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Chronology of the USS Monitor
From Inception to Sinking
1862
March and April
Much of March and April is spent awaiting
the reappearance of the Virginia and speculating about
how severely the Confederate ironclad was damaged during the
battle. On March 10, 1862, Lincoln issues an order that the
"Monitor be not too much exposed." Although
unpopular with the ironclad's crew, the order is intended to
ensure that the Monitor does not unnecessarily risk serious
damage in an engagement. Lincoln feels that, as long as the
Monitor guards the mouth of Hampton Roads, the Confederate
ship cannot slip out and attack at other points along the coast.
On two occasions, the Virginia steams into Hampton Roads
and circles, inviting the Monitor to venture back to
their old battle ground. In obedience to Lincoln's directive
not to expose the Monitor unnecessarily, the challenges
go unanswered.
April 11
The crew of the Monitor watch
as the Virginia and her consorts enter Hampton Roads.
The Confederate ironclad moves as far north as Newport News
Point. Unable to entice the Monitor into a fight, the
Virginia fires a few shots toward Fort Monroe and returns
to Craney Island with three Union schooners captured by the
CSS Jamestown.
April 16
The Monitor is visited by Captain
W.N.W. Hewitt of HMS Rinaldo.
May 8
The Monitor and other Union ships
move across Hampton Roads to "test" the Confederate
batteries at Sewell's Point. The Virginia steams out
to attack and just when another battle between the iron ships
seems imminent, the signal to "resume moorings" is
hoisted from the Federal flagship and the entire Union squadron
returns to Fort Monroe.
May 9
President Lincoln visits the Monitor
to meet with Lt. Jeffers and inspect the ship.
May 11
Confederate forces evacuate the Norfolk
area and withdraw toward Richmond. Since the ship draws too
much water to ascend the James River, the CSS Virginia
is destroyed by her own crew. The Monitor visits the
abandoned batteries along the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, and
the Gosport Navy Yard.
May 13
The Monitor receives orders to
proceed up the James River to take part in the "On to Richmond"
expedition. The Monitor will be joined by the navy's
second ironclad, the USS Galena, under Commander John
Rodgers.
May 15
The ironclads Monitor and Galena
and three wooden gunboats begin moving up the James River to
try the approaches to Richmond. Unable to pass obstructions
placed in the river by the Confederates, the ships engage in
a four-hour duel with Confederate battery at Drewry's Bluff.
Commander Rodgers had been ordered to give the Galena
a "fair trial." Determined to do so, he anchors his
ship in the river below the fort and begins shelling the Confederate
fort. The Monitor, unable to elevate her guns enough
to reach the top of the 90-foot bluff, circles in an effort
to draw cannon fire away from the Galena, which has sustained
heavy damage. By the time Rodgers withdraws, his ship has been
hit more than 40 times. Thirteen shot came completely through
the armored dull and the gun deck is strewn with dead and wounded
sailors. Rodgers later grimly comments, "She is not shot
proof." Unknown to Rodgers or the crew of the Monitor,
the Confederate guns on Drewry's Bluff are manned by a familiar
enemy. In addition to soldiers from Colonel Augustus Drewry's
Artillery Company, the Confederate defenders include sailors
from the Confederate Navy's James River Squadron and crewmen
from the CSS Virginia who had been transferred there
after destroying their ship at Hampton Roads.
May - June
After Drewry's Bluff, the Monitor
and the other ships from Rodgers's squadron remain stationed
around City Point. During the Seven Days Battles outside Richmond,
General McClellan's Union army is beaten back. He orders his
transports and supply ships transferred from the York River
to Harrison's Landing on the James River. The Monitor
and the other vessels in Rodgers's squadron are kept in the
vicinity to protect the transports. With the exception of a
failed expedition up the Appomattox River to destroy a railroad
bridge, there is little or no action involving the Monitor.
Go to Main Category:
The Revolutionary Union Ironclad Monitor
Go to other documents in this category:
John Ericsson: Life Before the
Monitor
Report on Ironclad Vessels
Development of the Monitor
Description of the USS Monitor -
S.E.E. Edmonds
Naming of the Monitor
What Circumstances Dictated the
Monitor's Size and Peculiar Construction?
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