Union Monitor 1861–65

Union Monitor 1861-65

CONTENTS

ANGUS KONSTAM II an experienced Olpre~ author with over 20 titlel In print. He has long been associated with the lea, having leNed In the Ro~al Navy, practiled underwater archaeology and curated a maritime museum. Hil understanding of the subject II based on ~earl of study of milrltime history, i1nd Intlmilte knowledge of the leading maritime museums on both Iides of the Atlantic.

INTRODUCTION

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MONITOR DESIGN

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• Gideon Wclk... ;md the Navy DCparlttlCl1l • The first ironclad COlllr~IClS • The JUonitor and "monilor fever" • CaSt:lll< 1 occ- WI ~1 USA.. &n. ..... III Ii'" __

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UNION MONITOR 1861-65

INTRODUCTION The.' populari" of the Chil War as a period ofhi,[ori('" intl'le~1 j .. rcncClcd in ,h(' IhOlI'\.,md'l of IXIOks on the 'IUbicCI. bUI of ,11(',1.:, \'(',"\ re.... cO\'cr am .I.~pc.·iXlh Bureau of Steam Engineering W;L~ added latl'r. For guidance on 'ill"illegic mailers, Welle.. formed a bock referred 10 a'i lilt' U[ockade Str:llegic Board. whik

~nlllp add"cd him on "cienlific i~sm's. An adminiqr.uiw· headed b\' a Chief Clerk covered more 1ll1111d,IIW 11];\11('1" ;lI1d O\cr~aw the llil\'\ \ finances. Both the Senate ami II0ll'C 01 RCPf('~('lHalhc\ maintaincd ,tanding Na\'ll Affairs C.olllllliltl-·C'. \IIJI) ucca...ionalh mct 10 illll-·,tigau.: 11;1\,11 mailer... when required, and h,ld the pO\\'cr 10 curb dt'pannU'lH "pcnding. Welles appoinled bu"inessrnan Cot:orge D. ~Iorgan 10 help the na\') purcha...e alld COrl\er! cidli;Ul ,hips. \Ihilc another oflicc ill NC\I' Yorl.. ~lll)('n'iX'd dealinb~ IX-I\\l·t'll lhe depanlllclll and civilian cOlltl";lc1Or.... 111i" OmCl', hcad(:d 1)\ i\drn;ml Fmnci" Gregor.. ille\'ilabh bccanw dublx..t t -TI1C ~Ionilor IX>..lrd.~ Tile bu,lrd oper.ltl'f.: him on Ill(' ckH'lopmclll of ironclad... although nOll(' of IlwlIl \\,l~ csperl in IM"II cOII~lnl('lion 01' ordnance. For all Iheir lacl.. of cxperiellct.'. il \\.b lhi.., board \1 hich would recommend Ihe con~lruClioll of both lhc ,\lQmtorilnd lilt'" ,\''11' Irmlfldl'5. The n;l',,1 \"rd~ were not l'CI"ipp{'d 10 build ironclad \\.Ir...hip'" 'i.O it \\'aS illC\;table Ihat almo...1 .111 ironclads \\ould be buill undt:'r comr.lCI Il\ privalc ...hip\'ards. G{)\{'J'lHlll'nl polio also dictated that conU'aCb \Iea' awarded 10 Ihl' 100n:...1 tellder. A handful of pri\Crit."Ii 01 ell'CrCt" 11\ Ihe:: go\t'!'mnl'III, Ihe l'nioll munilH1 f1ecl came about .1.'> .1 1"("lIh of COlllllllltl'C' .md clllrl'l)rcl\l·uri.(1 inili.lli\l'. The"t.' na,,,1 and (i\ilt.1Il .I(hi"-·I Ihl...c.' public ~'I'\.IIlIS "nd Ihe'\C dcsignc1"". englllt'l"'" .lIld ill\C·'ll" \\II\lld cUlIlbillt' 10 (h.lll).;(· IIll' course of hi,lon,

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The first Ironclad contracts I'riol" 10 Ill(' Ci\il \\'OI\·crful. I)i~placing mer 4,000 ton", ..he carried an armament of 16 gun". mounit'd in hroad~ide batterie~. Although filted with :l ram bo\\. ~he ,,";IS too under-,xl\lcrcd It, Il~t' it in anger. The eellll;:ll ca~ernale I\,~ prOleclcd b\ up to 1.5 ill('"hl'~ of iron b••ekcd b\ 15 inc he.. of WIX)(1. which mack her illllX'rviou" 10 mo't Confederale shot. Outing her ,IIl,ld, OIl Fon SUlliter ill r\pril IR63. sandlxlb"S were added to prO\ide more pnul'clion IU ht.'r deck. She ~ened as ,\dmiral 011 1'0111'" na,.,.....hip in this b;utlt.-. alld a1thou~h ,m undl'r-pc)\It'red and ,u\·kward \·e~d. her funnidablc lirel>O\ll'r ,tlld Clletl~lliOll 01 Corlfl'dt'l~lle

sho1. Alkr Ix.'ing hil ewer 90 time>; (including 14 hil~ l~lo\\' the w:l1erlinc), I!l.'r crew \\CI"(' unable 10 prc\"('11I ht"r rrom laking in \\~Iler, and ...he edo (mine) a~ "he clllcrt"d ~Iohilc Ba\. The moclilicalion~ incorpoto...'ing t\\l1 ltuTeLS W:'b "ltl'red following the faillirl' of the lwmolt" and the Ci~ma\(_' W;b thl' allern"lIh,--~ '>Ohllion. Th;m B, Simers for stud\" Instead. Simco. de\·t:!oped full)-f1edged plans, men modified these follo\\;ng the attacl: on FOil Sumtcr in Apl;l 1863. Simers \\'LS aU.achcd 10 the ~Ionitor Board in ~c\\' York, and John Lenthall had lillie or no communication \fith it. while Ericsson and Simers fell Olll. and refused to co-opernte on the project. Thc resull was that the p];ms \,'cre approved without serious scnllin\', and $imers ordered the construction of 20 of his light draft monilOrs. and $1'1 million \\d. It \\~l' produced b... pa~sing tlloltl'll iron betl\CCll two Stc"ts of rolll·I.... which fomuxl it illlo f1alllhects, Ahholl/o(h Ihe maximum Ihickness of rolled plate 111 llll' time was 2.5 inche., Ihill ill\ul\'(:d a CO'ith rc monitor CSS (Jllckfljowwas able 10 pound the irOI,c1ad (.$5 Tronn$N inlo submission. DUling thc Battle ofTrenl·S Re:lch fouglll on the J.II11es Rh er in Januan 1865. the t\,;n-turreted monilor L'S~ Ollondagll clearll outclassed the ironcl:td CSS \'i'l.01tllo (II}. Thc \,'eaknt:SS of the ntonilor de\iglls 1;1\ lit their poor bllO'-dn(\ and lacI.. of seaworthiness. Gi\'cn Ihe 1I"f' of 1ll0nilOI'S 10 bobter thc block..'lde nflhe Confederatc CO;bt. il \\,L~ illc\;lablt: th:llllll''', while lhe USS Tiv'IJIIIMh. lhe USS l'nto/JS£O and the L'SS Mi/uxwhl't' \\cl'e Slink aftcr hilling ellctll} toq>cdoc\ (mines). No 1lionitOl \I"~ CH:r IO~1 or ('Wit \crioll~h dmnaged whilt: ill action with an ene"no ironclad, \\ hilt: 11"U Cunfedcl did lhe armored glillho'll L'SS l,(l1nlfl. The 1ll0"t manpOWt'r illlcn,i\'(' of lhe L'nion irondad" was til(' USS S,W frO/wdn. \,hich h.ld;l cOlllp1cTllelll of 460 men. In Iheor,. Ihe USS /{ooPlOk, IMd a full COlllp1elllC111 of :{50. hlll she neVCf recei\'(:-d more Ihan a fr.trlioll nflwr 1'1111 cOlllplelllellllx.'Cau"btequenl

monitors. condition, in the. . lronc:a.d, were probably the wont I" the enli.. ne.l. lHC~

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The Interior I'rout of the USS Mo,lItOl"s berth deck and forward C:lblns, tlken from a plan drawn by ErIc:..on. The «aptaln had a «Ibln and It.taroom forward,

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-.Cllclmlilc power of the sho!. Dahlgren also produCt'd a 10 inch slIlOOlhbore for u~(.· 011 a pivot carriage. and the USS Calma carried four 9 inch Dahlgft'IIS 011 :.irnilar pivot mOlllll'l. de,ignec! 10 lirc out of either side of thc hull. Conventional \\~INhips carried 1I1e'le h'1.IIIS mounted 011 W()(X!c11 "~lal... ill( clI... iage~, a French design 1"ill1 tl\'O li'olll wheels. and these were abo lI~d on board Ihe USS Ni'lIIlmIBidl'~ 1\lollitors fequir{:d special Lfcallllent. and consequent.l), special 'I1iding caniages were developed by .John EriC'~)Il, working in consultat.ion witll DalllgrCll. R

" cross-Hellon ollhe tu.... t of thrI USS MonItor, showing her 11 In. Dah!vren smoolhbMe guns IVn 1_.nI Into their firing position. Her lu....1 lumlng mKh.anlsm w.s Improyeclln subMquent lftOflltor designs.. (HCAl

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This stm_pherle depletion of th4 Interior 01 the USS Moniton tu ....t is • re._bty KCurete _. no. erew are busy ",nnfn9 t"- gun f_ard while. gun e.pt.in behind th4 piec. " snown waiting 10 pull the "nyard .ttached 10 the firing pin, (HeAl

Dahlgrcn was al~J \\orling on dcsiJ{m for 13 inch, I~ inch and 20 inch "moOlhbon'~ \\hclI till' w;tr broll' OUI. lclllbcr. but It.'dmical prnhkm" at lheir foundr} pff.'\cllled tll('lIl app, one of rach of Ih(',,(' m'w gUll" \\~IS Ii 11t.'d i II to Ille turrclS of l'a,~aic c1;tl>s llluniwr, rat ht.'f than tlw 1\1'0 which had l){'ell plalll1ed, '1'111"(' Ei inch gUll' \\eig'hcd 42,000 pound, (21 IIlm), and fired a ~t-\O pOlllld "hell or a ·110 pUUTld wlid ,ho\. The "hecr weight of the gun ;tnd plOjcclile lH'("(',,,ilOIllIder Parrolt riflt:d guns, whik' th(' L'SS .\'flU /roll$ulf'!J \\-;lS armed wilh 1\'0 150 1X>lllldt:I' rillc~ and t\\O ::;0 !>ourl(lcl'~ in addition to ht:r IIMitl Ixllle.... of II inch 1),lhlgrell .,mOOlhbore~, Vnli!..e Dahlgren's gun~ \\hkh wt:re comp1ctd\' rdiahk, P,IITotl rillL'" \\t:r(' occtretcher. GlI1'ied b)' IWO lllen. In action the smoke, noi~ and confusion musl haH.' been indescribable. and it \\,15 e,lS\ for the gttnnen oOicer in charge of the turret to become disorient;:ned. On monitors where the pilothouse was fined o\el' the turret (it remained slatioll:!!) lhrough its aUOlchmem to a Cel1l1';l! spindle). the cOnlrol of the gun \,'as far e'lsier, a~ lite helmsman W:IS able 10 confirm when Ihe gum WC'rt' facing the larget.

John L. Worden, the cllptilin of the USS Monitor, wal the flnt man to command luch II vellel In IIoCtlon, and wal wounded during the engagement with the CSS Vlrvinia. Hil IItteNICtlon report Will cn>clal to the modification 01 lubsequent monllOl" designl. He _ t on to command the USS Monl.uk off Chertelton, and eventullily bee.me an adml ... 1. (HC"')

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Monitors in action Na\.11 officers were unable to draw on any bod)' of tactical experiellce whell lhe \\,;:11' began. The only na\'al lactical manuals ;mlilable which "'ere relevant in an age ofr;:Lpid technological change were ofliule LIst' LO the commanders of Ihe Union monitors. }\II that cOIllIll:llltlers like LiCUll'IMnt John Worden of thc L'SS MomlOr hlruck the III1Tel. lhe shots ,,'ert' ullable to 1X'llelntte the annoI'. To ensure communications bt'lI\cell lhe turret alltl the pilolhouse, Lielltena11l Kl.'ckr ;ll1d a clcrk 1~1I1 back alld furth l.>ctwecll the IWO lucations with messages. After all1lo~t fUllr hOIlI' of lighling. a rilkd ..hell from the l'i'1-";//;a '....Ilck IIIl' MQ//iIQ"'~ pilothouse and exploded. wOllnding Wordell and tl'aring iI\\.I\ part of the proll"Cth'c annoI'. Gret'lle ltOUli look over cOlllln:lIld of the ~hip, but 1)\ that time the l'irgillia had wilhdmwn hack 10 ~ot·folk. The action \\.13 studied b\ other future monitor commandeN. and \,hen the Pa~aic class \(.''''5C; 4 x 15 ill. 'i;IIIO(}lhborl,.'S in IWO IUlTCIS (two guns per IlIITel). Built in various pow. frolll POl'tsmOluh 10 Philaddphia. lhe} wcre laid down bUI Ilever laullched alld 'iCr.lpped while still on the slOcks.

BIBLIOGRAPHY The follo\\'ing rcadil)' amilablc books arc recomnlended for those inlerested in fUrlher rcaditlg on lhe slll~jecl. Canne).'s 1';11(0111\' Nmry contilins i' more extcnshc liMing" of rdC\~ult publications. Calltlq', Donald 1.. 1 UnfO/II:~ Navy: '1111' ShiIJS, Mell ami Orgflllisfi/ion. 186/-65. Cotlwar Maritime Press, 1998 Cantle)', Donald L.. Thr Old .\'11'(11I/ Nml)' [2 volumes], Naval InSlitute Prc"s, 1990 & 199.1 Rush, Kichard (cd.). OJfiria/ Hr(fllrl\' oJ Ihl' V'lioll find C-!mjrd",.all' Nrl1l;ps in tI,,· \1~lr oj tI" /MH'l/iOll [30 mlulllcs I. Govem men I Print ing Onicc. 1895-1921 Siher~lonc. Paul II.. lI'an/II/H oj IIII' Civil I\'ar Nmtips. Na\~,1 Irwilllle Press. 1989

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COLOR PLATE COMMENTARY PLATE A USS Keokuk C. W. Whitney 01 New YorIoI designed thIS unusoaI 1fOf'lC1ad, whtch proved 10 be one of the least successful vessels commIssioned Inlo the Umon fIeel. Whitney was a 10lTnEll" partner of John Ericsson, the desIgoef of the Monrtcx, but he lacked the Swedish engineer's flair lor invention. K&oIwk used an expenmental armor scheme wrth a "sandwich" of 1 in. Iron plates eocloslog a 2 In. inner lay« of wood. secured In vertICal strips 0010 a thin wooden framework. These were then covered With a skin of boiler plate which was less than 0,5 in. thick. Her ordnance was carried in two casemates which resembled turrets, but were in fact immobile. Each carried an 11 In. Dahlgren smoothbore, capable of flrirlg out of three IIxed gunports (two broadside ports and one lacing the bow or stern). She soon proved to be hopelessly

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The design, development, operation and history of the machinery of warfare through the ages.

Union Monitor

1861-65 The nrst seagoing ironclad was the USS l\olol/;(or, and her profile has made her one of the most easily recognised warships of all time. I:ollowing her inconclusive battle with the Confederate

Full color artwork

Cutaway artwork

ironclad \'irgi"itl on March 9, 1862, the production of Union monitors was accelerated and by the end of the year a powerful squadron of vessels was able to challenge Confederate control of ports and estuaries. At the end of the war the US Navy possessed a modern coastal fleet carrying the most powerful artillery afloat. This book covers the design, development and opewtional history of the

illustrations

OSPREY PUBLISHING

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Union's monitor fleet.

ISBN 1-84176-306-3

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