At daylight, the Virginia saw the Minnesota was still aground
and the Monitor was near her.
Shortly before 8AM: Virginia, Patrick Henry, Jamestown, and
Teaser get under way from Sewall's Point. (Jones, Ramsay) (Shortly
after 6:45 AM per Phillips. 6AM per Van Brunt)
Ramseur, at Sewell's Point, indicates there was a very heavy
fog until about 10 AM which delayed the fight. [This seems
possibly contradictory to the Virginia's seeing the Minnesota and
Monitor earlier as reported by Jones, Eggleston, etc., who made no
mention of fog. Perhaps the fog was along the shore and not out
where the Virginia was.] Colston reports the fight went from
8AM to noon.
Van Brunt sees the enemy fleet "coming down from Craney
Island" head towards Fortress Monroe to near the Rip Raps, then
turn into the channel the Minnesota had used. (Van Brunt)
CSN ships headed towards the Minnesota. (Jones) Approached
slowly, along edge of channel (Ramsay).
More than a mile distant, the Virginia fires on the
Minnesota. (Jones)
When the Virginia was within a mile, the Minnesota opens up on
her with the stern guns (Van Brunt)
The Monitor comes from under the Minnesota. (Ramsay)
The Monitor fired when about 1/3 of a mile from the
Virginia. (Jones)
Other CSN ships withdrew from the battle. (Jones)
Virginia and Monitor approached and were often within a ship's
length. (Jones)
Virginia fired a broadside from only a few yards
distant. (Jones)
Monitor made for Virginia's aft. (Jones)
Virginia fires musketry at Monitor's lookout
holes. (Jones)
Virginia runs ashore (allegedly intentionally by the pilots, 2
miles distant from the Minnesota). (Jones)
Monitor took a position where Virginia couldn't fire at
her. (Ramsay, Jones)
Monitor and Minnesota fire on Virginia, a rifle gun from
Minnesota or steamer alongside, is accurate. (Jones)
Virginia burns every combustible, with safety valves off, to
try to back off. (Ramsay)
After 15 minutes aground, the Virginia backs off the
bottom. (Jones)
Before the Monitor recognizes the Virginia is afloat again,
the Virginia attempts to ram Monitor but it was slow and
glancing. (Ramsay, Jones)
The Virginia is now between the Monitor and Minnesota and so
fires on the Minnesota. (Ramsay)
The Monitor sails very close to the submerged stern of the
Virginia, heading to get between the Virginia and Minnesota.
Virginia while firing on the Minnesota, explodes the boiler of
a steamer alongside her. (Jones)
11:30AM: At 20 yards, Lt. Wood on the aft gun puts a shell
into the Monitor's pilot house viewport. Worden is wounded.
(Jones)
Monitor sails into shallow water, out of range. (Jones) Soon
after the Virginia struck the Monitor, the two ceased firing and
pulled away as if by common consent. The Monitor steamed away
toward Old Point. (Colston)
Virginia awaits return of Monitor. (Jones)
Virginia heads in direction of Minnesota. (Jones)
Decision is made to head to Sewall's Point and return later
with the rise of the tide. (Ramsay)
12:00 Noon: Virginia heads for Norfolk to return to the Navy
Yard in order to get shield below the water line. (Jones)
After Virginia crosses the bar (Middle Ground?), Monitor
leaves shoal water. (Jones)
The Monitor, accompanied by several tugs, returns to the
Minnesota late in the afternoon (Colston).
