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Photo # NH 1853:  Union warships covering the retreat of General MacClellan's army, 2 July 1862

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Monitor (1862-1862) --
Miscellaneous Actions, April-July 1862

For two months following her 9 March 1862 battle with CSS Virginia, the Monitor was kept at Hampton Roads to keep the Confederate ironclad in check. On two occasions during that time, efforts were made to bring on a battle between the two. The first, on 11 April, was on the initiative of the Southerners, and the Monitor, acting under orders to maintain the status quo, declined action. On 8 May, the Union ironclad, accompanied by other ships, shelled enemy batteries at Sewell's Point in an effort to draw the Virginia out where she could be assaulted. Again, the intended target refused the bait. On the following day, Monitor reconnoitered the batteries and found that they had been abandoned, opening the way for Federal forces to occupy Norfolk.

After Virginia 's demise on 11 May, Monitor supported the Army's offensive up the James-York Peninsula toward Richmond. On the 15th, she participated in a bombardment of Confederate fortifications at Drewry's Bluff. These James River batteries, manned in part by crewmen from the late ironclad Virginia, successfully resisted the attack. Monitor's guns were unable to elevate sufficiently to hit the well-situated enemy, USS Galena, her thinly-armored consort, was badly shot up.

In early July, Monitor was also present as U.S. Navy gunboats provided gunfire support as General McClellan's army withdrew down the Peninsula after the Battle of Malvern Hill. For the rest of July and August, she served on the blockade in the Hampton Roads area. A combination of torrid sun, black-painted structure, high humidity and insufficient ventilation produced interior temperatures of up to 150 degrees, clearly demonstrating her habitability problems.

This page features views of USS Monitor's actions during April-July 1862.

For links to more pictorial coverage of USS Monitor, see:

  • USS Monitor (1862-1862) -- Selected Views.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 59214

    CSS Virginia (1862)
    (in center)

    Print published in Fiveash, "Virginia-Monitor Engagement", Norfolk, Virginia, 1907, depicting CSS Virginia entering Hampton Roads with other Confederate warships, 11 April 1862. USS Monitor (right center) and other Federal warships and fortifications are also shown. Battle was avoided on this occasion.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 520 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 59218

    USS Monitor (1862)
    (at left)

    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", January-June 1862, page 277, depicting Monitor standing off Fortress Monroe as CSS Virginia (left center distance) and her consorts enter Hampton Roads on 11 April 1862.
    Sewell's Point is shown in the left distance.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 73KB; 900 x 265 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 58756

    Bombardment of Sewell's Point, Virginia, 8 May 1862


    Print published in Fiveash, "Virginia-Monitor Engagement", Norfolk, Virginia, 1907. It depicts USS Monitor (at left) accompanied by the Federal warships Naugatuck, Dacotah, Seminole and Susquehanna (listed in no particular order, and depicted rather inaccurately), firing on the Confederate batteries at Sewell's point, near Norfolk.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 560 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 59213

    Bombardment of Sewell's Point, Virginia, 8 May 1862


    Print published in Fiveash, "Virginia-Monitor Engagement", Norfolk, Virginia, 1907. It depicts CSS Virginia (at left) making her appearance near Craney Island as USS Monitor (left center) and other Federal warships withdraw after bombarding Sewell's Point, near Norfolk. The other U.S. Navy ships presented included Naugatuck, Dacotah, Seminole and Susquehanna.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 59336

    "View of the Attack on Fort Darling, in the James River, by Commander Rogers's Gun-Boat Flotilla, 'Galena', 'Monitor', etc."


    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", January-June 1862, page 337, depicting USS Galena at the head of the attacking force with USS Monitor off her starboard quarter. Among the other ships, the gunboat Naugatuck is identifiable in the lower right. The city of Richmond, Virginia, is shown in the left center distance.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 141KB; 560 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 1998

    Bombardment of Fort Darling, Drewry's Bluff, Virginia
    , 15 May 1862

    Contemporary pencil sketch by F.H. Wilcke, depicting the Union warships Galena, Monitor, Aroostook, Port Royal and Naugatuck (listed as shown, left to right), under the command of Commander John Rodgers, bombarding the Confederate fort at Drewry's Bluff.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 153KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82580-KN (Color)

    Bombardment of Fort Darling, Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, 15 May 1862

    Contemporary pencil sketch, with colors of flags and smoke lightly worked in, depicting the Union ships Galena, Monitor, Aroostook, Port Royal and Naugatuck (listed as shown, left to right) bombarding the Confederate fort at Drewry's Bluff.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 132KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42918

    Scene off City Point, James River, Virginia
    ,
    shortly after the action of 15 May 1862

    Sketch, possibly by Edward H. Schmidt (a crewman on USS Mahaska). Items identified by numbers include:
    1. USS Mahaska; 2. Schooner N.C. Claver; 3. tug Dragon; 4. USS Monitor; 5. USS Wachusett; 6. chartered steamer; 7. a schooner; 8. a gunboat; 9. USS Galena, disabled; 10. City Point, James River, abandoned.

    Sketch was received from Mrs. W.L. Smith, of Savannah, Georgia, with her letter dated 26 August 1933.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 430 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 59206

    "Rendezvous of Our Fleet in James River, off City Point, -- Drawn on the Spot, May 29, 1862"


    Line engraving, published in "Harper's Weekly", Volume of January-June 1862, page 390.
    It depicts the U.S. Navy ships (listed as shown, from left to right) Maratanza, Wachusett, Aroostook, Monitor, Mahaska and Galena operating on the James River, Virginia, in support of General McClellan's army.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 300 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 1853

    "U.S. Gun Boats on James River covering the Retreat."


    Engraving after a drawing by C. Parsons, published by Virtue, Yorston & Company, New York, circa the later 19th Century. It depicts the ironclads Monitor and Galena bombarding Confederate forces as General McClellan's army withdraws following the Battle of Malvern Hill, 2 July 1862.
    The other two ships visible are probably USS Aroostook (beyond Monitor's bow) and USS Jacob Bell (behind Monitor, at left).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     

    For links to more pictorial coverage of USS Monitor, see:

  • USS Monitor (1862-1862) -- Selected Views.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 20 June 2001