The Sinking of the Merrimac (Unabridged)

In the twilight of the 19th century, as the Spanish-American War raged, a daring plan was conceived to cripple the Spanish fleet blockading Cuba. Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hobson, a young naval officer, volunteered to lead a mission to sink the battleship Merrimac in the narrow entrance to Santiago harbor. With a crew of seven, Hobson piloted the collier Merrimac into the harbor under heavy fire. As they approached the Merrimac, they were met with a barrage of shells and torpedoes. Undeterred, Hobson rammed the Merrimac, sinking it and effectively sealing off the harbor. This act of heroism and sacrifice changed the course of the war and made Hobson a national hero. The Sinking of the Merrimac is a gripping account of this daring mission, told in Hobson's own words.