14 DAY TRIAL // Experts with the US Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have just embarked on a two-day expedition to James River, in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in order to investigate two ships that have been lying on the seafloor there for almost 150 years.
The condition of the two sunken Civil War vessels is constantly being monitored, at least once every few years. The two wrecks are protected under US law, and so authorities have to ensure that they remain in good shape.
According to official documents, the frigate USS Cumberland and the cruiser CSS Florida sunk near Hampton Roads, on March 8, 1862 and November 19, 1864, respectively. Both are symbols of the Civil War that raged across the United States, and ultimately led to the abolishing of slavery.
The two vessels will be analyzed using state-of-the-art sonar technology. Using this method, researchers will create 3D maps of the wrecks themselves, as well as of the surrounding areas. They will then be able to identify any potential threats to the historic ships.
When the USS Cumberland was sunk, during the Battle of Hampton Roads, it went down with more than 121 men, historians agree. The Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack) was responsible for its demise, after ramming it out of the water.
The CSS Florida – following a rather strange, yet rich career – was sunk in port, after it collided with a US Navy troop ferry. Some historians agree that Admiral David Dixon Porte encouraged the sinking, in order to avoid having to send the ship back to Brazil, from where it had been captured.
“The remains of the USS Cumberland and CSS Florida, preserved in the waters of Hampton Roads, remind us of the sacrifices made during the Civil War and give us a unique and rare opportunity to explore a pivotal chapter in our nation’s history,” David Alberg explains.
“NOAA is pleased to be part of a project that increases understanding of America’s maritime heritage,” adds the official, who is the superintendent of the NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
The Sunken Military Craft Act of 2005, the Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987, and the Territorial Clause of the US Constitution all protect the two shipwrecks, and entitle the US government as the sole owner of the ships.
“We are extremely excited about this project. The information collected during this project will really increase our understanding of the condition of these wrecks,” says US Navy Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC) underwater archaeologist and cultural resource manager Alexis Catsambis.