Hide Article Text (OCR)
The Monitor and the Merrimac.Admiral John Mars ton, who now ranks second in the line of our naval officers, is a very fair specimen of what nature did for men of his generation. He has carried into the venerable age of 86 the commanding presence, dear eye and unimpaired intellect of youth.Admiral Mars ton’s record is one of faithful and consequently obedient service to. his country in his profession, yet oddly enough his most brilliant service was one of a wise disobedience.The most remarkable, and possibly decisive, naval battle of the war would never have been fought but for his deliberate disregard of instructions.Admiral Marston commanded at Hampton roads. The Merrimac was there ready for active hostilities along the coast, by which defeat to our ordinary naval vessels and terror in all the seaport towns was sure to follow.He received a dispatch from Washington ordering him to send the Monitor, then lying at anchor in the roads, to the defense of the national capital.It was supposed that the Merrimac would immediately attack Washington. If the oapital was destroyed, there was little doubt that the leading European powers would recognize the Confederacy, and it was impossible to estimate the moral effect of such an event.A few moments after the Admiral received his orders the Merrimac hove in sight. Should he obey, send the Monitor away, or order her, unaided, to attack the enemy ? Little time was allowed for reflection. He resolved to disobey. He sent for Capt. Worden.“Ihave been ordered,” he said, “to send you to Washington. But i shall | disobey my instructions. Attack the ! Merrimac. ”“Very well, sir,” said Worden quietly, smiling as he went out to a work which must end for him either in an im- j mortality of fame, or in defeat or death.The victory was won.But we must suggest to our young readers, in spite of this story, that sue- i cess for them lies for years to come in j obedience and discipline. Such crises j as this occur but once or twice in a century, and the men who have, like Marston, wisdom enough to lay their hands upon a desperate chance and steer it in- ; to victory are but few.jThe Adventure* of Prince Vrzahual*coyotl.Ever so many years ago—long before ! white people came to America—there lived, down in what we now call Mexico, a little Aztec Prince named Nezahual-coyotl. A long, funny name, is it not ? j What do you suppose they called him ( “for short?” 1But in spite of such a long name he proved himself, as he grew older, to be one of the bravest Prince ’ and brightestKnru t vlinm Iiist/irv if*\ 1 a uu an X mnr- i
Newspaper Details
Fairfield Evening Journal
Fairfield, Iowa, US
Thu, Feb 23, 1882
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Slippery R.
Slippery Rock, USA 07 Dec 2017
Other Publications Near Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield Daily Journal
Fairfield Journal
Fairfield Ledger
Fairfield Daily Ledger
Fairfield Matrimonial Register St Mary
