|
In the Monitor Turret 1
by S.D. Greene
March 9, 1862
Published in "Century", March 1885
It was at the close of this dispiriting
trial trip, in which all hands had been exhausted in their efforts
to keep the novel craft afloat, that the Monitor passed
Cape Henry at 4 P.M. on Saturday, March 8th. At this point was
heard the distant booming of heavy guns, which our captain rightly
judged to be an engagement with the Merrimac,
|
USS
Minnesota
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
|
twenty miles away. He at once ordered the vessel stripped of her
sea-rig, the turret keyed up, and every preparation made for battle.
As we approached Hampton Roads we could see the fine old Congress
burning brightly, and soon a pilot came on board and told of the
arrival of the Merrimac, the disaster to the Cumberland
and the Congress, and the dismay of the Union forces. The
Monitor was pushed with all haste, and reached the Roanoke
(Captain Marston), anchored in the Roads, at 9 P.M. Worden immediately
reported his arrival to Captain Marston, who suggested that he
should go to the assistance of the Minnesota, then aground
off Newport News. As
|
VanBrunt,
commander of the USS Minnesota
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
|
no pilot was available, Captain Worden accepted the volunteer
services of Acting Master Samuel Howard, who earnestly sought
the duty. An atmosphere of gloom pervaded the fleet, and the pygmy
aspect of the new-comer did not inspire confidence among those
who had witnessed the destruction of the day before. Skillfully
piloted by Howard, we proceeded on our way, our path illumined
by the blaze of the Congress. Reaching the Minnesota,
hard and fast aground, near midnight, we anchored, and Worden
reported to Captain Van Brunt. Between 1 and 2 A.M. the Congress
blew up, not instantaneously, but successively; her powder-tanks
seemed to explode, each shower of sparks rivaling the other in
its height, until they appeared to reach the zenith - a grand
but mournful sight. Near us, too, lay the Cumberland at
the bottom of the river, with her silent crew of brave men, who
died while fighting their guns to the water's edge, and whose
colors were still flying at the peak. 3
The dreary night dragged slowly on;
the officers and crew were up and alert, to be ready for any
emergency. At daylight on Sunday the Merrimac and her
consorts were discovered at anchor near Sewall's Point. At about
half-past seven o'clock the enemy's vessels got under way and
steered in the direction of the Minnesota. At the same
time the Monitor got under way, and her officers and
crew took their stations for battle. Captain Van Brunt officially
reports, "I made signal to the Monitor to attack the
enemy," but the signal was not seen by us; other work was in
hand, and Worden required no signal.
|
Wheel
house, USS Monitor
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
|
The pilothouse of the Monitor
was situated well forward, near the bow; it was a wrought-iron
structure, built of logs of iron nine inches thick, bolted through
the corners, and covered with an iron plate two inches thick,
which was not fastened down, but was kept in place merely by
its weight. The sight-holes or slits were made by inserting
quarter-inch plates at the corners between the upper set of
logs and the next below. The structure projected four feet above
the deck, and was barely large enough inside to hold three men
standing. It presented a flat surface on all sides and on top.
The steering-wheel was secured to one of the logs on the front
side. The position and shape of this structure should be carefully
borne in mind.
|
Inside
the USS Monitor's turret
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
|
Worden took his station in the pilothouse,
and by his side were Howard, the pilot, and Peter Williams, quartermaster,
who steered the vessel throughout the engagement. My place was
in the turret, to work and fight the guns; with me were Stodder
and Stimers and sixteen brawny men, eight to each gun. John Stocking,
boatswain's mate, and Thomas Lochrane, seaman, were gun-captains.
Newton and his assistants were in the engine and fire rooms, to
manipulate the boilers and engines, and most
|
Louis
Stodder, Acting Master, USS Monitor
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
|
admirably did they perform this important service from the beginning
to the close of the action. Webber had charge of the powder division
on the berth-deck, and Joseph Crown, gunner's mate, rendered valuable
service in connection with this duty.
The physical condition of the officers
and men of the two ships at this time was in striking contrast.
The Merrimac had passed the night quietly near Sewall's
Point, her people enjoying rest and sleep, elated by thoughts
of the victory they had achieved that day, and cheered by the
prospects of another easy victory on the morrow. The Monitor
had barely escaped shipwreck twice within the last thirty-six
hours, and since Friday morning, forty-eight hours before, few
if any of those on board had closed their eyes in sleep or had
anything to eat but hard bread, as cooking was impossible; she
was surrounded by wrecks and disaster, and her efficiency in
action had yet to be proved.
First
Previous Next
Last
Go to Main Category:
The Battle of Hampton Roads: March 8 & 9, 1862
Go to other documents in this category:
"The Battle of March 8, 1862" -
H. Ashton Ramsey
"Watching the Merrimac" - R.E.
Colston
"The Men of the Cumberland" -
Rev. R.T.S. Lowell
|
![[ Navigation Bar ]](../../resources/navigation.gif){kind=small}