Civil War

Gallery

Battle of Hampton Roads

See photos and illustrations of the ships and men involved in the Battle of Hampton Roads

(20 photos in gallery)

The CSS Virginia in Drydock

U.S. Naval Historical Center

This illustration shows the CSS Virginia in drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard. The hulk of the Merrimack is being converted into the ironclad Virginia. Take note of the large ram coming from the bow.

The Rotating Turret

U.S. Naval Historical Center

The USS Monitor incorporated many innovative naval designs, but its rotating, armored turret may have been the most important.

The Sinking of the USS Cumberland

Library of Congress

This Currier & Ives illustration shows the sinking of the USS Cumberland by the CSS Virginia. The Virginia had used its iron ram to smash the hull of this wooden warship.

Disaster Aboard the Cumberland

Â© James Gurney (http://jamesgurney.com)

This painting by James Gurney shows the sinking of the U.S.S. Cumberland at Hampton Roads.

Comparison of the CSS Virginia and USS Monitor

Â© James Gurney (http://jamesgurney.com)

This side by side comparison shows how much larger the CSS Virginia was to the USS Monitor.

The USS Monitor

Library of Congress

This famous photo of the deck and turret of the USS Monitor was taken on July 9, 1862 in the James River. Take note of the dents in the turret.

Officers Aboard USS Monitor

Library of Congress

Union naval officers pose in front of the turret of the USS Monitor while stationed in the James River.

Sailors Aboard the Monitor

Library of Congress

This photograph, taken in July 1862, shows sailors from the USS Monitor cooking on deck. Another sailor with a telescope is on top of the turret.

Aboard the Monitor

Mariners' Museum

Thanks to the Mariners' Museum one can now see that the crew quarters aboard the USS Monitor were more accommodating that many might think.

View of the Battle

Library of Congress

This Currier & Ives illustration shows the view of the sea battle from the nearby Virginia shore.

The CSS Virginia vs. USS Monitor

Mariners' Museum

This painting shows how close the two ironclads were during their famous duel.

Satellite View of Hampton Roads

Google Earth

This modern satellite view of Hampton Roads shows the battleground where the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia fought on March 9, 1862

Tredegar Iron Works

Library of Congress

The only facility that could fabricate the large iron plates needed to cover the CSS Virginia was the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia.

Sinking of the USS Monitor

U.S. Naval Historical Center

This Harper's Weekly illustration shows the last moments for the USS Monitor before its sinking off Cape Hatteras on December 31, 1862.

Restoring the Monitor's Turret

Mariners' Museum

Conservationists at the Mariners' Museum help conserve the USS Monitor's turret.

CSS Virginia Replica at the Mariners' Museum

Mariners' Museum

A replica of the CSS Virginia can been seen at the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia.

The USS Merrimack

U.S. Naval Historical Center

The USS Merrimack, a 4636-ton steam frigate was commissioned in February 1856. In 1861, Federal forces attempted to burn the ship at Norfolk. The Confederate Navy used the hulk to build their CSS Virginia.

CSS Virginia's Anchor

Museum of the Confederacy (MOC.org)

The anchor from the CSS Virginia can be seen at the Museum of the Confederacy.

Chain from the USS Cumberland

Museum of the Confederacy (MOC.org)

One of the mighty chains from the USS Cumberland can be seen at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond.

USS Congress

U.S. Naval Historical Center

This painting shows the USS Congress (foreground) and USS Susquehanna in Naples, Italy before the Civil War. The Congress would become one of two ships that the CSS Virginia destroyed in Hampton Roads.