Amarican Civil War - Tumblr Posts
The Monitor and the Merrimso By Tomas Babby
When the rebel commander had sunk the Cumberland,
And the gallant frigate Congress, was burning by his band,
Said he, we'll sink all Yankee ships that keep us in the blockade,
For the Mac is good for every thing that ever Yankee made;
So get a little nearer---
Make ready, boys, and fire,
And we'll play them the tune call'd Virginia never tire.
Ho! pilot, at the lookout! just cast your eyes around,
Ere we sink the Minnesota, that now is fast aground.
The pilot look'd with quizing eye, as loudly he laugh'd
There comes a Yankee cheese-box a-floating on a raft;
Let her get a little nearer,
We'll sink her the first fire,
For we'll play the tune the called Virginia never tire.
And soon the gallant Monitor came down up-on the Mac,
And gave an introduction with a devll of a whack;
She made the monster stagger, the captain was alarmed
To see a Yankee cheese-box with bolts of thunder armed;
Let her get a little nearer,
Animal reserve our fire,
And we'll play the tune the called Virginia never tire.
But Worden, of the Moniter, was not the lest afaird
And heavy were the compliments he to Virginians paid;
He bang'd her fore, he bang'd aft, and broke her iron skin;
He pelted her between the rips and let the daylight in;
Says the rebel to his ire:
Ho! pilot, your a liar,
For the devil's in the cheese box, and the Virginia must retire.
In all my travels at sea I never saw a craft
So dreadful as this cheese-box a-floating on a raft,
For every shot she gives the Mac her iron fabric shakes;
Let us no longer try her,
We cannot stand her fire,
We'll have to play a new tune, Virginia will retire.
Here's to the health to gallant Worden, and all his dauntless crew,
That fought against the the Merrimac and prov'd their courage true;
May the caution give a just reward, nor let them run adraft
Who fought the Yankee cheese-box a-floating on a raft,
And the nation we admire
The patriotic fire
That made them change their tune to the Virginia will retire.
The original article
On the right is Morris Elkins
On the left is Morwenna/Rowen Sprole