Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 20.djvu/23

 The Merrimac or Virginia. 17

EFFECT OF THE ENGAGEMENTS OF MARCH 8 AND 9, 1 862.

Outside of the immediate results of these engagements, the destruc- tion of the frigates Cumberland and Congress, and complete panic in the United States fleet at Fort Monroe, the indirect result of checking the advance of McClellan upon Richmond, by which we were enabled to complete the defences of that city and James river, was one of great moment to the Confederacy. The powerful navies of England and France were brushed aside in a moment. The London Times in a note of warning said: " Out of one hundred and forty-nine first class war- ships we have now but two vessels that it would not be madness to trust to an engagement with that little Moni- tor." Both nations, and other maritime powers, with a speed, inge- nuity and lavish expenditure of money, which is unchecked even at this day, hastened to equip themselves to meet the requirements of modern naval warfare. The whole seaboard of the North went into a panic which lasted for weeks, and gave birth to fears which now seem ludicrous.

Taking with us the fact that the Merrimac was the hasty creation of an extreme necessity, the most unwieldly structure that ever was built, utterly inadequate to float outside the capes of Virginia half an hour in the least seaway, or to live through an ordinary easterly blow in Hampton Roads, one can scarcely repress a smile in reading the Federal telegrams of that day.

WELLES' s SCARE.

Secretary Welles of the United States Navy, reports Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War, as saying in a Cabinet meeting, called in conse- quence of the destruction of the Cumberland and Congress on March 8th : " The Merrimac will change the whole character of the war. She will destroy seriatim every naval vessel. She will lay all cities of the seaboard under contribution. I shall immediately recall Burn- side. Port Royal must be abandoned. I will notify the Governors of States, and the municipal authorities in the North to take instant measures to protect their harbors. He had no doubt but that the Merrimac was at this moment on her way to Washington, and not unlikely we shall have a shell or cannon-ball from one of her guns in the White House before we leave this room." On March Qth Mr. Stanton telegraphed " the Governors of New York, Massachu-