On March 9th, 1862 a naval battle takes place between the CSS Merrimack and the USS Monitor. This battle, which was part of a Confederate attempt to break the Union blockade of Southern ports, occurs in the harbor at Hampton Roads.
Fighting continues for nearly two hours until injuries force the commanders to pull back. There is relatively little damage to either vessel and the battle has no true victor.
This battle marked the first engagement between ironclad vessels in history and was the start of a new era of naval warfare.
(Credit: Library of Congress)
The Civil War Book 