USS Monitor Legacy Program - Enemy in the River

Presenter:
John V. Quarstein
Director emeritus of the USS Monitor Center


About the Lecture:
When President Lincoln arrived at Fort Monroe, Virginia on May 6, 1862, he sought to break the existing Hampton Roads stalemate. Two days later, he ordered USS Monitor and several other gunboats to attack Sewell’s Point while the USS Galena task force dueled the Confederate forts guarding the entrance to the James River; these fortifications were abandoned.

This action isolated Norfolk and forced the city’s surrender. The flotilla commanded by Capt. John Rodgers stopped at every Confederate fortification as it sailed up river. The time spent investigating these abandoned earthworks enabled the Confederates to complete their fortifications on Drewry’s Bluff.

In person is free for Museum Members and included in $1 admission.

This lecture is also livestreamed and free to watch online.

Advance registration is required: marinersmuseum.org/event/enemy-in-the-river/

You may also like the following events from The Mariners' Museum and Park:

• Next Thursday, 15th May, 07:00 pm, Evening Lecture: Conservation of USS Monitor in Newport News
• Next month, 28th June, 06:30 pm, The Mariners’ Sips & Trips in Newport News