USS Weehawken-- Part 2: Surviving That Gale

The Weehawken, towed by the steamer Mary A. Boardman and accompanied by the USS Iroquois, left New York in January 19, 1863, and encountered a heavy gale off the coast of New Jersey bound for Port Royal, S.C., and the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.  This was on January 20.  The Boardman and Iroquois headed for sheltered waters, but the Weehawken proceeded in the heavy seas.

This would be surprising considering what had happened to the USS Monitor less  than a month earlier.  But the Passaic monitors differed from the original one in that  on having less deck overhang and a rounded lower hull.  This enabled the Weehawken to ride out heavy seas much easier.

John Rodgers reported that "the behavior of the vessel was easy, buoyant, and indicative of thorough safety."

The ship put into Norfolk for some minor repairs, leaving on February 1 in tow of screw steamer USS Lodona.  She arrived at Port Royal on February 5 and deployed to the Charleston blockade.

Seasick?  --Old B-R'er