USS Monadnock

The USS Monadnock took part in both battles of Fort Fisher, using its four 15-inch guns to batter the fort.

It was the first of a two-ship class of 3295 ton double turret Monitors built at the Boston navy Yard and commissioned in 1864.

After Fort Fisher, it went to Charleston and took part in the final operations at that place and then served a short stint on the James River before going to Havana, Cuba. to keep an eye on the Confederate ironclad Stonewall.

In October 1865, it was refitted for a voyage to California where it appears a structures were added to the top of the turrets and the free board raised. This was the longest cruise by any monitor up until that time.

In 1874, the Monadnock's wooden hull was broken up as part of a program to modernize Civil War monitors into modern ones. It essentially became a whole new ship but kept the name Monadnock.

It was launched in 1885 and commissioned in 1895 and took part in the Spanish-American War. It was sold in 1923.

The History of a Monitor. --Old B-Runner