Battle of Hampton Roads

8–9 March 1862, Hampton Roads, Virginia

Inconclusive; Confederate tactical success, blockade maintained

On 8 March Virginia came down the Elizabeth River with Raleigh and Beaufort and was joined by the James River Squadron. The Union frigates near Fort Monroe got under way to meet her, but Minnesota, Roanoke and St. Lawrence all ran aground. Union shot bounced off Virginia's armour. She rammed and sank Cumberland, losing her ram in the process, then drove Congress aground and forced her to surrender. When Union troops ashore opened fire, Buchanan, who was himself wounded, had Congress set on fire with hot shot, and she blew up near midnight. About 250 Union sailors were killed that day, against two of Virginia's crew: the US Navy's worst defeat until the Second World War. That night Monitor arrived and anchored by the grounded Minnesota. On 9 March Virginia, now under Lt. Catesby ap R. Jones, came back to finish Minnesota and met Monitor instead. The two ironclads fought for hours, mostly at close range, without either piercing the other's armour. When a shell hit Monitor's pilot house and blinded Worden she drew off, and Virginia, believing she had won, returned to Norfolk. Each side claimed victory, but the battle showed that wooden warships were finished.

United States Navy

13 ships, 2 lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
USS Merrimack Also known as Virginia Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan, who had no captain under him, was wounded on 8 March; Lt. Catesby ap R. Jones, her executive officer, fought her on 9 March. Lost her ram in Cumberland, had her funnel riddled and two guns disabled; two killed	Ironclad	Damaged
USS Monitor Lt. John L. Worden; arrived the night of 8 March to guard Minnesota. Worden was blinded by a hit on the pilot house and Lt. Samuel Dana Greene took over	Monitor	Damaged
USS Minnesota Capt. Gershom J. Van Brunt; ran aground on 8 March and was saved by Monitor. Three killed and 16 wounded	Frigate	Damaged
USS Roanoke Capt. John Marston, in command while Flag Officer Goldsborough was away in North Carolina. Ran aground and took no further important part	Frigate	Survived
USS St. Lawrence Capt. Hugh Y. Purviance; ran aground and took no further important part	Frigate	Survived
USS Congress Lt. Joseph B. Smith, killed. Run aground on purpose, surrendered after an hour, then set on fire with hot shot; blew up near midnight. 110 killed or missing	Frigate	Sunk
USS Cumberland Lt. George U. Morris (acting). Rammed and sunk fighting her guns; 121 lost and nearly 150 casualties in all	Sloop	Sunk
USS Mystic Auxiliary gunboat	Gunboat	Survived
USS Zouave Acting Master Henry Reaney; opened the battle by firing on Virginia	Gunboat	Survived
USS Dragon Acting Master William Watson; hit while towing Minnesota	Gunboat	Damaged
USS Whitehall Acting Master William J. Baulsir; tug	Gunboat	Survived
USS Young America Tug; towed Roanoke	Auxiliary	Survived
USS Cambridge Cdr. William A. Parker; towed St. Lawrence	Gunboat	Survived

Confederate States Navy

5 ships, none lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
CSS Raleigh Lt. Joseph W. Alexander; tender to Virginia	Gunboat	Survived
CSS Beaufort Lt. William H. Parker; tender to Virginia. Answered Zouave's opening shots and went alongside Congress to take her surrender	Gunboat	Survived
CSS Patrick Henry Cdr. John R. Tucker, James River Squadron. A shot in her boiler from the Newport News batteries killed four; she was repaired and rejoined the fight	Gunboat	Damaged
CSS Jamestown Lt. Joseph N. Barney; James River Squadron	Gunboat	Survived
CSS Teaser Lt. William A. Webb; James River Squadron	Gunboat	Survived

Map

Monitor is towed to Hampton Roads 6–8 March 1862
Virginia comes down the Elizabeth River 8 March 1862