And so, she left Brooklyn, bound for Hampton Roads. Unbeknownst to the men on board, the Monitor had new orders that day – to go immediately to Washington, D.C. for the defense of the capital. A vessel had been dispatched to intercept the Monitor and deliver the new orders, but she was already too far away. The orders were instead relayed to John Marston, in command of the USS Roanoke in Hampton Roads. He was to send the Monitor north upon her arrival…
Thursday March 6th
1862
From Midnight to 4 AM, fine clear weather
light breeze from NW Geo. Frederickson
From 4 to 8 AM cold & clear weather
wind from NW J. Webber
From 8 to Meridian, clear & cold weather, wind
from WNW. At 10:30 AM left the Navy Yard
in company with, U.S. Steam Gun boats Currituck
& Sachem, also Steam tug Seth Low.
Louis Stodder
From 12 to 4 PM first part cloudy, latter
part clear, with fresh breeze from Westward
Crossed the bar & discharged the Pilot. At 4
PM, Sandy Hook light bore WNW. Dis-
tance 6 miles, Making 5 knots an hour by Log
Geo. Frederickson
From 4 to 6 PM wind west, weather with
streaked clouds. Course S ½ W. 5 ¼ knots
an hour. 6 P.M. Gun Boats Currituck
& Sachem bore abaft the beam
J. Webber
From 6 to 8 P.M., course S ½ W, 5 ½ Knots
Louis Stodder
From 8 to midnight, fine weather.
At 8:30 made Barnegat-light, beaming
S by W, At 10:15 bore west & at 12
S.S.W. Speed 5 ¼ knots
Geo. Frederickson
