"MONITOR" AND "MERRIMAC," BATTLE OF, a naval engagement which was fought early in the American Civil War, notable as the first conflict between iron-clad vessels. In the spring of 1861 the Federals set fire to several war vessels in the Gosport navy yard on the Elizabeth river (Va.) and abandoned the place. In June the Confederates set to work to raise one of these abandoned vessels, the frigate "Merrimac" of 3,500 tons and 4o guns, and to rebuild it as an iron-clad. The vessel (re named the "Virginia" though she is generally known in history by her original name) was first cut down to the water-line and upon her hull was built a rectangular casemate, constructed of heavy timber (24 in. in thickness), covered with bar-iron 4 in. thick, and rising from the water on each side at an angle of about 35°. The iron plating extended 2 ft. below the water-line; and beyond the casemate, toward the bow, was a cast-iron pilot house, extend ing 3 ft. above the deck. The reconstruction of the vessel was completed on March 5, 1862. She drew 22 ft. of water, was equipped with poor engines, so that she could not make more than 5 knots, and was so unwieldy that she could not be turned in less than 3o minutes. She was armed with 10 guns-2 (rifled) 7 in., 2 (rifled) 6 in., and 6 (smooth bore Dahlgren) 9 in. Her most powerful equipment, however, was her 18 in. cast-iron ram.
In Oct. 1861 Capt. John Ericsson, an engineer, and a Troy, N.Y., firm, as builders, began the construction of the iron-clad "Monitor" for the Federals, at Greenpoint, Long Island. For the idea of the low free-board and the revolving turret Ericsson was indebted to Theodore R. Timby (1819-1909), who in 1843 had filed a caveat for revolving towers for offensive or defensive war fare, whether placed on land or water. With a view to enable this vessel to carry at good speed the thickest possible armour compatible with buoyancy, Ericsson reduced the exposed surface to the least possible area. Accordingly, the vessel was built so low in the water that the waves glided easily over its deck except at the middle, where was constructed the revolving turret for the guns, and though the vessel's iron armour had a thickness of r in. on the deck, 5 in. on the side, and 8 in. on the turret, its draught was only fo ft. 6 in., or less than one-half that of the "Merrimac." Its turret, 9 ft. high and 20 ft. in inside diameter, seemed small for its length of 172 ft. and its breadth of 41 f t. 6 in., and this, with the lowness of its freeboard, caused the vessel to be called the "Yankee cheese-box on a raft." Forward of the turret was
the iron pilot house, square in shape, and rising about 4 f t. above the deck. The "Monitor's" displacement was about 1,200 tons and her armament was two r r in. Dahlgren guns ; her crew num bered 58, while that of the "Merrimac" numbered about 300. She was seaworthy in the shallow waters off the southern coasts and steered fairly well. The "Monitor" was launched at Green point, Long Island, Jan. 3o, and was turned over to the Govern ment on Feb. 19. The building of the two vessels was practically a race between the two combatants.
On March 8, about 1 P.M., the "Merrimac," commanded by Commodore Franklin Buchanan (1800-1874), steamed down the Elizabeth accompanied by two one-gun gun-boats, to engage the wooden fleet of the Federals, consisting of the frigate "Congress," 5o guns, and the sloop "Cumberland," 3o guns, both sailing vessels, anchored off Newport News, and the steam frigates "Min nesota," and "Roanoke," the sailing-frigate "St. Lawrence," and several gun-boats, anchored off Fortress Monroe.
Actual firing began about 2 o'clock, when the "Merrimac" was nearly a mile from the "Congress" and the "Cumberland." Passing the first of these vessels with terrific broadsides, the "Merrimac" rammed the "Cumberland" and then turned her fire again on the "Congress," which in an attempt to escape ran aground and was there under fire from three other Confederate gun-boats which had meanwhile joined the "Merrimac." At about 3.3o P.M. the "Cumberland," which had been keeping up a heavy fire at the Confederate vessels, sank, with "her pennant still flying from the topmast above the waves." Between 4 and 4.3o the "Congress," having been raked fore and aft for nearly an hour by the "Merri mac," was forced to surrender. While directing a fire of hot shot to burn the "Congress," Commodore Buchanan of the "Merrimac" was severely wounded and was succeeded in the command by Lieu tenant Catesby ap Roger Jones. The Federal steam frigates, "Roanoke," "St. Lawrence" and "Minnesota" had all gone aground in their trip from Old Point Comfort toward the scene of battle, and only the "Minnesota" was near enough (about i m.) to take any part in the fight. She was in such shallow water that the Confederate iron-clad ram could not get near her at ebb tide, and at about 5' o'clock the Confederates postponed her capture until the next day and anchored off Sewell's Point.