CHAPTER VIII. THE CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL 161 A Fleet of Seventeen Ships, Carrying 155 Guns, Sent to Take a Harbor that would Make a Convenient Naval Station for the Atlantic Blockaders--There were Two “Exceedingly Well-built Earthworks” “Rather Heavily Armed” Defending the Channel, but one Part of the Squadron Attacked them in Front, another Enfiladed them, and in Less than Five Hours the Confederates Fled for Life--A Heavy Gale Weathered with Small Loss--Interesting Incidents of the Battle. CHAPTER IX. THE _MONITOR_ AND THE _MERRIMAC_ 184 Superior Activity of the Confederates in Preparing for Ironclad Warfare Afloat--Story of the Building and Arming of the _Merrimac_-- She was a Formidable Ship in Spite of Defects in Detail, but her Design was not the Best Conceivable--Origin and Description of the Ship that Revolutionized the Navies of the World--A Wondrous Trial Trip--For One Day the _Merrimac_ was Irresistibly Triumphant--Two Fine Ships of the Old Style Destroyed while she Herself Suffered but Little--The Magnificent Fight of the _Cumberland_--A Difference in Opinions. CHAPTER X. FIRST BATTLE BETWEEN IRONCLADS 214 A Comparison between the _Monitor_ and the _Merrimac_ by the English Standard of 1812--It Astonished the Spectators to See the Tiny _Monitor’s_ Temerity--After Half a Day’s Firing it was Plain that the Guns could not Penetrate the Armor--Attempts to Ram that Failed--The _Merrimac_ A-leak--Captain Worden of the _Monitor_ Disabled when the _Merrimac’s_ Fire was Concentrated on the Pilot-house--Where the _Monitor’s_ Gunners Failed--Fair Statement of the Result of the Battle--Worden’s Faithful Crew--The _Merrimac_ Defied the _Monitor_ in May, but when Norfolk was Evacuated she had to be Abandoned and was Burned at Craney Island--Loss of the _Monitor_. CHAPTER XI. WITH THE MISSISSIPPI GUNBOATS 239 Creating a Fleet for the Opening of the Water Route across the Confederacy--Ironclads that were not Shot-proof, but Fairly Efficient nevertheless--Guns that Burst and Boilers that were Searched by Shot from the Enemy--When Grant Retreated and was Covered by a Gunboat--First View of Torpedoes--Capture of Fort Henry--A Disastrous Attack on Fort Donelson--When Walke Braved the Batteries at Island No. 10--The Confederate Defence Squadron at Fort Pillow--The First Battle of Steam Rams--Frightful Effects of Bursted Boilers--In the White River--Farragut Appears. CHAPTER XII. FARRAGUT AT NEW ORLEANS 311