Fights of Hampton Roads

The naval action of Hampton Roads , altogether of little importance, have regard to the engaged forces, puts at the catches ships of the two adversaries of the American Civil War, which will clash the March 8th and 9th 1862.

But this naval action had repercussions in the whole world and marks a turning in the history of the Naval War.

The framework

An arm of the sea on the east coast of North America. It is divided into several branches and makes it possible to go back as well to Washington, capital of the Union, as with Richmond, capital of the Confédération. One is not far from the places where illustrated themselves, in their time, the marquis of Fayette, Rochambeau and Of Fatty. The Northern branch of the arm of the sea gives on the Baie of Chesapeake where the York River is thrown.

The combat will be held in the Southern branch. With the confluence of the James To rivet, which comes from the West, and the Elizabeth River, which comes from the South. This confluence is named Hampton Roads. While continuing towards the East, one arrives at the Atlantic Ocean. While going up the James To rivet, course in the West, one arrives at Richmond. While going up Elizabeth To rivet, course in the South, one arrives at Norfolk and the Arsenal of Gosport.

The southern bank James To rivet it and of Hampton Roads is in confederated territory. The Northern bank, it, passed to the hands of the northerners. The depth of water is not very important, in general lower than 10 feet. To find more water, it is necessary to take care to remain in the median channel and to avoid the many shallow waters. That strongly limits the possibilities of operation of the ships to fort drawing from water. Being close to the Ocean, the depth also strongly varies according to the tides. This detail will have its importance.

The American Civil War began on April 12th, 1861. It puts at the catches 11 confederated states, which made secession of the Union. The remaining states do not accept this decision and the hostilities start. North seeks to choke the South and one of the means to reach that point is to impose a blockade to him. Northerner squadrons will block all the ports. In particular the outlet James River which can lead to Richmond, the capital of Confédérés.

For those, it is vital to maintain open the communications with the rest of the world, Europe in particular. As much to export its productions, initially cotton, and to import all that is necessary to its effort of war, that to try to arrange on its side the great powers like France and England. The naval action of Hampton Roads is contemporary campaign known as " of Péninsule" who will last from March in July 1862, during which the northerners in vain will try to arrive to Richmond. The Southerners, for their part, will try to break the northerner blockade.

Actors

Northerners

The northerner squadron which carries out the blockade is made up of 6 sailing ships, some with vapor, all built out of the wood, largest carrying 50 guns. They belong to the most powerful units of the Navy of the Union.

the frigate with vapor Minnesota , launched in 1855,4833 tons, 43 guns.
the frigate Cumberland , launched in 1842,990 tons, 24 guns.
the frigate Congress , launched in 1841,1867 tons, 50 guns.
the frigate with vapor Roanoke , launched in 1855,4772 tons, 43 guns. Having a problem of propeller, it cannot count on its machine.
the frigate St-Lawrence , similar to the Congress .

Built out of wood, these ships do not count among most powerful of the Navy of the Union.

There are several tens of other northerner ships in trimmings, tug boats, transport, ferries, but they will not intervene in the engagements. One finds even an old steamer with wheels, the Vanderbilt , which one reinforced the prow, in the hope to send it éperonner the ''' Merrimack '''.

An additional building is on the way to join the squadron, the battleship Monitor .

The five frigates of the Union are spread out along northern bank, in the driving channel in the James River. In the order, and West towards the East, one finds the Cumberland , the Congress , the Minnesota , the Roanoke and the St-Lawrence .

Southerners

The squadron Southerner is composed of the ship armoured ''' Merrimack ''' accompanied by some smaller ships.

the Patrick Henry , ship of 1400 tons, with side paddle wheels. Named Yorktown before being seized by the Southerners, it ensured the connection between Washington and Richmond. It carries 10 guns now and a crew of 150 officers and sailors.
the Jamestown , is a ship similar to the precedent.
the Teaser , tug boat of 65 tons. It carries 2 guns, one 32 pounds and one 12 pounds.

These three buildings in the James River upstream, are blocked by the northerner squadron.

Accompanying the ''' Merrimack ''', one finds the Raleigh , tug boat of 65 tons, and the Beaufort , of the same tonnage. They carry each one a gun of 32 pounds.

Spectators

There are several foreign ships present and which will be pilot engagement. In particular a French building, a " corvette with roues" imperial Navy, Gassendi, commander Ange Siméon Gautier. There are also British. They are not there by chance but to inform their respective governments about the new navy of war, their use and about the capacities of the Confederation.

Other spectators, on the southern banks, of the units and confederated artillery. On the banks north, northerners (logic…). These batteries will on several occasions engage the protagonists but without really influencing the combat.

Unfolding of the combat

Saturday March 8th 1862

All starts in the morning, when the French ship, the Gassendi , pushes its fires and prepares to change damping. As its officers have, the day before, have the authorization to go to visit the ''' Merrimack ''', that draws the attention of the Federal ones. About midday, ships are announced downward Elizabeth River.

With 13:20, the tug boat Zouave , sent to the front of the newcomers, draws the first blow from gun in direction of the ''' Merrimack '''. Any speed, i.e. 4 nodes (that is to say a little more than 7 km/h), the battleship Southerner moves towards the northerner vessel nearest, the Congress . With 14:30, it is with 10 meters of him and inflicts heavy damage to him.

It moves then towards the Cumberland . They exchange broadsides, but the damage is only side of the sailing ship. The northerner ship continues its fire, even after being éperonné, twice, by the ''' Merrimack '''.

The Cumberland sinks, with a good part of its crew. Basic not very letting exceed the top of the masts still carrying its houses. The ''' Merrimack ''' lost in the business its spur. It does not have average any more of éperonner other victims.

Making half-turn laboriously, it turns over towards the frigate Congress . The Congress goes, hoisting a white flag. The Southerners cannot take of it possession being under the fire of the northerner troops massed on Northern bank. The commander of the ''' Merrimack ''' is seriously wounded. He gives the order to set fire to the Congress, which is made using projectiles flamers and of teeth and nail.

The ''' Merrimack ''', always intact in spite of the projectiles which continue to rebound on its armor, turns now to the frigate Minnesota which wanted to move away but ran aground. But, divine surprised, the battleship breaks the combat and from there will wet itself under the batteries Southerners of Sewell Point, with the entry Elizabeth River. The fort drawing from water and the downward tide led its commander to make this decision. He is certain, in addition, to quietly finish the destruction of the northerner squadron as of the next morning.

The assessment, at the evening of the first day

" all thus seemed desperate the 8 at the evening, and a general panic seemed to be seized the spirits. The terrible machine of war, so often announced, had finally appeared, and, in one hour hardly, had destroyed two of the strongest ships of the Union, makes conceal powerful batteries of coast and considering fleeing in front of it the remainder of the maritime forces which, the day before, blocked both rivières". It is what the commander of the Gassendi in the report/ratio will write that it will make with the French authorities.

How does the ''' Merrimack ''' go? 2 guns deteriorated but always usable, having received 88 impacts on its carapace without notable damage, its torn off spur, its partly torn off sifted chimney, all the destroyed external armaments. But it is always in a position to fight. The commander Buchanan, seriously wounded, is unloaded. The lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones, second in command, takes the command of the ship.

Sunday, March 9, 1862

" then began the duel about which one spoke so much, and who seems invited to make a so great revolution in naval art " (Prince de Joinville).

To the sunrise, the Merrimack and its flotilla weigh the anchor to complete the northerner ships. They must await the dissipation of the fog.

The Monitor, seeking to protect Minnesota, starts the combat. The other ships Southerners let the Merrimack support the combat.

The two battleships will be cannonaded during hours, without success.

Each one will try an operation of éperonnage, without success.

A shell of the Merrimack exploding on the steering gear of the Monitor, will oblige this one to move away for a time. Without adversary and in front of the risks of stranding which makes him run the downward tide, the Merrimack regains Norfolk.

The two adversaries each one are persuaded to have made flee the adversary.

One will want to refer well to the pages Merrimack and Monitor to have more details on the combat.

Consequences

On the conflict

This combat will not have almost any consequence on the conflict in progress. The blockade will not be forced. France and England remain neutral.

At the end of the war, more than 40 battleships will have been launched by the two camps, not to take account of those which were still in building site.

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