her bow. She was commanded by a gallant and efficient officer, Captain Buchanan. ram at last It was March 8, 1862, when the made her appearance within sight of the Union fleet. The day was calm and very clear, so that the throngs of spectators on shore could see every feature of the battle. With the great ram came three light gunboats, all of which took part in the action, harassing the vessels which she assailed; but they were not factors of importance in the fight. On the Union side the vessels nearest were the sailing-ships Cumberland and Congress, and the steam-frigate Minnesota. The Congress and Cumberland were anchored not far from each other; the Minnesota got aground, and was some distance off. Owing to the currents and shoals and the lack of wind, no other vessel was able to get up in time to take a part in the fight.

As soon as the ram appeared, out of the harbor, she turned and steamed toward the Congress and the Cumberland, the black smoke rising from her funnels, and the great ripples running from each side of her iron prow as she drove steadily through the still waters. On board of the Congress and Cumberland there was eager anticipation, but not a particle of fear. The officers in

command, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Morris, were two of the most gallant men in a service where gallantry has always been too common to

The crews we

need special comment. Proud beyond measure of the flag whos posed of veterans, well trained, self-confid they upheld. The guns were run out, men stood at quarters, while the officers conned the approaching ironclad. The Co

was

the

see the

the first to open fire; and, as her volley men on the Cumberland were astound cannon-shot bound off the sloping as hailstones bound from a win The ram answered, and her rifle-s

of the pane.

ram

tore the sides of the Congress, but for her victim she a med at the Cumberland, and, fir her bow guras, came straight as an arrow at little sloop-of-war, which lay broadside to h

It was an Cumberland

absolutely hopeless struggle. T was a sailing-ship, at anchor, wi

wooden sides, and a battery of light gun Against the formidable steam ironclad, with he rifles and steel ram, she was as powerles

heavy

if she had been a rowboat; and from the mo

Iment the men s

the ram's sides

aw the cannon-shot bound from

they knew they were doomed.

But none of the flinched. Once and again they fired their guns full against the approaching ram,

and in response

received a few shells from the

great bow-rifles of the latter.

Then, forging

ahead, the Merriac struck her antagonist with

her steel

prow, an

the sloop-of-war reeled and

shuddered, and through the great rent in her side the black water rushed. She foundered in a few the last, minutes; but her crew fought her to cheering as they ran out the guns, and sending shot after shot against the ram as backed off after delivering her blow.

the latter

The rush

of the water soon swamped the lower decks, but the men above continued to serve their guns until the upper deck also was awash, and the vessel had not ten seconds of life left. Then, with her flags flying, her men cheering, and her guns firing, the Cumberland sank. It was shallow where she settled down, so that her masts remained above the water. The glorious flag for which the brave men aboard her had died flew proudly in the wind all that day, while the fight went on, and throughout the night; and next morning it was still streaming over the beautiful bay, to mark the resting-place of as gallant a vessel as ever sailed or fought on the high seas.

After the Cumberland sank, the ram turned her attention to the Congress. Finding it difficult to get to her in the shoal water, she began to knock her to pieces with her great rifle-guns. The unequal fight between the ironclad and the wooden ship lasted for perhaps half an hour. By that time the commander of the Congress had been killed, and her decks looked like a slaughterhouse. She was utterly unable to make any im