In Chesapeake Bay, near Hampton Roads, the United States had
collected a fleet of wooden ships; some of them old-style
sailing-vessels, others steamers. The Confederates were known to
be building a great iron-clad ram, and the wooden vessels were
eagerly watching for her appearance when she should come out of
Gosport Harbor. Her powers and capacity were utterly unknown. She
was made out of the former United States steamfrigate Merrimac,
cut down so as to make her fore and aft decks nearly flat, and
not much above the water, while the guns were mounted in a
covered central battery, with sloping flanks. Her sides, deck,
and battery were coated with iron, and she was armed with
formidable rifle-guns, and, most important of all, with a steel
ram thrust out under water forward from her bow. She was
commanded by a gallant and efficient officer, Captain Buchanan.

It was March 8, 1862, when the ram at last made her appearance
within sight of the Union fleet. The day was calm and very clear,
so that the throngs of spectators on shore could see every
feature of the battle. With the great ram came three light
gunboats, all of which took part in the action, haraising the
vessels which she assailed; but they were not factors of
importance in the fight. On the Union side the vessels nearest
were the sailing-ships Cumberland and Congress, and the
steam-frigate Minnesota. The Congress and Cumberland were
anchored not far from each other; the Minnesota got aground, and
was some distance off. Owing to the currents and shoals and the
lack of wind, no other vessel was able to get up in time to take
a part in the fight.

As soon as the ram appeared, out of the harbor, she turned and