In early March of 1862, the ironclad ships of both the Confederacy and the Union finally encountered one another and engaged in a naval battle that would forever change naval technology. Even at the time, back in 1862, many people understood that this one encounter was a monumental event. Amazingly enough, one of the perks [...]
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. [...]
We found this little editorial gem in the March 22, 1862 edition of Vanity Fair (page 148, to be precise). Steel Fixings For Ever! The charm is broke of “Heart of Oak” Our ancient naval friend. And Iron we sing, of metals king, That shot nor shell can rend. Ensheathed in steel, from [...]
