PS 110 - The Monitor School

THE GREENPOINT MONITOR MUSEUM
"ROAD SHOW"
March 28, 2003

Presented At:

P.S. 110 - "THE MONITOR SCHOOL"

Page - 4

Janice asks, do you know what powered the United States Navy's
ships when John Ericsson came to America, in 1839?
WIND.
Yes, 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
today can still be seen in Boston, Massachusetts.

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

During the Civil War John Ericsson designed the USS Monitor
which was different from any ship in the Union Navy.
John Ericsson's USS Monitor had a steam engine, shallow draft,
turret, propeller, and was an ironclad.

The Confederate ironclad the CSS Virginia was destroying the
Union's Fleet of wooden sailing ships.

The ironclad USS Monitor saved the Union Navy at
Hampton Roads, Virginia, on March 9, 1862
during the first battle between ironclads -

The Battle between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (former USS Merrimack).

There were not only Union and Confederate soldiers but
also Union and Confederate mascots who accompanied
their soldier friends to battle.
Which is the Confederate and which is the Union Mascot?
You can tell by the uniforms of the Mascot's soldier friends
and the flags they are carrying.

"SALLIE" was a Union Mascot. She was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
She went to battle with the Union's 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Army.
Sallie was at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
with her fallen comrades licking the wounds of the injured and
standing watch over them. Sallie kept watch for three days
without food or water.

"STONEWALL" was a Confederate Mascot. He was a Jack Russell Terrier.
He made his soldier friends laugh as he stood at attention with his pipe.
During battle he was placed in an empty ammunition box for protection.
Mascots tried to make their friends laugh during times that were
frightening and sad.

"Old ABE" was the eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Old Abe served in 37 battles.
He stood tall and proud on his high perch always near the
American Flag.
Old Abe was the symbol of what the Union soldiers were fighting for
and became the emblem of American Freedom.
After the Civil War Old Abe helped the Civil War Veterans
at fundraisers to collect donations for the many orphan children
of the Civil War.

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THE GREENPOINT MONITOR MUSEUM
P.O. Box 220378
Brooklyn, New York 11222-0378
718-383-2637