Posted on 03/10/2022 4:50:17 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
FORTRESS MONROE, Saturday, March 8.
The dullness of Old Point was startled to-day by the announcement that a suspicious looking vessel; supposed to be the Merrimac, looking like a submerged house, with the roof only above water, was moving down from Norfolk by the channel in front of the Sewell's Point batteries. Signal guns were also fired by the Cumberland and Congress, to notify the Minnesota, St. Lawrence and Roanoke of the approaching danger, and all was excitement in and about Fortress Monroe.
There was nothing protruding above the water but a flagstaff flying the rebel flag, and a short smoke-stack. She moved along slowly, and turned into the channel leading to Newport's News, and steamed direct for the frigates Cumberland and Congress, which were lying at the mouth of James River.
As soon as she came within range of the Cumberland, the latter opened on her with her heavy guns, but the balls struck and glanced off, having no more effect than peas from a pop-gun. Her ports were all closed, and she moved on in silence, but with a full head of steam.
In the meantime, as the Merrimac was approaching the two frigates on one side, the rebel iron-clad steamers Yorktown and Jamestown came down James River, and engaged our frigates on the other side. The batteries at Newsport's News also opened on the Yorktown and Jamestown, and did all in their power to assist the Cumberland and Congress, which, being sailing vessels, were at the mercy of the approaching steamers.
The Merrimac, in the meantime, kept steadily on her course, and slowly approached the Cumberland, when she and the Congress, at a distance of one hundred yards, rained full broadsides on the iron-clad monster, that took no effect, the balls glancing upwards,
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Highly Important News: Desperate Naval Engagements in Hampton Roads – 2-5
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Leesburgh in Our Possession: The Town and the Forts Occupied by Col. Geary’s Command – 5, 7
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As I grew up in Norfolk, this was right out my back door. The first battle in history between self propelled (no sails) iron ships.
Good gawd Johnny Reb now controls one of the best harbors on the East Coast. Why will the Union Navy do?????
Bookmarked.
The quality of journalistic prose sure has gone downhill in the past 180 years.
Johnny Reb only controlled part of the best harbor on the East Coast. Navy ships could ride anchor under the guns of Fort Monroe. Also, a coaling station was built near fort Monroe.
On May 10, 1862, the Union Army retook Norfolk, and recaptured the Gosport Navy Yard.
The name Virginia never took root in the public mind, it would seem. As long as I can remember the duel was said to be between the Monitor and the Merrimac. I just prepped an article about the battle from a week after the battle titled “The Monitor and the Merrimac.”
The CSS Virginia Name was stuck on her at the last minute—most people—even the sailors who served on her—called her the Merrimac.
Your source for this claim?
And as an objective factual matter the name on the stern of the ship during the battle was CSS Virginia not, somehow, the USS Merrimac or even the CSS Merrimac. Because, you know, the ship was not on the Union side. But then again, the NYT and the truth are strangers to each other.
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