[MinuteGal]

Do I understand 16 officers and crew perished when the unstable vessel was being towed in a storm? I wonder why such a large contingent was even on board.

Leni

[Non-Sequitur]

The whole crew of over 100 officers and men were on board. The Monitor was being towed from Hampton Roads, Virginia to blockading duty off of Charleston when they ran into the storm and the ship sank. It was never designed for heavy weather.