Of that little band of sailors who manned the Monitor and Merrimac in the famous conflict of March 9, 1862, in Hampton Roads, off the coast of Virginia, but one, so far as is known, survives. He is Captain Isaac H. Walling of Pike County IL. Upon the approach of the fiftieth anniversary of this naval battle, which ended the day of wooden navies, its is interesting to recount the reminiscences of Captain Walling, now in his seventh-fifth year. Captain Walling is a native of Virginia and enlisted with the confederate forces under Captain Magruder. When the Merrimac was completed by the confederates a call for volunteers to man her was issued, and Captain Walling was among those drawn. He will not admit that the engagement was a victory for the Monitor, maintaining that it was a drawn battle.

When Captain Walling went on board the Merrimac she was given another name, that of "Virginia." When the federal forces abandoned the norfolk navy yard, the frigate Merrimac was sunk. Subsequently she was raised by the confederates and given an iron-clad covering upon the hull, which was supposed to be impregnable. Each side was aware of the effort of the other to be first ready for active service. The Monitor, known as the "Yankee cheese box upon a raft," was launched Jan. 30, 1862, at Greenpoint, Long Island, and was built from a model designed by John Ericson, who adopted as the most essential feature of its construction, the revolving gun turret devised by the American inventor, Theodore Timby. The Monitor put to sea on March 6, just 137 days after her keel was laid. Extraordinary energy had been displayed by the builders to meet a grave emergency, the superior sea power of the confederates imperiling the Union nation. The Monitor cost the government $275,000. The events that followed demonstrated that she was worth her weight, almost, in gold.

Captain Walling recalls that the confederate boat was ready first and reached Hampton Roads on March 8, 1862, just one day ahead of the Monitor. As a result of the destruction wrought by the Virginia on March 8, that date is classed as one of the darkest in the history of the United States. The fate of the wooden frigates Minnesota, Cumberland, Congress, all destroyed in a few hours, created consternation through the North. The South was correspondingly elated, and Captain Walling recalls the celebration by the officers and crew of the Virginia and other vessels in honor of the great victory. No one paid much attention to the Monitor, and the arrival of the Ironclad at Hampton Roads at 9 o'clock the evening after the battle attracted little attention. Captain Walling says that the commander of the Merrimac ordered an early start for the second day's work, and it was 6 o'clock in the morning of March 9, 1862, that the Virginia approached the Minnesota, which had grounded the preceding day. The Monitor was anchored alongside of the M innesota, and, when the Virginia prepared for a broadside, the crew of the latter were amazed to see the Monitor steaming toward them.

At close quarters the Virginia brought her bow guns to bear upon the Monitor, but missed, as there was but little to fire at except the low turret. The first reply of the Monitor was a solid eleven-inch shot, which shook the Virginia from stem to stern. Abroadside followed, but without effect upon the yankee boat. Broadside and broadside followed, while the Monitor kept steadily at work attacking the heavy armor of the Virginia and straining her timbers. The commander of the Virginia exhausted every means to win, leaving the Monitor to attack the Minnesota. Then came the final move, ramming the Monitor in the hope of sinking her. When this, too, proved futile, the Merrimac, or Virginia, returned to Norfolk. Captain Walling says that the attempt to ram the Monitor broke the Iron prow of the Virginia and the vessel began to leak. The armor was considerably damaged, the stem twisted, the muzzles of two guns shot away and the steam pipe and smoke stack, riddled. Two men were killed and nineteen wounded on the Virginia during the engagement. The Virginia was placed in dry dock and repairs made. Six of the outer plates were broken.

Ready for service again, the Virginia lefther berth on April 11 and offered battle. Three transports were captured, but the Monitor did not offer to meet the Virginia again. This declination to fight is seized upon by the supporters of the southern side of the argument to insist that the honors were not all with the North. It is further asserted by Captain Walling that the Virginia was ready for battle up to May 8, cruising about between the navy yard and Hampton Roads, but was never again disturbed. Alarmed by the encroachment of the federal forces the confederates decided to abandon Norfolk and destroy the vessels and navy yard. On the night of May 10, the Virginia was set on fire and burned to the the water's edge. Her commander, Commodore Tatnail, was court-martialed, but exonerated. There was intense indignation through the South over the loss of the Virginia.

Captain Walling came to Illinois after the war and settled in Pike County. He is fond of talking about the famous engagement in which he had a share and his recital is a thrilling one. For many years after the battle of the ironclads the survivors held annual reunions, but now all but Captain Walling have passed away.