Ironclad: The Epic Battle, Calamitous Loss, and Historic Recovery of the USS Monitor

by Paul Clancy

The true story of the Civil War ironclad that saved the Union Navy only to sink in a storm--and its remarkable salvage 140 years later Ironclad tells the saga of the warship USS Monitor and its salvage, one of the most complex and dangerous in history. The Monitor is followed through its maiden voyage from New York to Hampton Roads, its battle with the Merrimack , and its loss off Cape Hatteras. At the same time, author Paul Clancy takes readers behind the scenes of an improbable collaboration between navy divers and cautious archaeologists working 240 feet deep. Clancy creates a memorable, fascinating read, including fresh insights into the sinking of the Union ship and giving the answer to an intriguing forensic mystery: the identities of the two sailors whose bones were found in the Monitor 's recovered turret.

Genres: Naval History, Civil War

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2005

Reviews

[John Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book on the construction of the Navy's first ironclad fighting vessel to the battle with the CSS Virginia and most intriguing is its recovery from the ocean floor.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent accounting of the ship and its rescue!

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cringe when I read naval history books by journalists because they never let it be said that they will let facts mess up a good story. Clancy doesn't disappoint in playing loosey goosey with some measly insignificant facts to get in the way of his story.

Perhaps I'm a little over sensitive as a reader but I read histories to get facts straight and for the most part Clancy did however the first chapter was a minefield of facts out of place or worse manipulated. Clancy give a thumbnail sketch of a thumbnail of John Ericsson and at that mangled the briefest of treatments in books about the Monitor I have ever seen. John Ericsson was irascible and stubborn, however Clancy painted him as naive. He infers that Ericsson went to see the naval board about the Monitor based on Cornelius Bushnell's saying that they had questions. Ericsson was tricked by Bushnell by Bushnell using reverse psychology but this ignored why Bushnell was involved with Ericsson. Clancy places Lincoln's sock quote before Ericsson's visit when it was after. I know nit picking but after all Clancy was writing a history book.

I found myself wanting James Tetrus DeKay's excellent Monitor for a better history. DeKay’s book tells the Monitor’s history much better and in more detail. I tried to figure a reason why Clancy is writing other than to elevate my blood pressure and it came to me. The best parts of the book are the parts where he focused on the recovery of the Monitor's turret. I started skipping over the Clancy’s "History" sections because of their thumbnail qualities. Clancy gave the battle between the Virginia/Merrimack and Monitor nine pages. Yes a battle that transformed naval warfare forever was give nine pages in a history book about one of the two ships involved. I was dumbstruck by that. A subject that full histories are written about received nine pages and the front cover but nothing else. If you want to read about the battle go to Davis' excellent Duel Between the First Ironclads or Hoehling's Thunder at Hampton Roads. If you want to read about the recovery of the Monitor then read Clancy's book because this is where Clancy does well.

Clancy committed another writing sin when he decided to write in absurd phrases such as "The accents on board were thick enough to pierce with a marlinspike." I hate when authors feel they must become "salty". Wasn't it enough Mr. Clancy to tamper with the timeline and portray it as fact but did you have to go with the fake salty? It was strained and unneeded.

What Clancy's main interest in the book is the recovery of the Monitor's turret and in this he seems to do well. If he had put the Monitor's History in say the first three chapters and told about the recovery this book would be much different and receive possibly a one star higher grade. It is clear Mr. Clancy was in awe or the recovery and those who made it possible. Based on his writing I am as well. This was the strength of the book and should have been its focus.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can NOT praise this book - or the recovery team!- enough! A fantastic book about the loss and recovery of the Uss Monitor. You will fly through the pages. Chill bumps will pepper your skin as you read about the horrifying New Year's Eve the sailors spent on the last night of their lives. More chill bumps as you feel as if you are standing on the barge awaiting the turret to come up our of the sea....excellent book!!!

[Cindy Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely caught up in the story from the first page. It was amazing what they went through, both on the Monitor itself and to bring the turret up.

[Karen Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good. I couldn't put it down. I have been to the Mariners Museum and seen the turret and this is one of the reasons that I love history. This is a must read.