It was the Monitor, the new vessel which Captain Ericsson had built and sent down to fight the Merrimac. But none who saw this little low thing thought it could stand long before the great Confederate iron-clad. It looked a little like a slim tiger or leopard before a great rhinoceros or elephant. The men on the Merrimac did not seem to think it worth minding, for they came steaming up and began firing at the Minnesota when they were a mile away.
Then away from the side of the great frigate glided the little Monitor, heading straight for her clumsy antagonist. She looked like no more than a mouthful for the big ship, and men gazed at her with dread. She seemed to be going straight to destruction.
But the brave fellows on the Monitor had no such thoughts as that.
"Let her have it," said Captain Worden, when they came near; and one of the great eleven-inch guns boomed like a volcano. The huge iron ball, weighing about 175 pounds, struck the plates of the Merrimac with a thundering crash, splitting and splintering them before it bounded off. The broadside of the Merrimac boomed back, but the balls glanced away from the thick round sides of the turret and did not harm.
Then the turret was whirled round like a top, and the gun on the other side came round and was fired. Again the Merrimac fired back, and the great battle was on.
For two hours the iron ships fought like two mighty wrestlers of the seas. Smoke filled the turret so that the men of the Monitor did not know how to aim their guns. The Merrimac could fire three times to her one, but not a ball took effect. It was like a battle in a cloud.
"Why are you not firing?" asked Lieutenant Jones of a gun captain.
"Why, powder is getting scarce," he replied, "and I find I can do that whiffet as much harm by snapping my finger and thumb every three minutes."
Then Lieutenant Jones tried to sink the Monitor. Five times the great iron monster came rushing up upon the little Yankee craft, but each time it glided easily away. But when the Merrimac came up the sixth time Captain Worden did not try to escape. The Monitor waited for the blow. Up rushed the Merrimac at full speed and struck her a fierce blow. But the iron armor did not give way, and the great ship rode up on the little one's deck till she was lifted several feet.
The little Monitor sank down under the Merrimac till the water washed across her deck; then she slid lightly out and rose up all right again, while the Merrimac started a leak in its own bow. At the same moment one of the Monitor's great guns was fired and the ball struck the Merrimac, breaking the iron plates and bulging in the thick wood backing.