The ironclad Virginia, formerly known as the USS Merrimack, was a Confederate warship that emerged as a crucial naval innovation during the American Civil War. Commissioned in early 1861, it was salvaged and reconfigured by the Confederates to combat the Union blockade. The Virginia's ironclad design, featuring a sloped armor and a steam-powered engine, allowed it to withstand traditional naval artillery. On March 8, 1862, the Virginia demonstrated its might by destroying several wooden Union sh

3.9K views · 79 reactions | "On This Day" March 9, 1862 The first battle of ironclad ships takes place in the waterways of Hampton Roads when the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) engage in a five-hour fight that ends in a draw. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture | Facebook