Day 1: March 8th, 1862
Anticipation ran high among the Union ships in Hampton roads as the esteemed Monitor was due to arrive soon. Nevertheless, she would not arrive in time to stop the Virginia.
But as the low hull came in view abreast of Crany island light heading for the mouth of the Elizabeth river, all surmises were dispelled. All hands were called, the sails quickly furled. And the quick beat to "quarters" aroused everyone, and told that the hour which had been so long looked forward to had come. At that moment the Cumberland was a splendid type of the frigate of the old times, with her towering masts, long yards, and neat man-of-war appearance.
- Cosmopolitan Magazine, XV, 1893
As the Virginia approached the Cumberland and the Congress, they fired on her, but could not do any damage.
After receiving the first broadside of the two frigates she ran into the Cumberland, striking her about midships and literally laying open her sides.
- Lowell Daily Citizen and News, 03/10/1862
It became clear that the Union ships were outmatched against the Virginia when she struck and destroyed the Cumberland.
Crew aboard the USS Congress attempted to ground their ship to save themselves from sinking, but were still pounded by the Virginia's powerful broadsides.
We sank the Cumberland, and drove the Congress ashore, where she hauled down her colours and hoisted the white flag; but she fired upon us with the white flag flying, wounding Lieutenant Minor and some of our men. We again opened fire upon her, and she is now in flames.
- The Illustrated London News, 04/05/1862
Defeat for the Union?
At the end of the day, the Union was left with over 100 casualties, while the Confederacy had only one wounded. The Virginia clearly had her way with the Union ships in Hampton Roads that day.
The stories of her inefficiency and failure, that the Richmond journals have published at various times, were probably in great measure intended as a mask; the work on her has been done by Northern mechanics, and is no doubt well done. - The New York Times, 3/10/1862
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... if that body [Congress] had gone promptly to work in the construction of a mail-clad fleet in the first weeks of the session, as it should have done, we would by this time be almost ready to station one at every point of danger... This is not a time for want of harmony or lack of confidence, or the absence of hearty cooperation between the several branches of the Government. - Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/11/1862
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