All ashore.
So soon as the
Merrimac had disclosed the object of her attack to be the frigates at Newport News, the Union fleet at
Fort Monroe (the frigates
Minnesota,
St. Lawrence,
Roanoke, and several gunboats)
[
12]
got under way to give aid to their sorely-stricken consorts.
By a coincidence, which is the more singular from its repetition, the
Minnesota grounded one and a half miles to eastward of Newport News, the
St. Lawrence grounded in rear of the
Minnesota, and the
Roanoke further to the eastward still.
In this isolation they could give no aid, and only at the close of the day came under fire.
Lest it should be thought that I purpose a reflection upon the courage of the officers in command of these stranded vessels, I here take occasion to say that their character as officers of skill, experience, and bravery was well established at the time, and suffered no diminution then or thereafter.
‘To point the moral and adorn the tale,’ let me use the language of
Lieutenant John Taylor Wood upon a like occasion: ‘All officers, as far as possible, should learn to do their own piloting.’
The
Merrimac having given the
coup de grace to the
Congress, now, about five P. M., with the
Beaufort,
Raleigh, and
James River fleet, moved down to do battle with the three remaining frigates ashore, and the gunboats.
To do this it was necessary to place the
Merrimac in the north channel, so that close range might be had. The
Minnesota was a sister ship to the
Merrimac and drew about as much water.
It was therefore hoped that, without danger of putting the
Merrimac ashore, she could yet get at such close quarters as to compel a surrender within a short period of time.
When, however, this was attempted the pilots of the
Merrimac declined to take the risk of putting the ship nearer, stating that the condition of the tide and the approach of night made it both difficult and dangerous.
At long range, therefore, the
Merrimac and her attendants opened fire on the
Minnesota and continued the action until the approach of night.
