Although Britain and France had been engaged in an iron-clad arms race since the 1830s, the Battle of Hampton Roads signaled a new age of naval warfare had arrived for the whole world. The preeminent naval powers, Great Britain and France, halted further construction of wooden-hulled ships, and others followed suit. The battle received worldwide attention, and it had immediate effects on navies around the world. The ships did not fight again, and the blockade remained in place. 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. The two ironclads fought for about three hours, with neither being able to inflict significant damage on the other. When Virginia approached, Monitor intercepted her. During the night, however, the ironclad Monitor had arrived and had taken a position to defend Minnesota. However, the action was halted by darkness and falling tide, so Virginia retired to take care of her few wounded-which included her captain, Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan-and repair her minimal battle damage.ĭetermined to complete the destruction of Minnesota, Catesby Roger Jones, acting as captain in Buchanan's absence, returned the ship to the fray the next morning, March 9. On that day, Virginia was able to destroy two ships of the federal flotilla, USS Congress and USS Cumberland, and was about to attack a third, USS Minnesota, which had run aground. On the first day of battle, they were opposed by several conventional, wooden-hulled ships of the Union Navy. The Confederate fleet consisted of the ironclad ram Virginia (built from the remnants of the burned steam frigate USS Merrimack, newest warship for the United States Navy / Union Navy) and several supporting vessels. The major significance of the battle is that it was the first meeting in combat of ironclad warships, USS Monitor and CSS Virginia. The battle was a part of the effort of the Confederacy to break the Union blockade, which had cut off Virginia's largest cities and major industrial centers, Norfolk and Richmond, from international trade. It was fought over two days, March 8–9, 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. The Battle of Hampton Roads, also referred to as the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack (or Virginia) or the Battle of Ironclads, was a naval battle during the American Civil War. Marker is in this post office area: Virginia Beach VA 23455, United States of America. Marker is next to the fence overlooking the Bay. LOCATION: Marker is on Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (U.S. this well-protected site ensured Union control of the Bay. Among the ships are a side-wheel cruiser (converted merchant ship) at left a steam frigate (center) several steam sloops and gunboats a twin-turret monitor in the right center distance and USS New Ironside, the next large ship to the right.įort Monroe, lying to the west, is at the tip of the Virginia peninsula between the James and York rivers. From there, large fleets assembled in the Bay to enforce the blockade and invade the southern coast.Ī Union squadron assembles in the Bay en route to attack Fort Fisher North Carolina in December 1864. Fort Monroe, to the west at the harbor, never left Union control. The battle did not produce a clear victory, but the Union Navy controlled the Bay. The epic battle between the Monitor and Virginia the next day signaled a new era in naval affairs - the days of sail were over. Monitor, crossed the Bay near this spot that night. On March 8, 1861, the Virginia sank one Union warship and drove another aground in flames before the north's ironclad, U.S.S. Merrimack into an ironclad, CSS Virginia. From the Historical Marker photo-The Chesapeake Bay : History Happened Here-Ironclad Revolution- In 1861, the Confederate navy converted the hulk of U.S.S.
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