32 THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. next day and finish her work of destruction. But during the night the Monitor arrived. I mint ask to be pardoned for the familiar comparison which 1 am almt to use to give the reader an idea of this singular vessel. Everybody knows the cylindrical Savoy biscuits covered with chocolate paste, which arc a principal ornament of every pastry cook's shop. Let the reader imagine one of these biscuits placed in an oblong plate, and he will have an exact idea of the external appearance of the Monitor. The Savoy biscuit stands for an iron tower pierced ■with two openings through ■which peer the muzzles of two enormous cannons. This tower is made to turn upon its axis by a very ingenious contrivance, in such a fashion as to direct its fire on any point of the horizon. As to the oblong plate on which the biscuit reposes, this is a kind of lid of iron set on at the water level upon the hull which contains the engine, the storage for provisions, and for the crew, and the displacement of the bull supports the whole structure. From a distance the tower only is visible, and this floating tower, so novel in appearance, was the first thing which greeted the Merrimac and her comrades when, on the morning of the J)tb of March, they came back to give the final blow to the Minnesota, which was still ashore, and probably to work further ruin. The two hostile ships, .Jamestown and Yorktown, advanced first, with that, sort of timid curiosity ■which a dog displays when lie comes near an unknown animal. They had not long to wait, two flashes sprang from the tower, and -were followed by the hissing of two 120-ponnd Mills. \o more was needed to send th>- two scouts flying back. The werrimac,' also, at once perceived that there was work ahead, and ran boldly down to meet this unexpected adversary. Then began the duel which has been so much discussed, and which seems destined to bring on so great a revolution in the naval art. From
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