THE GREENPOINT MONITOR MUSEUM PS 161M April 4, 2003

THE GREENPOINT MONITOR MUSEUM
"ROAD SHOW"
APRIL 4, 2003

Presented At:

P.S. 161M
New York, New York
Page - 3

Janice describes the USS Monitor's turret.
The USS Monitor's revolving turret made the little warship
unique . It was the first warship with a turret. The turret
was constructed with 8 inch thick armour plate. It contained
two 11 inch Dahlgren canons.
Since the turret turned, the USS Monitor's cannons
were able to shoot through 360 degrees of movement
in all directions.

The USS Monitor fought against the Confederate ironclad
CSS Virginia (ex USS Merrimack) on March 9, 1862
at Hampton Roads, Virginia in the first battle between
ironclads. This battle proved to be a turning point for
both the Civil War and Naval Warfare.
This battle stopped the destruction of the Union Naval fleet.
This battle also marked the end of the construction of
the wooden sailed frigates for the US Navy.

On December 31, 1862 the USS Monitor sunk in a storm.

After many years of searching, in 1973 the Monitor was discovered
16 miles off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina under 230 feet of water.
It lay upside down with the turret under the ship.
The two 11 inch Dahlgren guns were still inside the turret.

In order to protect the Monitor, the site was designated
as the nation's first marine sanctuary on January 30, 1975.
The site is managed by the National Oceanic &Atmospheric Administration.
Over the years artifacts have been recovered from the Monitor
including her turret, steam engine, anchor, propeller, lantern
and miscellaneous smaller items belonging to the crew.

During Expedition 2002, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration together with the
US Navy recovered the USS Monitor's turret for
preservation and future display.

In recognition of The Greenpoint Monitor Museum's efforts
to establish a home for the Museum in Greenpoint, Brooklyn,
officers of the Museum were invited to participate in
NOAA's recovery efforts.

George's great great grandfather fought in the Civil War.
He joined Company H, 9th New York Volunteers;
also known as the Hawkins' Zouaves from New York City.
The regiment wore the type of uniform worn by
George when they went off to war.
The regiment was named after the commander
of the regiment Col. Rush C. Hawkins shown below.

Ellsworth's First Fire Zouaves also came from New York.
They were New York City Firemen.
Among the Civil War artifacts brought to the class
is the top of an Ellsworth Fire Zouave
flag standard (flagpole) which once carried the flag that
led the Fire Zouaves into battle. The flag standard
was cut many years ago when it was made into a
presentation piece as a gift to the Grand Army of the Republic
who were veterans of the Civil War.
It has been passed down to the
Oliver Tilden Camp No. 26,
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Click to Page 4

Return to Page 2

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