The Monitor and the Merrimac (Repeat of 48-04-04)

This is Don Holland back for CBS News in Washington. It will soon be dawn this morning of March 9, 1862 off the Atlantic coast of Hampton Roads, Virginia, 150 miles southeast of the Capitol. The next few moments will see the return of daylight to that pivotal point in the North's naval blockade of the South, and according to all experience, federal observers here in

Washington, the coming moments may also see the return to Hampton Roads of the Confederate and clad merrimack. If the merrimack can break out into the open sea around old point at the southernmost tip of merrimund, proceed northward to attack the northern port from the Atlantic seaboard, the most between the Federals and the Confederates.

CBS takes you back 86 years to the surprise engagement that ushered in a new era of sea warfare. All things are as they were then except for one thing. When CBS is there, you are there.

You are there, produced and directed by Robert Louis Chaeon, is based on authentic historical facts and quotations. And now, CBS, CBS, Washington, and And the party back was so heavy with foreboding and impending calamity.

Here in Washington there are grim faces at the White House, tight-lit comment from officers at the Northern Department of the Navy. When reports first reached the Navy Department, stating that the Merrimack was venturing forth out of Norfolk to challenge the Federal Fleet, there were expressions of amusement and cynicism.

Northern Navy officers laughingly imagined the ironclad as a humpback turtle grotesquely waddling her ineffective way through the rough waters. But then the Maam Act struck. Within a matter of hours the northern soup Cumberland was rammed and sunk. The 50 guns sailing Frigate Congress was abandoned and on fire. And the 40 guns steam auxiliary Frigate