Editing USS Monitor (section)

==Service==
On 6 March 1862, the ship departed New York bound for [[Fort Monroe]], Virginia, towed by the ocean-going [[tug]] ''Seth Low'' and accompanied by the gunboats {{USS|Currituck|1843|2}} and {{USS|Sachem|1861|2}}.<ref>[[#Baxter|Baxter, 1968]], pp. 266, 286</ref> Worden, not trusting the seal between the turret and the hull, and ignoring Ericsson's advice,<ref name=Konstam40>[[#Konstam|Konstam, 2002]], p. 40</ref> wedged the former in the up position and stuffed [[oakum]] and sail cloth in the gap.<ref>[[#Baxter|Baxter, 1968]], p. 167</ref> Rising seas that night washed the oakum away and water poured underneath the turret, as well as through the [[hawsepipe]], various hatches, ventilation pipes, and the two [[funnel (ship)|funnel]]s, so that the belts for the ventilation and boiler fans loosened and fell off and the fires in the boilers were nearly extinguished over the course of the next day; this created a toxic atmosphere in the engine room that knocked out most of the engine-room crew. First Assistant Engineer Isaac Newton ordered the engine room abandoned and had the able-bodied crew drag the afflicted engine room hands to the top of the turret where the fresh air could revive them.<ref name=Konstam40/> Both Newton and Stimers worked desperately to get the blowers to work, but they too succumbed to the noxious fumes and were taken above.<ref>[[#Baxter|Baxter, 1968]], p. 289</ref> One [[fireman (steam engine)|fireman]] was able to punch a hole in the fan box, drain the water, and restart the fan. Later that night, the wheel ropes controlling the ship's rudder jammed, making it nearly impossible to control the ship's heading in the rough seas. ''Monitor'' was now in danger of [[Shipwrecking|foundering]], so Worden signaled ''Seth Low'' for help and had ''Monitor'' towed to calmer waters closer to shore so she was able to restart her engines later that evening. She rounded [[Cape Charles (headland)|Cape Charles]] around 3:00&nbsp;pm on 8 March and entered [[Chesapeake Bay]], reaching [[Hampton Roads]] at 9:00&nbsp;pm, well after the first day's fighting in the Battle of Hampton Roads had concluded.<ref>[[#Clancy|Clancy, 2013]], pp. 54–57, 74</ref>

===Battle of Hampton Roads===
{{Main|Battle of Hampton Roads}}
[[File:The Monitor and Merrimac.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Painting showing ''Monitor'' engaging ''Virginia'', 9 March 1862|USS ''Monitor'' engaging {{ship|CSS|Virginia}}, 9 March 1862]]

On 8 March 1862, ''Virginia'', commanded by [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] [[Franklin Buchanan]],<ref name=Davis216>[[#Davis96|Davis, 1996]], p. 216</ref> was ready to engage the Union flotilla blockading the James River.{{efn|Buchanan was commander of the Washington Navy Yard when the war broke out.<ref>[[#Holzer06|Holzer, Mulligan, 2006]], p. 70</ref>}} ''Virginia'' was powered by ''Merrimack''{{'}}s original engines, which had been condemned by the US Navy before her capture. The ship's chief engineer, H. Ashton Ramsay, served in ''Merrimack'' before the Civil War broke out and knew of the engines' unreliability, but Buchanan pushed forward undaunted.<ref name=Nelson6>[[#Nelson2009|Nelson, 2009]], p. 6</ref>{{efn|Before setting out to engage the Union blockade Buchanan had quizzed Ramsay and learned of the history of their questionable reliability.<ref name=Nelson6/>}}

The slow-moving ''Virginia'' attacked the Union blockading squadron in Hampton Roads, Virginia, destroying the sail frigates ''Cumberland'' and ''Congress''.{{efn|Serving aboard ''Congress'' was Buchanan's brother, McKean Buchanan.<ref name=Davis216/>}} Early in the battle, the steam frigate {{USS|Minnesota|1855|6}} ran aground while attempting to engage ''Virginia'', and remained stranded throughout the battle. ''Virginia'', however, was unable to attack ''Minnesota'' before daylight faded. That day Buchanan was severely wounded in the leg and was relieved of command by [[Catesby ap Roger Jones]].<ref>[[#Konstam|Konstam, 2002]], p. 13</ref>

Days before the battle a telegraph cable was laid between Fortress Monroe, which overlooked Hampton Roads, and Washington.<ref>[[#Clancy|Clancy, 2013]], p. 60</ref> Washington was immediately informed of the dire situation after the initial battle. Many were now concerned ''Virginia'' would put to sea and begin bombarding cities such as New York while others feared she would ascend the [[Potomac River]] and attack Washington.<ref>[[#Quarstein99|Quarstein, 1999]], p. 75</ref> In an emergency meeting among President Lincoln, Secretary of War [[Edwin M. Stanton]], Secretary Welles and other senior naval officers, inquiries were made about ''Monitor''{{'}}s ability to stop ''Virginia''{{'}}s prospect of further destruction. When the temperamental Stanton learned that ''Monitor'' had only two guns, he expressed contempt and rage as he paced back and forth, further increasing the anxiety and despair among attendees of the meeting. Assurances from Admiral Dahlgren and other officers that ''Virginia'' was too massive to effectively approach Washington and that ''Monitor'' was capable of meeting the challenge gave him no consolation. After further deliberation, Lincoln was finally assured, but Stanton remained almost in a state of terror and sent telegrams to various governors and mayors of the coastal states warning them of the danger.<ref>[[#Baxter|Baxter, 1933]], p. 297</ref><ref>[[#Welles|Welles Diary]], Vol. I, p. 65</ref> Subsequently, Stanton approved a plan to load some sixty canal boats with stone and gravel and sink them in the Potomac, but Welles was able to convince Lincoln at the last moment that such a plan would only prevent ''Monitor'' and other Union ships from reaching Washington and that the barges should only be sunk only if ''Virginia'' was able to make her way up the Potomac.<ref>[[#Welles|Welles Diary]], Vol. I, p. 66</ref>

About 9:00&nbsp;pm, ''Monitor'' finally arrived on the scene, only to discover the destruction that ''Virginia'' had already wrought on the Union fleet. Worden was ordered upon reaching Hampton Roads to anchor alongside {{USS|Roanoke|1855|6}} and report to Captain John Marston; Worden was briefed on the situation and received further orders to protect the grounded ''Minnesota''.<ref>[[#Quarstein99|Quarstein, 1999]], p. 77</ref><ref>[[#Field|Field, 2011]], p. 44</ref> By midnight, under the cover of darkness, ''Monitor'' quietly pulled up alongside and behind the ''Minnesota'' and waited.<ref name=Wagner553>[[#Wagner|Wagner, 2002]], p. 553</ref>

====Duel of the ironclads====
The next morning at about 6:00&nbsp;am ''Virginia'', accompanied by {{ship|CSS|Jamestown||2}}, {{ship|CSS|Patrick Henry||2}} and {{ship|CSS|Teaser||2}}, got underway from [[Sewell's Point]] to finish off ''Minnesota'' and the rest of the blockaders, but were delayed from reaching Hampton Roads because of heavy fog until about 8:00&nbsp;am.<ref>[[#Quarstein99|Quarstein, 1999]], p. 78</ref> In ''Monitor'' Worden was already at his station in the pilot house while Greene took command of the turret.<ref name=Still18>[[#Still|Still, 1988]], p. 18</ref> Samuel Howard, Acting Master of ''Minnesota'', who was familiar with Hampton Roads with its varying depths and shallow areas, had volunteered to be the pilot the night before and thus was accepted, while Quarter Master [[Peter Williams (Medal of Honor)|Peter Williams]] steered the vessel throughout the battle (Williams was later awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for this act).<ref>[[#Field|Field, 2011]], pp. 38, 46</ref><ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], pp. 181, 191</ref> The speaking tube used to communicate between the pilothouse and the turret broke early in the action, so Keeler and Toffey had to relay commands from Worden to Greene.<ref name=Quarstein78>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 78</ref><ref name=Greene/> As ''Virginia'' approached, she began firing at ''Minnesota'' from more than a mile away, a few of her shells hitting the vessel. When the firing was heard in the distance, Greene sent Keeler to the pilot house for permission to open fire as soon as possible; Worden ordered,<ref name=Still18/><ref name=Hoehling155>[[#Hoehling|Hoehling, 1993]], p. 155</ref> "Tell Mr. Greene not to fire till I give the word, to be cool and deliberate, to take sure aim and not waste a shot."<ref name=Hoehling155/>

''Monitor'', to the surprise of ''Virginia''{{'}}s crew, emerged from behind ''Minnesota'' and positioned herself between her and the grounded ship, preventing the Confederate ironclad from further engaging the vulnerable wooden ship at close range. At 8:45&nbsp;am Worden gave the order to fire; Greene fired the first shots of the battle between the two ironclads, which harmlessly deflected off the Confederate ironclad. During the battle ''Monitor'' fired solid shot, about once every eight minutes, while ''Virginia'' fired shell exclusively.<ref>[[#Maclay|Maclay, 1894]], p. 314</ref> The ironclads fought, generally at close range, for about four hours, ending at 12:15&nbsp;pm,<ref>[[#Ward|Ward, Burns and Burns, 1990]], pp. 95, 101</ref>{{efn|Accounts vary, some claim the battle lasted no more than three and a half hours,<ref name=Tucker171/> while some claim as many as five hours.<ref>[[#Varhola|Varhola, 1999]], p. 221</ref>}} ranging from a few yards to more than a hundred. Both ships were constantly in motion, maintaining a circular pattern. Because of ''Virginia''{{'}}s weak engines, great size and weight, and a draft of {{convert|22|ft|m|abbr=on}}, she was slow and difficult to maneuver, taking her half an hour to complete a 180-degree turn.<ref>[[#McPherson|McPherson, 1988]], pp. 373–74</ref>

During the engagement, the controls of the machinery driving ''Monitor''{{'}}s turret spindle began to malfunction, making it extremely difficult to turn and stop the turret itself at a given position, so the crew simply let the turret continuously turn and fired their guns "on the fly" as they bore on ''Virginia''. ''Monitor'' received several direct hits on the turret, causing some bolts to violently shear off and ricochet around inside. The deafening sound of the impact stunned some of the crew, causing bleeding from noses and ears.<ref>[[#Clancy|Clancy, 2013]], pp. 109–111</ref><ref name=leckie211>[[#Leckie|Leckie, 1990]], p. 211</ref> However, neither vessel was able to sink or seriously damage the other. At one point, ''Virginia'' attempted to ram, but only struck ''Monitor'' a glancing blow and did no damage. The collision did, however, aggravate the damage to ''Virginia''{{'}}s bow from when she had previously rammed ''Cumberland''. ''Monitor'' was also unable to do significant damage to ''Virginia'', possibly because her guns were firing with reduced charges, on advice from Commander [[John A. Dahlgren|John Dahlgren]], the gun's designer, who lacked the "preliminary information" needed to determine what amount of charge was needed to "pierce, dislocate or dislodge iron plates" of various thicknesses and configurations.<ref name="Nelson, James L 2005 400 pages"/><ref name=Dahlgren279>[[#Dahlgren|Dahlgren, 1882]], p. 279</ref>{{efn|In a letter of 19 March 1862, to Captain A. A. Harwood, Chief of Bureau of Ordnance and hydrography, Dahlgren emphasized "A subject so important cannot be perfected without much reflection and extensive experiment. But we lack almost the preliminary information indispensable to commence with."<ref name=Dahlgren279/>}} During the battle Stodder was stationed at the wheel that controlled the turning of the turret, but at one point when he was leaning against its side the turret received a direct hit directly opposite to him which knocked him clear across the inside, rendering him unconscious. He was taken below to recover and relieved by Stimers.<ref name=Greene>[[#Green|Greene letter, 1862]]</ref><ref>[[#Maclay|Maclay, 1894]], p. 313</ref>

The two vessels were at such close range that they collided five times.<ref>[[#Ward|Ward, Burns and Burns, 1990]], p. 101</ref> By 11:00&nbsp;am ''Monitor''{{'}}s supply of shot in the turret had been exhausted. With one of the gun port covers jammed shut, she hauled off to shallow waters to resupply the turret and repair the damaged hatch, which could not be fixed. During the lull in the battle, Worden climbed through the gun port out onto the deck to get a better view of the overall situation. ''Virginia'', seeing ''Monitor'' turn away, turned her attention to ''Minnesota'' and fired shots that set the wooden vessel ablaze, also destroying the nearby [[tugboat]] ''Dragon''. When the turret was resupplied with ammunition, Worden returned to battle with only one gun able to fire.<ref name=Field56>[[#Field|Field, 2011]], p. 56</ref>

Towards the end of the engagement, Worden directed Williams to steer ''Monitor'' around the stern of the Confederate ironclad; [[John Taylor Wood|Lieutenant Wood]] fired ''Virginia''{{'}}s 7-inch Brooke gun at ''Monitor''{{'}}s [[pilothouse]], striking the forward side directly beneath the sight hold, cracking the structural "iron log" along the base of the narrow opening just as Worden was peering out.<ref>[[#Field|Field, 2011]], pp. 36–37, 56–57</ref> Worden was heard to cry out, ''My eyes—I am blind!'' Others in the pilothouse had also been hit with fragments and were also bleeding.<ref name=Holzer14>[[#Holzer06|Holzer, Mulligan, 2006]], p. 14</ref> Temporarily blinded by shell fragments and gunpowder residue from the explosion, and believing the pilothouse to be severely damaged, Worden ordered Williams to sheer off into shallow water, where ''Virginia'' with her deep draft could not follow. There ''Monitor'' drifted idly for about twenty minutes.<ref name=Wilson32>[[#Wilson|Wilson, 1896]], p. 32</ref> At the time the pilothouse was struck, Worden's injury was only known to those in the pilothouse and immediately nearby. With Worden severely wounded, command passed to the executive officer, [[Samuel Greene (naval officer)|Samuel Greene]]. Taken by surprise, he was briefly undecided as to what action to take next,<ref name=Holzer14/> but after assessing the damage, soon ordered ''Monitor'' to return to the battle.<ref name=Greene/><ref name=Field56/><ref>[[#Baxter|Baxter, 1933]], p. 294</ref>

Shortly after ''Monitor'' withdrew, ''Virginia'' ran aground, at which time Jones came down from the spar deck to find the gun crews not returning fire. Jones demanded to know why and was briefed by Lieutenant [[John R. Eggleston|Eggleston]] that powder was low and precious, and given ''Monitor''{{'}}s resistance to shot after two hours of battle, maintained that continued firing at that point would be a waste of ammunition.<ref name=Tucker171>[[#Tucker|Tucker, 2006]], p. 171</ref> ''Virginia'' soon managed to break away and headed back towards Norfolk for needed repairs, believing that ''Monitor'' had withdrawn from battle. Greene did not pursue;<ref>[[#Still88|Still, 1988]], p. 7</ref> like Worden, he was under orders to stay with and protect ''Minnesota'',<ref>[[#Holzer06|Holzer, Mulligan, 2006]], p. 101</ref> an action for which he was later criticized.

As a result of the duel between the two ironclads, ''Monitor'' was struck 22 times, including nine hits to the turret and two to the pilothouse. She had managed to fire 41 shots from her pair of Dahlgren guns. ''Virginia'' sustained 97 indentations to her armor from the fire of ''Monitor'' and other ships. Neither ship sustained any significant damage. In the opinion of ''Virginia''{{'}}s commander Jones and her other officers, ''Monitor'' could have sunk their ship had she hit the vessel at the waterline.<ref name="Wilson32"/><ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 79</ref>

Strategically, the battle between these two ships was considered the most definitive naval battle of the Civil War. The battle itself was largely considered a draw, though it could be argued ''Virginia'' did slightly more damage.<ref name=Wilson32/> ''Monitor'' did successfully defend ''Minnesota'' and the rest of the Union blockading force, while ''Virginia'' was unable to complete the destruction she started the previous day. The battle marked a turning point in the way naval warfare would be fought in the future.<ref>[[#Konstam|Konstam, 2002]], p. 7</ref> Strategically, nothing had changed: the Union still controlled Hampton Roads and the Confederates still held several rivers and Norfolk,<ref>[[#Davis75|Davis, 1975]], p. 136</ref> making it a strategic victory for the North. The battle of the ironclads led to what was referred to as "Monitor fever" in the North. During the course of the war, improved designs based on ''Monitor'' emerged; 60 ironclads were built.<ref name=Wagner553/>

====Events after the battle====
[[File:USS Monitor James River 1862.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Officers at right are (left to right): Third Assistant Engineer Robinson W. Hands, Acting Master [[Louis N. Stodder]], Second Assistant Engineer Albert B. Campbell and Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William Flye (with binoculars). ''Monitor'' on the [[James River]], Virginia, 9 July 1862.]]
Immediately following the battle Stimers telegraphed Ericsson, congratulating and thanking him for making it possible to confront the Confederate ironclad and for "saving the day". No sooner than ''Monitor'' had weighed anchor, numerous small boats and spectators on shore flocked around the ship to congratulate the crew for what they regarded as their victory over ''Virginia''. Assistant Secretary Fox, who observed the entire battle from aboard ''Minnesota'', came aboard ''Monitor'' and jokingly told her officers, "Well gentlemen, you don't look as though you just went through one of the greatest naval conflicts on record". A small tug soon came alongside and the blinded Worden was brought up from his cabin while crew members and spectators cheered. He was taken to Fort Monroe for preliminary treatment, then to a hospital in Washington.<ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 71</ref>

Stimers and Newton soon began repairing the damage to the pilot house, and reconfigured the sides from an upright position to a slope of thirty degrees to deflect shot. During this time, Mrs. Worden personally brought news of her husband's progress and recovery and was optimistic, informing the crew his eyesight would soon return but he would be laid up for some time. She also informed them President Lincoln had personally paid Worden a visit extending his gratitude.<ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 97</ref> Worden was later taken to his summer home in New York and remained unconscious for three months.<ref>[[#Still88|Still, 1988]], p. 8</ref> He returned to Naval service in 1862 as captain of {{USS|Montauk|1862|6}}, another ''Monitor''-type ironclad.

The Confederates were also celebrating what they considered a victory, as crowds of spectators gathered along the banks of the [[Elizabeth River (Virginia)|Elizabeth River]], cheering and waving flags, handkerchiefs and hats as ''Virginia'', displaying the captured [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]] of ''Congress'', passed along up the river. The Confederate government was ecstatic and immediately promoted Buchanan to Admiral.<ref>[[#Quarstein12|Quarstein, 2012]], p. 169</ref>

Both the Union and Confederacy soon came up with plans for defeating the other's ironclad. Oddly, these did not depend on their own ironclads. The Union Navy chartered a large ship (the [[sidewheeler]] {{USS|Vanderbilt|1862|6}}) and reinforced her bow with steel specifically to be used as a [[naval ram]], provided ''Virginia'' steamed far enough out into Hampton Roads.<ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 108</ref>

On 11 April, ''Virginia'', accompanied by a number of gunboats, steamed into Hampton Roads to Sewell's Point at the southeast edge, almost over to [[Newport News]], in a challenge to lure ''Monitor'' into battle. ''Virginia'' fired a few shots ineffectively at very long range while ''Monitor'' returned fire, remaining near Fort Monroe, ready to fight if ''Virginia'' came to attack the Federal force congregated there.<ref>[[#Bennett|Bennett, 1900]], pp. 136–137</ref> Furthermore, ''Vanderbilt'' was in position to ram ''Virginia'' if she approached the fort, but ''Virginia'' did not take the bait.<ref>[[#Broadwater|Broadwater, 2012]], p. 88</ref> In a further attempt to entice ''Monitor'' closer to the Confederate side so she could be boarded, the James River Squadron moved in and captured three merchant ships, the brigs ''Marcus'' and ''Sabout'', and the schooner ''Catherine T. Dix''.<ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 109</ref> These had been grounded and abandoned when they sighted ''Virginia'' entering the Roads. Their flags were then hoisted "[[Distress signal#Flags|Union-side down]]" to taunt ''Monitor'' into a fight as they were towed back to Norfolk. In the end, both sides had failed to provoke a fight on their terms.<ref>[[#Anderson|Anderson, 1989]], pp. 77–78</ref>

The [[Confederate Navy]] originally had devised a plan by which the [[James River Squadron]] would swarm ''Monitor'' with a party of men to board and capture the vessel, and disable her by using heavy hammers to drive iron wedges under and disable the turret, and by covering the pilothouse with a wet sail effectively blinding the pilot. Others would throw combustibles down the ventilation openings and smoke holes. At one point Jones made such an attempt to board the vessel, but she managed to slip away around the stern of ''Virginia'' in time.<ref name="Field56"/>

There was a second confrontation on 8 May, when ''Virginia'' came out while ''Monitor'' and four other Federal ships bombarded Confederate batteries at Sewell's Point. The Federal ships retired slowly to Fort Monroe, hoping to lure ''Virginia'' into the Roads. She did not follow, however, and after firing a gun to windward as a sign of contempt, anchored off Sewell's Point. Later, when Confederate forces abandoned Norfolk on 11 May 1862, they were forced to destroy ''Virginia''.<ref>[[#Quarstein12|Quarstein, 2012]], p. 15</ref>
{{clear}}

===Battle of Drewry's Bluff===
[[File:Battle of Drewry's Bluff.jpg|thumb|alt=|Engraving of [[Battle of Drewry's Bluff]]]]
{{main|Battle of Drewry's Bluff}}
After the destruction of ''Virginia'', ''Monitor'' was free to assist the [[Union Army]] and [[George B. McClellan|General McClellan's]] campaign against Richmond. As the Navy always gave command to officers based on seniority, Greene was replaced with Lieutenant [[Thomas O. Selfridge]] the day after the battle. Two days later, Selfridge was in turn relieved by Lieutenant [[William Nicholson Jeffers]] on 15 May 1862.<ref>[[#Davis75|Davis, 1975]], p. 147</ref><ref name=Fuller178>[[#Fuller|Fuller, 2008]], p. 178</ref> ''Monitor'' was now part of a flotilla under the command of Admiral [[John Rodgers (American Civil War naval officer)|John Rodgers]] aboard ''Galena'', and, along with three other gunboats, steamed up the James River and engaged the Confederate batteries at [[Drewry's Bluff]]. The force had instructions to coordinate their efforts with McClellan's forces on land and push on towards Richmond to bombard the city into surrender if possible. Without any assistance, the task force got within {{convert|8|mi|km|abbr=on}} of the Confederate capital but could not proceed further because of sunken vessels and debris placed in the river that blocked further passage. There were also artillery batteries at [[Fort Darling]] overlooking and guarding the approach, along with other heavy guns and sharpshooters positioned along the river banks. The fort was strategically situated on the west bank of the James River atop of a [[Hill|bluff]] some {{convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on}} above and overlooking the bend in the river.<ref name=Fuller178/><ref name=Stern90>[[#Stern|Stern, 1962]], p. 90</ref> ''Monitor'' was of little help in the assault because the confinement and small gun ports of her turret would not allow her to elevate her guns sufficiently to engage the Confederate batteries at close range, so she had to fall back and fire at a greater distance,<ref name=Stern90/> while the other gunboats were unable to overcome the fortifications on their own.<ref name="Nelson, James L 2005 400 pages"/> After ''Monitor'' received only a few hits, without incurring any damage, the Confederates, many of whom were former crew members of ''Virginia'' well aware of her ability to withstand cannon shot even at close range,<ref>[[#McCordock|McCordock, 1938]], p. 349</ref> concentrated their guns on the other ships, especially ''Galena'', which sustained considerable damage and moderate casualties.<ref name=Stern90/> After a near four-hour artillery duel and sustaining numerous hits overall, the flotilla was unable to neutralize the fortification and had to turn back.<ref>[[#Wagner|Wagner, Galleghar, Finkelman, 2002]], p. 530</ref> Not a single Union ship reached Richmond until near the end of the war, when the city was finally evacuated by the Confederates.<ref name=Stern90/><ref>[[#Wagner|Wagner, Galleghar, Finkelman, 2002]], p. 574</ref>

[[File:USSMonitor1862.4.ws.jpg |thumb|1862 picture of USS ''Monitor'' crew; the African American crewman in the right foreground is Siah Carter<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/monitor.htm |title=Navsource archives |access-date=9 March 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116001909/http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/monitor.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
After the battle at Drewry's Bluff ''Monitor'' remained on the James River providing support, along with the ''Galena'' and other gunboats, to McClellan's troops at various points along the river including [[Harrison's Landing]]<ref name=Quarstein149>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], pp. 149–150</ref>
<ref>[[#Tucker06|Tucker, 2006]], p. 182</ref> which ended in August. However most of the time spent on the river was marked with inactivity and hot weather which had a negative effect on the morale of ''Monitor''{{'}}s crew. During the long, hot, summer, several crew members became sick and were transferred to Hampton Roads while various officers were replaced including Newton, while Jeffers was replaced by Commander [[Thomas H. Stevens, Jr.]]{{efn|Stevens previously served as commander of {{USS|Maratanza|1861|6}}.<ref name=Quarstein149/>}} on 15 August. By the end of August, ''Monitor'' was ordered back to Hampton Roads and dropped anchor nearby the sunken ''Cumberland'' at Newport News Point on 30 August, much to the approval of the crew. ''Monitor''{{'}}s sole purpose now was to blockade the James River from any advances made by the newly constructed {{ship|CSS|Virginia II||2}}, an ironclad ram.<ref name=Quarstein149/>

===Repairs and refit===
[[File:Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries- Volume 19, page 91, March 29, 1862.jpg|thumb|left|[Top photo] picture of the ''Monitor''{{'}}s crew; [Bottom Picture] Lieutenant Jeffers, second commander of the ''Monitor'' four months after the fight at Hampton Roads in 1862]]
In September Captain [[John P. Bankhead]] received orders to take command of ''Monitor'', relieving Stevens, and was sent to Hampton Roads to take charge of the vessel.<ref name=Bankhead>[[#Mariner2013|Mariener's Museum, 2013: ''John P. Bankhead'']]</ref> Shortly after Bankhead assumed command, ''Monitor''{{'}}s engines and boilers were condemned by a board of survey which recommended that they be overhauled completely.<ref>[[#Still|Still, 1988]], p. 67</ref> On 30 September the ironclad was sent to the [[Washington Navy Yard]] for repairs<ref>[[#Quarstein06|Quarstein, 2006]], p. 140</ref><ref>[[#Thulesius|Thulesius, 2007]], p. 131</ref> arriving there on 3 October.<ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2006]], p. 241</ref>

Upon arrival at Washington ''Monitor'' and her crew were greeted by a crowd of thousands of cheering admirers who came to see the ship that "saved the nation". ''Monitor'' was now a premier tourist attraction and the crowd was soon allowed on board to tour the vessel.<ref>[[#Quarsstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], pp. 155–156</ref> During this time the vessel was picked clean of artifacts for souvenirs by the touring civilians that came aboard. When Stodder and others came to close up the dock and ship one evening Stodder noted, "When we came up to clean that night there was not a key, doorknob, [[Escutcheon (furniture)|escutcheon]] – there wasn't a thing that hadn't been carried away."<ref>[[#Quarstein06|Quarstein, 2006]], p. 241</ref>

Before ''Monitor'' was put into [[dry dock]] for repairs, Lincoln, Fox, various officials and a few of Worden's close friends arrived to ceremoniously review the vessel and pay respect to the crew and former commander Worden, who after a long and partial recovery arrived for the occasion. Entire army regiments were also directed to come by the navy yard and review the ship and honor the crew. ''Monitor''{{'}}s crew assembled on deck in formation with their officers in front, while Lincoln, Fox and other guests stood near the turret. When Worden, with part of his face blackened from the wounds he received at Hampton Roads, came aboard, the heavy guns in the navy yard were fired in [[Salute#Heavy arms: gun salutes|salute]]. Lincoln came forward and greeted Worden and then introduced him to some of the others. After his formal greeting the crew swarmed around Worden and embraced and shook hands with their former commander and thanked God for his recovery and return. Worden called each of them by name and spoke friendly to and complimented each of them personally. When order was restored the President gave a short speech about Worden's career. At Fox's request, Worden gave a speech to the gathering about his voyage from New York to Hampton Roads, the trials they were faced with along the way and of the great battle between ''Monitor'' and ''Virginia'', while paying [[tribute]] to many of the officers and men involved. In closing he gave special thanks to Ericsson, Lincoln, Welles and all who made construction of ''Monitor'' possible.<ref name=Nelson323>[[#Nelson2009|Nelson, 2009]], p. 323</ref><ref>[[#Worden|Worden, Greene, 1912]], pp. 1–6, 21–22</ref>

While ''Monitor'' was undergoing repairs her crew was put aboard {{USS|King Philip|1845|6}} and were eventually granted a furlough by Bankhead who himself went on leave.<ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 156</ref> For approximately six weeks the vessel remained in dry dock while her bottom was scraped clean, the engines and boilers were overhauled, the entire vessel was cleaned and painted, and a number of improvements made, including an iron shield around the top of the turret.<ref name=Bankhead/> To make the vessel more seaworthy, a {{convert|30|ft|m|0|adj=on}} funnel-shaped [[smokestack]] was placed over the smoke outlet while taller fresh air vents were installed. The [[berth deck]] below was also enlarged and raised by removing some of the side storerooms and placing them below, thus reducing the height of the interior which now barely allowed the crew to stand upright. Several cranes were also added while interior improvements were made making the confining environment more livable. A large blower that operated with its own engine was installed which drew fresh air down through the pilothouse. During this time the two Dahlgren guns were each engraved with large letters, ''MONITOR & MERRIMAC – WORDEN'' and ''MONITOR & MERRIMAC – ERICSSON'', respectively.{{efn|In the actual engravings the men's names are inscribed below those of the ships' names. e.g. MONITOR & MERRIMA WORDEN}} Additional iron plates were installed covering the dents from the previous battles. Each plate was inscribed with the name of the source from where the shell causing the dent was made. i.e. ''Merrimack, Fort Darling'', etc.<ref name=Nelson323/><ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], pp. 156–157</ref> [[Stanchions]] were also installed around the perimeter of the freeboard with a rope strung through each making it safer to walk about the deck amid stormy weather and rough seas.<ref name=Nelson323/> ''Monitor'' was finally taken out of dry dock on 26 October. By November the ship was fully repaired and ready to return to service.<ref name=Bankhead/><ref>[[#Still88|Still, 1988]], p. 67</ref>

=== Final voyage ===
[[File:Frank Leslie's scenes and portraits of the Civil War (1894) (14576335338).jpg|thumb|alt=|Engraving of USS&nbsp;''Monitor'' sinking, with {{USS|Rhode Island|1860|6}} in the background]]

On 24 December 1862, orders were issued directing ''Monitor'' to [[Beaufort, North Carolina]] to join {{USS|Passaic|1862|6}} and {{USS|Montauk|1862|6}} for a joint Army-Navy expedition against Wilmington, North Carolina, where she would join the blockade off [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]. The orders were received by the crew on Christmas Day, some of whom had been aboard ''Monitor'' on her harrowing journey from New York to Hampton Roads in March and were not pleased with the prospect of taking to the high seas once again. Dana Greene remarked, "I do not consider this steamer a sea going vessel".<ref>[[#Quarstein99|Quarstein, 1999]], p. 121</ref>

The crew celebrated Christmas aboard ''Monitor'' while berthed at Hampton Roads in what was described as a most merry fashion, while many other celebrations were occurring along the shore. The ship's cook was paid one dollar to prepare a meal for the crew befitting the day; it was received with mixed opinion. That day, ''Monitor'' was made ready for sea, her crew under strict orders not to discuss the impending voyage with anyone, but bad weather delayed her departure until 29 December.<ref name="Quarstein-p106">[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 106</ref>

While the design of ''Monitor'' was well-suited for river combat, her low freeboard and heavy turret made her highly unseaworthy in rough waters. Under the command of [[John P. Bankhead]], ''Monitor'' put to sea on 31 December, under tow from the steamship {{USS|Rhode Island|1860|6}}, as a heavy storm developed off [[Cape Hatteras, North Carolina]]. Using chalk and a blackboard, Bankhead wrote messages alerting ''Rhode Island'' that if ''Monitor'' needed help she would signal with a red lantern.<ref name=Quarstein171>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 171</ref>

''Monitor'' was soon in trouble as the storm increased in ferocity. Large waves were splashing over and completely covering the deck and pilot house so the crew temporarily rigged the wheel atop the turret which was manned by helmsman Francis Butts.<ref>[[#Thulesius|Thulesius, 2007]], p. 136</ref> Water continued flooding into the vents and ports and the ship began rolling uncontrollably in the high seas. Sometimes she would drop into a wave with such force the entire hull would tremble. Leaks were beginning to appear everywhere. Bankhead ordered the engineers to start the [[Worthington pump]]s, which temporarily stemmed the rising waters, but soon ''Monitor'' was hit by a squall and a series of violent waves and water continued to work its way into the vessel. Right when the Worthington pump could no longer keep pace with the flooding, a call came from the engine room that water was gaining there. Realizing the ship was in serious trouble, Bankhead signaled ''Rhode Island'' for help and hoisted the red lantern next to ''Monitor''{{'}}s white running light atop the turret. He then ordered the anchor dropped to stop the ship's rolling and pitching with little effect, making it no easier for the rescue boats to get close enough to receive her crew. He then ordered the towline cut and called for volunteers,<ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], p. 172</ref> Stodder, along with crewmates John Stocking,<ref>His real name was Wells Wentz; see [https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2013/may/lost-men-monitor US Naval Institute Magazine 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116001912/https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2013/may/lost-men-monitor |date=16 November 2022 }}-thus he is listed under his real name in the USS Monitor Cenotaph memorial gravestone</ref> and James Fenwick volunteered and climbed down from the turret, but eyewitnesses said that as soon as they were on the deck Fenwick and Stocking were quickly swept overboard and drowned. Stodder managed to hang onto the safety lines around the deck and finally cut through the {{convert|13|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} towline with a hatchet.<ref>[[#Mariner30|Mariner's Museum, Article: The Last Voyage of the USS Monitor]]</ref> At 11:30&nbsp;pm. Bankhead ordered the engineers to stop engines and divert all available steam to the large Adams [[Centrifugal pump|centrifugal steam pump]];<ref name=Voyage>[[#Mariner24|Mariner's Museum, Article: Last Voyage]]</ref> but with reduced steam output from a boiler being fed wet coal, it too was unable to stem the rapidly rising water.<ref>[[#Quarstein10|Quarstein, 2010]], pp. 171–72;</ref><ref>[[#Broadwater|Broadwater, 2012]], p. 13</ref> After all of the steam pumps had failed, Bankhead ordered some of the crew to man the [[hand pump]]s and organized a [[bucket brigade]], but to no avail.<ref name=Quarstein149/>

Greene and Stodder were among the last men to abandon ship and remained with Bankhead who was the last surviving man to abandon the sinking ''Monitor''. In his official report of ''Monitor'' to the Navy Department, Bankhead praised Greene and Stodder for their heroic efforts and wrote, "I would beg leave to call the attention of the Admiral and of the Department of the particularly good conduct of Lieutenant Greene and Acting Master Louis N. Stodder, who remained with me until the last, and by their example did much toward inspiring confidence and obedience on the part of the others."<ref name="Still, 1988, p. 20"/>

After a frantic rescue effort, ''Monitor'' finally capsized and sank, stern first,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2013/may/lost-men-monitor | title=The Lost Men of the Monitor | date=May 2013 }}</ref> approximately {{convert|16|mi|km}} southeast off Cape Hatteras with the loss of sixteen men,<ref>{{cite web |title=USS Monitor |url=https://monitor.noaa.gov/shipwrecks/uss_monitor.html |website=monitor.noaa.gov |publisher=Monitor National Marine Sanctuary |access-date=3 July 2019 |language=en |quote=In the end, 16 of the brave men onboard the Monitor never met the year of 1863.}}</ref> including four officers, some of whom remained in the turret, which detached as the ship capsized. Forty-seven men were rescued by the life boats from ''Rhode Island''.<ref>[[#Broadwater|Broadwater, 2012]], p. 12</ref><ref>[[#Holloway|Holloway, 2013]], pp. 7–8</ref>{{efn|William Keeler in Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, (Washington: D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1863)}} Bankhead, Greene and Stodder barely managed to get clear of the sinking vessel and survived the ordeal,<ref name=Voyage/> but suffered from exposure from the icy winter sea.<ref>[[#Mariner2013|Mariner's Museum, Article: John P. Bankhead, 2013]]</ref> After his initial recovery, Bankhead filed his official report, as did the commanding officers of the ''Rhode Island'', stating officers and men of both ''Monitor'' and ''Rhode Island'' did everything within their ability to keep ''Monitor'' from sinking. The Navy did not find it necessary to commission a board of inquiry to investigate the affair and took no action against Bankhead or any of his officers.<ref>[[#Broadwater|Broadwater, 2012]], p. 14</ref>

Some time later a controversy emerged over why ''Monitor'' sank. In the ''Army and Navy Journal'', Ericsson accused the crew of drunkenness during the storm, being consequently unable to prevent the vessel from sinking. Stodder vigorously defended the crew and rebuked Ericsson's characterization of the crew and events and wrote to Pierce that Ericsson "covers up defects by blaming those that are now dead", pointing out that there were a number of unavoidable events and circumstances that led to the ship's sinking, foremost being the overhang between the upper and lower hulls which came loose and partially separated during the storm from slamming into the violent waves. Stodder's account was corroborated by other shipmates.<ref>[[#Mindell|Mindell, 2000]], p. 140</ref>