ÿWPCÍ 0¸€?îΩJÞ•êJ•K™y“+<Ê•¿=Â(ÍÐ æB <J‘!¡Qdô"¹8˜.Q‹ŽŽÕºÕ6šZÎA½¹Mvë5¤–-û3ï 6Ø÷[öZû2VR€2¾œH?À!?mÀ߯¼­­KÚŒ%ÖÑšq;èiŸ^nl`J\c*º"7‚&/û°>„³Ý ÁËýWú~3H+Áî– `'ä‘…œ…kV@c qDGmà©@ˇL@$ƒ*Ž‹s¬Å?'$œVÁÿì(…ØÖMÓNß«ö§‚,iÚƒfá,¦ƒI8Íœ±éáfcÌêëCΘ/y¶Á÷¿‘Úþ}ü(‘NˆäÙf$¯C¶N³˜••êÂS‚t’ËN¦Ÿþ¡œs`Xdòƒ®Ÿ KHƈŠ]ùïdÛÔ_-«—È¿ªëÑ$ëmÛµÛ³ˆWòv§°#Ód<óBÞ½½¨Ø bûa‘GÅ3–=š‡É«BïJˆ¶êNú™J´®o'û çžÈ€î@…&,Èôy—X…÷eÃŒ&Z®ZŽ4Ið”‚Щ\8v0ÝñÌ-Nçëê [Œ2lÏ4æVÉ·WKëNÍŠ%Ú€ nZbÅ·§R <1ñòŽRðÿu}—žaãr·YB‘ï³U*  %4UB:U6|"²Ônä 0rèZw@Z4šš® m°°°° Ç ô\  `RomanX<Ð 9(*Courier NewBoldTT(ä2AArialBoldTT Ñ X ÑÑ X Ñ3|x « ô\  `RomanXXZô\  PŽ@QXP<Ð 9(*Courier NewBoldTTXXxÐ `ÉN©QX€(ä2AArialBoldTTdTT§ä2p± NQ(ä2AArialBoldTTdTT°°¿ä2p± NQ°(ä2AArialBoldTTdTT¼¼oä2p± NQ¼(ä2AArialBoldTTdTTŠŠgä2p± NQŠ(Jt$¡¡Ó  ÓÔ€Xß7XXXÔÔ€X£ÎXXXß7Ô UEEVDE‰E Uk¦"ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀXÝ ƒt!ÝÓ  ÓÔ€XµyXXXÔÔ€Xó¹XXXµyÔÝ  Ý›Ô% ‡ ÔÒX°ÒÒX°ÒÔªªÔÔ€]òXXó¹ÔÔ€þ(]òÔÑ  ÑÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@i i ìàTHE€BATTLE€OF€DESTINYˆÌà@ìàBETWEEN€THE€òòVIRGINIA€óóAND€THE€òòMONITORóóˆÐ ˜è  ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@Û Û "ìàby,€€TIM€WILLIAMSˆÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌÌÌÌÌâ âÐ h+¸& ÐÔ€°°þ(Ôà@'ìàÑ€ÑOUTLINEÔªªÔÔ€¼Ø\»°°ÔˆÐ ° Ðâ âÌà ° àThe€battle€between€the€òòVirginia€"¢Merrimack£"óó€and€the€òòMonitoróó€was€the€mostÐ ¡ñ Ðdecisive€factor€to€date€in€determining€the€direction€of€modern€naval€warfare.€€TheÏfirst€battle€between€ironclads,€however,€only€came€about€through€a€series€ofÏchances,€and€that€elusive€element,€destiny.ÌÌÔªÔI€ÔªÔ€Outbreak€of€Civil€WarÌÓo[XXÏ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#€%Ø'0*ˆ,à.813è5@8˜:ð<H?¨ý°œXoÓà Ï àA€€Evacuation€of€NorfolkÌÓ{[XXÏF` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#€%Ø'0*ˆ,à.813è5@8˜:ð<H?¨ýXXϘX¨ý{Óà Ï àà F à1€€òò¢Merrimack£óó€source€of€constant€problemsÐ -}  Ðà Ï àà F à2€€òò¢Merrimack£óó€unable€to€leaveÐ A‘  Ðà Ï àB€€Burning€of€Naval€YardsÌà Ï àà F à1€€Vessels€sinkÌà Ï àà F à2€€Confederacy€takes€overÌÔªÔIIÔªÔ€€Confederate€IroncladÌà Ï àA€€Stephan€¢Mallory£€proposes€ironcladÌà Ï àB€€òò¢Merrimack£óó€raisedÐ ¹  Ðà Ï àà F à1€€Cost€of€refittingÌà Ï àà F à2€€Cost€of€case„matingÌà Ï àC€€Remarkable€men€of€Confederate€NavyÌà Ï àD€€òòVirginia's€óóConstructionÐ  Y Ðà Ï àà F à1€€ProblemsÌà Ï àà F à2€€Case„matingÌà Ï àEà F àFloating€of€òòVirginiaÐ E• Ðà Ï àà F àóó1€€Grievous€errorÐ Y© Ðà Ï àà F à2€€Finding€of€CrewÌÔªÔIIIÔªÔà Ï àUnion€IroncladÐ !Ñ Ðà Ï àA€€Spy€network€in€SouthÌà Ï àB€€Gideon€Welles€proposes€ironcladÌà Ï àC€€C.€S.€¢Bushnell£€&€Co.€contractedÌà Ï àà F à1€€¢Bushnell£€visits€EricssonÌà Ï àà F àÓ{[XXÏFr¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#€%Ø'0*ˆ,à.813è5@8˜:ð<H?¨ýXX‚w` —X¨ý{Óà r àa€€Ericsson€shows€his€designÌà Ï àà F àà r àb€€Ericsson€goes€to€WashingtonÌà Ï àà F à2€€Committee€and€President€convincedÌà Ï àD€€Contract€signedÌà Ï àà F à1€€Contract€requirementsÌà Ï àà F à2€€Ericsson's€involvement€in€constructionÌà Ï àÐ ]-­(% ÐÑÑâ âÑX°ÑÑX°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÌà Ï àE€€òòMonitoróó€turned€over€to€NavyÐ l Ðà Ï àà F à1€€Sailing€of€òòMonitorÐ €( Ðà Ï àà F àóó2€€Problems€with€òòMonitoróóÐ ”< ÐÔªÔIVÔªÔ€€Final€preparations€of€òòVirginia€óó&€the€òòMonitoróóÐ ¨P Ðà Ï àA€€òòVirginia'sóó€shortagesÐ ¼d Ðà Ï àB€€òòMonitor's€óótrip€to€VirginiaÐ Ðx Ðà Ï àà F à1€€Severe€storm€hitsÌà Ï àà F à2€€òòMonitor€óóalmost€sinksÐ ø   ÐÔªÔVÔªÔ€€Battle€of€Hampton€RoadsÌà Ï àA€€òòVirginia€óósteams€out€of€NorfolkÐ  È  Ðà Ï àB€€òòVirginiaóó€rams€òòCumberlandóóÐ 4Ü  Ðà Ï àC€€òòVirginia€óódestroys€òòCongressóóÐ Hð  Ðà Ï àD€€òòMinnesota€óó€and€òòRoanokeóó€groundedÐ \  Ðà Ï àE€€òòVirginiaóó€€retires€to€¢Sewell£'s€PointÐ p Ðà Ï àD€€òòMonitoróó€arrives€in€Hampton€RoadsÐ „, ÐÔªÔVI€ÔªÔ€Duel€Between€IroncladsÌà Ï àA€€òòMonitor€óóand€òòVirginia€óóengaged€in€battleÐ ¬T Ðà Ï àà F à1€òòVirginiaóó€having€problems€Ð Àh Ðà Ï àà F à2€òòMonitoróó€having€problemsÐ Ô| Ðà Ï àB€Hours€of€Ineffectual€fightingÌà Ï àà F à1€€òòVirginiaóó€attempts€to€ram€òòMonitoróóÐ ü¤ Ðà Ï àà F àà r àa€€Captain€orders€full€reverse€before€hitting€òòMonitorÐ ¸ Ðà Ï àà F àà r àóób€€òòMonitor€óóundamagedÐ $Ì Ðà Ï àà F à2€€òòMonitoróó€attempts€to€ramòò€VirginiaóóÐ 8à Ðà Ï àà F àà r àa€€Heads€for€vulnerable€stern€of€òòVirginiaóóÐ Lô Ðà Ï àà F àà r àb€€Steering€mechanism€failsÌà Ï àà F àà r àc€€Misses€òòVirginiaóóÐ t Ðà Ï àà F à3€€òòVirginiaóó€hits€òòMonitor's€óópilot€houseÐ ˆ 0 Ðà Ï àà F àà r àa€Captain€aboard€òòMonitoróó€injured€in€explosionÐ œ!D Ðà Ï àà F àà r àb€€òòMonitoróó€withdraws€to€shallowsÐ °"X  Ðà Ï àà F àà r àc€€òòVirginia€óócannot€followÐ Ä#l! Ðà Ï àC€€Mutual€feeling€of€VictoryÌà Ï àà F à1€€òòVirginiaóó€think€òòMonitoróó€has€retreatedÐ ì%”#! Ðà Ï àà F àà r àa€€òòVirginiaóó€is€leakingÐ '¨$" Ðà Ï àà F àà r àb€€Low€tide€is€comingÌà Ï àà F àà r àc€€Crew€decides€to€return€to€NorfolkÌà Ï àà F à2€€òòMonitoróó€returns€to€fightÐ <*ä'% Ðà Ï àà F àà r àa€€òòMonitor€óósees€òòVirginia€óóretreatingÐ P+ø(& Ðà Ï àà F àà r àb€€Crew€think€they've€wonÌà Ï àà F à3€€If€fight€continued€one€would€have€won.ÌÔªÔVIIÔªÔ€€Ironclads€reign€supremeÐ Œ.4,) Ðà Ï àA€€Naval€warfare€changesÌà Ï àà F à1€€Major€world€powers€begin€building€ironcladsÌà Ï àà F à2€€Reporter€says€Iron€will€rule€the€seasÌà Ï àà F à3€€Soldier€says€battle€was€greatest€in€world€historyÌà Ï àB€€Ironclads€rule€in€Hampton€RoadsÌà Ï àà F à1€€Union€strategy€is€frustrated€by€òòVirginiaÐ ¼d Ðóóà Ï àà F à2€€Confederacy€tries€to€capture€òòMonitorÐ Ðx Ðà Ï àà F àà r àóóa€€òòVirginiaóó€steams€out€to€lure€òòMonitor€óóinÐ ä Œ Ðà Ï àà F àà r àb€€Both€sides€want€to€fight€on€their€sideÌà Ï àà F àà r àc€€Neither€take€baitÌà Ï àà F àà r àd€€òòVirginiaóó€returns€to€NorfolkÐ  È  ÐÔªÔVIIIÔªÔ€òò€Virginiaóó€is€destroyedÐ 4Ü  Ðà Ï àA€€Union€troops€move€on€NorfolkÌà Ï àB€€òòVirginiaóó€needs€to€retreatÐ \  Ðà Ï àà F à1€€Crew€lightens€ballastÌà Ï àà F à2€€No€longer€ironcladÌà Ï àà F à3€€Still€not€enough€clearanceÌà Ï àC€€òòVirginia€óóis€destroyed€by€crewÐ ¬T Ðà Ï àD€€Crew€retreat€with€ArmyÌà Ï àE€€òòVirginia€óóblows€upÐ Ô| ÐÔªÔIXÔªÔ€€òòMonitor€óóis€lostÐ è Ðà Ï àA€€òòMonitor€óó€sails€to€WashingtonÐ ü¤ Ðà Ï àB€€Great€tourist€attractionÌà Ï àC€€òòMonitor€óóleaves€to€enforce€blockadeÐ $Ì Ðà Ï àà F à1€€Caught€in€ferocious€stormÌà Ï àà F à2€€Ship€foundersÌà Ï àà F à3€€Crew€rescuedÌà Ï àà F à4€€òòMonitoróó€sinksÐ t ÐÔªÔX€ÔªÔ€Contributions€of€Ironclads€Ìà Ï àA€€Neither€òòVirginia€óó€or€òòMonitoróó€reach€first€anniversaryÐ œ!D Ðà Ï àB€€Contributions€of€IroncladsÌà Ï àà F à1€€òòVirginiaóó€proves€iron€ship€is€strongerÐ Ä#l! Ðà Ï àà F à2€€òòMonitoróó€proves€iron€ship€can€stop€another€iron€shipÐ Ø$€"  Ðà Ï àC€€Ironclads€made€throughout€warÌà Ï àD€€Both€Ironclads€basically€sameÌà Ï àE€€òòMonitor€óómakes€lasting€impressionÐ (¼%# Ðà Ï àà F à1€€Her€design€is€copied€throughout€the€CenturyÌà Ï àà F à2€€Turret€is€used€on€almost€all€vessels€into€20th€CenturyÌÔªÔXIÔªÔ€€ConclusionÌÌÌÐ Œ.4,) ЇÔ€°°»¼Ø\ÔÑ  ÑÔªªÔà@ø ø ìàThe€Battle€of€Destiny€ˆÐ X Ðà@11ìàBetween€the€òòVirginia€óóand€the€òòMonitoróóÔªªÔˆÐ 5Ý ÐÔ€Š½ ‹°°ÔÌÌÓÓà Ï àThe€battle€between€the€òòVirginia€"¢Merrimack£"óó€and€the€òòMonitoróó€was€the€most€decisiveÐ  È Ðfactor€to€date€in€determining€the€direction€of€modern€naval€warfare.€€The€first€battleÏbetween€ironclads,€however,€only€came€about€through€a€series€of€chances,€and€thatÏelusive€element,€destiny.€€€Yet€only€after€the€engagement€did€the€world€glimpse€a€newÏera€of€naval€warfare€emerging.Ìà Ï àMuch€has€been€written€on€the€subject€of€the€battle€itself,€and€the€events€leading€upÏto€it.€€This€essay€won't€focus€on€those,€but€rather€on€the€peculiar€events€which€formedÏto€make€the€engagement€possible.€€Ìà Ï àAt€the€outbreak€of€the€War€Between€the€States,€the€Union€attempted€to€evacuateÏand€then€destroy€anything€that€couldn't€be€taken€from€the€Norfolk€Naval€Yards.€€SinceÏit's€launching€four€years€previous,€the€òò¢U.S.S£€¢Merrimack£€óóhad€been€a€source€of€constantÐ ¬T Ðproblems.€€When€the€Union€withdrew€from€Norfolk,€the€òò¢Merrimack£óó€was€not€in€anyÐ ºb Ðcondition€to€leave€due€to€engine€problems€which€were€not€being€repaired€for€fear€ofÏ"provoking€Virginia€into€secession."(¢Scharf£,€129)€€This,€and€the€fact€that€theÏdestruction€carried€out€on€April€20th,€1861€did€only€minor€damage€to€the€yards,€andÏonly€deck€damage€to€the€slew€of€vessels€set€afire€including€the€òò¢Merrimack£óó,€whichÐ ò&š$" Ðsimply€sunk€in€the€shallow€docks,€left€the€Confederacy€with€a€choice€selection€ofÏvessels€to€choose€from.Ìà Ï àA€broad„minded€man,€Stephan€R.€¢Mallory£,€the€Secretary€of€the€Confederate€NavyÏrealized€that€the€Confederacy€being€out„gunned€by€the€Union€had€only€one€chance€forÐ */Ò,* Ðtheir€navy€to€survive.€€As€he€emphatically€declared,€"I€regard€the€possession€of€an€iron„¼armored€ship€as€a€matter€of€the€first€necessity."(¢Scharf£,€43)€€The€òò¢Merrimack£óó€afterÐ f Ðhaving€been€raised€at€the€cost€$6,000€was€now€ready€to€be€refitted.€€Despite€theÏdamage€to€her,€her€value€was€still€estimated€around€$250.000;€however,€the€estimatedÏcost€of€refitting€the€frigate€to€it's€former€condition€was€around€$450,000€or€more.€€ButÏas€an€ironclad€she€was€estimated€to€take€only€$172,523€to€complete.(¢Scharf£,€43)€€SheÏcould€be€case„mated€with€wrought„iron€sheets€to€withstand€shot,€and€thereby€renderÏher€impenetrable.€€The€fact€that€men€with€such€insight€were€present€in€the€ConfederateÏNavy€was€remarkable.€€The€South€was€not€a€maritime€society,€so€any€allegiances€to€theÏConfederacy€came€because€of€a€commitment€to€the€South.€€John€L.€Porter,€forÏexample,€was€the€only€Navy€constructor€to€transfer€allegiance€to€the€Confederacy,€andÏwas€an€invaluable€asset€to€the€construction€of€the€òòVirginiaóó,€and€to€the€Confederacy€as€aÐ òš Ðwhole.Ìà Ï àThroughout€the€construction€of€the€òòVirginia,€óó€production€problems,€shortages€inÐ ¶ Ðresources,€and€bureaucracy€almost€kept€the€òòVirginiaóó€from€ever€being€finished.€€InÐ Ä Ðtesting€the€case„mate€for€the€òòVirginiaóó,€several€tests€were€conducted€using€setups€ofÐ *!Ò Ðdifferent€configurations€of€iron.€€The€most€effective€by€far€was€the€four,€one€inch€plates,Ïbacked€by€two€feet€of€wood.€€The€incline€of€the€òòVirginia'sóó€case„mate€first€set€at€45Ð F%î"" Ðdegrees,€then€40,€was€eventually€lowered€to€36€degrees€which€helped€to€reduce€theÏimpact€of€a€hit.€€(See€Picture€¢Porfolio£,€#1)€€€Ìà Ï àWhen€she€was€finally€floated,€a€grievous€error€was€discovered.€€Instead€of€the€case„¼mate€extending€two€feet€below€the€water,€the€decks€were€barely€awash.€€To€helpÏalleviate€this€potentially€deadly€mistake,€hundreds€of€tons€of€pig€iron€was€stowed€inÐ Œ/4-, Ðunused€storerooms.€€This,€plus€the€150€tons€of€coal€and€all€the€other€supplies€onlyÏbrought€her€eaves€down€six€inches€below€the€water.€€"At€this€point,€no€more€ballastÏcould€be€added€either,€for€fear€of€over€straining€her€bottom."(Davis,€38)€€Yet€anotherÏobstacle€to€the€òòVirginia's€óócompletion€was€finding€a€suitable€crew.€€As€was€said€earlier,Ð ‚* Ðthe€South€was€not€a€maritime€society,€so€finding€men€took€a€great€deal€of€time.€€€Ìà Ï àAt€the€outset,€the€Union€was€being€regularly€informed€of€the€Confederacy's€plans€toÏmake€a€ironclad€vessel.€€During€this€war,€considering€the€cultural€and€languageÏsimilarities,€spies€were€as€common€as€cotton€in€the€South.€€Most€officials€consideredÏthe€ironclad's€threat€to€the€Union€minimal,€except€one€man€Gideon€Welles,€Lincoln'sÏfarsighted€Secretary€of€the€Navy€who€had€been€keeping€up€on€the€current€eventsÏthroughout€the€world€on€ironclad€technology.€€Lincoln€and€Congress€being€convincedÏof€the€necessity€to€counter€this€new€threat€commissioned€C.€S.€¢Bushnell£€and€CompanyÏto€submit€a€plan€for€the€construction€of€a€Union€ironclad.€€¢Bushnell£€worked€for€threeÏmonths€to€design€a€suitable€vessel,€and€upon€doing€so€set€out€to€see€John€Ericsson,Ïan€inventor€who€had€been€designing€ships€for€the€Navy€for€years.€€When€approachedÏby€¢Bushnell£€with€the€designs€of€an€ironclad,€Ericsson€"asked€¢Bushnell£€a€question.€€AsÏhe€later€recalled€it,€"Captain€Ericsson€asked€if€I€had€time€just€then€to€examine€the€planÏof€a€floating€battery€absolutely€impregnable€to€the€heaviest€shot€and€shell."(Davis,€15)€ÏEricsson€presented€his€plan€that€he€had€been€designing€for€10€years,€collectingÏinformation€and€improvements€tested€from€foreign€work€on€ironclads.€€The€most€novelÏpart€of€Ericsson's€design€was€the€cupola€or€turret€which€rested€squarely€in€the€middleÏof€the€ship,€and€would€rotate€two€cannon.€€Needless€to€say,€¢Bushnell£€was€deeplyÏimpressed,€and€persuaded€the€wary€Ericsson€to€go€to€Washington€and€make€hisÐ Œ/4-, Ðpresentation€to€the€Secretary€of€The€Navy.€€All€were€quite€impressed€by€the€novelty€ofÏthe€design,€and€even€President€Lincoln€remarked,€"All€I€have€to€say€is€what€the€girl€saidÏwhen€she€stuck€her€foot€into€the€stocking.€€It€strikes€me€there's€something€in€it."(Davis,Ï20)€€However,€only€through€a€bit€of€deceit€and€much€double„dealing€did€¢Bushnell£Ïmanage€to€get€both€parties,€which€greatly€distrusted€each€other,€into€going€forwardÏwith€the€plan.€€Ìà Ï àThe€contract€was€set€at€$275,000.€€It€required€the€delivery€of€the€vessel€on€time,€andÏit€was€to€be€a€complete€success,€or€all€money€advanced€would€have€to€be€paid€back.€ÏThe€contract€was€signed€in€October€1861€and€the€vessel€was€turned€over€to€the€Navy€inÏFebruary€that€next€year.€€The€construction€constraints€were€so€rigid€and€theÏcontractors,€sub„contractors,€etc€so€numerous€in€number€that€it€was€indeed€a€feat€ofÏaccomplishment€to€deliver€the€vessel€in€less€than€four€months.€€Ericsson's€genius€andÏspecifications€were€so€exact€that€components€manufactured€simultaneously€hundredsÏof€miles€apart€fit€together€with€little€or€no€alteration€needed.€€The€fact€that€the€òòMonitoróóÐ ¶ Ðsailed€at€all€was€a€tribute€to€extreme€care€and€precision.€€(See€Picture€Portfolio€#2)Ìà Ï àThe€òòMonitoróó€being€turned€over€to€the€Union€Navy€on€February€19,€1862€wasÐ *!Ò Ðimmediately€sailed€to€the€Brooklyn€Naval€Yard.€Almost€immediately€after€it's€gettingÏunder€way€countless€problems€came€up.€€These€problems,€including€one€dealing€withÏsteering€which€could€have,€without€Ericsson's€genius,€caused€a€month€delay,€ate€upÏprecious€days,€and€allowed€the€òòVirginiaóó€to€arrive€on€the€stage€before€the€òòMonitoróó.Ð b) '& Ðà Ï àTheòò€Virginiaóó€having€been€completed,€and€still€short€of€powder,€was€planned€toÐ p+)( Ðâ âleave€Norfolk€March€6,€1862;€however,€storms€delayed€her€departure.€€Had€she€left€then,Ð ~-&+* Ðshe€would€have€had€three€days€to€ravage€the€Union€fleet€instead€of€only€one€before€theÏòòMonitoróó€arrived.Ð f Ðâ âà Ï àThe€night€before€the€engagement€the€òòVirginia'sóó€officers€were€still€trying€desperatelyÐ t Ðto€secure€enough€powder€for€her€guns.€€"If€it€did€not€come,€she€could€still€meet€herÏappointment€well€enough,€but€her€guns€would€be€mute.€€In€the€greatest€naval€drama€ofÏthe€century,€in€the€test€for€which€she€was€destined€from€birth,€without€that€powder€sheÏwould€be€silent."(Davis,€2)Ìà Ï àWhile€the€òòVirginia€óówas€having€inventory€problems€on€the€night€before€that€dreadfulÐ ºb Ðday€of€March€8,€1862,€the€òòMonitoróó€was€on€the€verge€of€sinking€in€the€ocean€whileÐ Èp Ðmaking€her€way€down€the€Maryland€coast€in€a€heavy€storm.(Davis,€2)€€A€little€over€halfÏway€on€it's€trip€to€Virginia,€at€about€12€o'clock€at€night€the€òòMonitoróó€encountered€a€fierceÐ äŒ Ðstorm€which€threatened€to€either€scuttle€the€ship€or€asphyxiate€her€crew€because€ofÏwet€belts€on€circulation€fans€which€slipped€and€kept€the€air€from€flowing,€and€therebyÏtrapping€the€smoke€trying€to€move€up€the€stacks.€€When€these€fans€stopped,€theÏfurnace€not€being€properly€drafted€began€pouring€out€odorless,€deadly€Carbon€Dioxide.€ÏIn€a€last€ditch€effort€the€crew€managed€to€restart€one€of€the€fans,€allowing€the€òòMonitoróóÐ *!Ò Ðto€continue€on€to€it's€date€with€destiny.Ìà Ï àOn€the€Morning€of€March€8th,€the€weather€was€one€of€spectacular€beauty.€€ThisÏbeautiful€Saturday€would€prove€a€¢monumentous£€victory€for€the€Confederacy,€and€aÏtidal€wave€of€change€for€the€world.€€(See€Picture€Portfolio,€#3)Ìà Ï àThe€flow€of€constant€reports€of€the€òòVirginia's€óócoming€had€lulled€the€federal€fleet€intoÐ p+)( Ðan€half„caring€watchfulness.€€As€she€steamed€her€way€out€of€Norfolk€and€€toward€theÏòòCumberlandóó,€the€firing€between€the€two€became€quite€brisk.€€€The€tension€aboard€theÐ Œ/4-, ÐòòVirginia€óówas€quite€tense€until€shells€began€bouncing€off€her€case„mate.€€As€the€òòVirginiaÐ X Ðóóapproached,€the€plan€was€to€ram€the€òòCumberlandóó.€€€When€the€òòVirginiaóó€did€use€her€ramÐ f Ðon€the€òòCumberlandóó,€she€immediately€began€to€sink.€€As€the€òòVirginiaóó€backed€away,€theÐ t Ðcrew€noticed€the€ram€had€broken€off.€€This€prevented€further€effective€use€of€a€ram€onÏother€unsuspecting€Union€vessels.€€Ìà Ï àThe€òòVirginiaóó€continued€on€to€theòò€Congressóó,€and€totally€destroyed€her.€€Several€otherÐ ž F  Ðvessels€including€the€òòRoanokeóó€and€òòMinnesotaóó€were€well€under€way€to€intercept€theòòÐ ¬T  ÐVirginiaóó€when€they€ran€aground.€€Both€of€these€ships,€although€receiving€severeÐ ºb Ðdamage€during€the€fighting,€were€spared€being€sunk€because€they€were€quite€out€ofÏrange€for€all€but€the€best€of€the€òòVirginia's€óóguns,€since€she€could€not€venture€into€suchÐ Ö~ Ðshallow€waters€herself.€€By€the€time€all€this€was€done€it€was€dark,€and€the€òòVirginiaóóÐ äŒ Ðremoved€herself€to€anchor€off€¢Sewell£'s€Point.Ìà Ï àJust€as€the€Virginia€retired,€theòò€Monitoróó€arrived€on€the€scene.€€The€crew€was€totallyÐ ¨ Ðshocked€at€the€carnage€of€the€scene.€€The€òòCumberlandóó€was€sunk,€the€òòCongress'sóóÐ ¶ Ðmagazines€were€exploding€with€terrible€force,€and€Union€moral€was€at€a€terrible€low.€ÏInterestingly€enough,€no€one€believed€that€the€"¢Cheesebox£€on€a€shingle"€as€theòòÐ *!Ò ÐMonitoróó€was€named€could€do€anything€to€improve€the€Union's€position.€€The€òòVirginiaóóÐ 8#à  Ðwas€also€jeered€by€spectators€who€felt€it€to€be€a€floating€coffin€as€it€steamed€out€toÏmeet€the€federal€fleet.€€Besides,€how€could€such€a€small€ship€as€the€òòVirginia€óótake€on€theÐ T'ü$$ ÐUnion€Navy;€and€how€could€such€a€small€ironclad€like€the€òòMonitoróó€take€on€the€òòVirginiaóó.€Ð b) '& Ð(See€Picture€Portfolio,€#4)Ìà Ï àAt€about€9€a.m.€the€òòVirginiaóó€and€the€òòMonitoróó€steamed€out€to€begin€the€duel.€€TheÐ ~-&+* ÐòòMonitoróó,€the€smaller€and€more€maneuverable€ship,€moved€about€at€will€peppering€theòòÐ Œ/4-, ÐVirginia'sóó€sides.€€The€òòVirginiaóó,€however,€was€having€difficulties€hitting€the€òòMonitor'sóóÐ X Ðturret€because€it€was€so€small.€€The€òòMonitor'sóó€cannon€could€not€be€hit€at€all€since€theyÐ f Ðonly€came€into€view€a€second€before€they€fired,€then€revolved€around€back€€out€ofÏsight.€€Throughout€the€battle€the€òòVirginia€óówas€leaking€due€to€the€breaking€off€of€theÐ ‚* Ðram,€which€made€her€steer€miserably.€€Also,€the€smokestacks€were€so€perforated€that€itÏwas€difficult€to€get€the€draft€needed€to€keep€up€steam.€€Theòò€Monitor'sóó€chain€turning€theÐ ž F  Ðturret€was€becoming€more€and€more€difficult€to€control,€and€finally€was€left€running,Ïwhile€the€cannon€were€fired€"on€the€fly".(Davis,€124)Ìà Ï àAfter€hours€of€ineffectual€fighting€the€òòVirginiaóó€attempted€to€ram€the€òòMonitoróó.€€It€tookÐ Èp Ðalmost€an€hour€to€get€into€position,€and€then€the€captain,€fearing€a€situation€like€that€ofÏtheòò€Cumberlandóó€where€the€òòVirginia€óóalmost€went€down€with€it,€the€captain€ordered€a€fullÐ äŒ Ðreverse€seconds€before€they€hit.€€The€effect€was€a€half„hearted€¢undamaging£€ram€of€theÏòòMonitoróó.€€Ð ¨ Ðà Ï àThis€time€it€was€the€òòMonitor's€óóturn€to€ram€the€òòVirginiaóó,€and€the€òòMonitor'sóó€captainÐ ¶ Ðknew€just€where€to€strike,€at€the€òòVirginia'sóó€stern.€€If€he€could€disable€her€unprotectedÐ Ä Ðrudder€and€propeller,€she€would€be€left€helplessly€adrift.€€Bringing€the€òòMonitoróó€aroundÐ *!Ò Ðshe€headed€strait€for€the€òòVirginiaóó.€€And€then,€"just€before€reaching€the€ConfederateÐ 8#à  Ðironclad,€the€òòMonitor'sóó€steering€apparatus€somehow€malfunctioned,€causing€her€toÐ F%î"" Ðsheer€off,€just€missing€the€òòVirginiaóó€by€a€few€feet."(Davis,€131)Ð T'ü$$ Ðà Ï àThe€advantage€now€turned€again€to€the€Confederates€who€had€been€trying€to€hit€theÏòòMonitor'sóó€pilothouse.€€As€theòò€Monitoróó€slid€by€the€òòVirginiaóó,€she€gave€the€òòMonitoróó€a€directÐ p+)( Ðshot€at€the€pilothouse,€hitting€it€squarely.€€The€captain€who€was€in€the€pilothouse€wasÏblinded€by€shrapnel,€and€carried€below.€€The€whole€ship€was€now€in€chaos.€€TheÐ Œ/4-, ÐòòMonitoróó€drifted€into€shallow€shoals€for€over€a€half€an€hour€before€the€second€inÐ X Ðcommand€ordered€her€back€into€action.Ìà Ï àDuring€this€time€the€òòVirginiaóó,€unable€to€follow€into€shallow€water,€and€thinking€thatÐ t Ðthe€òòMonitoróó€was€giving€up€the€fight,€began€to€move€a€bit€closer€to€the€òòMinnesotaóó.€€AsÐ ‚* Ðshe€moved€closer,€the€òòVirginia'sóó€officers€deliberated€about€returning€to€Norfolk€beforeÐ  8 Ðthe€tide€fell€to€the€point€where€the€òòVirginiaóó€couldn't€return.€€The€decision€was€made€toÐ ž F  Ðreturn,€and€as€she€continued€on€to€Norfolk,€the€òòMonitoróó€was€just€then€coming€back€offÐ ¬T  Ðthe€shoals€to€resume€the€fight.€€Theòò€Monitor'sóó€crew€seeing€theòò€Virginiaóó€steaming€off€toÐ ºb ÐNorfolk€thought€that€they€had€won€the€fight.€€"It€was€one€of€history's€curious€cases€ofÏmutual€misapprehension.€€Both€ironclads€felt€that€they€had€won€the€day."(Davis,€134)€ÏHad€the€òòMonitoróó€immediately€turned€back€around€and€resumed€the€fight,€eventually€oneÐ äŒ Ðof€the€ironclads€would€have€won€the€battle.€€Either€the€òòMonitoróó€would€haveÐ òš Ðsuccessfully€crippled€theòò€Virginiaóó,€or€the€òòVirginiaóó€would€have€taken€advantage€of€theÐ ¨ Ðcracked€pilothouse€and€eventually€disabled€the€òòMonitoróó.€€Fate,€however,€had€anotherÐ ¶ Ðidea,€and€so€both,€thinking€they€had€won€the€day,€retired€into€history.Ìà Ï àAll€the€major€nations€of€the€world€looked€to€the€battle€with€awe.€€In€fact€"two€daysÏafter€the€news€arrived,€the€British€Admiralty€declared€that€no€more€wooden€ships€wouldÏbe€built,€that€England€must€have€an€ironclad€navy."(Davis,€140)€€Far€sighted€people€likeÏa€reporter€for€the€òòNorfolk€Day€Bookóó€wrote,€"This€successful€and€terrible€work€willÐ T'ü$$ Ðcreate€a€revolution€in€naval€warfare,€and€henceforth€iron€will€be€the€king€of€the€seas."€ÏA€soldier€at€Fort€Monroe€wrote,€"Theòò€¢Merrimack£óó€and€Ericsson€Battery...fought€likeÐ p+)( Ðtigers€for€four€hours,€in€one€of€the€greatest€Naval€Engagements€that€has€ever€occurredÏsince€the€Beginning€of€the€world."(Davis,€135)€€Ð Œ/4-, Ðà Ï àThroughout€the€next€almost€two€months,€the€ironclads€exercised€complete€controlÏin€Hampton€Roads.€€A€Union€strategy€to€land€in€the€Roads€and€fight€their€way€up€toÏRichmond€was€now€entirely€¢cancelled£€due€to€the€òòVirginia'sóó€influence.€€Ð t Ðà Ï àSeveral€measures€were€taken€to€capture€the€òòMonitoróó.€€On€April€11€theòò€Virginiaóó€andÐ ‚* Ðseveral€of€her€consorts€undertook€a€plan€to€capture€their€foe.€€As€they€steamed€out€intoÏthe€Roads,€they€attempted€to€lure€the€òòMonitoróó€into€their€territory.€€The€¢Federals£€thinkingÐ ž F  Ðthe€same€tried€to€lure€the€òòVirginiaóó€onto€their€turf.€€Both€ships€circled€and€lookedÐ ¬T  Ðthreatening€for€hours€until€they€decided€to€go€home.€€Ìà Ï àIn€May€as€the€Union€troops€advanced€on€Norfolk,€the€òòVirginiaóó€was€placed€in€aÐ Èp Ðposition€of€either€retreat€or€capture.€€Her€pilots€were€sure€that€if€she€was€sufficientlyÏlightened€of€her€ballast,€she€could€steam€up€the€Jamestown€River€to€Richmond.€€WhenÏthis€was€completed€though,€the€expected€draft€of€18€feet€was€only€at€20.€€This€wasÏinsufficient€to€clear€the€sand€bars€along€the€way,€and€on€top€of€that,€now€two€feet€ofÏunprotected€hull€was€showing.€€She€was€no€longer€an€ironclad,€so€her€captain€did€theÏonly€thing€he€could.€€Disembarking€the€ship€on€the€night€of€May€10,€1862,€the€crew€setÏher€afire€and€retreated€with€the€rest€of€the€Confederate€army.€€About€5:00€a.m.€thereÏwas€an€enormous€explosions€shaking€houses€for€miles€around€as€the€fire€reached€theÏòòVirginia'sóó€magazines.€€Ð F%î"" Ðà Ï àThe€òòMonitoróó,€now€unnecessary€as€a€defense€in€the€Hampton€Roads€area€returnedÐ T'ü$$ Ðup€the€York€River€to€Washington€D.C.€where€the€crew€received€a€hero's€welcome.€ÏDuring€repairs€she€was€quite€the€tourist€attraction€where€everyone€gathered€to€see€theÏlegendary€òòMonitoróó.€€On€December€29,€1862€the€òòMonitoróó€left€under€orders€to€proceed€toÐ ~-&+* ÐNorth€Carolina€to€assist€in€the€Union€Blockade.€€Then€on€the€second€night€out€a€stormÐ Œ/4-, Ðarose€ferociously€sending€the€òòMonitoróó€bobbing€up€and€down€in€the€ocean.€€ThisÐ X Ðbobbing€caused€the€iron€top€to€separate€slightly€from€the€hull€allowing€water€to€come€Ïrushing€in.€€The€crew€tried€desperately€to€keep€ahead€of€the€water,€but€all€efforts€wereÏin€vain.€€In€the€rescue€attempt€to€abandon€the€ship€several€men€drowned€€trying€to€getÏinto€the€lifeboats.€€Finally€at€about€1:00€a.m.€on€December€31,€1862€theòò€Monitor'sóó€deckÐ  8 Ðlights€disappeared€from€the€view€of€the€lookouts€aboard€the€rescue€vessel€òòRhodeÐ ž F  ÐIslandóó.Ð ¬T  Ðà Ï àWhat€is€interesting€is€that€neither€the€òòVirginia€óó€nor€the€òòMonitoróó€ever€saw€their€firstÐ ºb Ðanniversary.€€Neither€one€of€them€went€down€in€battle.€Yet€both€proved€something€forÏthe€world€to€learn€from.€€The€òòVirginiaóó€proved€that€no€wooden€ship,€no€matter€herÐ Ö~ Ðstrength,€could€stand€against€an€iron€ship.€€The€òòMonitoróó€went€further€by€showing€thatÐ äŒ Ðonly€an€iron€ship€could€stop€an€iron€ship;€that€maneuverability,€speed,€and€low€profileÏcould€make€up€for€sheer€size€and€number€of€guns.(Davis,€165)€€Ìà Ï àThroughout€the€war€ironclads€were€made€by€both€countries.€€It€is€quite€remarkableÏthat€despite€both€vessels€being€originally€designed€by€the€Union€Navy,€they€still€arrivedÏat€virtually€the€same€innovation€of€a€submerged€hull,€machinery,€and€overall€protectionÏof€the€guns,€with€"...the€difference€being€only€in€the€round€turret€of€the€òòMonitoróó€andÐ 8#à  Ðroof„shaped€case„mate€of€the€òòVirginiaóó."(¢Sharf£,€153)€€Both€ships€influenced€theirÐ F%î"" Ðcountries€navy€throughout€the€war;€however,€after€the€war€it€was€the€òòMonitoróó€that€madeÐ T'ü$$ Ðthe€most€lasting€impression€on€shipbuilding.€€"The€principal€novelty€of€this€vessel€isÏthe€cylindrical€revolving€turret,€in€which€the€guns€are€placed...Balls€weighing€180Ïpounds„„nearly€three€times€heavier€than€the€most€destructive€shot€ever€tried...wereÏfired€at€exceedingly€short€range,€some€of€them€said€to€be€at€only€forty€feet€distance,ññÐ Œ/4-, Ðñññ ñÐ Œ/4-, Ðñ ñand€thirty„seven€struck€the€turret€of€the€òòMonitoróó,€without€inflicting€the€slightestÐ X Ðinjury...The€turret€is€a€splendid€structure."(¢Beschke£,€6„7)€€This€turret€would€be€seen€onÏships€far€into€the€20th€century.€€Ìà Ï àMost€of€these€innovations€came€about€by€pure€chance€and€genius.€€All€theseÏ"...machinations€of€Chance€often€serve€only€to€heighten€the€drama,€to€punctuate€theÏ¢inescapability£€of€an€event€that€would€not€be€denied€its€place€in€time."(Davis,€1)€€TrulyÏthe€battle€between€the€òò¢Merrimack£óó€(òòVirginiaóó)€and€theòò€Monitoróó€€was€the€most€decisiveÐ ¬T  Ðbattle€between€two€vessels€to€serve€as€a€point€of€revolution€for€modern€Navies.ññÐ  ºb ÐññññÌññÔ€°° ‹Š½ÔÔªªÔññà@ìì*ìàññññññÌññññÌññññÌññññÌññññÌññññÌññññÌññññÐ Þ,†* ÐññññññÑ  ÑññÓÓà@ù ù $ìàBIBLIOGRAPHYÔªªÔˆÐ X ÐÌÔ€¼Ø\»°°Ôà0 Ï àà X à¢Basler£,€Roy€P.;€Pratt,€Marion€Dolores;€¢Dunlap£,€Lloyd€A.€€òòThe€Collected€Works€OfÐ º ÐAbraham€Lincoln.óó€€New€Brunswick:€€Rutgers€University€Press,€1953.€€Vol€V,Ð &Î Ðpp.€541€&€547.€€Vol€VII,€pp.€154€&€457.€Ð Ï€%Ï€% ÐÌà0 Ï àà X à¢Baxtor£,€James€¢Phinney£.€€òòThe€Introduction€Of€The€Ironclad€Warshipóó.€€Cambridge:€Ð b  ÐHarvard€¢Univerity£€Press,€1933.€€398€pp.Рπ%Ï€% ÐÌà0 Ï àà X à¢Beschke£,€William.€€òòMemorial€To€The€Congress,€Government€And€€People€Of€TheÐ ž F  ÐUnited€States:€€Concerning€several€great€Inventions€of€National€Importance,ÏAnd€The€Infringements€Of€A€U.S.€Patent€In€Building€Iron„Clad€Vessels€AndÏIron€Turrets.€€Most€respectfully€submitted€by€William€¢Beschke£,€ofÏPhiladelphia.€In€January,€1865.€€óóPhiladelphia:€s.n.,€1865.€€[Provo:€€Harold€B.Ð å  ÐLee€Libraryòò,€óóMicrofiche€¢V903£.¢B5£€1865]Ðù¡Ï€%Ï€% ÐÌà0 Ï àà X àDavis,€William€C.€€òòDuel€Between€The€First€Ironcladsóó.€€Baton€Rouge:€€LouisianaÐ !É ÐState€University€Press,€1975.€€201€pp.Рπ%Ï€% ÐÌà0 Ï àà X à¢Mokin£,€Arthur.€€òòIronclad:€€The€Monitor€&€The€¢Merrimack£óó.€€¢Novata£:€€Presidio€Press,Ð ] Ð1991.€€274€pp.€Ð Ï€%Ï€% ÐÌà0 Ï àà X à¢Sharf£,€John€Thomas.€€òòHistory€Of€The€Confederate€States€Navy,€from€ItsÐ ™A ÐOrganization€to€the€Surrender€of€Its€Last€Vesselóó.€€New€York:€€Rogers€&Ð ­U ÐSherwood,€1887.€€pp.€128„238.Рπ%Ï€% ÐÌà0 Ï àà X à¢Trexler£,€Harrison€Anthony.€€òòThe€Confederate€Ironclad€"Virginia"€("¢Merrimac£")óó.€Ð é‘ ÐChicago:€€University€of€Chicago€Press,€1938.€€95€pp.Рπ%Ï€% ÐÌà0 Ï àà X àWoodward,€C.€¢Vann£.€€òòMary€¢Chesnut£'s€Civil€Waróó.€€Binghamton:€€Vail„¢Ballou£€Press,Ð %#Í  Ð1981.€€886€pp.ññРπ%Ï€% ÐññÔ%†kÔññÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌññññÐ /©,( ÐññРπ%Ï€% Ðññà Ï àThe€battle€between€the€Virginia€"¢Merrimack£"€and€the€Monitor€was€the€mostÏdecisive€factor€to€date€in€determining€the€direction€of€naval€warfare.€€The€firstÏbattle€between€ironclads,€however,€was€one€of€pure€chance€and€destiny;€yet€afterÏthe€engagement,€the€world€glimpse€a€new€era€of€naval€warfare€emerging.Ìà Ï àMuch€has€been€written€on€the€subject€of€the€battle€itself,€and€the€eventsÏleading€up€to€it.€€This€essay€won't€focus€on€these,€but€rather€on€the€¢peticular£Ïevents€which€formed€to€make€the€engagement€possible.€€ÌÌà Ï àAt€the€outbreak€of€the€War€Between€the€States€the€Union€attempted€toÏevacuate€and€then€¢distroy£€anything€that€couldn't€be€taken€from€the€Norfolk€NavalÏYards.€€The€U.S.S.€¢Merrimack£,€since€it's€launching€twp???€years€previous,€hadÏbeen€a€source€of€constant€problems.€€When€the€Union€withdrew€Norfolk,€it€wasÏnot€in€a€condition€to€leave€due€to€__________€.€€This,€and€the€fact€that€theÏdestruction€of€the€yard€did€little€damage€to€the€Yards,€and€only€deck€damage€toÏthe€slew€of€vessels€including€the€¢Merrimack£,€which€simply€sunk€in€the€shallowÏdocks,€left€the€Confederacy€a€choice€selection€of€vessels€to€choose€from.ÌÌà Ï àA€broad„minded€man,€______,€realizing€that€the€Confederacy€being€outÏgunned€by€the€Union€had€only€one€chance€for€the€navy€to€survive.€€______Ïproposed€the€raising€of€the€¢Merrimack£€and€for€half€the€cost€of€restoring€her€toÏher€former€condition,€she€could€be€case„mated€with€iron„¢wrogout£€sheets€toÏwithstand€shot,€and€thereby€render€her€impenetrable.€€The€fact€that€such€menÏwith€such€insight€were€present€in€the€Confederate€Navy€was€remarkable.€€______Ïthe€original€designer€desiring€to€remain€in€the€Union€until€denied€_____,€turned€toÏthe€Confederacy€for€the€recognition€of€his€talents.€€ÌÌà Ï àAt€the€outset,€the€Union€was€being€informed€of€the€Confederacy's€plans€toÏmake€a€ironclad.€€Most€officials€considered€the€threat€to€the€Union€minimalÏexcept€one€man€______€who€had€been€keeping€up€on€the€current€eventsÏthroughout€the€world€on€ironclad€technology.€€Lincoln???€being€convinced€ofÏthe€¢neccesity£€to€counter€this€new€threat€¢comissioned£€____€to€submit€a€plan€forÏthe€construction€of€a€Union€ironclad.€€_____€set€out€to€see€______________€whoÏhad€been€designing€ships€for€the€Navy€for€years.€€When€approached€byÏ__________„€on€the€idea€of€an€ironclad,€___________„€presented€his€work€he€hadÏbeen€doing€on€such€a€vessel.€€This€plan€he€presented€he€had€been€¢desining£€forÏ10€years,€collecting€information€and€¢inprovements£€from€tested€ideas€from€otherÏironclads€from€other€countries.€€Needless€to€say,€________€was€deeplyÏimpressed,€and€persuaded€___________€to€go€to€Washington€and€make€hisÏpresentation€to€_____________„.€€¢Onlly£€through€a€little€deception€___________„Ïmanaged€to€satisfy€each€party,€which€greatly€distrusted€each€other,€into€goingÏforward€with€the€plan.€€ÌÐ Œ.4,) Ðà Ï àThe€principal€novelty€of€this€vessel€is€the€cylindrical€revolving€turret,€in€whichÏthe€guns€are€placed...Balls€weighing€180€pounds„„nearly€three€times€heavier€thanÏthe€most€destructive€shot€ever€tried...were€fired€at€exceedingly€short€range,€someÏof€them€said€to€be€at€only€forty€feet€distance,€and€¢thrity£„seven€struck€the€turret€ofÏthe€òòMonitoróó,€without€inflicting€the€slightest€injury...The€turret€is€a€splendidÐ ¨P Ðstructure.(¢Beschke£,€6„7)ÌÌà Ï àThe€thin€plates€bend€individually,€and€the€inner€plates€are€hardly€weakened€atÏall;€but€the€whole€of€the€thick€plate€must€either€give€way€altogether€or€beÏweakened€in€every€part...The€same€facts€were€fully€illustrated€in€the€lateÏengagement„„the€first€engagement€of€two€iron„clad€vessels„„at€Fort€Monroe.€ÏWhile€the€turret€of€the€òòMonitoróó€,€composed€of€8€layers,€each€an€inch€thick,€wasÐ 4Ü  Ðonly€indented€2ðBð€inches€by€a€shot€¢stricking£€square€and€flat€upon€it,€one€of€theÐ Hð  Ðsolid€bars€or€plates,€9€inches€thick€and€12€inches€deep,€forming€a€part€of€herÏpilot„house,€was€completely€¢borken£€in€two€by€a€similar€shot,€and€opened€ðDð„inchÐ p Ðon€the€¢innerside£.€€Thus€8€inches€of€thin€plates€stood€better€than€9€inches€of€solidÏiron."(¢Beschke£,€3)€€€ÌÌà Ï àThe€battle€between€the€Virginia€"¢Merrimack£"€and€the€Monitor€was€the€mostÏdecisive€factor€to€date€in€determining€the€direction€of€naval€warfare.€€The€firstÏbattle€between€ironclads,€however,€was€one€of€pure€chance€and€destiny;€yet€afterÏthe€engagement,€the€world€glimpse€a€new€era€of€naval€warfare€emerging.Ìà Ï àMuch€has€been€written€on€the€subject€of€the€battle€itself,€and€the€eventsÏleading€up€to€it.€€This€essay€won't€focus€on€these,€but€rather€on€the€¢peticular£Ïevents€which€formed€to€make€the€engagement€possible.€€ÌÌà Ï àAt€the€outbreak€of€the€War€Between€the€States€the€Union€attempted€toÏevacuate€and€then€¢distroy£€anything€that€couldn't€be€taken€from€the€Norfolk€NavalÏYards.€€The€U.S.S.€¢Merrimack£,€since€it's€launching€twp???€years€previous,€hadÏbeen€a€source€of€constant€problems.€€When€the€Union€withdrew€Norfolk,€it€wasÏnot€in€any€condition€to€leave€due€to€engine€problems€which€were€not€beingÏrepaired€for€fear€of€pushing€Virginia€into€¢suceeding£€the€Union.€€This,€and€the€factÏthat€the€destruction€carried€out€did€little€damage€to€the€yards,€and€only€deckÏdamage€to€the€slew€of€vessels€set€afire€including€the€¢Merrimack£,€which€simplyÏsunk€in€the€shallow€docks,€left€the€Confederacy€with€a€choice€selection€ofÏvessels€to€choose€from.ÌÌà Ï àA€broad„minded€man,€Stephan€R.€¢Mallory£,€the€Secretary€of€the€ConfederateÏNavy€realized€that€the€Confederacy€being€out„gunned€by€the€Union€had€only€oneÏchance€for€the€navy€to€survive.€€As€he€emphatically€declared,€"I€regard€theÏ¢possesion£€of€an€iron„armored€ship€as€a€matter€of€the€first€necessity"(Davis,€8)€Ï______€proposed€the€raising€of€the€¢Merrimack£€and€for€half€the€cost€of€restoringÐ Œ.4,) Ðher€to€her€former€condition,€she€could€be€case„mated€with€iron„¢wrogout£€sheets€toÏwithstand€shot,€and€thereby€render€her€impenetrable.€€The€fact€that€such€menÏwith€such€insight€were€present€in€the€Confederate€Navy€was€remarkable.€€______Ïthe€original€designer€desiring€to€remain€in€the€Union€until€denied€_____,€turned€toÏthe€Confederacy€for€the€recognition€of€his€talents.€€ÌÌà Ï àAt€the€outset,€the€Union€was€being€informed€of€the€Confederacy's€plans€toÏmake€a€ironclad.€€Most€officials€considered€the€threat€to€the€Union€minimalÏexcept€one€man€Gideon€Welles,€Lincoln's€farsighted€Secretary€of€the€Navy€whoÏhad€been€keeping€up€on€the€current€events€throughout€the€world€on€ironcladÏtechnology.€€Lincoln€and€Congress€being€convinced€of€the€¢neccesity£€to€counterÏthis€new€threat€¢comissioned£€C.€S.€¢Bushnell£€and€Company€to€submit€a€plan€for€theÏconstruction€of€a€Union€ironclad.€€¢Bushnell£€worked€for€three€months€to€design€aÏsuitable€vessel,€and€upon€doing€so€set€out€to€see€John€Ericsson,€and€inventorÏwho€had€been€designing€ships€for€the€Navy€for€years.€€When€approached€byÏ¢Bushnell£€with€the€designs€of€an€ironclad,€Ericsson€"asked€¢Bushnell£€a€question.€ÏAs€he€later€recalled€it,€"Captain€Ericsson€asked€if€I€had€time€just€then€to€examineÏthe€plan€of€a€floating€¢baterry£€absolutely€impregnable€to€the€heaviest€shot€andÏshell."(Davis,€15)€€Ericsson€presented€his€plan€he€had€been€¢desining£€for€10€years,Ïcollecting€information€and€improvements€tested€from€foreign€work€on€ironclads.€ÏThe€most€novel€part€of€Ericsson's€design€was€the€¢capola£€or€¢turrett£€which€restedÏsquarely€in€the€middle€of€the€ship,€and€would€rotate€two€cannon.€€Needless€toÏsay,€¢Bushnell£€was€deeply€impressed,€and€persuaded€wary€Ericsson€to€go€toÏWashington€and€make€his€presentation€to€the€Secretary€of€The€Navy.€€All€wereÏquite€impressed€by€the€novelty€of€the€design,€and€even€President€LincolnÏremarked,€"All€I€have€to€say€is€what€the€girl€said€when€she€stuck€her€foot€into€theÏstocking.€€It€strikes€me€there's€something€in€it."(Davis,€20)€€However,€onlyÏthrough€a€little€deceit€and€much€double„dealing€did€¢Bushnell£€manage€to€get€bothÏparties,€which€greatly€distrusted€each€other,€into€going€forward€with€the€plan.€€Ìà Ï àÌà Ï àThe€contract€was€set€at€$275,000,€and€required€the€delivery€of€the€vessel€onÏtime,€and€it€was€to€be€a€complete€success,€or€all€money€advanced€would€have€toÏbe€paid€back.€€The€contract€was€signed€in€October€1861€and€the€vessel€wasÏturned€over€to€the€Navy€in€February.€€The€construction€constraints€were€so€rigidÏand€the€contractors,€sub„contractors,€etc€so€many€in€number€that€it€was€indeed€aÏfeat€of€accomplishment€to€deliver€the€vessel€in€less€than€four€months.€€Ericsson'sÏ¢genious£€and€specifications€so€exact€that€components€manufacturedÏ¢simutaneouly£€hundreds€of€miles€apart€fit€together€with€little€or€no€alterationÏneeded.€€The€fact€that€the€òòMonitoróó€sailed€at€all€was€a€tribute€to€extreme€care€andÐ P+ø(& Ðprecision.ÌÐ x- +( Ðà Ï àOn€it's€trip€to€Virginia,€the€òòMonitoróó€encountered€a€fierce€storm€whichÐ X Тtreatened£€to€either€scuttle€the€ship€or€¢affixiate£€the€crew€because€of€wet€belts€onÏcirculation€fans€which€kept€the€air€flow€moving,€and€thereby€keeping€the€smokeÏmoving€up€the€stacks.€€In€a€last€ditch€effort,€the€crew€managed€to€restart€one€ofÏthe€fans€which€allowed€the€òòMonitoróó€to€continue€on€to€it's€date€with€destiny.Ð ¨P ÐÌà Ï àThe€principal€novelty€of€this€vessel€is€the€cylindrical€revolving€turret,€in€whichÏthe€guns€are€placed...Balls€weighing€180€pounds„„nearly€three€times€heavier€thanÏthe€most€destructive€shot€ever€tried...were€fired€at€exceedingly€short€range,€someÏof€them€said€to€be€at€only€forty€feet€distance,€and€¢thrity£„seven€struck€the€turret€ofÏthe€òòMonitoróó,€without€inflicting€the€slightest€injury...The€turret€is€a€splendidÐ  È  Ðstructure.(¢Beschke£,€6„7)ÌÌà Ï àThe€thin€plates€bend€individually,€and€the€inner€plates€are€hardly€weakened€atÏall;€but€the€whole€of€the€thick€plate€must€either€give€way€altogether€or€beÏweakened€in€every€part...The€same€facts€were€fully€illustrated€in€the€lateÏengagement„„the€first€engagement€of€two€iron„clad€vessels„„at€Fort€Monroe.€ÏWhile€the€turret€of€the€òòMonitoróó€,€composed€of€8€layers,€each€an€inch€thick,€wasÐ ¬T Ðonly€indented€2ðBð€inches€by€a€shot€¢stricking£€square€and€flat€upon€it,€one€of€theÐ Àh Ðsolid€bars€or€plates,€9€inches€thick€and€12€inches€deep,€forming€a€part€of€herÏpilot„house,€was€completely€¢borken£€in€two€by€a€similar€shot,€and€opened€ðDð„inchÐ è Ðon€the€¢innerside£.€€Thus€8€inches€of€thin€plates€stood€better€than€9€inches€of€solidÏiron."(¢Beschke£,€3)ÌÌà Ï à"And€yet€at€the€same€time,€through€some€inscrutable€perversity,€all€theÏmachinations€of€Chance€often€serve€only€to€heighten€the€drama,€to€punctuate€theÏ¢inescapability£€of€an€event€that€would€not€be€denied€its€place€in€time."(Davis,€1)ÌÌà Ï àThe€night€before€the€engagement€the€òòVirginia'sóó€officers€were€still€tryingÐ ˆ 0 Ðdesperately€to€secure€enough€powder€for€her€guns.€€"If€it€did€not€come,€she€couldÏstill€meet€her€appointment€well€enough,€but€her€guns€would€be€mute.€€In€theÏgreatest€naval€drama€of€the€century,€in€the€test€for€which€she€was€destined€fromÏbirth,€without€that€powder€she€would€be€silent."(Davis,€2)ÌÌà Ï àWhile€the€òòVirginia€óówas€having€inventory€problems,€the€night€before€theÐ '¨$" ÐòòMonitoróó€was€on€the€verge€of€sinking€in€the€ocean€while€making€her€way€down€theÐ (¼%# ÐMaryland€coast€in€a€heavy€storm.(Davis,€2)ññ