114 Southern Historical Society Papers.
turned to Norfolk for supplies, a squadron, consisting of the Monitor, Naugatuck, and Galena (iron-clads), and five large men-of-war com- menced to bombard our batteries at Sewell's Point. The Merrimac immediately left Norfolk for the scene of conflict. As she approached the squadron at full speed, the Vanderbilt, one of the fastest steamers then afloat, which, we understood, had been fitted with a prow especially for ramming us, joined the other ships. We regarded (.he attack as an invitation to come out, and we expected a most des- perate encounter. Much to the disappointment of our commodore, and greatly to the relief of many others besides myself, as soon as the Merrimac came within range they seemed to conclude that Sewell's Point was not worth fighting about, and all hurried below the guns of Fortress Monroe and the Rip-Raps. The Merrimac pursued at full speed, until she came well under the fire of the latter fort, when she returned to her moorings at the mouth of the river. After the evacuation of Norfolk the Merrimac was taken above Craney Island and blown up, on the nth of May. * * * She (the Monitor) had refused the gage of battle offered her by the Mer- rimac daily since the nth of April.
STATEMENT OF A. B. SMITH, PILOT OF THE CUMBERLAND. (Moore's Rebellion Record, volume 4, page 273.)
The crew of the Monitor say the balls rattled and rang upon both vessels, and seemed to bound off harmless so far as is known neither vessel is damaged. The Merrimac is probably not injured, at least, more than the starting of a plate or so of her iron covering; and her machinery being uninjured, she is probably fit to come out again. It is impossible to keep the Merrimac from coming out. It is im- possible to board the Merrimac. * * * General Wool has ordered all the women and children away from Fortress Monroe, in anticipation of the Merrimac' s reappearance.
Among other authorities cited by the petitioners in support of their claim, is that of James Russel Soley, professor United States Navy, who is the author of a little book entitled "The Blockade and the Cruisers." A careful reading of the official reports of the ever memorable engagement in Hampton Roads, on the 8th and Qth of March, fails to show us that Professor Soley was a participant on either side in that remarkable battle. A glance at the preface to his book, however, enlightens us on some of the extraordinary statements he has made, and which we presume he proposes his readers to accept as authentic history. He says:
For statement of facts reliance has been chiefly placed upon the written accounts, official or unofficial, of those who took part in the
