The Stranding of USS MONONGAHELA, November 18, 1867 - Frederiksted, St. Croix
The Stranding of USS MONONGAHELA November 18, 1867 Frederiksted, St. Croix On November 20, 1867, Commodore S.B. Bissell, USN, wrote Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wells the following; Sir: I have to state with deep regret that the Monongahela, under my command, is now lying on the beach, in front of the town of Frederiksted, St. Croix, where she was thrown on the 18 th instant by an influx of the sea, the effect of the most fatal earthquake ever known here. USS MONONGAHELA was built in 1862, and commissioned in January of 1863. Barkentine rigged, she was 2078 long tonnes, 227 ft long, 38 ft broad, and drew 17 ft. Built in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, at the foot of Broad Street, MONONGAHELA served as Farragut’s flag ship for a short time, and rammed CSS TENNESSEE at the Battle of Mobile Bay. Like many of the ships of the era, MONONGAHELA had a steam plant for auxiliary propulsion, but in keeping with post war Navy policy, spent most of her time under sail to conserve coal. Ju