Sinking of USS Weehawken-- Part 4: Overconfidant To the Peril

As many others were rescued from the surging waves by the launches if the flagship, the South Carolina and the tugboats Dandelion and Iris.  Thirty perished.

All day the Weehawken had labored heavily  in the seas, which had kept her decks constantly submerged, and which frequently swept in huge volumes into her forward hatch.  Towards noon the crew commenced playing out chain, to ease her; but, as accustomed as they were, in every gale, to the shipping of such seas, it is believed that they had grown confident and careless of danger, and paid no hewed to the encroaching waters until it was too late to resist them.

They dreamed of no peril till the waves had fairly yawned to swallow them.  Then, when it was known for certainty that the vessel was to be lost, a panic if fright and fear benumbed them, and the terror-stricken crew below had little power to help themselves.

There were men in irons between  decks, and the sergeant at-arms rushed frantically away to release them.  Poor fellows, they all went down.

--Old B-Runner

Sinking of the Monitor USS Weehawken-- Part 2: A Bad Storm Arises

Continued from December 20, 2018.

Saturday had been a bright and beautiful day, with scarcely a breath of air astir, and with a calm, unruffled sea.  --During  the night a breeze sprang up, and the wind blowing freshly at daylight on Sunday, increased by noon to a violent storm.

The iron-clad fleet was lying meanwhile at its usual anchorage.  The frigate New Ironsides was stationed off Morris Island, at a distance of about one mile  due east from Fort Wagner --, or as it is now called Fort Strong.  North of the Ironsides lay the flagship Philadelphia, distant about 100 yards.  The Weehawken was next, anchored about  two or three hundred yards off to the northward of the flagship.

The first signal of distress was made from the Weehawken, at a few minutes before two o'clock.  The signal was seen and answered at once by the flagship, from which four boats were sent to her assistance, and by the South Carolina, which sent two of her boats to the Weehawken's aid.

The tugs Dandelion and Iris were also called up, and with them commander Duncan, of the Weehawken, who chanced to be on the flagship, and in conversation with the admiral, when the signal was made, proceeded immediately  with the hope of running his vessel to the beach.

--Old B-Runner