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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03681.03 |
| From Archive Folder | Unassociated Civil War Documents 1862 |
| Title | Asa Smith to his mother describing the fight between the Monitor and the Merrimac |
| Date | 11 March 1862 |
| Author | Smith, Asa (fl. 1861-1862) |
| Document Type | Correspondence; Military document |
| Content Description | Continuation of his letter from GLC03861.02 - he numbers the pages 5-8. Goes on to describe the situation involving the Confederate attack near Newport News, as well as the action of the CSS "Merrimac" and USS "Monitor." Says the 20th and 99th New York infantry were sent to deal with a supposed Confederate attack near Newport News. Says "few eyes were closed that night as it was known that troops were advancing from Yorktown and a fight was expected in the morning, very little was said, but many an oath of revenge was registered." Says half the regiment wrote home last night because they thought they would be in a fight. Says they were relieved when they heard the USS "Monitor" arrived during the night. Describes the fight between the "Monitor" and "Merrimac." Reports that the "Monitor" could out sail the "Merrimac." After a 5 hour fight, the "Monitor" won and Smith claims that "If she [the "Monitor"] had not come just as she did, I have no doubt that we should have seen a Richmond prison by this time." Goes on to describes going on picket duty after the duel between the ships. Also describes the troop situation around Newport News. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Union Forces Soldier's Letter Union Soldier's Letter Navy Ironclad Monitor and Merrimac Confederate States of America Battle Maritime |
| Place written | Camp Hamilton at Newport News, Virginia |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Women in American History; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Mother |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach |
| Related documents | Asa Smith to his mother on the state of Union forces following a fight with the Merrimac |