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The Confederate hopes were not easily daunted.
After each disaster victory again crowned our army, and our confidence kept pace with our pride and admiration.
While the fight was going on in
Missouri, the most dramatic contest of the war was in progress on the waters — a fight that not only ended in a great victory for the
Confederacy, but revolutionized the art of naval warfare.
It was the fight between the
Virginia (formerly the
United States frigate
Merrimac) and the Federal fleet, including the new iron-clad the
Monitor, at
Hampton Roads, in which the
Virginia sunk the
Congress, and disabled and sunk several smaller vessels, besides silencing all the guns at Newport News but one.
The evacuation of
Norfolk necessitated the destruction of the ram
Virginia, as she could not be brought up the
James river.
The consternation was great when her loss was known-coming as it did so fast upon the
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heels of her triumph over the Federal fleet.
The flag captured by her was brought to the
Executive mansion for the
President to see. It was borne by
Colonel John Taylor Wood, a gallant participant in the fight, and was a bunting flag of very fine quality and large size.
I took hold of it and found it damp with blood, and retired to my room sick of war and sorrowful over the dead and dying of both sections.
