The confederates had captured a Union steamship, the Merrimack and turned it into an ironclad, renamed the Virginia. In early March 1862, the ironclad sailed into Hampton Roads, Virginia, an important waterway guarded by Union ships.
When the Virginia returned to Hampton Roads later that month , the Monitor was waiting. After fighting, neither ship was damaged. The clash of the ironclads signaled a revolution in naval warfare.
When the Virginia returned to Hampton Roads later that month , the Monitor was waiting. After fighting, neither ship was damaged. The clash of the ironclads signaled a revolution in naval warfare.