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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: NH 45978 (extended caption)

USS Monitor (1862) and
CSS Virginia (1862)

Montage drawing featuring plans of the two ships, portraits of men responsible for building and operating them, and scenes of their histories. It is inscribed: "Dedicated to the Memory of Thomas Fitch Rowland, Builder of the Original Monitor.". Drawn by Charles H. Corbett, circa 1907 or later.
See below for more extensive information.

Courtesy of Charles H. Corbett.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 278KB; 1200 x 825 pixels

 

The original photograph was accompanied by the following text:

Description of the Monitor Drawing

Left Hand Column

Pictorial views of the original frigate Merrimac, of 1855. Her partial destruction, and rebuilt as an Iron Clad, renamed the Virginia, her actions March 8th, 1862 and her final loss; also the sinking of the original Monitor.
A Map of Hampton Roads showing the scene of the conflict.

Right Hand Column
History of the two vessels and their commanders, Engineers, Etc., with dimensions of vessels and engines.

Portraits
Under the main inscription, from left to right:
Capt. John Ericsson, designer of the original Monitor.
Mr. Thomas F. Rowland, originator of the Continental Works and builder of the original "Monitor" and six other Monitors.
Mr. Warren E. Hill, assistant to Mr. Rowland during the construction of this and other war vessels.
Capt. John L. Worden, First Commander of the Monitor, who was disabled during the combat of March 9th, 1862.
Lieut. S.D. Greene, who succeeded Capt. Worden after the Captain was disabled.
Chief Engineer Alban C. Stimers, who was the Naval Engineer, and active during her construction, and sailed on her first voyage to Hampton Roads, Va.; also participated in the action on March 9th, principally in the Turret.
Assistant Engineer, Isaac Newton, who sailed with Mr. Stimers and had charge of the Engines.
A portrait of Mr. Thomas F. Rowland in the latter part of his life.
A view of the combat March 9th, 1862, reprinted from an original painting now in possession of the family.
The Continental soldier of 1775, indicating the name given by Mr. Rowland to the "Continental Works" of 1859, located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Plans and Elevations of the "Monitor" taken from the original drawing designed by Capt. Ericsson, in 1861.
Plans and Elevations of the Iron Clad "Virginia", formerly the frigate "Merrimac", designed by Naval Constructor John L. Porter, of the Confederate Navy, and rebuilt in the Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va.

Portraits on the left:
Capt. Franklin Buchanan, who commanded the Virginia and was wounded in one of the combats.
Lieut. C.A.R. Jones, who succeeded Capt. Buchanan in command of the vessel after he was disabled.

Portraits on the left (sic: right):
Chief Engineer H.A. Ramsey, in charge of the machinery of the "Virginia".
E.V. White, Assistant Engineer with Mr. Ramsey.
John L. Porter, Naval Constructor, Designer of the Virginia.

Scale drawn between the "Monitor" and the "Virginia" showing the comparative dimensions of each vessel.

Compliments of Charles H. Corbett.

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

If you want higher resolution reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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12 April 2001