Truckin' on the Western Branch

Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack March 8, 1862

The Virginia ( Merrimack ) moved down the Elizabeth River joined by two gunboats, CSS Raleigh and CSS Beaufort . Crowds looked on from both the Norfolk and Portsmouth sides. The Raleigh towed her past Fort Nelson, Fort Norfolk, and Craney Island and into view of the Union ships near Newport News. The Virginia took an hour to steam across Hampton Roads toward her first target, the USS Cumberland . The Virginia fired upon and then rammed the Cumberland , which was destroyed and sank. Next the Virginia turned toward the Congress and destroyed her after a long battle. Union losses were staggering—two major ships sunk, and the Minnesota was damaged and aground. There were more than 280 Union casualties compared to 27 Confederate dead and wounded. The Virginia returned to Sewells Point as darkness and low tide approached.

March 9, 1862

The next morning the Virginia steamed out at 6 a.m. to finish off the Minnesota , which was still aground. A thick fog covered the fleet until 8 a.m. When Virginia got within range of the

2002 recovery of the Monitor turret at the Mariners’ Museum. Image by Sheally

Minnesota, a strange-looking “raft with a cheese box” came out from behind the ship. It was the USS Monitor , the Union ironclad, and headed straight for the Virginia . The two ironclads, less than 100 yards apart, pounded each other for four hours. The Monitor blocked the path to the Minnesota . Each ironclad tried to ram the other. By the end of the day, both had claimed victory. The Virginia enabled the Confederates to control the Hampton Roads and entrance to the James River for the next two months. On May 9, Union troops landed at Ocean View on the Chesapeake Bay and marched on Norfolk. Confederates evacuated Norfolk, Portsmouth, and the Gosport Navy Yard as the Union troops approached. On May 10, the captain of the Virginia realized that he had been abandoned. He knew the ship could not make it to Richmond because it drew too much water even after lightening his load. He ran the Virginia aground off Craney Island and before dawn on May 11, 1862, he hauled down the colors, and the crew, led by Lt. Charles Hasker of Portsmouth, burned the ship.

Hasker would, months later, volunteer to serve aboard the Hunley , the first submarine to successfully sink an enemy ship in combat.

Union occupation of the area had begun and would continue until the end of the war.

Monitor Merrimac. By Charlotte White

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