SUMMARY
1. The naval operations of the war opened with the blockade of the coast of the Confederate States.
2. This was necessary in order to prevent cotton, sugar, and tobacco being sent abroad in return for materials of war.
3. As a result blockade running was carried on to a great extent.
4. In order to destroy our commerce a fleet of cruisers was built in England, purchased and manned by the Confederate government. They inflicted very serious damage.
5. But the great event of the war was the battle between the ironclads Monitor and Merrimac, which marked the advent of the iron-armored war ship.