The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Burial of Two USS Monitor Crewmembers-- Part 1

From the Civil War News May 2011, by Scott c. Boyd.

Details are being worked out for the burial of the remains of two crewmen found in the USS Monitor's turret now that it has been raised. The remains are to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery December 31, 2012, the 150th anniversary of the ship's sinking and their deaths.

These men went down with the ship in 230 feet of water, sixteen miles off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on its way to Port Royal. Sixteen of the 62 on board lost their lives, four officers and twelve enlisted.

At this point, the two are known as Monitor 1 and Monitor 2. Officials want the descendants of the 12 who lost their lives to be tested. If a match is found, the remains will be turned over to the family.

At present, the thinking is that the remains might be of a fireman and a coal heaver since the steam pumps were keeping the foundering ship afloat long enough for the rest of the crew to escape. They would be the last off the ship.

More to Come. --Old B-Runner

No comments: