Monitor Vs. Virginia Facts

From the March 7th New American.

**When the CSS Virginia attacked the USS Congress, again, it became a brother versus brother war. Franklin Buchanan, commanding the Confederate ironclad was attacking a ship commanded by McKean Buchanan, his brother. (Elsewhere, I find that J. McKean Buchanan was the paymaster of the USS Congress, but did not get hurt in the action.)

**During the battle with the CSS Virginia, the Monitor fired shells with a 15-pound charge instead of the 30-pound that 11-inch Dahlgren guns could fire. Instead of bouncing off the sides of the Virginia, it is likely that the shells might have penetrated.

**The Union ended up building about 60 ironclads, nearly all variations of the Monitor.

**Sixteen sailors died when the Monitor sank Dec. 31, 1862. A plaque was dedicated to the Monitor;s crew March 7th at the US Navy Memorial Foundation at the Navy memorial in Washington, D.C..

** The reconstructed faces of the two Monitor crew members were carefully delivered by UPS in custom-made, shock-proof containers especially made in Chicago for the delivery.

Just In case You Didn't Know. --Old B-R'er