaved nobly. The charges of our troops were irresistible.

  Many uncertain rumors are in circulation. I send only reliable reports.

  The Charleston Mercury

  April 18, 1862

  The Death of General Gladden – It is with a proud yet heartfelt sorrow that the people of this State will have learned the death of their gallant countryman, Gen. GLADDEN, from a wound received on the battle field of Shiloh. Had Gen. GLADDEN done nothing else, his distinguished services to the State during the Mexican war, as leader of the Palmetto Regiment after the fall of BUTLER and DICKINSON – a regiment that shed glory upon our arms – would have entitled him to the gratitude of our people no less than their admiration. Few remain of that noble band, and now its only surviving field officer is gone – but he has fallen as a brave man and a true soldier would fall, stricken at the head of his troops, and in the arms of glorious victory.