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[112] his State, and caused him to resign his commission and enter the Confederate service.

His gallant service in command of the naval defences of South Carolina and Georgia is detailed, and then follows an account of his command of the iron-clad Virginia (Merrimac) after the wounding of Captain Buchanan. In this exceedingly interesting part of the narrative, official letters and reports of great historic value are given, and it is conclusively shown that the boasted “victory” of the Monitor over the Virginia is all a romance; but that, on the contrary, after the first encounter the Monitor avoided coming to close quarters with her more powerful antagonist, and declined the gage of battle thrown down to her.

The circumstances under which Commodore Tattnall afterwards destroyed the Virginia, to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy, are detailed, and he is fully exonerated from all blame in the premises. His subsequent career in the Confederate service, his life after the war, and his death, are all vividly portrayed — the whole making a book of rare interest and great historic value.

Colonel Jones has done his work admirably, and the general get up of the book reflects great credit on both printers and binders.

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