SUMMARY
Arguably the most important naval battle of the American civil war, the Battle of Hampton Roads, took place on March 8 and 9, 1862 in the Chesapeake Bay. On March 8, the Confederate's biggest iron clad, the CSS Virginia, attacked two of the unions ships, the USS Congress and the USS Cumberland. Both of the union ships had been a part of a blockade against the Confederacy at Hampton Roads. The union ships held no challenge for the Confederate's iron clad and soon enough, the CSS Virginia went to attack another of the union's ships, the USS Minnesota. By nightfall, the CSS Virginia had almost destroyed the USS Minnesota and by the next day, the confederacy should have the battle won.
Early the next morning (March 9), the union had sent an iron clad, the USS Monitor, to aid and rescue the USS Minnesota. The CSS Virginia went to attack the USS Monitor and they fought for three consecutive hours, with neither taken major damage. The battle finally ended in stalemate with the CSS Virginia going back to its home at the Gosport Navy Yard and the USS Monitor staying to help the USS Minnesota. Even if the battle ended in a draw, the Confederacy had gotten control of the Hampton Roads area again.
Early the next morning (March 9), the union had sent an iron clad, the USS Monitor, to aid and rescue the USS Minnesota. The CSS Virginia went to attack the USS Monitor and they fought for three consecutive hours, with neither taken major damage. The battle finally ended in stalemate with the CSS Virginia going back to its home at the Gosport Navy Yard and the USS Monitor staying to help the USS Minnesota. Even if the battle ended in a draw, the Confederacy had gotten control of the Hampton Roads area again.
LOCATION
Located inside the Chesapeake Bay, Sewells Point is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water port of Hampton Roads. Sewells Point is bordered by water on three sides, with Willoughby Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and the Lafayette River to the south. It is the site of Naval Station Norfolk.