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John Ericsson, Designer of the USS Monitor
By Loc Tran Third Place
Hampton, Virginia
Kecoughtan High School
Virginia is the setting of many great and historical events. Hampton Roads especially has become a historic place because of its strategic position during colonial times and even today. It is located near many waterways, which were very important during colonial times. If I could go back in time to speak with a historic figure in Virginia history, I would go see John Ericsson, the designer of the USS Monitor.
John Ericsson was chosen to design a seaworthy boat made of iron. I would ask him if he had any doubts in constructing an ironclad ship. The USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship ever built. It was also the first ship to have a revolving turret, to have the whole crew live entirely below the waterline, and the first ship to have flushing toilets. With all these innovations, it was no surprise that many came to see the ship sink to the bottom when it was first put out on the water. But to the surprise of most people, it floated with three inches to spare from the predicted waterline. He probably had a lot of faith in the seaworthiness of the vessel.
I would also ask Ericsson how he thought the USS Monitor would fare in a battle. The USS Monitor engaged in battle against the CSS Virginia right off of the Hampton coastline on March 9, 1862, in the Battle of Hampton Roads. The Monitor was much smaller than the Virginia, but the fight still ended up in a tie. The battle went up in history as the first naval battle ever against two ironclad ships. All cannonballs that hit the two ships bounced off causing minimal damage. It showed that wooden ships were obsolete. As a result of the battle, Union forces were able to protect Hampton Roads from a fierce attack by the CSS Virginia, that had already sunk two large wooden warships the day before. John Ericsson probably had a lot of faith in how powerful his design was.
The last thing I would ask Ericsson is how he thought the ship would do in the open sea. He most likely would have told me, being a proud inventor, that the USS Monitor could withstand anything. That would prove to be not true since it sank on December 31, 1862. Four officers and twelve crewmen were lost when it sank off the coast of Cape Hatteras. Cape Hatteras is notoriously known for its rough wind and seas. It was quoted by the paymaster of the Monitor, William F. Keeler, that "what the fire of the enemy failed to do, the elements have accomplished."
If not for the great work of John Ericsson, the outcome of the Civil War may have been different, for the worse. The city of Hampton and the cities around it may have been captured by the Confederate forces. John Ericsson is an important figure in Virginia history because of his idea of building an ironclad warship.
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