munition and supply trains.
Thanks to the superiority of our navy at the time, the movement was
entirely successful. It is true a few sailing crafts, and some armed
rebel vessels showed themselves; but they took refuge up the York,
Pamunkey, Elizabeth and James Rivers, to be afterwards destroyed as the
Union Army advanced.

The writer was at the time on detached service (recruiting) in New York
City; but at the period the advanced vessels of the Flotilla reached the
Peninsula he received orders to rejoin his regiment. Accordingly I left
Albany (depot for recruits) April 11, 1862, in charge of twenty-two men,
eleven for Sixty-Third and eleven for Eighty-Eighth Regiments, reaching
Fort Monroe April 14, by steamer from Washington. I shall never forget
the impression made on my civilian mind as we steamed under the frowning
guns of the weather-beaten Fort, in the gray of the morning. It
impressed me with awe, as the black muzzles of the "War Dogs" bade
defiance in their silent grandeur to rebels in arms and European
enemies, who, at the time, entertained anything but friendly feelings
towards the Republic.

The achievement of the famous _Monitor_ was, at the time, in everybody's
mouth. Your older readers will remember how the "Yankee Cheese-Box," the
gallant Worden in command, put in appearance in Hampton Roads, a day or
two after the finest wooden war ships in the government service were
sent to the bottom, by the guns and ram of the rebel _Merrimac_. When
the saucy, insignificant-looking craft boldly steamed for the victorious
rebel iron-clad, the officers on board could not believe their senses,
never having seen anything like the mysterious stranger before; but when
fire and smoke belched forth from the _Monitor's_ revolving turret, they
were reminded that they had better look to their guns. Not being able to
damage the stranger with their British cannon, the rebel tried the
effect of its powerful ram; but the "cheese-box" divining its
intentions, nimbly got out of harm's way. Its powerful eleven-inch guns
in the turret continued to pound the iron sides of the _Merrimac_, until
the latter thought "discretion the better part of valor," and sought
safety in flight by ascending the Elizabeth River to Norfolk, not before
being badly damaged in the encounter. Notwithstanding the rebel had
numerous guns of the most approved pattern, their shot glanced
harmlessly from the _Monitor's_ revolving turret, the only object
visible