Beginning of Essay
The U.S.S Monitor and the C. S. S. Virginia were the first ironclads to grace the waters of the American Civil War. Their battle in 1862 at Newport News Point is still considered one of the best and most exciting naval engagements of all times. The reason p ....

Middle of Essay
.... warships. Her iron hull was almost impervious to cannon balls and her ram made short work of the giant wooden targets. The Union knew they had to build an ironclad of their own if they wanted to win the war, and so the Monitor was born. The Monitor rode almost completely submerged, with the bare minimum of wood required, but with absolutly none of it showing. Unlike the Virginia, the Monitors hull was only a foot or two above the surface of the ocean. Centered on her hull was a two gun turret, complete with the ability to turn a complete circle. The guns in the turret were known as "Soda-Bottle guns" due to their unique shape, they we ....