“The designer of the ship, John Ericsson, already well known as one of the principal promoters and successful advocates of screw propulsion, and Alban C. Stimers, who was engineer during the fight, and some of the officers, were the recipients of the most extravagant and hysterical demonstrations in the way of hero worship. “An illustration of the effect that this battle had on the popular mind at that time may be found in an address of Bishop Simpson at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. “During the war, frequent addresses were made throughout the country by well-known orators, states-men, and ministers of the gospel, intended to promote a patriotic spirit and encourage the doubtful. “I was present at the Academy of Music shortly after the ‘Monitor’ had been made famous by repulsing the ‘Merrimac,’ when, in referring to Mr. Ericsson, the Bishop stated that ‘the Almighty had directly interposed in the contest between Captain Ericsson and Robert Stephenson in England,’ both of whom had responded to the offer of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company of a premium of £500 sterling for the most improved locomotive engine. This was at the very beginning of the introduction of railways in Great Britain, and the following engine entered for the prize: “The ‘Novelty,’ by Ericsson and Braithwait; the ‘Rocket,’ by Robert Stephenson; the ‘Sans Pareil,’ by Timothy Hackworth, the ‘Perseverance,’ by Mr. Burstall. “Mr. Joseph Harrison states in his book, the ‘Locomotive Engine,’ that ‘the prize was easily won by the “Rocket,” built by George and Robert Stephenson, having fulfilled, in some respects, more than all of the requirements of the trial.’ “Bishop Simpson, in referring to this incident, said that ‘the Almighty had interposed to prevent Captain Ericsson from succeeding there, so that he might become disgusted with England and shake the dust of that country from his feet and depart for America, in order that he might be here ready to save the country.’