Ironclad ship battle

[Jim Garrett]

Jerry is correct. The Monitor was a completely revolutionary design. This was the first war ship with a turret. It is technology still in use today. The Monitor was built in response to the news that the Confederates had raised the scuttled USS Merrimack and were turning it into an ironclad war ship (CSS Virginia) based on the floating batteries used in the Crimean War.

The Federal government initially wanted nothing to do with John Ericson's monitor design. Ericson had previously design a heavy Naval gun which burst killing numerous government officials including members of Congress. Asst Sec of the Navy Gustave Fox went to Ericson and said he (Ericson) needed to explain some of the fine points to the Monitor for final approval. When he went before the Naval Design Review Board, he launched into his explanation of how the Monitor worked. When told that they had turned down his plan, Ericson essentially shamed the government into giving him the contract to build the Monitor. It was constructed in something like 120 days.

My Great Great Grandfather was Capt. William Sharp, CSN, Executive Officer aboard the CSS Patrick Henry, a support ship for the Virginia, and his brother Charles, was a gunner on the Virginia.