Monitor vs. CSS Virginia

The famous Battle of Hampton Roads (March 8-9, 1862) occurred after several strange twists of fate, especially on the Union side. When rumors that the Confederates were building an armored vessel on the raised hulk of the scuttled steam frigate MERRIMAK, the North acted with little concern. The Navy placed their confidence in the power of their powerful steam frigates, which were in fact a match for any wooden warship in any of the world’s fleets. Work began on MONITOR only after Navy Secretary Welles read a report on French and British ironclads. The first Union ironclads ordered were the GALEN, NEW IRONSIDES, and MONITOR, only the latter being revolutionary. Even so, the Navy’s initial reaction to designer John Ericsson’s proposal was to "take the little thing home and worship it as it would not be idolatry, because it was made in the image of nothing in the heavens above or the earth below, or in the waters under the earth." Still, President Lincoln and Secretary Welles approved the design, and construction proceeded.

As building of the two warships continued, neither side seemed aware or particularly concerned. Ericsson was more wary of Confederate forts and with the British, than in a Confederate mystery ship, as he stated in a letter dated January 20, 1862 "(T) his structure (MONITOR) will admonish the leaders of the Southern Rebellion that the batteries on the banks of the rivers will no longer present barriers to the entry of the Union forces." And concerning the British: "Downing Street will hardly view with indifference this Yankee Notion, this MONITOR." After her launching it was planned to send the radical warship against Southern forces in New Orleans. This attack proceeded without her and she was ordered to Hampton Roads, not against the still rumored CSS VIRGINIA, but to defeat Confederate batteries on the Potomac. She was on her way South when the order was given on March 6. While MONITOR was enroute, VIRGINIA began her sortie on March 8. The five wooden Union vessels on blockade duty: CONGRESS, CUMBERLAND, ST. LAWRENCE, ROANOKE, and MINNESOTA, had little notion of the peril bearing down on them.

Under a prearranged signal the warships maneuvered to destroy the strange vessel. Immediately MINESSOTA and ROANOKE ran aground. It was all that saved them. CONGRESS and CUMBERLAND attacked first, their cannon firing against VIRGINIA’s armored hull with no effect. The Confederates attacked CUMBERLAND first, thinking her the greater threat. As the VIRGINIA leisurely fired her guns, the Union vessels delivered a hail of shot that would have blown a lesser vessel out to the water. Oblivious to the rain of destruction, VIRGINIA rammed CUMBERLAND amidships while simultaneously firing into her hull. The Union ship sank half an hour later with colors flying. Confederate gunboats now joined the fray, turning their attention to CONGRESS. This vessel beached herself to escape the blistering fire, only to surrender later. Meanwhile, ROANOKE fled to deep water out of range of the Confederate dreadnaught. MINNESOTA remained hard aground and could only await destruction. Luckily for the Union, the tide had ebbed, and VIRGINIA could get no closer than a mile, out of range for her guns. For now she was content to retire, repair her wounds, and renew the fight tomorrow.

At 7 AM on March 9, the CSS VIRGINIA returned to the fray. She had the entire East coast in terror, but was soon to meet her match. After a lively journey south, MONITOR had reached Hampton Roads the previous night. She was much smaller than the VIRGINIA, which was to her advantage as the Confederates first shots missed her entirely. The Union ship possessed only 2 guns to VIRGINIA’s 10, but was far more maneuverable. Both vessels attempted ramming, though MONITOR wasn’t designed as such. The latter’s hull was so strong, when VIRGINIA did hit her, the smaller ship simply bounced off without damage. Neither did the guns of either vessel cause much harm. Finally after a shot against MONITOR’s pilot house temporarily blinded her captain, she withdrew into waters too shallow for VIRGINIA. The Confederates were happy for the respite, and retired to Norfolk for rest and repairs. Both sides claimed victory, though neither returned to renew the struggle. VIRGINIA was scuttled in May to avoid capture, and MONITOR was lost in a gale off Cape Hatteras In December of that year.

Battle of Hampton Roads
Official Reports, and eyewitness descriptions.