Ironclads (1991 TV Movie)

Phil Whiteway: Cmdr. Davis

Quotes 

• Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : Where is the Monitor?

  Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy : Commodore Smith?

  [Smith wordlessly passes a dispatch to Davis] 

  Cmdr. Davis : The Monitor was last sighted off the Delaware-Maryland border, floundering in the very heavy weather.

  Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : In other words, she may already be at the bottom of the ocean!

  Abraham Lincoln : I'm sure the Monitor is still afloat. I look for her to be the veritable sling with a stone that smites the Merrimack Philistine in the forehead.

  Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : Mr. President, do you really have that much faith in Ericsson's untested experiment?

  Abraham Lincoln : I have that much faith in Providence, which did not create this great Union to see it be destroyed by the invention of a weapon. If the Monitor doesn't stop the Merrimack, something else will. Good night, gentlemen.

• 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.