"Loss of the <em>Monitor</em>- gallant attempt of the officers and crew of the United States steamer <em>Rhode Island</em>, to rescue the crew of the <em>Monitor</em>, off Cape Hatteras, at midnight, December 30th 1862. The closing day of 1862 will always be a dark one in our history, for just on the threshold of its birth the pet monster of our ironclads went down off Hatteras, with our flag flying on its tower, and in the midst of a furious storm. Its sudden and unlooked-for fate recalled to every mind that memorable Sunday in March when it signalized its advent to war by driving back to its Norfolk retreat the terrible <em>Merrimac</em>." &mdash;Leslie, 1896

Monitor

"Loss of the Monitor- gallant attempt of the officers and crew of the United States steamer…