Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/332

 324 Southern Historical Society Papers.

crippled beyond the hope of safety, induced you, by the advice of the lieutenants whom you consulted, to return to Norfolk. I still think, as I then thought, that it was the proper course for you to pursure, and that you had made the best fight of the two days engagement."

FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

Lieutenant Greene, on March I2th, three days after the Sun- day engagement between the ironclads, reported to Secretary Gideon Wells: Captain Worden then sent for me and told me to take charge of the vessel. We continued the action until 12:15 P. M., when the Merrimac retreated to Sewell's Point and we went to the Minnesota and remained by her until she was afloat." Evidently Lieutenant Greene, at the time this report was made, had been relieved of his command, as on page 92, in a report made to Secretary Wells by Captain John Marston, senior officer, dated March n, 1862, this sentence occurs: "I also yesterday ordered Lieutenant Thomas O. Self ridge to command the Monitor, the appointment subject to the approval of Flag Officer L. M. Goldsborough." As the engagement occurred on the pth it would appear from the above that a new commander for the Monitor was appointed the following day, the loth.

That the evidence of Captain Van Brunt, of the Minnesota, does not support the statement of Lieutenant Greene, is shown by this extract: "As soon as she got off she stood down the bay, the little battery chasing her with all speed, when sud- denly Merrimac turned around and ran full speed into her an- tagonist. For a moment I was anxious, but instantly I saw a shot plungs into the iron roof of the Merrimac, which sure- ly must have damaged her. For some time after the rebels concentrated their whole battery upon the tower and pilot-house of the Monitor, and soon after the latter stood down for Fort- ress Monroe, and we thought it probable she had exhausted her supply of ammunition or sustained some injury. Soon after the Merrimac and the two other steamers headed for my ship, and I then felt to the fullest extent my condition."

The language of Captain Van Brunt, although differently expressed, is in substance the same as that of Lieutenants