ePub Developments in Russian Politics 8 by From Duke University Press Books in History

Description

On March 8 and 9; 1862; a sea battle off the Virginia coast changed naval warfare forever. It began when the Confederate States Navy’s CSS Virginia led a task force to break the Union blockade of Hampton Roads. The Virginia sank the USS Cumberland and forced the frigate Congress to surrender. Damaged by shore batteries; the Virginia retreated; returning the next day to find her way blocked by the newly arrived USS Monitor. The clash of ironclads was underway. After fighting for nine hours; both ships withdrew; neither seriously damaged; with both sides claiming victory. Although the battle may have been a draw and the Monitor sank in a storm later that year; this first encounter between powered; ironclad warships spelled the end of wooden warships―and the dawn of a new navy. This book takes a new look at this historic battle. The ten original essays; written by leading historians; explore every aspect of the battle―from the building of the warships and life aboard these “iron coffins” to tactics;strategy; and the debates about who really won the battle of Hampton Roads. Co-published with The Mariners’ Museum; home to the USS Monitor Center; this authoritative guide to the military; political; technological; and cultural dimensions of this historic battle also features a portfolio of classic lithographs; drawings; and paintings. Harold Holzer is one of the country’s leading experts on the Civil War. His books include Lincoln and Cooper Union: The Speech That Made Abraham Lincoln President and; for Fordham; Lincoln on Democracy (co-edited with Mario M. Cuomo) and The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The Complete; Unexpurgated Text. Tim Mulligan's books include Virginia: A History and Guide.