Navy divers find intact skeleton in Monitor

The Virginian Pilot ^ | 4 August 2002 | Paul Clancy

[wasp69]

By PAUL CLANCY, The Virginian-Pilot
© August 4, 2002

OFF CAPE HATTERAS -- The Navy has found one of its own.

At the bottom of the sea, buried in silt in the turret of the ironclad Monitor, divers uncovered an intact skeleton that is almost certainly the remains of one of the sailors who died when the Union ship sank 140 years ago, the Monitor expedition announced Saturday.

A torso and skull were brought to the surface and packed in ice for shipment to the military's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. The lower half of the skeleton was trapped under one of the cannons and could not be removed until the turret is brought to the surface and taken to the Mariners' Museum in Newport News.

Recently, the recovery team announced that two bones, probably from a human arm, were recovered.

Sixteen sailors lost their lives when the ironclad sank in 240 feet of water on New Year's Eve 1862.

The last place some of them were seen was the turret. More than 40 others survived, rowed by rescuers to the ship that was towing the Monitor.

About 150 Navy divers, along with archaeologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Mariners' Museum, have been working 16 miles off Cape Hatteras to bring the turret to the surface.

Today, clutched by a steel claw and hoisted by a 500-ton crane, the turret is expected to rise from the bottom, but weather could be a problem. ``Right now, the weather is not what we would like to see, 3- to 4-foot seas and 15-knot currents,'' Cmdr. Bobbie Scholley, head of the Navy dive operations, said Saturday.

Hundreds of artifacts from the Union ship have been brought up, but none perhaps as interesting as the skeleton. John Broadwater, the NOAA manager of the Monitor operation, said there would be ``a lot of detective work to do,'' but the chances are the remains can be identified.

At least three of the 16 sailors who died were washed into the sea as waves swept over the ship's deck. Because fairly complete records of the others' physical conditions were kept, the identity may not be that difficult to pin down.

``We'll make every attempt to identify the person by name,'' Broadwater said.

After the mystery is solved, the Navy will bury the remains in a military cemetery, with full honors.


Reach Paul Clancy at pclancy@pilotonline.com or 222-5132.

[wasp69]

I did a keyword search and did not find this posted. Bump for another man of the sea who is finally going to make it home.

[First_Salute]

15 knot currents

[wasp69]

WBTS *ping*.

[Wm Bach]

What is the protocol for a recovered sailor? Will he be
given a proper burial at sea, or will he be interred at
Arlington?

[Non-Sequitur]

It was discussed in some detail over the weekend here . Still, good stories are worth repeating.

[wasp69]

Normally a burial at sea is done via the request of the departed prior to their death. According to the article, he will be buried in a national cemetary with full honors. Most likely Arlington.

[Non-Sequitur]

The correct protocol would be to leave it up to the surviving members of his family. I doubt seriously if the remains could be identified in order for that to occur. Failing that I suppose the decision is up to the Secretary of the Navy.

[Wm Bach]

As a Civil War casualty, he surely deserves a burial in Gen. Lee's lawn.

[wasp69]

For having the bad luck of being on a ship that foundered and sank? Maybe we could bury him in Farragut's front lawn instead.

[Non-Sequitur]

He died doing his duty. He should be honored for that.

[billbears]

I agree. Although I readily admit a couple of kneejerk thoughts at first reading this. He should be buried with honor. It's not as if HE started the war

[Non-Sequitur]

Although I readily admit a couple of kneejerk thoughts at first reading this.

Oh come on now. Out with them. It's not like anybody would be shocked or surprised at what you had to say about Yankees.

[wasp69]

He died doing his duty. He should be honored for that.

You'll get no arguments from me. That is the reason I posted the article. What really chaps my butt is the fact that someone would have to throw a barb in like "burying him in Gen. Lee's yard". This man should be afforded as much as the remains from the crew of the Hunley will get in Charleston.

[Taliesan]

buried in silt in the turret of the ironclad Monitor, divers uncovered an intact skeleton that is almost certainly the remains of one of the sailors

"almost certainly"?

And his legs were trapped under the turret. Let's see...one of the sailors? Jimmy Hoffa?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Arlington National Cemetery was previously "General Lee's yard".

[ppaul]

Cables Set to Pull Civil War Ship

WASHINGTON, 5-AUG-2002: This US Naval Historical Center image obtained August 5, 2002 shows a view on the deck of the USS Monitor looking forward on the starboard side in July 1862. The turret, with the muzzle of one of Monitor's two XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbore guns showing, is at left. Officers at right are (left to right): Third Assistant Engineer Robinson W. Hands, Acting Master Louis N. Stodder, Second Assistant Engineer Albert B. Campbell (seated) and Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William Flye (with binoculars). US Navy divers are currently attempting to raise the turret from the Monitor that lies in 240 feet of water off Cape Hatteras, NC.

[Twodees]

barb in like "burying him in Gen. Lee's yard".

That's no barb, wasp69. Arlington National Cemetery is "General Lee's yard". That's what some of us call it, not without reverence, but as a reminder that Lee's property was stolen from him by the federal government. It's no reflection on the men buried there. It's a high honor to be buried among the warriors in General Lee's yard.

[AGreatPer]

Here is a strange but true story. About 25-30 years ago I rented a cottage on the ocean at Cape Hatteras. During the week we had one heck of a storm. In the morning, there it was, the Monitor, sitting 50 yards off the surf. We swam out to it and were walking all over the turrit.

I went down to the Pea Island ranger station and they told me it happens all the time. "It moves all around", they said. It was there for a few years. When we came back 3 years later, it had gone back to about 20 miles out.

BTW, it was about a mile north of the Avon Pier.

[Elsie]

Why do I fail to believe this??

[CWRWinger]

'Them yanks' didn't go after the Monitor until they saw the sucess of the CSS Hunley project. Notice how much better preserved the Hunley is compared with this tool of lincoln's morality?