USS Monitor Legacy Program: DuPont’s Ironclad Attack on Charleston, SC

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

About the lecture: Rear Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont was ordered to capture Charleston using nine ironclads against one of the most heavily defended harbors in the Confederacy. Forts such as Sumter and Battery Wagner mounted 179 heavy guns. Lacking sufficient firepower, the ironclads were badly damaged, and USS Keokuk sank the following day. Despite continued pressure, the Navy failed to take Charleston by sea.

Advance registration is required whether you attend the lecture in person or online. You can register on our website: https://www.marinersmuseum.org/event/duponts-ironclad-attack/

Image Credit: The Great Fight at Charleston, SC. Currier & Ives, lithographer. Courtesy Library of Congress.