monitor
monitor former term for a shallow-draught warship mounting one or two heavy guns for bombardment, named for a vessel developed by Swedish engineer John Ericsson for the Union forces. In a letter of 1862 he said that he proposed to name the new battery Monitor on the ground that ‘The iron-clad intruder will thus prove a severe monitor [that is, something providing guidance to moral conduct] to those leaders [of the Southern rebellion].’
This prototype vessel engaged the Confederate ironclad Virginia in Chesapeake Bay in a battle that drew worldwide attention; after this a number of similar warships were built by the Union. The original Monitor, however, went down off Cape Hatteras in 1862.
This prototype vessel engaged the Confederate ironclad Virginia in Chesapeake Bay in a battle that drew worldwide attention; after this a number of similar warships were built by the Union. The original Monitor, however, went down off Cape Hatteras in 1862.
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monitor (ship)
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monitor (ship)