The historic naval battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimack (CSS Virginia) occurred on March 9, 1862. This significant clash revolutionized naval warfare by being the first battle to exclude wooden ships.
The first-ever battle between two ironclad ships in maritime history took place between the USS Merrimack and a Union frigate. Initially, the USS Merrimack served in the Union Navy and was eventually abandoned when the Norfolk Naval Yard was evacuated. To prevent the Confederate Navy from using the ship against them, the Union Navy scuttled it. However, the Confederates retrieved the sunken ship and made significant modifications to it. They reduced the hull to the water line and constructed a slanted top. Additionally, they added four layers of two-inch-thick iron sheets to the entire structure.
Additionally, a large battering ram was included at the front of the ship for ramming purposes. Ten twelve-pound cannons were also installed on the ship. Specifically, four guns were positioned on both the starboard and port sides, with one each on the bow and stern sides. The ship’s draft was extensive due to its massive size, measuring a staggering twenty-two feet to the bottom. Furthermore, the ship’s considerable length and slowness necessitated a turning radius of approximately one mile.
Likened to a “floating barn roof (DesJardien 2)” and not predicted to float, Captain Franklin Buchanan was the sole individual willing to assume control of the ship. Once all modifications were finished, the ship was given the new name CSS Virginia, but its original name CSS Merrimack is the preferred choice. The USS Monitor, a creation of Swedish-American engineer John Ericsson, was considered relatively small in size for a warship, measuring only 172 feet in length and 42 feet in width.
Confederate sailors were puzzled by the ship. One of them described her as “…”
In Ward’s description, he refers to a remarkable vessel that has never been seen before, which appears to be a large shingle floating on the water with a colossal cheese box emerging from its middle. This “cheese box” is actually a revolving turret measuring nine by twenty feet, housing two enormous guns. The USS Monitor employed these two Dahlgran guns, each measuring eleven inches.
Lavy states that the Dahlgran guns were formidable rifled cannons capable of firing various projectiles (2). The vessel was safeguarded by a two-inch thick steel armor. Positioned approximately one foot above the water line, the ship’s deck often experienced waves crashing over it, leading to instability. Due to its low profile, the entire crew resided below the water line, rendering them susceptible to potential casualties from a single armor piercing strike.
The USS Monitor, like the CSS Merrimack, was anticipated to sink and was regarded as “Ericsson’s Folly” (DesJardien 2). Lieutenant John Worden was the only person willing to assume control of the ship. The battle at Hampton Roads took place during the Peninsula Campaign, an ongoing campaign from March to August of 1862. This battle involved a total of five ships, four of which belonged to the US Navy: the USS Congress, USS Minnesota, USS Cumberland, and the USS Monitor.
The CS Navy had one ship, the CSS Merrimack. On March 8, 1862, the CSS Merrimack sailed into Hampton Roads and sank the USS Cumberland and ran the USS Congress aground. Captain Buchanan then targeted the already impaired USS Minnesota, which was grounded on one of the shores.
Capt. Buchanan was unaware that the USS Monitor was strategically positioned to defend the injured USS Minnesota. Lt. Worden sailed into the bay to confront the CSS Merrimack. The USS Monitor initiated the conflict, and the intense battle persisted for approximately four and a half hours. Despite extensive ammunition use including shot, shell, grape, canister, musket, and rifle balls, neither vessel inflicted harm upon the other (Lavy 3).
After 4.5 hours, the CSS Merrimack retreated due to falling tides, while the USS Monitor refrained from pursuing due to a crack in its turret. The battle ended inconclusively with neither side achieving victory, and the estimated casualties were substantial.
Both the Union and the Confederacy suffered casualties in the battle, with around 409 sailors lost by the Union and approximately 24 sailors lost by the Confederacy. The impressive nature of the battle led to the leaders of both sides contracting their Naval yards to construct more ironclad ships. The Confederate fleet saw the addition of the CSS Tennessee, a blockade runner measuring 209 feet in length, equipped with four broadside cannons and pivoted cannons at the bow and stern. On the other hand, the Union Navy added the USS Carondelet, a formidable opponent stationed on the Mississippi armed with thirteen guns. Before the construction of the USS Monitor, another ironclad ship called the USS New Ironsides was built.
According to Lavy (4), the Northern Navy built the strongest ship ever, which marked the end of wooden ships’ dominance. Instead, ship yards started producing ironclad ships at a higher rate. As stated by Lavy (5), the invention of ironclads during the Civil War served as a model for future ship building in the United States. These ironclads had a technological advantage over wooden ships, giving them an upper hand in both Navies.
Ironclads had the capability to endure prolonged bombardment by artillery and were effective in clearing mine fields and creating traffic lanes. Their armor provided superior protection against mine explosions compared to wooden ships and they were equipped with more powerful guns. These massive ships could withstand the recoil of large cannons thanks to their increased stability in water. Additionally, ironclads were useful for ramming missions as their hull remained intact after colliding with wooden vessels.
Advancements in Civil War technology have led to the United States opting for ironclads instead of wooden battleships. Over time, these ironclad ships have seen notable improvements. In the late 1800s, the incorporation of multiple massive turrets significantly enhanced firepower. Subsequent upgrades included more powerful power plants and devastating weaponry. The most significant transformation occurred before World War I with the introduction of aircraft carriers. Today, modern ironclad ships are comparable in size to those from the Civil War era but possess exponentially greater power, potentially hundreds or even thousands of times stronger.
The wooden ship has been highly effective in naval battles, but the ironclad completely transformed naval warfare worldwide. According to DesJardien, the ironclad rendered all other navies obsolete from the moment they engaged in battle (Ward 102). Works Cited: DesJardien, Matt. “The Ironclads.” www.shorelin.wednet.edu/Echo Lake/Civil War/Matt D*Ironclads.html.
Lavy, Gabe. “A Comparison of the Role and Importance of the Northern and Southern Navies to the Fighting of the Civil War.” www.geocities.com/Athens/2391/Final.htm. “Monitor v. Merrimack,” Microsoft Encarta 1996 Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corp., Funk and Wagnalls Corp. 1993-95.
The book “The Civil War: An Illustrated History” by Geoffrey C. Ward was published in 1990 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
