Battle at Hampton Roads

[yanks]

Battle at Hampton Roads
March 7th, 1862

In the morning of March 7th, a weird Confederate craft sailed out of Norfolk Harbor. Looking like a turtle shell and seeming to defy seaworthiness, the jewel of the Confederate Navy sallied forth against the blockade. James Buchanan, Captain of the CSS Virginia, was at the helm of his ship, which had finally been completed. It was a rebuild of the formerly sunken USS Merrimack and the hopes and dreams of this area of Virginia rested on the Virginia breaking the blockade wide open. Inside the ship the crew awaited for the beginning of battle - but instead of the silence that one would expect, there was the sound of rapid and near frantic work being done. The ship was mostly complete, but the workmen from Norfolk were aboard the ship making final fixes and preparations as there was a race against time. Rumor was the Union had an answer for the Virginia.

She was being escorted by five smaller Confederate sea craft. At first, to the Union perspective, it looked as if the vessel was on a slow cruise around the safe parts of the river, perhaps shaking her down for the first time. But then it turned towards the sea. It was a slow, lumbering, turn. Frigates USS Dacotah, USS Chippewa and Steam ship USS Roanoke were on patrol duty close by responded from the Hampton Roads Blockading Squadron. The rest of the Hampton Roads squadron was being signaled to return to the area as many of the steam sloops were on patrol duty far and wide looking for blockade runners to interdict. There were nearly a dozen of these, but it was unknown how long it would take to recall them. Meanwhile, the USS Minnesota and a handful of other ships were docked and resupplying with some of their crews on shore leave. Once the Virginia was sighted heading up the river the Captains immediately ordered the ships prepared to launch. But this would take time as they had to get up steam before they could leave and join their brethren in battle.

Captain Louis Goldsborough signaled to the fleet and the USS Roanoke was the first to respond and approach the Virginia for battle. It was unknown whether her mighty Dahlgrens could pierce the iron skin of the Virginia, but she would damned well try. The Roanoke's own maneuvering was limited due to her deep draft but the Virginia did not shy from battle and pointed itself right at her as if to ram. Meanwhile the USS Dacotah and Chippewa made their way quickly to support but were still quite out of range.

With a mighty roar the Roanoke fired her guns but the shots all fell short as she was firing at a ship beyond her guns range. The crews reloaded and prepared to fire again as the Virginia slowly closed - her support craft were holding back for safety. For his part, Captain Buchanan kept an eye on the enemy ship as he approached, demanding more steam from the former Merrimack's engines. In his mind it was almost fitting that the former sister ships would be the first to engage in battle. Another volley fired from the Roanoke, this time going wide, but the Captain spotted what looked to be an internal explosion, muted may it be, and smoke rising from inside the Roanoke. To this day it's unknown what happened aboard the Roanoke, but it gave the Virginia time to close within firing range of her own guns.

For the first time iron and fire exploded from the Virginia and streaked towards the Roanoke. A few hits were scored doing minimal damage. Another broadside, noticeably missing several shots in the center of the craft, fired out from the Roanoke which bounced harmlessly off of her hull. It seems the iron skin is worth its weight. Virginia returned fire, this time striking higher than expected but to great affect as the hits showered the bridge with splinters. The Roanoke's Captain was dead, several officers wounded severely. The Executive Officer, himself bleeding, began to order his ship off as as fourth and final volley fired from the Roanoke.

Captain Louis Goldsborough looked on helplessly as he watched the battle from afar, seeing the brave Roanoke stand against the iron beast. A bright flash went out and a tear fell down his cheek as he watched speechlessly. The USS Roanoke was no more as she went up in a massive fireball - the concussive blast was felt by all in the area - the defenders of Fort Monroe felt as if they themselves were being bombarded and looked out to see where the blast came from. Once recovered, Goldsborough looked through his spy glass to see what was left of the Roanoke beginning to settle below the waves. He finally was able to focus in on the Virginia, still slowly chugging along.

Captain Buchanan was shaken awake by a member of his crew. He didn't understand why he was on the ground. His crew member was shouting to him but he couldn't hear a word, for his ear drums were blown. Slowly, the world came back to him and he remembered seeing a bright flash before the blackness took hold. He looked around and his crew were seemingly just waking from a drunken stupor. Unable to walk straight, and function in a sober manner. The ringing in his ears wouldn't subside but as his faculties returned he realized what had happened, the Roanoke's magazine must have exploded. But how? Certainly not from his own ship's fire? It was no matter now, he had to get his ship organized for the day was not over.

The USS Dacotah and Chippewa were closing in on the Virginia when they saw the Roanoke go up. Their being further away, they were not knocked out by the blast but they felt the heat and concussive effect of such an explosion. Their Captains signaling to each other to continue the attack, they began their approach. What ensued can only be described as two adversaries whom were unable to meet and effectively engage. The shots of the Union ships bounced harmlessly off the hull of the Virginia while the Virginia's crew struggled to regain their ability to function due to the blast. How lucky the Virginia was began to dawn upon Captain Buchanan as he saw his men struggling, for if they were even a minute closer they perhaps would not have been able to stand at all. He wanted to continue on but watching his crew struggle he knew he should withdraw.

As providence would have it, the decision was made for him. A shot from the 100lb rifle on the Dacotah hit a spot of armor weakened by the blast and splinters showered the inside of the ship. Now smelling the acrid smoke of fire and the copper of blood, the Captain knew it was time and ordered the retreat. Both the Dacotah and Chippewa continued to hound the Virginia - both Union ships taking moderate damage in the ensuing several minutes of battle but they couldn't score another major hit. Eventually pushed off by the Confederate gunboats who came up in support.

The day was over, the useful nature of iron hulls were proven, but no one was really sure the Virginia's actions could be called a victory.