Battle Between the Monitor and Virginia-- Part 2 "Now Comes the Reign of Iron"

The broad impact of the Monitor-Virginia battle on naval thinking was summarized by Captain Levin M. Powell, of the USS Potomac writing a letter from Vera Cruz:  "The news of the fight between the Monitor and Merrimac[k] has created the most profound sensation amongst the professional men in the allied fleet here.

"They recognize the fact, as much by silence as words, that the face of naval warfare looks the other way now -- and the superb frigates and ships of the line ... supposed capable a month ago, to destroy anything afloat in half an hour ... are very much diminished in their proportions, and the confidence once reposed in them fully shaken in the presence of these astounding facts."

And as Captain Dahlgren phrased it:  "Now comes the reign of iron -- and cased sloops are to take the place of wooden ships."

--Old B-R'er