at last, deep, low, sullen, mournful boom
told our people, now far away on the march, that their gallant ship was
no more.

THE LAST OF THE MONITOR

III

THE LAST OF THE MONITOR

_By an eye-witness, Rear-Admiral E.W. Watson, U.S.N._

On the 29th of December, 1862, nine months after her memorable combat
with the _Merrimac_, the _Monitor_, Commander John P. Bankhead, left
Hampton Roads in tow of the _Rhode Island_, commanded by Captain Stephen
Decatur Trenchard, for Beaufort, North Carolina. The weather at the time
of starting looked favorable for the trip, but on the following day,
when nearing Cape Hatteras, the wind came out from the southeast and
gradually freshened until by evening it was blowing a moderate gale,
with a tolerably heavy sea running. It was soon seen that the _Monitor_
was making heavy weather of it, and the engines were slowed down, but
the course was still kept head to the wind and sea.

This was a mistake, for experience later on in towing other vessels of
her class proved that the safest way to handle them in heavy weather was
to let them lie in the trough of the sea, when the waves would wash over
their decks and the roll would not be excessive. The _Monitor_ was
closely watched, all on board the _Rhode Island_ feeling anxious for her
safety. Toward the end of the first watch--between 8 P.M. and
midnight--the signal of distress, a red lantern, was hoisted on the
_Monitor_, and, unknown to those on the _Rhode Island_, the hawser was
cut and the anchor of the _Monitor_ let go.

The _Rhode Island_ immediately stopped her engine, and three boats were
called away with an officer in charge of each, and were sent to take off
the _Monitor's_ people. With the heavy sea running it was a difficult
matter to go alongside of her, and the first boat to reach her was
thrown by a wave upon the deck and a hole stove in her. The next wave
washed the boat off, and with considerable difficulty she took on board
as many of the men as in her leaky condition could make the return trip
safely.

When the boats came alongside of the _Monitor_, her captain and
executive officer went upon the deck and, clinging to the life-lines
with the waves washing over them, called to the crew to come down from
the turret and get into the boats, which they were reluctant to do at
first. Some were able to jump into the boats, and some landed in the
water and were hauled in. Seeing an old quartermaster with a large