Both ships fought hard and viciously neither wanting to quit. When her conversion was almost complete, her name was officially changed to Virginia. Confederate: Franklin Buchanan, Battle Of the Ironclads, Monitor vs. Merrimack, Explore articles from the History Net archives about Battle Of Hampton Roads, » See all Battle Of Hampton Roads Articles. Lt. John Worden commandeered the USS Monitor to deflect any offensive the Merrimack, now renamed CSS Virginia, directed toward them. ... Pfc. The Confederates tried to break the blockade in Virginia in this battle, but was not able to do so. 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. It was fought over the course of two days. Battle of Hampton Roads A decade ago naval warfare changed forever in the two-day Battle of Hampton Roads between the Elizabeth and James River. 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. Bob Hope brought stars, jokes and smiles to troops in Vietnam with his USO Christmas show... Get inside articles from the world's premier publisher of history magazines. Monitor positioned herself to protect the immobile Minnesota, and a general battle began. The prediction that a “single ironclad, in the midst of a hostile wooden fleet, would resemble … The battle began on March 8, 1862. 2 The larger naval engagement that their fight was part of is known as the Battle of Hampton Roads for the area where it took place on March 8 and 9, 1862. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 53,000 acres in 24 states! It is the most famous naval battle of the American Civil War, pitting the nations first ironclad ships against each other. The Battle of Hampton Roads was short and contrary to its name, not on any road at all. Both built with iron were able to resist cannon fire and were able to fight longer. Though the battle itself was inconclusive, … The next morning, Monitor and Virginia met in the first engagement of ironclads in history. VIDEO: Battery H Of The 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery At Gettysburg, Dan Bullock: The youngest American killed in the Vietnam War, Christmas Truce: The Western Front in 1914. On March 8, 1862 the CSS Virginia was commandeered by Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan to take on the USS Cumberland off the coast of Newport News, Virginia. Hampton National Cemetery. Saturday, March 8, 1862 was laundry day for the crews of the Union’s North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in Hampton Roads, Virginia. This first meeting of two ironclad warships in battle forever changed naval architecture, battle tactics, and the very psychology of the men who served within them. Without the advent of underestimating the forces of the foe on both sides, the outcome of the battle may have been decisive rather than inconclusive. 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. The next morning, on March 9, 1862, after undergoing repairs, Virginia returned to finish off the grounded Minnesota. On the morning of March 8, 1862, the sloop of war USS Cumberland and sailing frigate USS Congress were anchored off Newport News Point, Virginia. Ordered to Hampton Roads, Va., the USS Monitor arrived on the evening of March 8, 1862. The two ships fought each other to a standstill but the Virginia retired, unable to inflict serious damage on the Monitor. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. It is the most famous naval battle of the American Civil War, pitting the nation’s first ironclad ships against each other. In total, the United States Navy lost 240 men that day, 261 total over the two-day period, with another 108 wounded. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 5,000 articles originally published in our various magazines. The blockade prevented all commerce with Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia. Around noon, the ironclad CSS Virginia cleared Sewell’s Point, turned west, and approached the Union warships. However, the battle fields evened out by the lack of solid shot on the CSS Virginia and the addition of a cylindrical turret on the USS Monitor. Virginia Stuck the U.S.S. The Battle of Hampton Roads, often referred to as either the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack (or Virginia) or the Battle of Ironclads, was the most noted and arguably most important naval battle of the American Civil War from the standpoint of the development of navies. [1] So much has been written about it, I feel I can add but little! Our line of historical magazines includes America's Civil War, American History, Aviation History, Civil War Times, Military History, MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History, Vietnam, Wild West and World War II. Despite the official name change, Union accounts persisted in … Rather, the Republican was full of news of the “extraordinary naval battle of Norfolk,” Virginia, later known as the Battle of Hampton Roads, which occurred on March 9. Frustrated in his attempt to outflank the Confederate defenders along the Warwick River at Lee’s... On June 26, 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee initiated an offensive against Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan’s... Save History with Your Year-End Gift Today, Preserve 108 Acres of the Most Important Unprotected Battlefield Land, Save 40 Acres of the American Revolution Southern Theater, Kentuckians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation, Virginians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation. Once the CSS Virginia was launched, it went right to work at damaging the Union blockade. Civil War Times Editor Dana Shoaf shares the story of how Battery H of the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery found itself in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg. Both ships hammered away at each other with heavy cannon, and tried to run down and hopefully disable the other, but their iron-armored sides prevented vital damage. The American Battlefield Trust's Battle of Hampton Roads page includes battle maps, history articles, historical facts, recommended books, web links, and more on this 1862 battle of Civil War ironclads in Virginia. Restoration included the addition of a ram of iron attached to the front of the ship. Hampton Roads Prostate Health Forum. Although it did not produce a conclusive result, the battle is considered historically important, since it was the first time that ironclad warships had met in battle. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Ten guns of various sizes were also added as her armor. 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. Donate today to preserve battlefields in America and protect the legacy of our nation’s defining conflicts. The Monitor mounted only two guns but they were placed inside a revolutionary revolving turret. The Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia tried to break the Union navy blockade of Hampton Roads. The Vi… Hampton Roads (8–9 March 1862) is a famous naval battle as it represented the first clash between ironclad vessels. Off Sewell’s Point, near Hampton Roads, Virginia, Union: Louis M. Goldsborough 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. Date of the battle: March 8th and 9th 1862 At 2 P.M. on March 8th of 1862, the C.S.S. Help preserve American history forever with your tax-deductible year-end gift today! Undeterred, Virginia steamed out into Hampton Roads. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. The Battle of Hampton Roads, which took place in March, 1862 in Virginia, was a naval engagement during the American Civil War. Cannon shots rang out for endless hours and those present on surrounding shores witnessed history when, for the first time, two ironclad ships entered into battle. Virginia was accompanied by the gunboats CSS … On March 8, 1862, the Virginia left Gosport on its maiden voyage and steamed toward nearby Hampton Roads, a vital sea junction that was patrolled by a Union blockading fleet. The Virginia retired, intending to sink other ships the next day. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by Historynet LLC, the world's largest publisher of history magazines. The scene that greeted her crew that evening was horrifying. The Battle of Hampton Roads was a two-day naval engagement of the American Civil War, which took place on March 8–9, 1862 in the waters off Hampton, Virginia.This battle is remarkable for the first fight between two ironclad warships: USS Monitor, and CSS Virginia. Accompanied by several other Confederate vessels, a few of which were also ironclads, the Virginiasoon did great damage to the Union fleet. The CSS Virginialost just two men, while 12 were wounded. 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. On March 8, 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 initially fired on the Minnesota, b… Please consider making a gift today to help raise the $170,000 we need to preserve this piece of American history forever. All parties continued to use the name after her capture by secessionists while she was being rebuilt as an ironclad. The blockade prevented all commerce with Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia. Click to donate now. 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.. American Battlefield Trust’s map of the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8, 1862. 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.. In the lead-up to Christmas 1914 soldiers on either side of the Western Front no man’s land set aside fear and their weapons to exchange surreal holiday greetings.... HistoryNet, Homepage Featured Top Stories, Homepage Hero. That evening, the new Union ironclad USS Monitor arrived to protect the wooden fleet. When the war broke out, President Abraham Lincoln ordered a naval blockade of key southern ports. From the March 12, 1862, issue of The Hudson North Star comes this report on the famous battle between the two ironclad ships, the USS Monitor 1 and the CSS Virginia, usually still called the Merrimack. During the American Civil War, Hampton Roads was the scene of the battle (March 9, 1862) between the ironclads Monitor and Virginia . The ships fired at each other for four hours, during which time Worden was wounded … Every purchase supports the mission. Since the CSS Virginia already totally disabled the USS Cumberland, prospects of winning did not look good for the Union. The Battle of Hampton Roads was fought March 8-9, 1862, and was part of the American Civil War (1861-1865). Divisions of the American Battlefield Trust: The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia tried to break the Union navy blockade of Hampton Roads. Both sides claimed victory, but the continued presence of the Monitor neutralized the threat of the Virginia to the Union fleet. 9Th 1862 at 2 P.M. on March 8th of 1862, and a battle. 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