out the middle, and a low pyramidal structure pierced with small
sight-holes served to protect the pilot. As I recall her, she
carried two guns forward and three aft on each side, and one or two
at both bow and stern. She had no mast, except a short one at the
stern for the flag. The bow was pointed without curving, and an oak
ram, protected by a heavy iron shoe, extended forward under water.
Her name was changed to the Virginia, but every one spoke of her
still as the Merrimac. One day it was announced that she was ready
to go out, and the next that she was a failure. For weeks reports
of the most conflicting character were in circulation, and no one
could find out anything definite.

"The report of her failure had, however, generally been credited,
when on Saturday morning, March 8, 1862, the news came that she was
going out. It spread like wildfire, and soon every one in the city
was wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement. Slowly she
steamed down the river, looking like a floating shed, and with her
went the Jamestown, the Patrick Henry, and several other vessels
that made up the Confederate fleet. The town was wild; whistles
blew, bells rang, guns were fired, people shouted, the air was full
of flags and hats and cries. Every one who could do so hastened
toward Sewell's Point to see the expected battle. Vehicles of every
description were pressed into service, and those who could not ride
set out to walk through the sand.

"The Congress and the Cumberland rode at anchor a few hundred yards
from shore, and not far away the Minnesota and the Roanoke. These
vessels were a part of the United States blockading fleet. As the
Merrimac drew near, we on the shore could see the preparations
making on the wooden ships to receive their strange foe. The guns
of the Congress roared out, and those of the Cumberland joined in
the chorus, but although fired at short range, their shot fell
harmless from the iron sides of the Merrimac. The flash of cannon,
and the exploding shells, were clearly seen when the smoke would
lift.

"As if in disdain of the puny weapons turned against her, the
ironclad went slowly on till she seemed to bury herself in the side
of the Cumberland. She had rammed the big ship. The guns roared
again and again, but without effect, and lurching forward, the
C