"Even though I've heard about the Monitor defeating the Merrimac as far back as I can remember, it is really interesting to see the story develop and read it as it appeared at the time." The Monitor beat the Merrimac? Lawd hab mercy! I must have read another history book! "On March 9, 1863, about 9 o'clock in the morning, the modern era or naval warfare began. The iron-constructed U.S.S. Monitor, with a single revolving turret housing two eleven-inch Dahlgren guns, battled the ironclad C.S.S. Merrimack, officially Virginia. The success of the wooden-hulled, iron-plated, floating battery of the South of the day before was forgotten. Now it was a duel of the two revolutionary gladiators of the sea, circling, charging, ramming, and withdrawing. Shells bounced and slid over both vessels, neither one suffering serious damage. After more than two hours of fighting Monitor withdrew temporarily, due to the eye injury of Lieutenant John L. Worden, but soon returned to the scene to find that Merrimack, also suffering from some minor injuries had withdrawn to Norfolk. By the end of the battle, both vessels were commanded by their executive officers, Lieutenant Samuel Dana Greene for Monitor, Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones for Merrimack. For the! most part the strong Federal fleet and the small Confederate escort stood idly by - obsolete in such a fight. Tactically the struggle was a draw. Neither vessel had been seriously damaged; neither had given up." ......The Civil War, Day by Day, An Almanac 1861-1865 I have to say, it still makes me wonder why people even back in the 1860's called the Confederate ship the Merrimack? On the night of April 20, 1861 the Federal Gosport Navy Yard near Norfolk, Virginia was evacuated and partially burned by the garrison and several vessels were scuddled. Commandant Charles S. McCauley had decided that the facility was threatened with capture, and his decision was later censured by Federal authorities. Five vessels were burned to the water line. Four others, including the U.S.S. Merrimack were sunk. When the South did take control of the Navy Yard, the hull of the U.S.S. Merrimack was refloated on May 30, 1861 and on November 25, 1861 a shipment of armor plate was accepted by the Confederate Navy Department to convert the former U.S.S. Merrimack into the new C.S.S. Virginia. Edward

I stand corrected. I should have used the word "battling" instead of "defeating." -----Original Message----- From: Edward Harding [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 3:14 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [CIVIL-WAR] March 10th and 11th, 1862 - In The News "Even though I've heard about the Monitor defeating the Merrimac as far back as I can remember, it is really interesting to see the story develop and read it as it appeared at the time." The Monitor beat the Merrimac? Lawd hab mercy! I must have read another history book!

From: "Edward Harding" <[email protected]> > > I have to say, it still makes me wonder why people even back in the 1860's > called the Confederate ship the Merrimack? ---------------------------------------------- "Mary Mac's father's making Mary Mac marry me My father's making me marry Mary Mac Well I'm going to marry Mary for my Mary to take care of care of me We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mary Mac" See? Virginia is no fun and won't work. Dennis