What are the key events in the battle of Hampton roads?

Answer 1

The sea Battle of Hampton Roads provided a most interesting set of circumstances. The Confederacy's lack of a Navy, allowed the Union's superior number of warships to maintain a strangle hold on the South's ports of trade. Yet, early on despite huge advantages, the North never seemed to get it "straight".

Wooden Union warships plan to support The North's Peninsular Campaign to capture Richmond.

On March 8th 1862 the CSS Virginia sets off from Confederate held Norfolk and enters Hampton Roads. ( the largest natural harbor in the world )

The CCS Virginia was the most effective ship that day. The irony of its existence was that it had been the USS Merrimack that the Union had burnt to sea level as they evacuated Norfolk in April, 1861. The South had rebuilt her and made her into an ironclad. The Virginia had a field day against the wooden Union wooden warships she met that day.

She first sunk the USS Cumberland by ramming it;

She then sets the USS Congress on fire;

The Union Navy helps out by self grounding the USS Minnesota while attempting to maneuver;

The Virginia returns to home port at Norfolk for the night;

The Union Navy is in a panic, they fear their blockades are in danger;

Washington DC is alarmed at the easy immobilization of its two powerful warships at the hands of the Rebels;

March 9, 1862, the Union ironclad the USS Monitor, with the innovative turret arrives in Hampton Roads & anchors near the hobbled Minnesota;

The USS Congress, on fire since the day before, explodes;

The Virginia sails out to the USS Minnesota and meets the USS Monitor;

A four hour battle begins, the first battle of ironclads in naval history;and

No ship has a victory and both retreat to safer waters.

They were never to meet again as the Monitor sinks in a storm later on and the Virginia is burned as the Confederates are forced to evacuate Norfolk.