![]() It lies upside down and partially buried, its hull badly deteriorated from damage at the time of sinking, corrosive seawater, depth charges during World War II (the Monitor's sonar signature being mistaken for that of a U-boat), and possibly from anchors of fishing boats. Resting at a depth of 235 feet, the Monitor presents a tremendous challenge to archaeologists. The vessel survived its historic battle with the ironclad CSS Virginia (built on the hull of the scuttled wooden warship USS Merrimack), but was lost a few months later when it capsized in a gale off Cape Hatteras. Forced-air ventilation was invented to support the crew, housed below the water line. A revolving armored turret encasing twin Dahlgren guns and a pilot house were the only structures on the vessel visible above water, prompting critics to describe the ship as a "cheesebox on a raft," and a "tin can on a shingle." But the Monitor offered the Confederates a small target and was maneuverable. ![]() Designed in 1861 by John Ericsson, a Swedish naval architect and inventor, the Monitor was the prototype for more than 50 Union steam-powered ironclads built during the conflict. The USS Monitor is probably the best-known example of Civil War era naval ingenuity and current archaeological efforts. The remains of vessels are a significant part of our archaeological heritage and a challenge to underwater archaeologists. The Civil War's naval confrontations are no less dramatic, devastating, or deserving of attention. Like the vast majority of literature on the Civil War, it focused on great land battles, awesome casualties, and larger-than-life personalities, paying less attention to the war's maritime history. ![]() Ken Burns' documentary The Civil War broke all viewing records for a PBS series when it aired in 1990. A side-wheel river steamer, the USS Black Hawk served as theįlagship of the Mississippi River Squadron during the Civil War.
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