A Great Confederate Naval Victory - Newport News VA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 36° 58.681 W 076° 26.017
18S E 372401 N 4093394
On March 8, 1862, the day before her epic battle with the U.S.S. Monitor, the Confederate ironclad ram Virginia (formerly the U.S.S. Merrimack) engaged and sank in the James River two powerful Union sailing Ships of War.
Waymark Code: WM137Y3
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 10/06/2020
Views: 0
A Great Confederate Naval Victory-On March 8, 1862, the day before her epic battle with the U.S.S. Monitor, the Confederate ironclad ram Virginia (formerly the U.S.S. Merrimack) engaged and sank in the James River two powerful Union sailing Ships of War, the U.S.S. Cumberland and the U.S.S. Congress, and also silenced Union shore batteries on the bluffs at Newport News.
Despite the gallant defense of these vessels, that day’s action vividly demonstrated the superiority of metal over wood. The victory was a high point in the hopes of the Confederacy.
The sinking of these powerful wooden warships was witnessed with dismay by Federal forces at Camp Butler which then included the site of this park. The length of anchor chain from the U.S.S. Cumberland displayed here was recovered from the river bottom in 1909.
LOCATION: Marker is in South Newport News in Newport News, Virginia. Marker is on West Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is at entrance to Christopher Newport Park. Marker is in this post office area: Newport News VA 23607, United States of America.
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