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On March 8 and 9, 1862, a sea battle off the Virginia coast changed naval warfare forever.
It began when the Confederate States Navy’s CSS Virginia led a task force to break the Union blockade of Hampton Roads. The Virginia sank the USS Cumberland and forced the frigate Congress to surrender. Damaged by shore batteries, the Virginia retreated, returning the next day to find her way blocked by the newly arrived USS Monitor.
The clash of ironclads was underway. After fighting for nine hours, both ships withdrew, neither seriously damaged, with both sides claiming victory. Although the battle may have been a draw and the Monitor sank in a storm later that year, this first encounter between powered, ironclad warships spelled the end of wooden warships—and the dawn of a new navy.
This book takes a new look at this historic battle. The ten original essays, written by leading historians, explore every aspect of the battle—from the building of the warships and life aboard these “iron coffins” to tactics, strategy, and the debates about who really won the battle of Hampton Roads. Co-published with The Mariners’ Museum, home to the USS Monitor Center, this authoritative guide to the military, political, technological, and cultural dimensions of this historic battle also features a portfolio of classic lithographs, drawings, and paintings.
...a refreshing look at the most significant naval battle of the Civil War...highly recommended.
...a fascinating photo portfolio of the recovery efforts, and a brief description of the Mariners' Museum's collections.
This book brings out a tremendous amount of scholarship on the battle that is missed in the normal cursory treatments given in history books.
...a critical and detailed analysis of the climatctic battle between the first two ironclads of the conflict.
The Battle of Hampton Roads will be of greata interest to Civil War naval buffs, but its interesting, well-written essays will also find admirers among the general ranks of Civil War enthusiasts. It is highly recommended.
. . .A very readable collection of essays on an important subject and should appeal to students of military history and of the history of technology.
...excellent and thought-provoking edition.
. . . A fascinating photo portfolio of the recovery efforts, and a brief description of the Mariners' Museum's collections.
Harold Holzer is Roger Hertog Fellow at the New-York Historical Society and one of the nation’s leading authorities on Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. He is chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation and has written, co-written, or edited forty-seven books, most recently Lincoln and the Power of the Press.
Tim Mulligan’s books include Virginia: A History and Guide.