Civil War - Monitor vs. Merrimack The battle on March 9, 1862, between the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimack, officially the CSS Virginia, is one of the most revolutionary naval battles in world history. Up until that point, all battles had been waged between wooden ships. This was the first battle in maritime history that two ironclad ships waged war. The USS Merrimack was a Union frigate throughout most of its existence, up until the Union …showed first 75 words of 1221 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1221 total…Cited DesJardien, Matt. "The Ironclads." www.shorelin.wednet.edu/Echo Lake/Civil War/Matt D*Ironclads.html. Lavy, Gabe. "A Comparison of the Role and Importance of the Northern and Southern Navies to the Fighting of the Civil War." www.geocities.com/Athens/2391/Final.htm. "Monitor v. Merrimack," Microsoft Encarta 1996 Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corp., Funk and Wagnalls Corp. 1993-95. Ward, Geoffrey C. The Civil War: An Illustrated History. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1990. Word Count: 1232