World's First Ironclad Battle - CSS Virginia vs USS Monitor, March 8-9,1862

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This week in history, the world’s first battle between ironclads occurred when the CSS Virginia battled the USS Monitor at the Battle of Hampton Roads on the southern Virginia coastline. The epic 2 day battle on March 8-9, 1862 received worldwide attention and marked a new age in naval warfare for the entire world. Great Britain and France immediately halted construction of wooden-hulled ships and others followed suit.

Battlefield.org explains: In an attempt to end the blockade on their ports, “on March 8, [Confederate] Virginia steamed down the Elizabeth River into the roadstead where it sank USS Cumberland and ran USS Congress aground and set it afire. The Virginia retired, intending to sink other ships the next day. That evening, the new Union ironclad USS Monitor arrived to protect the wooden fleet. The Monitor mounted only two guns but they were placed inside a revolutionary revolving turret. The next morning, Monitor and Virginia met in the first engagement of ironclads in history. The two ships fought each other to a standstill but the Virginia retired, unable to inflict serious damage on the Monitor. Both sides claimed victory.

Photos include depictions of the battle and my trip to the Mariners Museum in Newport, Virginia which contains artifacts of both ships and is located near the battle.

ADDITIONAL READING:

Battle of Hampton Roads:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hampton_Roads

Battlefields.org:
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/hampton-roads?fbclid=IwAR0zjWAzEgDErh8-DvgjzVpWotrt8Rqi3Aj-PSKDWQM0R5l301ndAhnK_V8

CSS Virginia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Virginia




Location: Hampton, VA, USA

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