USS MINNESOTA, A WOODEN STEAM FRIGATE BUILT IN 1855, WAS THE FLAGSHIP FOR THE ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON COMMANDED BY FLAG OFFICER SILAS H. STRINGHAM. SEVEN UNITED STATED NAVY WARSHIPS BOMBARDED FORTS HATTERAS AND CLARK, AUGUST 28-29, 1861. THIS WAS THE ...

ON JANUARY 11, 1862, THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION LEFT FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA DESTINED FOR THE HATTERAS INLET 120 MILES TO THE SOUTH. TWO DAYS LATER, THE FLEET OF OVER EIGHTY VESSELS WAS STRUCK BY A STRONG NORTHEASTER WHILE CROSSING HATTERAS BAR. AMONG THE SHIP ...

HATTERAS INLET, DEFENDED BY FORTS CLARK AND HATTERAS, WAS A STRATEGIC PORT OF ENTRY FOR TROOPS AND SUPPLIES PROVIDING DEEP WATER ACCESS TO THE VITAL INTERCOASTAL WATERWAYS.

IN THE AGE OLD BATTLE OF MAN AGAINST THE SEA, THE USS MONITOR, EN ROUTE TO BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA UNDER TOW BY THE USS RHODE ISLAND, FOUNDERED IN A GALE SIXTEEN MILES OFF THE COAST OF CAPE HATTERAS AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30AM ON NEW YEAR'S EVE 1862.