The U.S.S. Monitor

The Merrimack was a Union ship that was scuttled at the beginning of the war. It was raised by the Confederates and renamed the CSS Virginia. The battle of the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimack(later called the CSS Virginia) took place on March 8 and 9, 1862. This was the first time that 2 iron ships fought against each other in a war. The battle was fought near Hampton Roads, Viginia. The ships were heavily armoured and therefore neither was vitally damaged. The battle ended with no clear winner. The battle was significant, though, because before the Union used the Monitor, the C.S.S. Merrimack was sinking many Union ships, preventing the navy from setting up a successful blockade. Once the fight between the Monitor and the Merrimack occured, the Merrimack could not sink Union ships as easily because they were protected by an ironclad.