February 20, 1862: The U.S.S. Monitor undergoes trials

Plan for the U.S.S. Monitor

On this day 150 years ago, the U.S.S. Monitor was undergoing trials of her machinery en route from her builders' yard to the navy yard. The little warship was a complete revolution in design, yet, amazingly enough, she had only been ordered on October 4, 1861. Only 139 days had elapsed from the placement of that order to the point where the ship was a reality steaming downriver to join the Union Navy. Chief Engineer Alban C. Stimers of the U.S. Navy, submitted the following report on the Monitor's performance during her trial trip.

NEW YORK, February 20, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to report to you that the ironclad steamer Monitor is at the navy yard.

She left Green Point at 2 p.m. yesterday under steam, but in consequence of the engine builders having set the cut-off valves for backing, instead of her going ahead, we made but slow progress, 40 revolutions per minute of the engines and 3½ knots an hour of the vessel being the maximum performance. The effect of this mistake in the cut-off valves was to admit steam to the cylinder after the piston had performed one half its stroke, so that the consumption of steam was equal to running full stroke; whereas the effect was only one-half what was due to that consumption, without expansion.

There was another difficulty: One of the blower engines had a valve come off its stem, so that during nearly the whole trip only one was in operation.

We came to anchor off the navy yard at 7:30 p.m., and towed her in to the wharf with a towboat this morning.

In the operation of weighing the anchor this morning I found that the windlass will require some alterations to make it efficient. This, I think, must detain us several days, but I have not been able to see Captain Ericsson yet this morning.

From what I have seen thus far I think your estimate of her speed being 6 knots an hour will prove very correct, though Captain Ericsson feels confident of 8.

Aside from the foregoing easily adjusted difficulties, everything was perfectly satisfactory.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ALBAN C. STIMERS, Superintendent.

There remained some minor glitches to be worked out, but the U.S.S. Monitor was nearing completion, and indeed, this same day her commanding officer received orders to bring the little ship to Hampton Roads, Virginia as soon as possible. It remains amazing to me how quickly this new warship was built and placed into active service in just a matter of weeks.