March 13, 1863, The New York Herald
We publish in another column, from our special correspondent, a full account of the bombardment of Fort McAllister, on the Ogeechee river, and of the destruction of the Nashville by the United States gunboat Montauk, commanded by Lieutenant Worden, who has covered himself with glory. It is true that Fort McAllister has not been captured, and a silly shout of exultation has been raised by the rebels; but that was not the object of the expedition. The fort would be of no advantage to us, situated, as it is, on the mainland, where it could be recaptured. The object was to test the strength and capacity of the Monitors, and to train the gunners to actual service in battle; and this has been fully attained. The result has proved that the iron-clads are invulnerable to any guns of the calibre possessed by the rebels – the Montauk having been struck over seventy times without injury – and that even their torpedoes fail to injure those vessels, though raising them a foot out of the water. The practice of the gunners has been admirable, as was evinced by their fire against the Nashville. The fifth shell (an ordinary one) set her on fire and insured her destruction. The coolness, courage and heroism of the commander of the Montauk, who had the honor of commanding the Monitor when she repulsed and baffled the Merrimac, are deserving of all praise; and the success of the new experiment in naval warfare is due as much to Worden as to the qualities of the Monitors. Nothing can be more satisfactory than the results obtained, and the time is not far distant when our iron-clads will give such a report of themselves as will be heard at the ends of the earth.