Or eaten herself alive, due to a bad Dahlgren explosion. Only later was Dahlgren operation proven safe with full 30 lbs powder, and only later was Virginia equipped with shot, which would have had greater effect against armor.
John Ericsson was the naval architect of the Monitors, from Sweden, but had a ship construction yard in Brooklyn NY. Merrimac[k] was raised after it had been burned to the waterline, and re’christened “Virginia” but its old and worn engines were not up to much, used because the Confederacy could at that time build none better, and indeed, none as good. Further, the depth required to make way was deeper than that for the Monitor, forcing her to keep to the center of the river, and to retreat with unfavorable tide, limiting her maneuver.
The Monitor left the battle, after the captain was blinded, Despite that, “Virginia” was not able to do much in her absence, due to her deep draft and the falling tide. Minnestota’s captain grounding her had saved her a second time. Virginia was returning up stream when the Monitor returned.
By contrast “Virginia” had its captain, Buchanan injured the previous day, and had withdrawn from that day’s battle. During the Monitor vs. Merrimac[k] battle Virginia was conned by her XO, and at the end of the battle, Monitor was conned by her XO.
Confederate losses: Patrick Henry: hit by shot from a land fort. Eventually repaired and returned to service. Virgina damaged by gunfire, and ram damaged by contact with Cumberland. Virginia remained in drydock for almost a month.
US losses: Cumberland sunk by Virginia’s ram. Virgina’s ram broke in the engagement. Congress ran aground, and surrendered. Set fire by hot shot from Virginia after V. was fired on by US land based forces.
St. Lawrence, Roanoke, and Minnesota ran aground.
Neither ship ever fought again. Virginia was set on fire by her crew on May 9th 1862, and when the flames reached her magazine, blew up. Monitor was sent to North Carolina, and took on water, her fires went out, and then pumps failed. Most of the crew were rescued, but 16 men went down with her on Dec 31, 1862.