Ironclads (1991 TV Movie)

E.G. Marshall: Commdr. Smith

Quotes 

• Abraham Lincoln : [after meeting John Ericsson and viewing the Monitor concept]  Unassuming son of Sweden, isn't he?

  Cmdr. Davis : [sourly]  He didn't mention that a cannon on the Princeton blew up and killed some people.

  Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy : Ericsson designed that cannon, but he had nothing to do with building it. Well, gentlemen? Yes or no?

  Commdr. Smith : We have information from Gosport that the Merrimack will come out of the drydock in four to five months. No one can start from scratch and build us an ironclad in that time except Ericsson. He's promised to deliver us one within ninety days. On that basis, I say yes.

  Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy : Commodore?

  Commdr. Paulding : I agree with Commodore Smith.

  Cmdr. Davis : I say take the thing home and worship it! It resembles nothing on the earth, or in the seas or in the skies, so you can't be accused of idolatry.

  Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy : A simple 'no' would have sufficed, Commander. Mr. President?

  Abraham Lincoln : [studying the Monitor model]  All I can say is what the girl said when she put her foot in the stocking. It strikes me there's something in it.

• [first lines] 

  Narrator : At the beginning of the American Civil War, when Virginia voted to secede from the Union, the United States Navy was forced to abandon Gosport, its finest naval facility. The U.S.S. Pawnee arrived with orders to make certain that nothing of any value was left to fall into Confederate hands, including the pride of the Navy: the 40-gun steam frigate Merrimack.

  Commdr. Smith : Burn every ship that can't be towed! Burn the machine shops, the storehouses...

  Lt. Joe Smith Jr. : What about the drydock, sir?

  Commdr. Smith : Destroy it, completely. One thing we mustn't leave for the enemy is the drydock.