"Monitor Down!" Topic

"The following is the report of Acting Rear-Admiral Lee, U.S. Navy, concerning the loss of the U.S.S. Monitor.

SIR: I submit the following report, based on the reports received by me from Captain Drayton, of the Passaic, Commander Armstrong, of the State of Georgia, Commander Bankhead, of the Monitor, and Commander Trenchard, of the Rhode Island.
Captain Drayton reports that he suffered considerably in the two gales to which he was exposed coming down. On Tuesday, the 30th ultime, at 10 p.m., finding that the Passaic could not stand the thumping of the heavy southwest sea, he directed the State of Georgia to run north and get a lee north of Hatteras, and, had the southwest wind continued, would have come back to Hampton Roads, but meeting the next morning a strong northwest wind was obliged to turn away from it also, which brought him back. He found that the forward armor projection, by thumping into the sea, was gradually making large openings there, through which the water poured in a large stream. Captain Drayton was of opinion that a few hours of a very heavy sea, end on, would go far to rip the whole upper structure from the main body. He expresses it as his opinion that the projections over the fore and aft parts of the monitor vessels render them wholly unfit for the sea.
Commander Armstrong, commanding U. S. S. State of Georgia, which towed the Passaic, reports that when he left Hampton Roads the weather was fine; passed Cape Henry on Monday, 29th ultimo, and steered southward with light westerly wind and pleasant weather. At 9 a.m., Tuesday, 30th, wind changed to S. W., freshened, and made a rough sea. From noon to 4 p.m. the weather was stormy. Saw the Rhode Island towing the Monitor, distant 5 miles S. W. At 5:50 p.m. [Cape] Hatteras light bore W. N. W. From 8 p.m. to midnight there were heavy squalls of wind and rain. At 10:30 p.m. the Passaic made signal to return, at which the State of Georgia changed her course to N. E. to pass Hatteras. At 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 31st ultimo, the Passaic made signal "slowly sinking;" meantime strong breezes, heavy sea, dark rainy weather. At 5 a.m. wind shifted to N. W. At 2 p.m. weather more moderate, Passaic signaled, "Proceed to Beaufort, N. C.;" changed course to southward. Passed Hatteras in first watch, in 11, 13, and 9 fathoms. Thursday, January 1, commenced overcast, with strong northwest wind. Spoke the Columbia at 10 a.m., and learned that the Monitor had foundered on Tuesday night. At 4:30 p.m. the State of Georgia anchored off Beaufort, N. C.
Commander J. P. Bankhead, commanding the Monitor, reports to me that he left the roads on Monday, 29th ultimo, at 2:30 p.m., with light southwest wind, clear, pleasant weather, and every prospect of its continuing so. At 6 p.m. he passed Cape Henry, water smooth and everything working well. The same good weather continued during night and until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, the 30th, when the Monitor felt a swell from the southward and a slight increase of wind from southwest, the sea breaking over the pilot house and striking the base of the tower; speed about 5 knots. Until 6 p.m. the weather was variable, with occasional squalls of wind and rain, with less swell in the afternoon. Bilge pumps were amply sufficient to keep her free. At 7 p.m. the wind hauled more to the southward, increased and caused sea to rise, the computed position being 15 miles south of Cape Hatteras. At this time the Monitor was yawing and towing badly, the vessel working and making more water. The Worthington pumps were set to work and the centrifugal pump got ready. At 8 p.m. the sea was rising rapidly (the Monitor plunging heavily), completely submerging pilot house and at times entering the turret and blower pipes. When she rose to the swell the flat under surface of the projecting armor would come down with great force, causing considerable shock to the vessel. Stopping the Rhode Island, which was towing her, did not make the Monitor ride easier or cause her to make less water, as she would then fall off and roll heavily in the trough of the sea. The centrifugal pump was at length started, the others failing to keep the water down. With all the pumps working well the water continued rising, and at l0 [11] p.m., after a fair trial of the pumps and the water still gaining rapidly, Commander Bankhead made signal of distress, cut the hawser, steamed close to and under the lee of the Rhode Island, received two boats from her, and ordered the crew of the Monitor to leave her, a dangerous operation as the sea was breaking heavily over the deck. The two vessels touched, and, owing to the sharp bow and sides of the Monitor, the Rhode Island was endangered and she steamed ahead a little. At 11:30 p.m. the water was gaining rapidly, though all the pumps were in full play, the engine working slowly and the sea breaking badly over the vessel, making it dangerous to leave the turret. At this time several men were supposed to have been washed overboard; the engines and pumps soon ceased to work, the water having put the fires out. While waiting for return of boats bailing was resorted to. As the Monitor was now laboring in the trough of the sea Commander Bankhead let go the anchor, which brought her head to sea. The vessel filling rapidly, Commander Bankhead ordered the twenty-five or thirty men then left on board to leave in the boats, then approaching cautiously, as the sea was breaking violently over the Monitor's submerged deck. In this position Commander Bankhead held a boat's painter until as many men could get in as the boat could carry. Some men left in the turret, terrified by the peril, declined to come down and are supposed to have perished. Commander Bankhead did not leave his vessel so long as he could do anything toward saving his crew, in which effort he was ably assisted by Commander Trenthard, the officers and crew of the Rhode Island…"
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