Loss

The USS Monitor sank in a gale off the coast of North Carolina on December 31, 1862. It was being towed to Beaufort, North Carolina by the USS Rhode Island when its low-riding hull started to take on water from the large swells that were generated by the storm. One of the tow lines snapped leaving the Monitor bucking and causing a large gap in the seal under the turret through which even more water began to pour. The crew worked for several hours to try to pump water out of the ship, but as the water levels rose and the coal became wet, the captain became more worried. He ordered to cut the engines to transfer all power to the bilge pumps, throw out the anchor to try to stabilize the ship, and raise a red lantern on the turret to signal the Rhode Island that they were in distress. Once the water level reached the furnaces, the captain realized that there was no hope of saving the vessel and ordered the ship to be abandoned. It sunk approximately 16 miles south-southeast off of Cape Hatteras taking with it four officers and sixteen crewmen.