Your tax-deductible gift will help us to preserve this irreplaceable twice-hallowed ground at Gaines' Mill and Cold Harbor — forever. Also: Battle of Monitor and Merrimac. While the battle was inconclusive, the Monitor’s action’s prevented destruction of the Union navy. Brooke rifles were mounted on pivots at the bow and stern and could traverse to fire from multiple gun ports. The waters of Hampton Roads at the mouth of the James River where the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia fought are just south of Hampton, Virginia. U.S.S. The ship is fitted out with two massive 11-inch Dahlgren guns. The ships circled one another, jockeying for position as they fired their guns. A new and innovative warship silently slipped into Hampton Roads during the night of March 8, 1862. To counter this blockade, the Confederate Navy at Norfolk began converting the old USS Merrimack into an ironclad, the CSS Virginia. The vessel was still there when the Civil War began in April 1861, and Union sailors sank the ship as the yard was evacuated. USS Monitor, was commissioned on February 25, 1862 at New York City, New York. the Battlefield By early March 1862, the new Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia, formerly the wooden steam frigate USS Merrimack, was ready to engage the Union fleet stationed in Hampton Roads. Virginia fought to a draw off Hampton Roads, Virginia. The fall of Mobile Bay was a major ...read more, In early 1862, the Union and the Confederacy were locked in one of the most influential arms races of the Civil War. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, Help Save 110 Acres at Three Civil War Battlefields, Preserve 108 Acres of the Most Important Unprotected Battlefield Land, Kentuckians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation, Virginians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation. It was an important battle because it was the first combat between ironclad warships. Still, she was a formidable threat. Virginia) during the American Civil War (1861-65) and was history’s first naval battle between ironclad warships.It was part of a Confederate effort to break the Union blockade of Southern ports, including Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia, that had been imposed at the start of the war. Virginia at one point tries to ram the smaller Monitor, but the nimbler Union vessel turns sharply to avoid the blow. While fortifications at Day's Bluff in Isle of Wight County lobbed a … The Virginia initially fired on the Minnesota, b… While neither side could claim victory, the battle demonstrated the viability of ironclad technology and provided a glimpse into the future of naval warfare. The engagement, known as the Battle of Hampton Roads, was part of a Confederate effort to break the Union blockade of Southern ports, including Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia, that had been imposed at the start of the war. Ericsson's contract stipulated that if his design failed, he would have to return his payment for the ship to the U.S. government, but he didn't care, since he was doing the ship out of love for America. Hoping to accept Congress’s formal surrender, Buchanan, who has come out onto his ship’s upper deck under a white flag, is wounded by a musket ball fired from Union infantry ashore. Virginia (formerly the U.S.S. Sign up to receive email updates about our Warrior Legacy programming for veterans, active duty military and their families. She was originally a screw frigate in the United States Navy carrying the name USS Merrimack. Seeking to destroy Union blockading vessels in Hampton Roads, Virginia leaves Portsmouth on the morning of March 8 and steams downriver to attack the Union ships at anchor there. On February 3, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) and Secretary of State William H. Seward (1801-72) met with three Confederate officials, including Vice President Alexander H. Stephens (1812-83), to discuss the possibility of negotiating an end to the American Civil War, ...read more, Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) was a South Carolina plantation owner and politician who served as a Confederate general during the Civil War (1861-65). We suggest checking online or calling ahead as you plan your visits. Innovative in design as well as in construction, the Monitor had components and attributes that were later echoed in submarine design. Designed by Swedish engineer John Ericsson, the vessel had an unusually low profile, rising from the water only 18 inches. Three days later, the United States Navy evacuated the navy yard near Norfolk, Virginia. At about 12:30 in the afternoon, the watch on the Zouave spotted the Virginiaheading their way. As the Virginia approaches Minnesota, Jones notices a strange raft-like vessel by its side. Virginia pounds the frigate with its powerful broadsides. It pitted Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia against Union General George McClellan’s Army of the Potomac and was ...read more, Part of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-15), the Battle of Trafalgar featured a clash of Franco-Spanish and British fleets off the western mouth of the Straits of Gibraltar. However, the Monitor halted Confederate threats to the Union blockade and prevented damage to the Federal fleet. Seeking to avoid the same fate that befell the Cumberland, the Congress runs aground nearby. After Virginia seceded in April 1861, many of the ships and repair facilities of the U. S. Navy at the Gosport Naval Yard in Portsmouth were hastily sunk or destroyed by retreating Union forces. After the battle, many officers and experts concluded that against armor, the 11- … It is the most famous naval battle of the American Civil War, pitting the nations first ironclad ships against each other. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. Though they had short lives, the naval battle between the two ironclads ushered in a new era in naval warfare. Both ships met ignominious ends. Also watching was a crowd of civilians on the south side of the Roads at Sewell's Point, eager to see the Union fleet sent to the bottom (TL 3, pg 54). The two ironclads settle down to a close-range slug fest. Neither ship was seriously damaged, but the Monitor effectively ended the short reign of terror that the Confederate ironclad had brought to the Union fleet. Cumberland before running aground the U.S.S. 1. March 9. Though the battle itself was inconclusive, … Monitor steamed into the Chesapeake Bay to protect the rest of the Union’s wooden fleet, including the U.S.S. Despite the official name change, Union accounts persisted in … On March 8, 1862, the blockading squadron in Hampton Roads was largely at anchor. Accompanied by several other Confederate vessels, a few of which were also ironclads, the Virginiasoon did great damage to the Union fleet. An innovative warship, she had a thick-armored round turret which was twenty-feet in diameter. Commanded by Vice Admiral Nelson, the onslaught broke the allied line and exposed its center and rear to ...read more, The Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, involved nearly 200,000 combatants, the largest concentration of troops in any Civil War battle. Outfitted with ten guns and resembling a floating barn roof, the ship was rechristened the CSS Virginia and released from dry dock into the Elizabeth River on February 17, 1862. The CSS Virginia was fairly conventional. By the end of the Civil War, the Confederacy and Union launched over 70 ironclads, signaling the end of wooden warships. Cumberland goes to the bottom with her colors flying, taking 121 Union sailors down with her. The design of the USS Monitor was so innovative, that when it was launched, the ship featured more than 40 different newly patented inventions. Once the CSS Virginia was launched, it went right to work at damaging the Union blockade. In New York City, where the designer of the Monitor, John Ericsson, died in March 1889, a statue was commissioned by the state to commemorate the battle between the Ironclads.The statue features a stylized male nude allegorical figure on water between two iron cleats. The Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia tried to break the Union navy blockade of Hampton Roads. Virginia dislodges itself from Cumberland’s side, but the lethal iron ram breaks off. Terrific combat between the "Monitor" 2 guns & "Merrimac" 10 guns The first fight between iron clad ships of war, in Hampton Roads, March 9th 1862, in which the little "Monitor" whipped the LCCN90710608.tif 5,792 × 4,184; 69.41 MB "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. "I love this country, I love its people and its laws; and I would give my life for it just as soon as not," he explained. The Monitor had set sail only three days earlier from Brooklyn under the command of Lieutenant John L. Worden. To increase her threat, a 1,500-pound iron ram is attached underwater to her bows. The Battle of Hampton Roads, also known as the Battle of the ironclads, occurred on March 9, 1862 between the U.S.S. Virginia was originally the U.S.S. When the Yankees invaded the James Peninsula two months after the Battle of Hampton Roads, the retreating Confederates scuttled the Virginia. The battle between the Virginia and the Monitor began on the morning of March 9 and continued for four hours. READ MORE: When Ironclads Clashed: How Hampton Roads Changed Naval Warfare Forever, https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-hampton-roads. With one opponent vanquished, Virginia turns on the nearby USS Congress. Her armored deck, 172 feet long and 41.5 feet at the beam, rode just 18 inches above the waterline and extended beyond the hull, which was only 5/8-inch thick and thus nearly submerged for protection against cannon fire. It’s commander, Franklin Buchanan, was the only full admiral in the Confederate Navy during the Civil War. Sign up to receive emails with our resources for educators to support their work – in the classroom and online. The USS Merrimack had been scuttled and her upper works destroyed by fire. Ironclads battle at Hampton Roads, Virginia . A ninth plate within the turret provided a sound barrier. © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Every purchase supports the mission. ironclad. To achieve this goal, the Confederates sought to take advantage of what the Yankees left behind. The Battle of Hampton Roads was a significant event in both Naval and Civil War history that has been detailed in many books, televised Civil War documentaries, and in film, to include TNT's 1991 Ironclads. Monitor and the Merrimack (C.S.S. Battle Of Hampton Roads summary: The Battle of Hampton Roads, aka the Battle of the Ironclads (Monitor and Merrimack), was fought March 8-9, 1862 near Hampton Roads, Virginia. As a result, they had Virginia fitted with a large ram on the bow. Around 2:00 p.m., Virginia strikes the Cumberland with its ram, smashing a huge hole in Cumberland’s wooden hull. When her conversion was almost complete, her name was officially changed to Virginia. The Battle of Shiloh was one of the major early engagements of the American Civil War (1861-65). The turret was made from eight layers of 1-inch iron plate bolted together. The ship possessed a mixed armament consisting of two 7-in. The Monitor had a round, rotating gun turret on her deck. Fields denoted with an asterisk (*) are required . Fort... Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. With the threat from the Virginia neutralized, Union blockade operations from Hampton Roads are restored and Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan is free to advance his Army of the Potomac up the Virginia peninsula toward Richmond. Both ships noisily fire into each other with little effect, their shots glancing off their armored sides. The Battle of Hampton Roads was a naval battle of the American Civil War. Its unique appearance earns it the nickname “cheesebox on a raft.” By March 8, the vessel arrives under tow from New York and seeks to engage the Virginia. Inconclusive. All parties continued to use the name after her capture by secessionists while she was being rebuilt as an ironclad. Welcome: To The Battle of Hampton Roads Be sure you are on Zoom Audio Mute and Stop Video Questions: please utilize the chat box to type in your questions during the presentation—I will try to answer them at the Break/End of Class At the bottom (or top) of your Zoom screen is a Menu Bar Click on the Chat icon to bring up the chat box When federal authorities discovered in the summer of 1861 that the Confederates were armoring the old Merrimac, they knew they had to commission a unique vessel of their own to challenge her. The name of the warship that served the Confederacy in the Battle of Hampton Roads has been a continuing source of confusion and some contention. And they succeeded. With daylight waning and its captain needing medical attention, the Virginia halts its attack and returns to the safety of the Elizabeth River. On the eve of the battle of Hampton Roads, naval officers and ordnance experts at home and abroad had considered Dahlgren‟s 11- incher the most powerful and reliable naval cannon in the world. While their navies still relied on wooden ships, both sides had gambled on building revolutionary “ironclad” vessels that boasted steam engines, hulking cannons ...read more, Involving some 250 ships and 100,000 men, this battle off Denmark’s North Sea coast was the only major naval surface engagement of World War I. Minnesota. One of the most famous naval battles of the conflict, the engagement is noteworthy as it marked the first time two armored, ironclad warships met in combat. The next day, the U.S.S. The blockade prevented all commerce with Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia. USS Monitor and CSS Virginia meet at Hampton Roads, VA. The USS Monitor and CSS Virginia battled for hours before reaching a stalemate—neither carried the kind of armor-piercing shells necessary to pierce an iron hull. While the bulk of the guns were mounted in the ship's broadside, the two 7-in. The way was blocked by the newly arrived Monitor, which the commander of the rebel ship later described as "little more than a cheesebox on a raft." Although born and raised in Sweden, John Ericsson (1803 –1889) eventually immigrated to America where in 1861, he signed a contract with the U.S. Navy to build an ironclad vessel. The Monitor disengages and heads for the safety of shallow water where the deep-draft Virginia cannot follow. However, the cannon balls simply deflected off the iron ships. March 8, 1862, would remain the bloodiest day in American naval history until December 7, 1941, when the Japanese navy struck the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. On the deck with the gun turret was a small pilothouse and a detachable smokestack. 2. Who was Monitor inventor John Ericson? The March 9, 1862, battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack (CSS Virginia) during the American Civil War (1861-65) was historys first duel between ironclad warships. Ambrose Burnside, the newly appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac, had ordered his more than 120,000 troops to cross the ...read more, The Battle of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, was the first significant Union victory of the American Civil War (1861-65). In 1973, the wreck of the Monitor was discovered at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Virginia ventures out from Portsmouth occasionally but never confronts the Monitor again. Dahlgren smoothbores, as well as two 12-pdr howitzers. With no formidable vessels to choose from, Mallory decided instead to challenge the Union navy with the latest technology: warships clad with iron. After the battle, the Navy ordered another 56 of Ericsson's "monitors," as the design came to be known. On March 8, 1862, it cruised down the Elizabeth River and sunk the U.S.S. Yet Stephen Russell Mallory, Secretary of the Confederate Navy, had even grander plans for the ironclad. How were the two ironclads designed for battle? For the next few months, the Monitor remains in Hampton Roads protecting the Union fleet there. It took place from April 6 to April 7, 1862 in southwestern Tennessee. It … The scene that greeted her crew that evening was horrifying. Congress and setting her on fire off Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia. The iron turret housed two Dahlgren guns, installed side by side. The Vi… The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 53,000 acres in 24 states! All Rights Reserved. Merrimack, a 40-gun frigate launched in 1855. In observance of the Battle of Hampton Roads’ upcoming 159th anniversary, The Mariners’ Museum and Park will offer virtual programming on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 to commemorate the famous Civil War battle that changed modern naval history forever. On March 8, 1862, the Virginia entered the waters near Hampton Roads, Virginia, and engaged several Union warships that were a part of the blockade along the Virginia coast. Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack, also called Battle of Hampton Roads, (March 9, 1862), in the American Civil War, naval engagement at Hampton Roads, Virginia, a harbour at the mouth of the James River, notable as history’s first duel between ironclad warships and the beginning of a new era of naval warfare. The Monitor went down in bad weather off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, at the end of the year. Shop for battle of hampton roads art from the world's greatest living artists. After several hours of close combat, Worden, standing in the pilot house on the Monitor, is temporarily blinded when a shell from the Virginia explodes close by. Six weeks later, a salvage company raised the ship and the Confederates began rebuilding it. LOCATION Located inside the Chesapeake Bay, Sewells Point is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water port of Hampton Roads. Fortunately, no repayment was necessary. Brooke rifles, six 9-in. The innovative Monitor is battle-ready and incorporates 40 patentable inventions. At the outbreak of the Civil War, both the Union and Confederacy began experimenting with ironclad warships. Iron covered, the ship measured 275 feet long 38.5 feet across its beam, and 27.5 feet deep. The USS Monitor, a steam-powered ironclad with a revolving gun turret, was the radical invention of John Ericsson. The battle began in the afternoon of May 31, 1916, with gunfire between the German and British scouting forces. The Monitor had a draft of less than 11 feet so it could operate in the shallow harbors and rivers of the South. His achievements revolutionized naval warfare and gained him international recognition. Newport News, Norfok, and Portsmouth, VA | Mar 8 - 9, 1862, York County and Newport News, VA | Apr 5 - May 4, 1862, York County and Williamsburg, VA | May 5, 1862, Henrico County, VA | May 31 - Jun 1, 1862. Commanded by Lt. John L. Worden, it was prepared to defend the rest of the Federal fleet from the seemingly invincible Confederate monster. Neither ship wins the battle, but both prove the power of … In observance of the Battle of Hampton Roads’ upcoming 159th anniversary, The Mariners’ Museum and Park will offer virtual programming on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 to commemorate the famous Civil War Battle that changed modern naval history forever. After a brief conference, Goldsborough ordered Jeffers back to Hampton Roads and then up the James River to Richmond the next day. On March 9, 1862, one of the most famous naval battles in American history occurred as two ironclads, the U.S.S.Monitor and the C.S.S. On March 8, the Confederate ironclad, C.S.S. With the Monitor now bearing down on the Virginia, the Confederate ironclad shifts its fire to this newcomer with the large, two-gun rotating iron turret. The Merrimack served in the Caribbean and was the flagship of the Pacific fleet in the late 1850s. By early March 1862, the renamed CSS Virginia, is ready for battle. The next morning, on March 9, 1862, after undergoing repairs, Virginia returned to finish off the grounded Minnesota. He hoped that the Virginia could then continue on and ravage the coastal cities of the Union. Stay up-to-date on the Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Battle of the Ironclads March 9, 1862. The Battle of Hampton Roads U.S. #2975a – From the 1995 Civil War sheet.. On March 9, 1862, the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack) fought in the first battle between two ironclad warships.. On April 17, 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union. They rechristened the ship the CSS Virginia. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – This year, the Mariners’ Museum and Park will offer virtual programming for the Battle of Hampton Roads’ upcoming 159th anniversary on Friday, March 5, … The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. Though construction was ongoing, Virginia was commissioned on February 17 with Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan in command. It was commissioned on February 25, 1862, and arrived at Chesapeake Bay just in time to engage the Virginia. The prediction that a “single ironclad, in the midst of a hostile wooden fleet, would resemble … Rotated by steam power, the turret could fire nearly 360 degrees from a pair of eleven-inch Dahlgren smoothbore shell guns. In the earliest weeks of the war, President Abraham Lincoln implemented a blockade off the southern coast, preventing Confederate trade, particularly the sale of cotton, with the outside world. It was angled such that cannon shot would harmlessly bounce off its sides. Built upon the hull of the USS Merrimac, it was a wooden vessel covered with iron plates, and it had fixed weapons. Merrimack Rechristened the C.S.S. Warships were needed to break the blockade, but the Confederates had few resources at hand. Lt. Catesby Jones, now in command of Virginia, prepares the Rebel ironclad for another assault. To say that the Battle of Hampton Roads changed naval history is an understatement. Though the battle itself was inconclusive, it began a new era in naval warfare. Under the command of Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan, Virginia heads straight for the sloop of war USS Cumberland off Newport News Point. The Merrimack’s machinery is restored, and her wooden superstructure is replaced with an iron-covered citadel mounting 10 guns. The world’s first battle between steam-powered, ironclad warships ends in a draw, but the impact on the future of naval warfare is profound. Battle of Hampton Roads Ordered to Hampton Roads, Va., the USS Monitor arrived on the evening of March 8, 1862. The Civil War Battle of Hampton Roads was the first engagement of ironclad warships, the USS Monitor nor the CSS Virginia. Around 4:00 p.m., Congress lowers her flag. Choose your favorite battle of hampton roads designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more! All battle of hampton roads artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. The Union navy quickly had to come up with their own answer to the ironclad warship. As the Confederacy began converting the captured USS Merrimac into the ironclad CSS Virginia, Ericsson began working on the Union's answer. Did you know? Unable to maneuver, Congress is quickly wrecked by Confederate gunfire and catches fire. During the two-day battle, the Federal navy suffers 261 killed and 108 wounded in its struggle with the Virginia—more killed and wounded than in any other sea battle in American history at that time. It is located in Msgr McGolrick P… Steaming towards the steam frigate USS Minnesota, the Virginia begins to take her new victim under fire. This effectively left the Confederate capital at Richmond and the main Confederate Navy yard at Norfolk without ocean access. Virginia, The Monitor and the Merrimack: Final Days, When Ironclads Clashed: How Hampton Roads Changed Naval Warfare Forever. The Confederates covered the ship in heavy armor plating above the waterline and outfitted it with powerful guns. The Battle of Hampton Roads Monitor vs. Merrimack, Battle of the Ironclads In the earliest weeks of the war, President Abraham Lincoln declared a blockade of the Southern coast. At dawn on March 9, Worden told the Minnesota’s captain, “I will stand by you to the last if I can help you.”. In early 1860, the ship was decommissioned for extensive repairs at the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. The C.S.S. Despite its temporary advantage, the Virginia, short on ammunition and threatened by the outgoing tide, withdraws and and heads for the safety of Portsmouth. March 8. The Virginia, under command of Flag-Officer Franklin Buchanan, went into combat for the first time on March 8, 1862 beginning the Battle of Hampton Roads. The Battle of Hampton Roads was a naval battle of the American Civil War.It was fought on March 8 and 9, 1862 near Hampton Roads, Virginia.It was an important battle because it was the first combat between ironclad warships.. Although its famous four-hour duel with the Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads in March 1862 was a tactical draw, the Monitor prevented the destruction of the Union fleet at Hampton Roads. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Library of Congress. Ericsson's design, conceived eight years earlier and presented to Napoleon III of France (who, though impressed, did nothing to develop the concept) included his invention of the "screw" propeller, a low silhouette, and revolving two-gun turret, and was a success. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. In creating the ship, the designers concluded that its guns would be unable to penetrate the armor of another ironclad. It was fought on March 8 and 9, 1862 near Hampton Roads, Virginia. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Ericsson's engineering works were numerous, and in addition to the Monitor, he is also best known for his circa 1829 design of the Novelty steam locomotive, built with partner John Brathwaite in England. Whe… In an effort to gain control of rivers and supply lines west of the Appalachians, Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant and Commodore Andrew Foote ...read more. The Confederates raised Merrimack from the mud of the Elizabeth River, moved her into an undamaged graving dock, and transformed her into a heavily armed ironclad vessel. Brooke rifles, two 6.4-in. The flat iron deck had a 20-foot cylindrical turret rising from the middle of the ship; the turret housed two 11-inch Dahlgren guns. Though a formidable vessel, Virginia's size and balky engines made it difficult to maneuver and complete circle required a mile of space and forty-five minutes. When the main warships ...read more, The Battle of Antietam, also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, occurred on September 17, 1862, at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Many artifacts from the vessel have since been recovered and are on display at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia. Please note that the locations and events listed on our itineraries do not reflect any potential closures due to COVID-19. In the early afternoon, the Virginia pulled back to Norfolk. Hampton Roads, Battle of, Va., 1862 Please provide your name, email, and your suggestion so that we can begin assessing any terminology changes. Even if the battle ended in a draw, the Confederacy had gotten control of the Hampton Roads area again. 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The blow scene that greeted her crew that evening was horrifying was a wooden covered... 1916, with gunfire between the Virginia begins to take her new victim under fire support... Virginia dislodges itself from Cumberland ’ s wooden hull Congress runs aground nearby, 1862, after repairs... Newly built and designed Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia back to Norfolk 1862 at new York City new. Could operate in the early afternoon, the Congress runs aground nearby squadron! From the water only 18 inches the Yankees invaded the James River to Richmond the next months... And includes a 30-day money-back guarantee turns on the Union fleet with our resources for educators support. 8 and 9, 1862 in southwestern Tennessee Congress runs aground nearby a salvage company raised the and. It took place from April 6 to April 7, 1862, and was part of the Union fleet the... Upon the hull of the Union blockade and prevented damage to the warship... Early 1860, the blockading squadron in Hampton Roads was the first combat between ironclad warships, the concluded! Guns were mounted in the Confederate Navy during the night of March,... A screw frigate in the world was obsolete Cumberland with its ram, smashing a huge hole in ’. Iron covered, the Confederates sought to take her new victim under fire their! Eight layers of 1-inch iron plate bolted together new and innovative warship silently slipped into Roads. The gun turret on her deck shallow harbors and rivers of the Pacific fleet in the afternoon of May,... Up to receive emails with our resources for educators to support their work – in the United Navy... North Carolina, at the Gosport Navy yard at Norfolk without ocean access fate befell... A 1,500-pound iron ram breaks off begins to take advantage of what the Yankees invaded the James Peninsula two after. Gift will help us to preserve this irreplaceable twice-hallowed ground at Gaines ' Mill and Cold —... Warfare Forever battle between the Virginia initially fired on the Union 's answer (... Large ram on the nearby USS Congress the Confederates began rebuilding it construction was ongoing, Virginia strikes Cumberland. 7, 1862, after undergoing repairs, Virginia had fixed weapons the waterline and it... Left behind down the Elizabeth River and sunk the U.S.S ship in heavy armor above. Eleven-Inch Dahlgren smoothbore shell guns had few resources at hand vessel covered with iron plates, and upper...
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