THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 35 The expedient adopted was a submarine spur of hammered steel, ten feet long with which she would have reached the hull of the Monitor below her iron cover. Of course the latter floating at the water level and without compartments must have gone down as soon as she fairly made water. But the Monitor would have had new auxiliaries in a new conflict When the Merrimac first came out, as she was seen to make nothing of piercing the Cumberland and sinking that unlucky ship, it had instantly occurred to the federate that in the ab sence of vessels constructed like herself the best means of fight ing her would be to employ large vessels of great speed, which might be brought together to the number of five or six and driven against her as soon as she should make her appearance. The engines of these ships once set in motion, only five or six men would be required to guide them. The men and the ships were ready. Had the Merrimac appeared they would have run down upon her at twice her speed. One at least must have succeeded in striking herbroadside and would have infallibly sunk her, for her cuirass offered no defence against such an attack, or must have run her aboard at the stern and deranged her screw when the Monitor would have had her at her mercy. Other precautions had been taken. A net-work of submarine cordage had been set at the month of the Elizabeth river, and this would probably not have failed to sweep around the Merrimac’s screw and paralyse its working. All these things, but especially the five or six large vessels with steam always up, and always on the watch like a pack of dogs straining at the leash, had brought the confederate authorities to reflection. For my own part, I am perfectly satisfied that if the Merrimac had ventured into the deep water, beyond the shoals which obstruct the entrance of the James and Elizabeth, where her adversaries could get way upon them, she would have gone down in a few moments. The federal officers appreciating the importance of the object aimed at were deter
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