December 31, 1862. As the rest of the divided nation was preparing for a new year, and to hopefully end the Civil War, the crew of the USS Monitor was fighting for their lives. After getting caught in a storm as they traveled south to Beaufort, North Carolina, the Monitor sank sixteen miles off [...]

Sixteen men. They came from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales & Denmark. And from Connecticut, Maine, New York, Maryland & Virginia. Some were black, others were white. They were officers and enlisted. Some were well-to-do and some had escaped slavery. The youngest was 18, the oldest, 32. But no matter their ages, origins or skin color [...]

From Harper’s Weekly, January 24, 1863   THE MONITOR.   Oh loyal souls, sunk in a noble ship As e’er the waters crossed! What direful tidings ring from every lip— “The Monitor is lost!” Sunk in an instant underneath the wave, With half the crew lost in a watery grave.   And yet not lost. Within [...]

Key: John Bankhead, Captain, USS Monitor Samuel Dana Greene, Executive Officer, USS Monitor William Keeler, Acting Assistant Paymaster, USS Monitor Grenville Weeks, Acting Assistant Surgeon, USS Monitor Joseph Watters, Second Asst. Engineer, USS Monitor George Geer, Fireman, USS Monitor David Ellis, Paymaster’s Steward, USS Monitor Francis Butts, Landsman, USS Monitor Stephen D. Trenchard, Commander, USS [...]

On Christmas Eve 1862, orders came in for the USS Monitor to proceed to Beaufort, North Carolina, then presumably to Charleston, though it was not stated in the orders.[1] On Christmas Day, both officers and crew observed the holiday with both work and festive food and drink. Some of the crew had leave to go [...]

On December 28, 1862, Surgeon Samuel Gilbert Webber of the USS Rhode Island wrote his accustomed letter to his future wife Nancy “Nannie” Sturtevant. The sidewheel steamer Rhode Island was in Hampton Roads, preparing to tow the ironclad USS Monitor to her next assignment – Beaufort, NC. The original letter can be found at The Mariners’ Museum Library [...]

Three men on board the USS Monitor wrote home about their Christmas on the ironclad. First we’ll hear from an officer:   Paymaster William Keeler December 24 1862 – writing home to his wife, Anna:   Following the call of the Master at Arms at my room with his “six bells” &c last evening came Mr. [...]

Our journey through the Monitor‘s logbook ends today. Thomas Stevens turned over command to John P. Bankhead and a new logbook was started on September 12, 1862. That log presumably still lies at the bottom of the sea, along with the Monitor. Remarks Sept 11th /1862   Commences & till 4 With fresh breezes from the N.E [...]

Remarks Sept 10th /62   Commences & till 4 Wind N.E & rain squalls                                                                     Louis Stodder     From 4 to 8 Strong breeze from the N.E & squally weather with showers of rain  at 6 the St[eame]r Morse went up the river                                                                                                    [Not Signed]                                                               From 8 to Meridian Wind N & E[astwar]d  [...]