THE MONITOR & MERRIMAC BATTLE – FIRST REPORT!

monitor-merrimac-mast.jpgFIRST BATTLE IN HISTORY BETWEEN TWO IRONCLAD VESSELS


The New York Times
March 10, 1862

The front page headlines scream: “HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS. Desperate Naval Engagements in Hampton Roads. Attack Upon our Blockading Vessels by the Rebel Steamers, Merrimac, Jamestown, and Yorktown. Opportune Arrival of the Iron-Clad Ericsson Battery Monitor. A FIVE HOURS’ ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN HER AND THE MERRIMAC. The Rebel Vessel Forced to Haul Off.” The entire front page (excepting a huge map titled: “THE LINE OF THE POTOMAC FROM HARPER’S FERRY TO CHETANK POINT”) consists of action accounts of the historic naval battle, including full descriptions of the Monitor and Merrimack (now the C.S.S. Virginia) which carries over to the last page. And, page 8 has a superb map: “NORFOLK AND ITS NEIGHBORHOOD. A Map showing the Locality of the Great Maritime Action in Hampton Roads, and the Railroad Connections of Norfolk, with Richmond and Petersburgh. “

Folks, this was one of the very first newspapers I ever purchased when I began my collection and archives some thirty years ago. As a retired Naval Reserve Commander, I collected U.S. Naval history, and this was the most exciting issue I owned at the time. I very highly recommend this to you (see the scans)!

8 pp., complete and uncut as originally published back in 1862. Very fine condition and a most desireable issue for any important collection.

$950

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Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, The Civil War