New perspectives on the uss monitor and css virginia. Download map and event schedule pdf view press release. The scene that greeted her crew that evening was horrifying. Virginia, elizabeth and nansemond rivers meet the james river just before it enters chesapeake bay adjacent to the city of norfolk. March 8, 1862 the same storm that nearly sank the monitor on. For three years, the mariners museum in hampton roads, va. It was fought on march 8 and 9, 1862 near hampton roads, virginia. When the union ironclad uss monitor fought the confederate ironclad. Battle of hampton roads american civil war stories. The battle of hampton roads the uss monitor center.
The majority of the battle happened in the north and south channels of the james river in close combat in a place called hampton roads. The battle of hampton roads was a naval battle that occurred off the coast of virginia on march 8 and 9, 1862. The battle of hampton roads was fought over the two day period spanning march 89, 1862 in hampton roads. This famous civil war battle changed modern naval history forever. Most historians call it the battle of hampton roads because it took place in a body of water called hampton roads in virginia. The nansemond and elizabeth rivers also enter the roadstead, which is connected to chesapeake bay by the thimble shoal channel, some 1,000. The union warship uss monitor defeated the confederate warship uss merrimack in the battle of hampton roads. Which ship won the battle of hampton roads or was it a draw. The blockade prevented all commerce with norfolk and richmond, virginia.
The battle of hampton roads was fought march 89, 1862, and was part of the american civil war 18611865. Hampton roads restaurants transform into markets with eggs. It is the most famous naval battle of the american civil war, pitting the nations first ironclad ships against each other. Both ships hammered away at each other with heavy cannon, and tried to run down and hopefully disable the other, but their ironarmored sides prevented vital damage. In fact, the battle of hampton roads was the first time the virginias engines were fully tested while its armored shields for its broadside gunports had not yet been installed. Strategically, the threat of css virginia to us wooden fleet would never appear again, and us naval blockade of the csa endured, bankrupting confederation. This first meeting of two ironclad warships in battle forever changed naval. Merrimack uss monitor is one of the most famous ships in history, and in early march 1862 she fought in one of most important naval battles in american history, the battle of hampton roads. Battle of hampton roads, monitor merrimack battle civil war. The battle of hampton roads, often called the battle of monitor and merrimack, was a naval battle of the american civil war, famous for being the first fight between two steam powered ironcovered warships, or ironclads, the uss monitor, an entirely new design, and the css virginia which had been rebuilt from the burnedout hull of the uss merrimack. After virginia seceded from the union in 1861, the union set about depriving the confederacy of resources to resist the naval blockade. Titus andronicus the battle of hampton roads lyrics.
On march 9, the union ironclad monitor, having fortuitously arrived to do battle, initiated the first engagement of ironclads in history. The battle of hampton roads was an inconclusive naval fight that took place on march 9, 1862, off the coast of virginia, between the css virginia and the uss. Hampton roads is the name of both a body of water that serves as a wide channel for the james, nansemond and elizabeth rivers between old point comfort and sewells point where the chesapeake bay flows into the atlantic ocean, and the surrounding metropolitan region located in the southeastern virginia and northeastern north carolina portions of the tidewater region. This battle is often referred to by a number of names. The cemeterys first burials took place in 1862 and the cemetery is among numerous national cemeteries with origins that date to. The battle of hampton roads, also known as the battle of the ironclads, occurred on march 9, 1862 between the u.
The virginia destroyed key union vessels in hampton roads and kept the james river closed to union advances for a time. It was an important battle because it was the first combat between ironclad warships the confederate ironclad css virginia tried to break the union navy blockade of hampton roads. The ten original essays, written by leading historians, explore every aspect of the battlefrom the building of the warships and life aboard these iron coffins to tactics, strategy, and the debates about who really won the. The ten original essays, written by leading historians, explore every aspect of the battlefrom the building of the warships and life aboard these iron coffins to tactics, strategy, and the debates about who really won the battle of hampton roads.
The american battlefield trusts battle of hampton roads page includes battle maps, history articles, historical facts, recommended books, web links, and more on this 1862 battle of. The battle of hampton roads, which took place in march, 1862 in virginia, was a naval engagement during the american civil war. Battle of hampton roads national maritime historical society. By early march 1862, the new css virginia was ready to engage the union fleet stationed in hampton roads near fortress monroe. It was an important battle because it was the first combat between ironclad warships. The american battlefield trusts 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. In hampton roads there is even a bridge tunnel named after the two ships monitor merrimack bridge tunnel. The battle of hampton roads, aka the battle of the ironclads monitor and merrimack, was fought march 89, 1862 near hampton roads, virginia.
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. On your visit to the hampton roads history center, read about the battle of hampton roads. Under the command of admiral franklin buchanan, she arrived the next day, march 8, and began to attack the union blockade. The history of the battle of hampton roads between the two ironsides ships is a remarkable era of naval warship that took place in march 89 1862 between uss monitor and merrimack css virginia civil war trust, 2014. Hampton roads is basically a ship dock in virginia where the james river meets the. The battle of hampton roads fordham university press. 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 famous and arguably most important naval battle of the american civil war. Norfolk states battle of the bay football game with hampton wont be played next season. It was fought over two days, march 89, 1862, in hampton roads, a roadstead in virginia where the elizabeth and nansemond rivers. The twoday event brought to life the land and sea battle that started the revolutionary war in virginia. This battle was an inconclusive one that began on march 8, 1862, involving the confederate ironclad virginia a seagoing vessel that steamed into hampton roads where she sank cumberland another ship and ran congress aground. The american civil war battle of the ironclad warships which took place on the elizabeth river in virginia has several common names.
Merrimac led both ships to believe that their opponents had fled and that they had won the battle. However, the significance of march 8 and 9, 1862 went far beyond the immediate needs in hampton roads. It took place from april 6 to april 7, 1862 in southwestern tennessee. The confederate ironclad css virginia tried to break the union navy blockade of hampton roads. The virginia destroyed key union vessels in hampton roads and kept the. The civil war naval battle fought in hampton roads, virginia, on 9 march 1862 and watched by thousands of people on shore, inaugurated a new chapter in the history of warfare. With the 150th anniversary of the famous battle between the uss monitor and css virginia now before us, the civil war trust recently had the opportunity to speak with noted naval historian and author craig symonds about the battle of hampton roads and the historical significance of the first battle between ironclad naval vessels.
What were the effects of the battle of hampton roads. The hampton history museum presented the firstever reenactment of the battle of hampton on oct. The battle of hampton roads naval history and heritage navy. The battle of hampton roads, also referred to as the battle of the monitor and merrimack or. Monitor positioned herself to protect the immobile minnesota, and a general battle began. 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. The monitor saved the fleet from further destruction and kept the virginia trapped in hampton roads. Battle of hampton roads day the mariners museum and park. The battle of hampton roads was a naval battle of the american civil war. Battle of hampton roads simple english wikipedia, the. Anchored on the opposite side of hampton roads were five major union warships.
Battle of the ironclads monitor and merrimackvirginia location. The prediction that a single ironclad, in the midst of a hostile wooden fleet, would resemble. Undeterred, virginia steamed out into hampton roads. It was a battle fought on water by ironclad ships of war.
Battle of the monitor and merrimack, also called battle of hampton roads, march 9, 1862, in the american civil war, naval engagement at hampton roads, virginia, a harbour at the mouth of the james river, notable as historys first duel between ironclad warships and the beginning of a new era of naval warfare. Explore photos and quotes from hampton roads own epic ironclad battle and decide for yourself. The battle received worldwide attention, and it had immediate effects on navies around the world. On march 8, 1862, from her berth at norfolk, the confederate ironclad virginia formerly merrimack steamed into hampton roads where she sank cumberland and ran congress aground. The virginia was completed on march 7, 1862, at norfolk naval yard and set sail immediately for hampton roads. The battle of hampton roads, often called the battle of monitor and merrimack, was a naval battle of the american civil war, famous for being the first fight between two ironclad warships, the uss monitor and the css virginia the latter rebuilt from the burnedout hull of the uss merrimack. Which side won the battle of hampton roads in the civil.
Battle of hampton roads, civil war battle of hampton roads. Tonight, two great ships will pull back to their ports depleted of everything that shoots flames and reports and in the morning the shells will wash up on. Reconstruction of the battle at hampton roads, virginia 1862. Copublished with the mariners museum, home to the uss monitor center, this authoritative guide to the military, political, technological, and cultural dimensions of this historic battle also features a portfolio of classic lithographs, drawings, and paintings. 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. They were racing to beat the confederate ironclad css virginia to the roads. The battle of hampton roads was short and contrary to its name, not on any road at all. Hampton roads, great natural roadstead, southeastern virginia, u. However, the battle was fought between two famous ironclad. This book takes a new look at this historic battle. Hampton national cemetery is located in hampton, va. The uss monitor and the css virginia were the first ironclad warships in history to battle against one another.