Proposed Correction to "On This Day" historical fact published March 9, 2016

[David Lockmiller]

I sent the following email today requesting correction be made by the NYTimes:

Subject: Correction needed for the historical comment published “ON THIS DAY” March 9, 2016

The New York Times wrote:
On March 9, 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia (formerly Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Va.

It is historical fact that the Monitor chased the Virginia (formerly Merrimac) from the “field of battle” after inflicting severe damage upon the rebel ironclad on Sunday, March 9, 1862. After retreating to the safety of its home base at Norfolk, the Virginia never returned to battle the Monitor. For reference, see the accounts of this historic naval battle by Gustavus V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Captain John S. Worden, commander of the Monitor, and his second in command, Lieutenant Greene, in the book entitled “Recollections of President Lincoln and His Administration,” by L. E. Chittenden, his Register of the Treasury, (Harper & Brothers Publishers), 1891, at pages 222-234.

A particularly relevant portion of Lieutenant Greene’s account reads as follows:
“I kept the Monitor either moving around the circle or around the enemy, and endeavored to place our shots as near her amidships as possible, where Captain Worden believed he had already broken through her armor. We knew that she could not sink us, and I thought I would keep right on pounding her as long as she would stand it. There is really nothing new to be added to Captain Worden’s account. We could strike her wherever we chose; weary as they must have been, our men were full of enthusiasm, and I do not think we wasted a shot.” (Page 232)

[David Lockmiller]

(03-09-2016 07:46 AM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  I sent the following email today requesting correction be made by the NYTimes:

Subject: Correction needed for the historical comment published “ON THIS DAY” March 9, 2016

The New York Times wrote:
On March 9, 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia (formerly Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Va.

It is historical fact that the Monitor chased the Virginia (formerly Merrimac) from the “field of battle” after inflicting severe damage upon the rebel ironclad on Sunday, March 9, 1862. After retreating to the safety of its home base at Norfolk, the Virginia never returned to battle the Monitor. For reference, see the accounts of this historic naval battle by Gustavus V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Captain John S. Worden, commander of the Monitor, and his second in command, Lieutenant Greene, in the book entitled “Recollections of President Lincoln and His Administration,” by L. E. Chittenden, his Register of the Treasury, (Harper & Brothers Publishers), 1891, at pages 222-234.

A particularly relevant portion of Lieutenant Greene’s account reads as follows:
“I kept the Monitor either moving around the circle or around the enemy, and endeavored to place our shots as near her amidships as possible, where Captain Worden believed he had already broken through her armor. We knew that she could not sink us, and I thought I would keep right on pounding her as long as she would stand it. There is really nothing new to be added to Captain Worden’s account. We could strike her wherever we chose; weary as they must have been, our men were full of enthusiasm, and I do not think we wasted a shot.” (Page 232)

There has been a small partial victory for truth in history. How the truth gets conveyed to those readers of the NYTimes that did not read the truth at the time remains a mystery. I received the following reply from the New York Times by email today (March 14, 2016).

Dear David Lockmiller,

Thank you for writing to us regarding the March 9 "On This Day" post. After reading your comment, we have decided to eliminate the words "to a draw" from the post. Now it reads:

On March 9, 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia (formerly Merrimac) clashed for five hours at Hampton Roads, Va.

Thank you.

Michael Gonchar
Deputy Editor
New York Times Learning Network
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Lockmiller <davidlincoln@msn.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 9, 2016 at 7:30 AM
Subject: Correction needed for the historical comment published by NYTimes “ON THIS DAY” March 9, 2016
To: "nytnews@nytimes.com" <nytnews@nytimes.com>

Correction needed for the historical comment published “ON THIS DAY” March 9, 2016
On March 9, 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia (formerly Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Va.

[RJNorton]

Kudos on receiving a response, David!

[Gene C]

Way to go David !

[ELCore]

I think getting them to make any kind of correction is a major victory, even if partial.

[David Lockmiller]

(03-14-2016 09:27 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Kudos on receiving a response, David!

Thank you, Roger, Gene, and ELCore.

Doris Kearns Goodwin carried this mistake to her book "Team of Rivals at page 437. The source of her mistake, according to her notes at page 827, was a New York Times article published on March 11, 1862. [I have not taken the time to verfiy this by reading the actual NYTimes article online.)