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Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As Battle of Hampton Roads
Date March 9, 1862
Location Atlantic Ocean • Port of Hampton Roads • James River • United States • Virginia
Participants Confederate States of America • United States
Context American Civil War

Did You Know?

  • The temporary withdrawal of the Monitor and subsequent exit of the Merrimac led both ships to believe that their opponents had fled and that they had won the battle.
  • The USS Monitor contained more than 40 new inventions when it was launched.
  • The USS Monitor only rose 18 inches above the water.

Photos

Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack
USS Monitor
USS Monitor
Battle of the Merrimack and Monitor
See All Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics

Timeline

Fort Sumter
Battle of Fort Sumter
April 12, 1861 - April 14, 1861
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July 1861 - March 1865
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
July 21, 1861
American Civil War: Vicksburg Campaign
Vicksburg Campaign
1862 - 1863
See the animated map and learn about the Battle of Shiloh
Mississippi Valley Campaign
February 1862 - July 1863
Fort Donelson, Battle of
Battle of Fort Donelson
February 13, 1862 - February 16, 1862
Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack
Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack
March 9, 1862
Shiloh, Battle of
Battle of Shiloh
April 6, 1862 - April 7, 1862
American Civil War: Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
August 29, 1862 - August 30, 1862
Battle of Antietam: Confederate dead
Battle of Antietam
September 17, 1862
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
December 13, 1862
Map showing the site of the Battle of Chancellorsville during the American Civil War, with key roads, rivers, and locations marked. The map highlights Chancellorsville, Hazel Grove, Catherine Furnace, and Marye's Heights, along with major roads such as the Orange Plank Road and Turnpike, and the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers. Numbered red circles indicate significant positions or events related to the battle.
Battle of Chancellorsville
April 30, 1863 - May 5, 1863
American Civil War: Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
July 1, 1863 - July 3, 1863
Storming Fort Wagner
Second Battle of Fort Wagner
July 18, 1863
Wood engraving depicting the Fort Pillow Massacre.
Fort Pillow Massacre
April 12, 1864
American Civil War: Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
May 1864 - September 1864
wounded soldiers at the Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
May 5, 1864 - May 7, 1864
American Civil War: Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 8, 1864 - May 19, 1864
Grant at Cold Harbor
Battle of Cold Harbor
May 31, 1864 - June 12, 1864
Petersburg campaign: ruins of the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad bridge
Petersburg Campaign
June 1864 - April 9, 1865
Early, Jubal A.
Battle of Monocacy
July 9, 1864
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Battle of Atlanta
July 22, 1864
Battle of the Crater
Battle of the Crater
July 30, 1864
19th-century print depicting the Battle of Mobile Bay, with warships firing cannons amid clouds of smoke near a coastal fortification.
Battle of Mobile Bay
August 5, 1864 - August 23, 1864
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Sherman’s March to the Sea
November 15, 1864 - December 21, 1864
Nashville, Tennessee
Battle of Nashville
December 15, 1864 - December 16, 1864
Battle of Five Forks
Battle of Five Forks
April 1, 1865
Appomattox Court House surrender
Battle of Appomattox Court House
April 9, 1865

Key People

John L. Worden, detail from an engraving by J.C. Buttre after a portrait by R.A. Lewis
John L. Worden
American admiral
Franklin Buchanan, 1861
Franklin Buchanan
United States naval officer

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