Talk:USS Merrimack (1855)

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Untitled
Someone needs to make note of the fact that the Merrimack was historically known as the Merrimac, just as the earlier spelling of the Merrimack River is Merrimac River, which is still used today in some instances.

You'll notice this in all of the historical documents relating to the river and to the warship.--AaronS 18:23, 30 May 2005 (UTC)


 * Everything I've seen is that it went the other way: that the final "k" was dropped. --Carnildo 23:05, 30 May 2005 (UTC)

Nope. Merrimac is the original spelling, and the k came later. I live in the Town of Merrimac, which was named after the Merrimac River, which the USS Merrimac/k is also named after. Today, the Merrimac River is known as the Merrimack River.--AaronS 00:22, 31 May 2005 (UTC)


 * "Before, during and after the Civil War, Merrimack's name was often incorrectly spelled "Merrimac". She should not be confused with the Civil War's actual USS Merrimac, which served in 1864-65." http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/merimak2.htm The Merrimac that was named after your river was another ship, not this one. 69.106.137.113 (talk) 01:12, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

"My Great-Great-Grandfather was the Third Assistant Engineer on the "Merrimac" when she was initially commissioned. My family possesses more than one original 1855-1856 document wherein the "Merrimac" is mentioned and spelled as I have indicated.

The following transcriptions demonstate that the officers serving on the Merrimac in 1857 felt that her name was spelled "Merrimac". (letters of recommendation from officers of the Merrimac to my gt-gt-grandfather, Charles Schroeder).

US Steam Frigate Merrimac Boston Harbor April 7th 1857 Sir Your attention to duties in the Fire room, and general attention to other duties connected with the Department together with your Officer like and gentlemanly deportment has met with my entire approbation. I am respectfully yours Robert H. Long Chief Engineer

US Ship Merrimac Boston April 8th 1857 Sir As you are about to be detached from this vessel, I cannot suffer you to leave without expressing to you me entire approval of your conduct as an Officer and a gentleman since you have been associated with on duty – of course I am not Engineer enough to give my opinion as to your qualifications in your own particular branch of service, but apart from that, I have not the slightest in hesitation in saying that you have done well, and if this evidence of the fact will benefit you in any way, it will afford me great pleasure. I am Sir: Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt. Geo. W. Harrison 1st Lieutenant

US Steam Frigate Merrimac Boston April 8th 1857 Mr. Charles H. Schroeder, 3rd Assistant Engineer has been attached to the Merrimac, under my command for the last seven months, and I take pleasure in stating that Mr. Schroeder’s conduct, both in connection with his duty as engineer, and an officer, has met my entire approbation. G. J. Pendergrast Captain" ThomasSchroeder (talk) 22:31, 23 August 2012 (UTC)


 * I agree. It's obvious that both versions of the spelling were historically accepted.  It's wrong to claim that one version is erroneous or mistaken.Eregli bob (talk) 04:16, 21 December 2012 (UTC)

An issue which perhaps deserves attention
One curious thing, is that almost any book you pick up about american history or the US civil war,  or books about naval warfare,   refer to the well-known confrontation between "the Monitor and the Merrimac(k)",  being the first confronation between "iron-clad" ships. The thing which is curious about this, is that the Merrimac was captured by the confederacy, virtually rebuilt,  and re-named "Virginia",   the name which it had at the time of the historic battle. Now this seizure and renaming business happened a lot in the old days,  but you don't normally get such an insistence on using the previous owner's name for the ship. I guess in this case, it is because the northerners wrote all the history books, but anyway,  it's strange and perhaps something that should be mentioned in a suitably non-POV way. It is certainly a source of confusion for some people. Eregli bob (talk) 04:14, 21 December 2012 (UTC)

Dead Links
The Bibliography link of '"Merrimack". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History & Heritage Command (NH&HC). Retrieved 1 February 2013' does not lead to a working page.

Place of construction
A contemporary source states that Merrimack was built at the Charleston Navy Yard. Mjroots (talk) 08:26, 26 November 2023 (UTC)