Monitor and Virginia

On March 9, 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia (formerly Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Va.

This was the first battle between two steam powered ironclad ships. The Monitor was a Union ship that was named the Merrimack until the Confederacy captured it and was renamed the Virginia.

Neither ship won the battle nor was there substantial harm to either ship. The CSS Virginia returned to it's home port and did not venture out again. The crew destroyed the ship to prevent Federal forces from capturing her.



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