var ue_t0=window.ue_t0||+new Date(); [44] The latter three got under way as soon as they saw Virginia approaching, but all soon ran aground. }); The use of a small number of very heavy guns, mounted so that they could fire in all directions, was first demonstrated by Monitor but soon became standard in warships of all types. }()); Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! } .__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.__prevent_empty_css_file{width:0}.authorModuleDropdownMenu{width:180px;border-left:1px solid #D8D8D8;border-right:1px solid #D8D8D8;border-top:1px solid #D8D8D8}.authorModuleDropdownMenu__dropdownLink,.authorModuleDropdownMenu__dropdownLink:hover{display:block;text-align:left;padding:12px;font-family:"Lato", "Helvetica Neue", "Helvetica", sans-serif;font-size:14px;color:#000000;cursor:pointer}#authorInfo{display:-webkit-box;display:-moz-box;display:-ms-box;display:box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-moz-flex;display:-ms-flex;display:flex;padding:10px 10px 5px 10px}#authorInfo .authorInfoGroup{-webkit-box-flex:1;-moz-box-flex:1;-ms-box-flex:1;box-flex:1}#authorInfo .authorPhotoGroup{-webkit-box-flex:0;-moz-box-flex:0;-ms-box-flex:0;box-flex:0;margin-right:10px}#authorInfo .authorFollow{display:flex}#authorInfo .authorFollow .authorDropdownContainer{border-radius:3px;border:1px solid #D6D0C4;font-family:"Lato", "Helvetica Neue", "Helvetica", sans-serif;font-size:14px;-moz-appearance:none;-o-appearance:none;-webkit-appearance:none;appearance:none;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;text-decoration:none;color:#333333;background-color:#F4F1EA;line-height:1;padding:8px 12px;font-size:16px;padding:12px 24px;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center;margin-left:0px;padding:0px;min-width:38px;height:32px;background-image:url(/assets/down-caret.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;float:right}#authorInfo .authorFollow .authorDropdownContainer:disabled{border-color:#DDDDDD}#authorInfo .authorFollow .authorDropdownContainer:hover{color:#333333;background-color:#ede6d6;text-decoration:none}#authorInfo .authorFollow .authorDropdownContainer:active{background-color:#D6D0C4}#authorInfo .authorFollow .authorDropdownContainer:disabled{background-color:#F3F3F3;color:#cccccc}@media (max-width: 540px){#authorInfo .authorFollow .authorDropdownContainer{min-width:20px;width:27px}}#authorBooks{*zoom:1}#authorBooks:after{content:"";display:table;clear:both}#authorBooks .sectionTitle{border-top:1px solid #CCCCCC;padding:10px 10px 0 10px;margin:0}.accordionContent{padding:0 10px}.authorBio{padding:0 10px;margin-bottom:10px}.authorBooksMeta{color:#999999;font-family:"Lato", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;padding:0 10px}.authorBooksMeta a{color:#00635D}.authorBooksTotalReviewCount:before,.authorBooksTotalRatingCount:before{content:"\00b7"}.authorDetailsList dt,.authorDetailsList dd{display:inline;margin:0}.authorDetailsList dd:after{content:'\A';white-space:pre}.authorDetailsList dt{font-weight:bold}.authorDetailsList dd{color:#999999;font-family:"Lato", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;margin-bottom:15px}.authorDetailsList dd a{color:#00635D}.authorSimilarAuthorsLink{padding:0 10px}.authorDistinctWorksLink{padding:0 10px;display:block;margin-bottom:10px}.authorFansLink{font-weight:bold}.authorInterviewsList{list-style-type:none;margin:0;padding:0}.authorInterviewsList .authorInterview{margin-bottom:15px}.authorInterviewsList .authorInterviewAt{color:#999999;font-family:"Lato", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif}.authorInterviewsList .authorInterviewAt a{color:#00635D}.authorInterviewsList .authorInterviewTitle{display:block}.authorName{margin-bottom:10px}.authorShortBio{color:#999999;font-family:"Lato", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif}.authorShortBio a{color:#00635D}.authorQuotesLink{margin-bottom:15px}.quotesList{border-top:1px solid #CCCCCC;margin-top:15px}.quotesPage{margin-left:10px}.noQuotes{margin-top:15px} Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. "https://":"http://";i+=f?g:k;i+=j;i+=h;c(i)}if(!e.ue_inline){if(a.loadUEFull){a.loadUEFull()}else{b()}}a.uels=c;e.ue=a})(window,document); [27] Trials showed that these rifles firing solid shot would pierce up to eight inches of armor plating. The Confederate fleet consisted of the ironclad ram Virginia (built from the remnants of the burned steam frigate USSMerrimack, newest warship for the United States Navy / Union Navy) and several supporting vessels. The delays in obtaining and shaping these iron plates gave the Union more time to construct their counters to the growing menace of the Virginia. function getCookieWithoutJQuery(name) { At the urging of his wartime adviser, Francis P. Blair, Sr., Pres. Ericsson's Monitor, which was built at Ericsson's yard on the East River in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, incorporated new and striking design features, the most significant of which were her armor and armament. [53], Although she had not suffered anything like the damage she had inflicted, Virginia was not completely unscathed. Mallory evaded the issue by appointing Buchanan, head of the Office of Orders and Detail, flag officer in charge of the defenses of Norfolk and the James River. During that battle, Buchanan would suffer a broken leg and would surrender with his ship on August 5, 1864. We hope that these ten interesting facts will help expand your knowledge and appreciation of this important Civil War naval battle. The vessel was still there when the Civil War began in April 1861, and Union sailors sank the ship as the yard was evacuated. Upon learning this, Williamson suggested taking the engines from the hulk of Merrimack, recently raised from the bed of the Elizabeth River. He had her towed down to Craney Island in Portsmouth, where the gang were taken ashore, and then she was set afire. Russia, fearing that the American Civil War would spill into Russian Alaska, launched ten sister ships, as soon as Ericsson's plans reached St. Petersburg. With justice on our side I do not see how we can loose our battle. They agree that the result of the MonitorVirginia encounter was not a victory for either side. She retreated into the safety of Confederate-controlled waters off Sewell's Point for the night,[55] but had killed 250 enemy sailors and had lost two. Unknown 39 Likes Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. [89] The alliteration of Monitor and Merrimack has persuaded most popular accounts to adopt the familiar name, even when it is acknowledged to be technically incorrect. Despite the many technological innovations that were on display during the Battle of Hampton Roads, one of the most lethal weapons employed was a large, 1,500lb iron ram attached to the bow of the Virginia. Over the two day battle, the Federal navy suffered 261 killed and 108 wounded in its struggle with the Virginia more killed and wounded than any other sea battle in American history at that time. As such, he could control the movements of Virginia. "Events.SushiEndpoint": "https://unagi.amazon.com/1/events/com.amazon.csm.csa.prod", Tests conducted after the battle showed that the Dahlgren guns could be operated safely and efficiently with charges of as much as 30lb (14kg). Unlike Anything that Ever Floated: The Monitor and Virginia and the Battle of Hampton Roads, March 8 - 9, 1862 by Dwight Sturtevant Hughes Savas Beatie, 2021 192 pp. [58], After fighting for hours, mostly at close range, neither could overcome the other. As Roanoke was one of the ships that ran aground, Marston was unable to materially influence the battle, and his participation is often disregarded. [citation needed]. What followed has been described as "Monitor mania". Rally around the flag, boys, rally once again. function q(c, r) { } catch (err) { [87] When her conversion was almost complete, her name was officially changed to Virginia. The duel ended indecisively, Virginia returning to her home at the Gosport Navy Yard for repairs and strengthening, and Monitor to her station defending Minnesota. Because a decisive Confederate weapon was negated, some have concluded that the Union could claim a strategic victory. The arrival of the Monitor saved the Minnesota, and possibly many of the other Union's wooden ships. To prevent any catastrophic gun bursting within the confined turret, each of the 11-inch guns was restricted to using 15-lb gunpowder charges. Fact #10 Franklin Buchanan and John L. Worden both became superintendents of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He stopped off at Fortress Monroe to augment his force with a detachment of Regular Army troops, but by the time they arrived at the Navy Yard it was too late. var ue_furl = "fls-na.amazon.com"; The new USS Monitor Center at the Mariners' Museum officially opened on March 9, 2007, and a full-scale copy of USS Monitor, the original recovered turret, and artifacts and related items are now on display. Virginia left with the expectation of returning the next day and completing the task. You have to do what you can to keep the family going. Each side considered how best to eliminate the threat posed by its opponent, and after Virginia returned each side tried to goad the other into attacking under unfavorable circumstances. var gptAdSlots = gptAdSlots || []; )[13] The Union retained possession of Fort Monroe, at Old Point Comfort on the Virginia Peninsula. The battle between the Virginia and the Monitor began on the morning of March 9 and continued for four hours. When Virginia approached, Monitor intercepted her. She was originally a screw frigate in the United States Navy carrying the name USSMerrimack. His objective was to cut off Rebel trade with the outside world and prevent sale of cotton, the Confederacy's major export. There is nothing material or social in it. The Virginia's engines had not been fully tested and the armored shields for its broadside gun ports had not been installed, but these "minor details" did not greatly concern the ship's new captain, Franklin Buchanan. The Monitor opened fire on its vulnerable adversary, yet the Virginia was able to scrape off the shore and rejoin the fight. q("f", arguments) [citation needed]. CS: Given his character and personality, it is no surprise that Buchanan adopted a straightforward approach: On the Virginia 's trial run, he planned to steam straight at the two enemy warships across the roadstead and smash into the one that he believed was most powerfully armed. var sourcesToHideBuyFeatures = ["ebfg_gr", "ebfg_fb", "ebfg_fbm", "ebfg_tw", Armor would provide the edge. At least nine ships were burned, among them the screw frigate USSMerrimack. [35], The Confederate chain of command was anomalous. [5], The battle received worldwide attention, and it had immediate effects on navies around the world. Though they had short lives, the naval battle between the two ironclads ushered in a new era in naval warfare. "ebfg_email", "ebfg_sms"]; Instead of the large numbers of guns of rather small bore that had characterized warships in the past, Ericsson opted for only two guns of large caliber; he wanted to use 15in (380mm) guns, but had to settle for 11in (280mm) Dahlgren guns when the larger size were unavailable. page: {requestId: "CYQETXB5FTQ72Y6ZH0RB", meaningful: "interactive"} var cookies = document.cookie.split('; '); var cookie = cookies[i]; A headline in a Boston newspaper the day after the battle read "The Merrimac Driven back by the Steamer! The Virginias attack on the USS Cumberland killed 121 out of 376 onboard and the subsequent attack on the USS Congress killed 27% of its crew 120 out of 434. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! Monitor and Virginia in the first battle between ironclads. Karen Witemeyer I was a great student. [22], When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen R. Mallory was an early enthusiast for the advantages of armor. The name Hampton Roads honors Henry Wriothesley, the third . } Virginia) during the American Civil War. Quotes by and about Battle of Hampton Roads. Fort Monroe was one of three major forts in seceded states that were still held by the Union; the others were. [30], Intelligence that the Confederates were working to develop an ironclad caused consternation for the Union, but Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles waited for Congress to meet to request permission to consider building armored vessels; Congress gave this permission on August 3, 1861. // page settings All Rights Reserved. By late March, the Union blockade fleet had been augmented by hastily refitted civilian ships, including the powerful SS Vanderbilt,[73] SSArago, SS Illinois, and SS Ericsson. It was fought over two days, March 89, 1862, in Hampton Roads, a roadstead in Virginia where the Elizabeth and Nansemond rivers meet the James River just before it enters Chesapeake Bay adjacent to the city of Norfolk. Like his antagonist Jones, Greene was deemed too young to remain as captain; the day after the battle, he was replaced with Lieutenant Thomas Oliver Selfridge Jr. Two days later, Selfridge was in turn relieved by Lieutenant William Nicholson Jeffers.[72]. And 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. Later tests conducted after the battle showed that if the Monitor had used 25lb or 30lb gunpowder charges that its 11-inch guns would have punctured the Virginias hull with relative ease at close ranges. Captain Buchanan was among the wounded, so command on the second day fell to his executive officer, Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones. }); During the subsequent conversion process, the plans developed further, incorporating an iron ram fitted to the prow. Many more were built, including river monitors, and they played key roles in Civil War battles on the Mississippi and James rivers. The day of the wooden ship was over, wit. Then I'ma give it to them tonight. 1. Fact #4: The March 8, 1862 battle that pitted the Virginia against wooden US Naval vessels was the worst defeat in the history of the United States Navy until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Before adequate preparations could be made, the Confederate Army under Major General Benjamin Huger abandoned the city on May 9, without consulting anyone from the Navy. ", "Msgr. }, Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. He demanded that a charge of 15 pounds be used to lessen this possibility. 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 commandant there, Captain Charles S. McCauley, though loyal to the Union, was immobilized by advice he received from his subordinate officers, most of whom were in favor of secession. Ironically, as the ship became lighter it also became more vulnerable. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), U.S.S. [9] One (the old frigate Cumberland) was towed away successfully. Browning, Joseph B. Carr, "Operations of 1861 about Fort Monroe,", Contemplation of armor was not confined to Europe. The carnage, havoc, and dismay caused by our fire compelled them to haul down their colors and to hoist a white flag at their gaff and half-mast another at the main. node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); Ordinarily, the ship would have been led by a captain of the Confederate States Navy, to be determined by the rigid seniority system that was in place. However, the action was halted by darkness and falling tide, so Virginia retired to take care of her few woundedwhich included her captain, Flag Officer Franklin Buchananand repair her minimal battle damage. [29] The revisions, together with the usual problems associated with the transportation system of the South, resulted in delays that pushed out the launch date until February 3, 1862, and she was not commissioned until February 17, bearing the name CSSVirginia. This simple weapon, altogether similar to what one would have found on a Roman Trireme or Ottoman Galley, devastated the USS Cumberland. Jones proved to be no less aggressive than the man he replaced. At dawn on March 9, Worden told the Minnesotas captain, I will stand by you to the last if I can help you.. googletag.enableServices(); "You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm as against these terrible hardships of war. if (isRetina) { g.parentNode.insertBefore(A, g) Most accounts emphasize the contribution of the captain of Monitor, John L. Worden, to the neglect of others. window.Mobvious.device_type = 'mobile'; "The Battle of Hampton Roads: A Revolution in Military Affairs. U.S. Army Command, 6 June 2003. Virginia's draft was too great to permit her to pass up the river, which had a depth of only 18ft (5.5m), and then only under favorable circumstances. At about this time, Monitor returned, only to discover her opponent apparently giving up the fight. Our fire immediately ceased, and a signal was made for the Beaufort to come within hail. Despite the late start and the novelty of construction, Monitor was actually completed a few days before her counterpart Virginia, but the Confederates activated Virginia first. Secretary Mallory wanted the aggressive Franklin Buchanan, but at least two other captains had greater seniority and had applied for the post. On April 27, after Virginia and North Carolina had also passed ordinances of secession, the blockade was extended to include their ports also. He had devised a plan for his frigates to engage Virginia, hoping to trap her in their crossfire. ! Fact #6: The Virginias commander, Franklin Buchanan, was seriously wounded by musket ball on March 8 and did not participate in the Virginias famous March 9 duel with the USS Monitor. Her mere presence was sufficient to close the James River to Federal incursions. [44] As no one else could see to command the ship, Monitor was forced to draw off. Merrimack) on March 9th, 1862/. The vulnerability of wooden hulls to armored ships was noted particularly in Britain and France, where the wisdom of the planned conversion of the battle fleet to armor was given a powerful demonstration. The other two ships were the rather conventional. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. Confederate States presidential election of 1861, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Hampton_Roads&oldid=1149667896, Battles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, Battles of the American Civil War in Virginia, Inconclusive battles of the American Civil War, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2019, Articles needing additional references from October 2022, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Sleater-Kinney recorded an indie rock song referencing the battle, "Ironclad," on the album, This page was last edited on 13 April 2023, at 17:37. "The Engagement at Fort Darling" On 8 March 1862, CSS Virginia (formerly Merrimack) emerged from the Gosport navy yard.With an average speed of only five knots, the vessel made slow progress on the Elizabeth River, tended by Beaufort and Raleigh.Entering Hampton Roads, Buchanan could see the five Federal warships off the opposite shore, with the sailing sloop Cumberland and the frigate Congress anchored off Newport . Battle of Hampton Roads (March 8 - 9, 1862) Also Known As: Battle of the Ironclads, Battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack. On the first day of battle, they were opposed by several conventional, wooden-hulled ships of the Union Navy. Monitor and the C.S.S. var source = getCookieWithoutJQuery("source"); The stately Buchanan House, current residence of Academy superintendents, is named after this famous Confederate admiral. The Monitor had a draft of less than 11 feet so it could operate in the shallow harbors and rivers of the South. Virginia rammed Cumberland below the waterline and she sank rapidly, "gallantly fighting her guns as long as they were above water," according to Buchanan. [49][50], Buchanan next turned Virginia on Congress. The Tredegar Iron works could produce both solid shot and shell, and since it was believed that Virginia would face only wooden ships, she was given only the explosive shell. On the day of battle, Goldsborough was absent with the ships cooperating with the Burnside Expedition in North Carolina. if (sourcesToHideBuyFeatures[i] == source) Numerous fragile artifacts, including the innovative turret and its two Dahlgren guns, an anchor, steam engine, and propeller, have been recovered. On July 11, 1861, the new design was accepted, and work began almost immediately. _Q: [] On that day, Virginia was able to destroy two ships of the federal flotilla, USSCongress and USSCumberland, and was about to attack a third, USSMinnesota, which had run aground. Fact #7: Sensing that their shells could do little damage, even at close range, the Virginia ceased firing at the Monitor during the battle, Two hours of close-range naval gunfire finally convinced the Confederates of the futility of wasting shell and powder on the Monitor. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. As the combat between ironclads was the primary significance of the battle, the general verdict is that the overall result was a draw. var gads = document.createElement("script"); It is reported that it will take about ten years for the metal to completely stabilize. Because of her deep draft and the falling tide, however, Virginia was unable to get close enough to be effective, and darkness prevented the rest of the squadron from aiming their guns to any effect. Battle between the Monitor and Merrimac-fought March 9th 1862 at Hampton Roads, near Norfolk, Va. LCCN91482238.tif 8,468 6,831; 165.52 MB. [16], Forts Monroe and Wool gave the Union forces control of the entrance to Hampton Roads. [17] To further the blockade, the Union Navy stationed some of its most powerful warships in the roadstead. stylesheet.href = url; Virginia broke free, however, her ram breaking off as she backed away. "//securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"; When Mallory's men searched the South for factories that could build engines to drive the heavy ships that he wanted, they found no place to do it immediately. The first of the three to be completed, even though she was by far the most radical in design, was Swedish engineer and inventor John Ericsson's USSMonitor.[33]. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! And I'm sorry dad, no, I'm not making this up! The first purpose-built ram in the modern era was the French armored ram Taureau (1863), whose guns were said to have "the sole function of preparing the way for the ram. var stylesheet = document.createElement("link"); Virginia was finalized, the Virginia would be activated first and would wreak havoc in Hampton Roads before the . Welles appointed a commission, which became known as the Ironclad Board, of three senior naval officers to choose among the designs that were submitted for consideration. The ships circled one another, jockeying for position as they fired their guns. This effectively left the Confederate capital at Richmond and the main Confederate Navy yard at Norfolk without ocean access. On March 8-9, 1862, Confederate forces attempted to break a powerful Union naval . } 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. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. for(var i=0; i