USS Clueless              Voyages of a restless mind

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Stardate 20010716.1049 (On Screen): The American Civil War was a revolutionary war in more than one way. Not only was it a political revolution of part of the United States, but it was a technological revolution in warmaking. It features a number of firsts: first broad use of breech-loading repeating rifles by combatants (Union cavalry), first use of the machine gun (Gatling Gun by the Union), first war controlled by modern telecommunications (telegraph), and the first major war supplied by modern cargo transport (railroad). (In fact, Union engineers actually laid railroad track behind Union lines at the siege of Fredericksburg.) It also completely revolutionized naval warfare, for it featured the first modern battleship.

In January 1862 the world's navies were modern and powerful. By July 1862 every warship in the world was obsolete except one: USS Monitor. Not only did she have a steel hull and no sails at all, but she was the first warship in history to have a turret for her main guns. As a result, the tiller no longer aimed the weaponry. Monitor could shoot any direction, irrespective of the ship's heading. Monitor saw her first action against CSS Virginia (sometimes incorrectly referred to in books as "Merrimac"). Virginia had sortied the day before against a Union blockade squadron and sank USS Cumberland and USS Congress and chased USS Minnesota onto shoal water where she grounded, while all the Union ships fired at Virginia and watched in horror as their shot bounced off her sloping armor. The next day, Virginia sortied again to finish off Minnesota. Monitor was ordered to protect Minnesota. The first time a ball from Virginia's guns hit Monitor's turret, the frightened gun crew reported "We've been hit!" The captain asked what had happened, and they reported that it made a dent. The captain responded "That's what's supposed happen!" and then the gun crew, immensely relieved, returned to work.

Virginia mounted far more guns than Monitor, but Monitor's two guns were far larger. Still, neither ship could hurt the other, and no-one on either ship was seriously harmed in the battle. Virginia did not manage to sink Minnesota and ultimately withdrew from the battle, which is generally judged by history to be a draw. Virginia could claim two sinkings before Monitor showed up, and Monitor could claim to have protected Minnesota.

Monitor was radical but it did have drawbacks. In December 1862 she foundered in heavy seas, was abandoned, and sank. She has been found and for the last two years there has been a considerable effort expended to try to retrieve parts of her from the deep. Last year they brought up her propeller and now they've retrieved her steam engine. It is good that these things be done; we should remember USS Monitor as being the most radical innovation in surface warship design since the invention of the sail, and honor the volunteer crew that risked their lives in her to serve their nation. (discuss)