Battles & Leaders of the Civil War: In The "Monitor" Turret (Illustrated)

On March 8, 1862, the Union and Confederates made history when the South’s first ironclad ventured down the Elizabeth River into Hampton Roads to attack the wooden-sided U.S. blockading fleet anchored there. Built on the hull of the U.S.S. Merrimac (which had been scuttled and burned when the Federals abandoned the Gosport Navy Yard in April, 1861), the new warship had been christened C.S.S. Virginia, but it was still mostly remembered by its original name and referred to by it. After rammi...