THE GREENPOINT MONITOR MUSEUM
"ROAD SHOW"
May 2, 2003

Presented At:

J.H.S. 126 - "JOHN ERICSSON SCHOOL"

Page 3

Look at that little steam fire engine go!
No remote control for Arthur!

Janice explains that when John Ericsson came to New York in 1839,
the US Navy was still using wooden sailing ships
whose sails depended on the wind for power.
The wooden sailed frigate USS Constitution, which was
launched in 1797, was still in service and even
today can be seen in Boston, Massachusetts.
One of the last sailing frigates designed for the
United States Navy was the USS CONGRESS.

In the 1850's the US Navy included some wooden steam powered
frigates which also had auxiliary sails, but the older wind
powered frigates were still in use.

During the Civil War John Ericsson brought his plans for a
revolutionary type of ironclad warship to President Abraham Lincoln.
His new little warship had a steam engine, revolving turret, propeller,
shallow draft and was very low to the water.
He convinced President Abraham Lincoln to give the USS Monitor
a chance. John Ericsson came to Greenpoint to oversee the
construction of his new little warship at the Continental Iron Works.

The USS Monitor was completed and arrived just in time to save the
US Navy at a naval battle which was taking place at
Hampton Roads, Virginia. Many of the US Navy's famous wooden
sailing frigates were sunk during this battle including the CONGRESS.
They were being destroyed by a Confederate ironclad ship
called the CSS Virginia. Wood was no match to iron.

The ironclad USS Monitor saved the Union Navy on March 9, 1862
during this first battle between ironclads.
The USS Monitor fought against the CSS Virginia.
Although the USS Monitor fought against the CSS Virginia,
the battle is more commonly known as the
"Battle of the Monitor and Merrimac".

The Union Navy ship the USS Merrimac which was steam powered
with auxiliary sails was captured by the
Confederates. Her sails were removed and her hull was covered
with iron plate. She was then renamed the CSS Virginia.
Although the USS Monitor was smaller than the Merrimac,
John Ericsson's revolutionary design saved the day!

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George J. Weinmann, Webmaster

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All Rights Reserved.