happy? - Mar 8 ('Cumberland' sunk)

Subject: happy? - Mar 8 ('Cumberland' sunk)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 08:14 AM


The ironclad Merrimac (playing for the South) sank the Cumberland (playing for the North):

          O, the eighth day of March [1862] told a terrible story
          And many brave tars to this world bid adieu,
          Our flag it was wrapped in a mantle of glory
          By the heroic deeds of the Cumberland's crew.
  
                  "The Cumberland's Crew" on Library of Congress recording AFS L 29, Songs and
                  Ballads of American History and of the Assassination of Presidents

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
What are Happy's all about? See Clicky

Subject: RE: happy? - Mar 8 ('Cumberland' sunk)
From: GUEST,PeteBoom (at work)
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 08:40 AM

The USS Merrimac was burned to prevent the Confederates from capturing her when they seized Norfolk. The hulk was raised and modified from being a steam frigate to being an ironclad. She was commissioned as the CSS Virginia.

The arrival of the USS Monitor prevented greater havoc from being wrought - as another ship was seriously damaged on the same day by the Virginia.