150th Anniversary - Battle of Hampton Roads

"Battle of Hampton Roads": Confederacy Triumphant - 08 March 1862

C.S.S Virginia

Today is a historic day.  On this date, 150 years ago, in 1862, the ironclad "C.S.S. Virginia" (known in the North as the U.S.S. Merrimack) steamed into Hampton Roads and opened fire on the Union fleet stationed there.  Under the command of the aggressive Captain Franklin Buchanan, she went on the attack.  First, the Virginia rammed the U.S.S. Cumberland, which sank, colors still flying, quickly taking 150 sailors with her.  Then she opened-up on another ship-of-the-line, the U.S.S. Congress.

U.S.S. Cumberland rammed by the C.S.S. Virginia

 Eventually the Congress surrendered, after putting up a spirited, but ultimately futile fight.  But when the Union batteries on shore began firing, Captain Buchanan became incensed and the Virginia returned fire, firing hot shot, cannon balls heated red-hot, into her setting the ship on fire, resulting in 115 more deaths and the explosion of her magazine later on.  As if that wasn't enough indignity to heap upon the Union Navy, the U. S. S. Minnesota had also been run aground and lay there like a sitting duck, just waiting for the Confederates to come and finish her off.  In addition, the frigates St. Lawrence and Roanoke were also run aground.



However, though victorious, the C. S. S. Virginia had sustained damage, two crew members were dead and many more were injured, including Captain Buchanan (a thigh wound from a rifle shot), while her speed had been reduced, shots from the shore batteries had riddled her smokestack, several metal plates had been damaged and two guns had been put out of action.  These problems and the growing darkness made the acting-Captain (Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones) decide to withdraw his ship for the night and to return in the morning to finish off the Union fleet.  So the Virginia retreated from Hampton Roads to the safety of the Confederate waters off Sewell's Point. 

For one day the Confederate Navy ruled the waves.

Meanwhile, the Union had been building an ironclad of their very own and it arrived late that evening.  Taking up a position protecting the Minnesota, the U.S.S. Monitor waited for daybreak.

While the entire world held its breath.....