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USS Monitor the Design Came from John Ericsson, a Swedish Born Inventor Who Was Not Well Liked in the Navy

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USS Monitor the Design Came from John Ericsson, a Swedish Born Inventor Who Was Not Well Liked in the Navy USS Monitor The design came from John Ericsson, a Swedish born inventor who was not well liked in the Navy. In his design, Ericsson called for a very shallow draft, raft-like, ship with a revolving gun turret in the middle. Many people doubted that with such an innovative design could even float, and the idea of guns on a revolving turret seemed dubious at best. The design was finally accepted as an experiment however; because, due to its small size, Ericsson's ship (which would soon be named the USS Monitor) could be built more quickly and less expensively than the other designs. Building The Monitor John Ericsson On October 4 of 1861, Ericsson signed a By Mark Weaver. American Civil War contract with the Union Navy to build the Story Monitor for $275,000 (roughly $7.4 million in 2014), with Ericsson being liable for a The USS Monitor was born in a time of full refund if the ship did not prove to be a great uncertainty. In the summer of 1861 success. fear was spreading through the North. News had arrived that the Confederates had raised The Monitor was built in the dockyards of the old USS Merrimac, and were refitting the Continental Iron Works in Greenpoint, her as an ironclad warship. This new ship Brooklyn, New York; and her keel was laid would be called the CSS Virginia, and it was on October 25th. While Continental built the feared that it would be able tear through the hull, Ericsson contracted with DeLamater Union's wooden navy with impunity. Some Iron Works of Manhattan to build the thing had to be done... engines and machinery, and he contract with Novelty Iron Works, also from Finally, in August, the U.S. Congress Manhattan, to build the Monitor's distinctive approved funding to form a Navy board to turret. oversee the construction of ironclads for the Union. The board immediately advertised its When she was launched on January 30, 1862, interest in seeing what designs inventors the Monitor was a completely revolutionary might come up with for, "One or more ship. Her design included more than forty ironclad steam vessels of war... for either inventions patented by Ericsson. Ericsson sea or river service..." could have made a small fortune from his ownership of those patents, but he donated By the fall of 1861, the board had approved them all to the U.S. Government. Due to her three designs for construction. One of those strange appearance, it was said that the new designs was an innovative design for an ship looked like a, "cheesebox on a raft." entirely new type of vessel, and it was only approved because of the insistence of Abraham Lincoln. She ran her first sea trials on February 19th, On March 8, 1862, the Virginia steamed out but due to some minor engine problems, to meet the Union blockade, and wreaked they didn't go too well. The ship had to be havoc in Hampton Roads. She sank two towed to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The Union ships, the USS Congress and USS engine problems were quickly sorted out, Cumberland, and ran a third ship, the USS and the Monitor was commissioned on Minnesota, aground. As night fell, the February 25, 1861, with orders to leave for Virginia withdrew, intending to return in the Hampton Roads, Virginia the next day in morning to finish off the Minnesota. order to defend the Union Blockade against the new Confederate ironclad, CSS Virginia. That evening, under cover of darkness, the Monitor slipped into Hampton Roads and On departure, however, more problems were took up a position alongside the helpless discovered. The steering mechanism had Minnesota. On the morning of March 9th, been improperly installed, and the ship had when the Virginia returned, the Monitor to be towed back to the Navy Yard from went out to meet her, and the historic first repairs. Finally, she was ready to go, and left battle between two ironclads was underway. New York on March 6, 1862, headed to Hampton Roads, Virginia. Little did the ship The two ships hammered away at each other and crew know they would arrive just a few continuously but ineffectually for several hours too late... hours, before the battle ended in a draw. The Virginia returned to Norfolk, and the In Action Monitor remained in Hampton Roads to protect the Union blockade. You can find extensive first-hand accounts of the Battle of Hampton Roads from men on board both the Monitor and the Virginia in my new book War Stories. The Monitor remained with the blockade, and helped keep the Virginia bottled up until her crew was forced to destroy her in May 1862 to keep her from falling into Union hands. After the destruction of the Virginia, pumps could no longer keep up with the the Monitor was freed up to take part in incoming water and they had to abandon other activities for the Union Navy. ship. During the summer of 1862, she took part in Lifeboats from the Rhode Island succeeded the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, but did not play in taking off 47 survivors before the ship much of a part due to the inability of her sank. However, 16 hands (including officers) crew to elevate the guns because of her were lost when the USS Monitor slipped small gun ports. Throughout much of the beneath waves 16 miles southeast off Cape rest of the summer, she patrolled the James Hatteras. River, supporting McClellan's Army of the Potomac during the Peninsular Campaign While the Monitor was gone, the Union against Richmond. In September she was Navy built many more "Monitor " style taken into the Washington Navy Yard for a ships throughout the war, and they played a refit and some repairs. large part in the naval warfare of the Civil War, especially on the rivers. The Monitor's Demise And Legacy The wreck of the Monitor was discovered in 1973, and parts of the wreck have been recovered. The recovered portions of the wreck are being conserved at the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia. You can see live webcams of the Monitor's engine, turret, and guns at the Mariners' Museum USS Monitor Center. 0-0 Allstadt’s Corner, important to John Brown’s Raid, donated to Harpers Ferry National Historical In late December, the Monitor was ordered Park south to take part in the blockade off Charleston, South Carolina. She left Washington on December 29, traveling down the Potomac River, and reached the open sea on December 31. There she was taken under tow by the USS Rhode Island. That night they were caught in a severe storm off of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and the Monitor began to take on water. Her officers and crew worked furiously to save the ship, but eventually the chapters of American history,” American Speakers from the dedication ceremony Battlefield Trust board member Lt. Gen. pose with the signed ceremonial deed. Richard Mills said. “Since 2002 we have NPS Photo/A. Cook joined together with fellow conservation August 17, 2019 groups to add 342 acres associated with the 1862 battle to the park.” Autumn Cook (NPS) &Jim Campi (ABT), The American Battlefield Trust purchased 13-acre site also played major roles the Allstadt’s Corner with an exceptional gift 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry and in early from Elliotsville Plantation, Inc., a grant 20th century regional industrialization from the NPS American Battlefield Protection Program and private donations Nearly 160 years after John Brown raided from individuals. The National Park the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, the Foundation, the State of West Virginia National Park Service (NPS) today Division of Culture & History and the celebrated the addition of 13 acres that help Jefferson County Historic Landmarks tell his story. The American Battlefield Commission provided additional support. Trust purchased property known as Allstadt’s Corner, which includes Allstadt’s “It was particularly rewarding to work with Ordinary, and transferred it to Harpers Ferry the NPS and the American Battlefield Trust National Historical Park. The donation to preserve this unique and fascinating comes during the park’s yearlong 75th historic structure,” Roxanne Quimby, co- anniversary celebration. founder of the Elliotsville Plantation, Inc., said. “I learned a great deal about the era “The events at Allstadt’s Corner shaped our and the story of Allstadt’s Ordinary, and nation,” Superintendent H. Tyrone enjoyed having the opportunity to admire Brandyburg said. “This generous donation to the beautiful landscape of the region. It’s the American people allows the National gratifying to see the culmination of our Park Service to preserve this important place, efforts come to fruition.” its lessons and its stories forever. It’s an honor to be entrusted with its care.” The American Battlefield Trust has protected 542 acres at Harpers Ferry, much Allstadt’s Ordinary, built circa 1790, played of it along Schoolhouse Ridge. Of those 542 an important role in John Brown’s 1859 raid acres, 342 acres have become part of the on the federal arsenal, and the surrounding national park and the rest serve as viewsheds farm saw action during the 1862 Civil War protected through conservation easement. Battle of Harpers Ferry. The Ordinary later 0-0 stood witness as industrialization and mining transformed the landscape in the Monocacy National Battlefield 1900s. Commemorates 400 Years of African American History “The donation of Allstadt’s Corner is just the latest example of the Trust working alongside Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to protect the critical landscapes involved in some of the most dramatic bells on August 25 at 3 p.m.
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