Mr Thomas M Carlton
Bumpass VA
Battle of Hampton Roads: March 9
- 2:00 a.m. Capt. Van Brunt attempts to float the U.S.S. Minnesota at high tide, but the frigate will not move.
- 5:30 a.m. Crew of the Virginia ‘began the day with two jiggers of whiskey and a hearty breakfast.’
- 6:00 a.m. Virginia slips her moorings at Sewell’s point, but cannot enter the Hampton Roads due to heavy fog.
- 8:00 a.m. Virginia enters Hampton Roads.
- 8:30 a.m. Virginia fires the first shot of the day. Lt. Hunter Davidson fires the stern 7-inch Brooke rifle at the U.S.S. Minnesota at a range of 1,000 yards. The Monitor moves to intercept the Virginia.
- 8:35 a.m. The Monitor and Virginia begin circling each other testing their opponent’s armor.
- 10:05 a.m. Monitor breaks off action and steams into a shoal (Hampton Flats) to reload ammunition in the turret.
- 10:10 a.m. Lt. Jones has already realized that the Virginia has the wrong ammunition with which it can fight the Monitor. He heads his ironclad toward the Minnesota.
- 10:15 a.m. The Virginia begins shelling the Minnesota; but, leaking at its bow due to the loss of its ram from the day before, runs aground.
- 10:30 a.m. The Monitor begins shelling the Virginia testing ‘every chink in our armor.’
- 11:15 a.m. The Virginia frees itself from the shoal and makes preparations to ram the Monitor.
- 11:45 a.m. Monitor eludes ramming, but is hit with a glancing blow. This maneuver takes the Monitor away from the action.
The Virginia moves again toward the Minnesota. The Minnesota and Dragon are shelled.
The Dragon is severely damaged.
- 12:10 p.m. Monitor attempts to ram the Virginia.
A steering malfunction causes the Monitor to miss the fantail of the Virginia.
As the Monitor passes the stern of the Virginia, the Monitor’s pilothouse is struck by a shell from the 7-inch Brooke rifle commanded by Lt. John Taylor Wood.
Worden is wounded and the Monitor breaks off action.
-
12:30 p.m. Virginia retires to the Elizabeth River as the tide will not allow the huge ironclad to strike again toward the Minnesota. Lt. Samuel Dana Greene assumes command of the Monitor and brings the Union ironclad back into action but does not pursue the Confederate ironclad.
We're in a race to conserve history! Follow along as artifacts are uncovered and more facts are learned about the Monitor and the men who served aboard!
From the heart breaking accounts of life aboard the ironclads to thrilling descriptions of the battles recounted by those who witnessed them you're sure to learn something new!
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