Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-01-10
THE LOSS OF THE MONITOR.

lately in command Of the ironclad steamer Moni-
tor, giving the particulars of the unfortunate loss
Of that famous little craft, has been received at
the Navy Department: 9s1
u, s. STEAMER RHODE ISLAND. JAN. ], 1863,
SR have the honor to report to you that the Mon-
ror lett Hampton Roads, in tow OF the United States
Rhode Island the 29th OF December. 1862,
at 80 p NJ wind light at g. W. weather clear and plea
SAINT and every prospect OF It's continuation Passed Cape
Henry at p b., water smooth, and every thing look
ing well
During the night the weather continued the same until
A. NJ. when began to experience swell from the
southwark with slight increase OF the wind from the D
w. the sea breaking over the pilot house forward and
striking the base OF the tower but not with sufficient
force to break it, Found that the packing of oakum
under and around the base OF the tower had oosnsd
somewhat from the working Of the tower as the vessel
pitched aud rolled Speed at this time about five knots
Asceraned from the engineer of the watch that the bge
pumps kept her perfectly Free occasionally sucking
Felt no apprehension at the time.
The weataer during the day, and until r. M was
rabe, with occasional squss OF wind and rain aud to-
wards evening the swell somewhat decreased the bge
the water that penetrated through the sghthoes Of the
pilot house, haws hole, and base Of tower Gall OF which
had been well caulked previous to leaving)
AT 80 the wind hauled more to the south increasing
strength aud causing The to rise Computed position
this time about fifteen miles south Of Cape Hatteras
shoals Found the vessel lowed badly yawng very much
and with the increased motion making somewhat more
water around the base of the tower Ordered engineer
to put on the Worthineton pump bige inject, and get
the centrifugal pump ready and report me Immediately II
he perceived any increase Vt the water
eP. M-The sea, about this time, commenced 10 rise
very rapidly causing the vessel to plunge heavily, COM
pletey submergng the piothouse and washing and
into tho turret and at times into the blower pipes OBJ
served that when she rose to the swell the nat under
surface of the projecting arm0r would come down with
great force causing considerable shock to the vessel and
rret thereby oosenng st more the packing around its
base SgnAl,Eed several times to the Rhode Island to
stop 10 order that might ascertain Il by 50 doing she
xn,.id ri1a dpara la
could perceive difference, the vessel falling of imme-
datey into the trough Of the and rolling hoavAy The
engineer at this time reported that 1t would be necessary
to start the centrifugal pnmp the Others failed TO keep
the water under Ordered him to do so ns diatey and
report the effect Sea continued to rse the vessel
striking heavily forward The engineer reported that the
pumps were ali working WELL but produced no effect upon
the water which, BY this time had risen several inches
above the level of the engine room noor.
About 10 SOP d., having given the pumps far tIia
and finding the water gaining rapidly upon u.s. deter
mined to make the signal OF DISTRESS which
was Immediately answered by the Rhode Island ranged
up close to her. and reported that the water was gaining
rapidly upon u.s. aud quested her commander to send
boats to take CT the crew Finding that the heavy
Cable to tow the Monitor rendered the vessel
while hanging slack 10 her bow and, be-
ing under the absolute necessity of working the engines to
down close under the lee Of the Rhode Island at times
almost touching her Water continued to gain upon the
pumps and was now above the lash pits"
Two boats reached us from the Rhode Island, when
they would safely carry While getting the men into the
very dangerous operation caued by the heavy sea
breaking entirely the ceck the vessel touched slightly
nearly crushing the boat the Rhode Island
herself as our sharp bow and sides would undoubtedly have
her the waters edge had she struck upon us
heavily The Rhode Island steamed slightly ahead, and
the vessels separated short SARGE
At $780, my engines working slowly and al the pumps
10 full play but waer gaining rapidly Sea very heavy
and breaking ely the rendering extremely
hazardous to leave the urre IN fact several men were
supposed to have been washed overheard at the time
While waiting for the boats to return the engineer re-
ported thar the engines had ceased work. and shortly
after all the pumps stopped aso the water putting out
the fires and having NJ pressure of steam baipg party
been previously organized lot much with any hope
of diminishing the water but occupation for the
The engine being stopped and no longer able to keep
the vessel head to seashe having fallen of into the trough
and rolling so heavily as to render 1t Impossible Tor beats
to approach usI ordered the anchor to be let and all
hs chain given her in hopes that it might bring her up
Fortunately it did and she once more swung round
head to wind.
By this time finding the vessel filing rapidly and the
deck level with the water. ordered s the men let
board to leave the turet and eDdeavor to get into the
two boats which were then approaching us think at
that time there about twenty-five or thirty men ON
board
The boats approached very cautiously as the sea was
breaking upon submerged deck with violence
washing several men overheard, of whom after
wards picked up by the boats secured the painter Of
one of the ats (Which by the OF its pro
vented from striking the side) and made many get into
ner as she would safely mold IN the hedvy sea mat was
running There several still left upon and in the
turret who, either sloped by fear fearful of being
washed overheard in the attempt reach the boats would
not come down. and supposed to have gone down in
the vessel.
Feeling that had done every thing in my power to
the vessel and jumped into the already deeply
laden boat and left the Monitor, whose heavy sugei,h
motion gave evidence that che could feat but short time
longer Shortly after reached the Rhode leland she
disappeared.
must testify to the untiriug efforts aud zenl displayed
by Capt Trenchard and hs officers in their attempts to
rescue the Of the Monitor. II extremely
hazardous undertaking. rendered particularly by the
heavy and the difficulty in approaching the Monitor
While regrettng those that lost it is still matter
of congratulat0n that many saved under the cir
cumstances There is some to hope that bost
which still missing may have succeeded in saving those
left board may have reached the vicinity o the yes
sci Ia time to have picked up Of them alter she went
down Upon mastering the officers and crew on board the
Rhode Island four officers and twelve found to
be missing, list Of whom herewith enclose as we'll as
the report Of Scond Assistant Engineer Waters acting
chief engineer.
sm firmly Of the opinion that the Monitor must have
sprung leak somewhere in the forward part where the
hull joins to the armor and that it caused by the
heavy shocks received she came down upon the sea
The bilgepumps alone, up to p NJ, had easily kept her
free and when found that all her pumps short time
after with minimum capacity OF two thousand gallons per
minute not only failed to diminish the water but, the
contrary made percepLble charge In lite gradual in
crease must t. tho concuson that there at
least good grounds for my opinion.
Before closing my report must testify to the GOODNESS
prompt Obedience and absence OF any approach panic
the part of the officer and with but few exceptions on
and t must be ADMITTEDLY under circumsa that were
well calculated to appal the boldest heart would beg
leave to cs the attention of the Admiral and Of the Depart
ment TO the particularly gord conduct of Lieut. Greene