Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
July 9, 1862. Deck and turret of U.S.S. Monitor on the James River, Virginia. From photographs of the Federal Navy, and seaborne expeditions against the Atlantic Coast of the Confederacy. Wet collodion glass negative, left half of stereo pair. Photographed by James F. Gibson. View full size.
All of the known photos of the USS Monitor were shot by James Gibson on (July ?) 1862. The location is in the James somewhere around City Point (modern Hopewell, Virginia). The paymaster William Keeler wrote his wife almost every day and created an exceptional account of life on this ship. An unknown portion of this battle damage could be friendly fire. The Monitor was a cipher the morning the CSS Virginia came for the USS Minnesota. The Minnesota was grounded but she was still one of the most powerful warships on the planet, and her captain told the Monitor to clear the field of fire. Instead, the crazy little tin can ran slam out into the middle of the battlefield, and got hit many times by the guns of the Minnesota.
The awning kept the heat down inside the turret, the top of which was open grillwork.
It's funny to see it pristine. I am accustomed to the photos that have emerged since the discovery of the wreck and the artifacts that have been salvaged, including the propeller and part of the shaft.
Judging from the unbuttoned coats and straw hat, and by the date the photo was taken, I'd say it was a pretty warm day. I'm sure the sailors were more than thankful for the fabric that saved them from the direct sun. Can you imagine having to sit inside such an overdeveloped tin can in the Southern summer?
What was that fabric roof possibly for? Shielding those two sailors from the sun while they play cards, or whatever it is they're doing?
I love this blog. Very beautiful and high standard photographs in great quality. Thanks.
http://karinabrys.wordpress.com/
Wow, Imagine what those broken off rivets did with the gun crew inside the turret.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5