391. The Monitor and the Merrimac
On March 8 a queer - looking craft steamedout from Norfolk , Virginia , and attacked the Union fleet at anchor near Fortress Monroe . She de - stroyed two wooden frigates , the Cumberland and the Congress , and began the destruction of the Minnesota . She then steamed back to Nor - folk . This formidable vessel was the old frigate Merrimac . Upon her decks the Confederates had built an iron house . From these iron sides the balls of the Union frigates roled harmlessly away . But that night an even stranger - looking ship appeared at Fortress Monroe . This was the Monitor , a floating fort , built of iron . She was designed by John Ericsson , a Swedish immi - grant . When the Merrimac came back to finish the destruction of the Minnesota , the Moni - tor steamed directly to her . These two iron - clads fought and fought . At last the Merrimac steamed away and never renewed the fight .
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