Press enter after choosing selection

A War Incident

A War Incident image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
October
Year
1893
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The recent death of Iiear Admiral Melanchthon Smith, U. S. X.. rccalls an incident of the rebellion which has found its u-ay into print before, but which has long been forg-otten, says the New York Tribune. It relates to a namesake and relativo of the deceased, Commodore J. Smith. for many years chief of the bureau of yards and docks. The news of the Merrimac"s arrival in Ilampton Roads and of her first day's fight before she met the Monitor reached Washington on a Sunday atternoon. Tlie telegram was brief, but explicit. The rebel ironclad was in complete control of the Roads. Jlessengers vvere hastily dispatched, summoninij the chiefs of bureaus to a cour.cil at the navy departmcnt. One of these messengers sent in söareh of Commodore Smith found that oliieer on his way home f rom church, and he knew that the commodores only son waa first lieutenant of the ill-fated C ongress. "Commodre." said the man. "there is bad news from Ilampton Roads. The Merrimac has come down from Norfolk, the Minnesota and Roanoke are disabled, the Cumberland sunk, and the Congress is on fire and has surrendered. " "Surrendered? The Congress has hauled down her colors?" repeated the commodore. And, as the messenger confirmed his words. "Tlien my son Joe is dead," said the commodore, simply - and that was all. There have been longer-winded epitaphs, many of thora, luit not every father could be so sure of his son's character as to honor his memory before receiving1 the news of his death with such a tribute as that. ■.!)(.■" was indeed dead, as modest ond as brare a man as ever drew sword in a good cause. Peace bo to liim and to those ■. -ho feil with him! They did their best - they served.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier