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Civil War Artifacts Emerge From U.S.S. Monitor |
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Brian Handwerk for National Geographic |
| November 7, 2002 |
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More than a century ago, the Civil War ironclad Monitor sank in a violent storm off Cape Hatteras, on the eastern coast of the United States. Last summer scientists and divers raised the ship's gun turret to the surface, and the well-preserved artifacts they found inside are opening a new window on history. Along with items related to the ship's famous turret and its guns was a wide assortment of artifacts—from utensils to pieces of furniture—that in some cases have been puzzling. Also found were the remains of two crew members. The Monitor, whose design represented a dramatic technical advance in naval warfare, battled the C.S.S. Virginia on March 9, 1862. It was the first clash of iron ships. The Monitor sank the following winter, on December 31. An innovative revolving turret was the Monitor's most distinctive feature. Twenty-two feet (6.7 meters) in diameter, nine feet (2.7 meters) high, and sporting two powerful 11-inch (28-centimeter) cannons, it sat atop the ship's flat deck. Eight layers of inch-thick iron plates protected the crew inside. Because the turret revolved, it could cover an enormous field of fire. It was the first time in naval warfare that cannons could be operated independently of the ship's maneuvering. NOAA scientists and some 100 elite Navy divers raised the 120-ton turret in August. It was one of the heaviest artifacts ever recovered from the ocean floor, and bringing it to the surface intact was a delicate operation. "Although 140 years ago cannonballs bounced off the sides, it could be quite fragile today," said John Broadwater, manager of NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and director of the turret excavation. Pieces of History Broadwater and his team were not sure what to expect inside the raised turret. They found items associated with the gun turret, including ramrods, sponges, and a copper ladle that could unload powder from a gun primed to fire. More curious, however, were some of the other items recovered from the silt that had filled the turret: Dozens of utensils—many of sterling silver, including knives with bone or ivory handles and engraved initials—that were personal items used by the Monitor's officers. Also among the well-preserved items were shoes, leather straps, wooden pulley blocks, a nearly complete wool overcoat, uniform buttons, coins, a comb, and even part of a furniture cabinet. Many of the items are "certainly things you wouldn't expect to be finding in the turret," said Broadwater. The recovery effort has been thrilling for the excavation team, he said. "It's been a tremendously exciting opportunity for those of us working on the turret excavation—to actually have it up now, and to be inside, sometimes we just kind of stop work and reminisce," said Broadwater. "We can look at those guns and look through the gun port and you just let yourself just steep in the history that this represents." Yet the team remains puzzled by the question: Why were many of the artifacts of daily life aboard the Monitor found in that particular area of the ship? The answer may not be all that complicated, and may shed light on the ship's sinking. "After thinking about it," said Broadwater, "we realized that the turret sat on the hull amid the ship. Beneath it were storage units and also the galley. It's sort of a clue to the sinking sequence. We had wondered how quickly the turret fell off, but now it looks as if when the ship rolled, the turret stayed in place long enough for material from the hull to fall inside." Sailors Finally Home Also in the turret, the team came across something that brought home the human impact of the Monitor's sinking: the remains of two crew members. "We knew that possibly there would be remains because the turret was the only way in or out of the ship," Broadwater said. The remains of the two sailors were found very close to the starboard hatch, which may eventually help in piecing together the events of the ship's last night. Broadwater said the team has been careful to handle the human remains of the Civil War veterans "with dignity, respect, and honor." The recovery team plans to work with the Navy's casualty office in an effort to identify the crew members. "It may not be possible," said Broadwater, "but it would be nice to be able to do that." In any event, the long-lost sailors will likely be interred with honors in a military cemetery. Related Stories from National Geographic: The H.L. Hunley: Secret Weapon of the Confederacy Forensic Team Studying Skeletons of Hunley Crew U.S. Civil War Sub "Photo" Disproved as Image of Captain Captain's Remains Found in U.S. Civil War Submarine Captain's "Lucky Coin" Found in Civil War Submarine Curious Find on Confederate Sub Links North and South Join the National Geographic Society Join the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization, and help further our mission to increase and diffuse knowledge of the world and all that is in it. Membership dues are used to fund exploration and educational projects and members also receive 12 annual issues of the Society's official journal, National Geographic. Click here for details of our latest subscription offer: Go>> |
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