As the _Merrimac_ sheered past the _Monitor_ when trying to ram her, the _Monitor_ fired while the ships’ sides were touching. The shot struck at right angles, and not only broke the armor-plates, but bulged in the wood backing from two to three inches. The concussion made the men in the immediate vicinity bleed at the nose and ears. It happened on the _Monitor_ that a shot which struck the turret about that time disabled Mr. Stodder, but he was thoughtlessly leaning against the turret wall. These were the most effective shots fired on either side during about six hours of steady fighting. The crew of the _Merrimac_ were ordered to board the _Monitor_ at this time, but the ships drifted apart before it could be tried. Meantime the _Merrimac_ had been making occasional efforts to get at the vulnerable _Minnesota_. She had fired not a few shots at her from the off-side battery. One shot exploded the boiler of the tug _Dragon_ alongside, and others made havoc on board the big ship. The _Minnesota_ replied as well as her situation permitted, but without effect. And then the end came when the commander of the _Merrimac_ so far appreciated the condition of affairs as to order his gunners to concentrate their fire on the _Monitor’s_ pilot-house. The result was paralyzing. A shell fired at a range of ten yards struck and burst against a lookout slot through which Captain Worden was gazing. Flaming grains of powder and shreds of iron were driven into his face and eyes. It knocked him across the pilot-house, and blinded and wholly disabled him. The force of the explosion lifted a loose plate that lay on top of the pilot-house, and let in a flood of light. This “caused Worden, blind as he was, to believe that the pilot-house was seriously injured, if not destroyed; he therefore gave orders to put the helm to starboard and sheer off.” “The _Monitor_ retired temporarily from the action in order to ascertain the extent of the injuries she had received.” Worden was helped down from the pilot-house, and Greene was sent for. He found Worden, “a ghastly sight, with his eyes closed and the blood apparently pouring from every pore in the upper part of his face.” Greene helped him to a sofa, where the doctor took charge of him. He believed himself dangerously hurt, but did not lose his fortitude. Greene then went to the pilot-house and took command. [Illustration: The Action between the _Monitor_ and the _Merrimac_. _From an engraving of the picture by Chappel._] During the time that was needed by this change of commanders the _Monitor_ was heading toward Fortress Monroe. Captain Van Brunt “thought it probable she had exhausted her supply of ammunition, or sustained some injury.” Lieutenant Jones and his officers on the _Merrimac_ very naturally supposed that the _Monitor_ had given up the contest. Jones says: