"It was a naval duel.... It appeared to be a battle between a giant and a pigmy, but it should be remembered that the was very hard to manage and drew twenty-two feet water, whereas the was readily handled, and drew but ten feet. In point of fact, it was not necessary to maneuver the at all; for as her turret revolved, all she had to do was to stand still. This, indeed, is one of the strong points of this class of vessels, fighting in rivers or shallow water. They can always bring a gun to bear as long as the turret will revolve." - Taken from the Confederate Military History, Volume 12, 1899 This is first-hand account of what 1862 Civil War battle?

This is an account of the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack. This battle is also known as the Battle of Hampton Roads. This was one of the most important naval battles of the American Civil War. The battle, which took place between March 8-9, 1862, was particularly significant because it was the first meeting in combat of the two major ships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia.