Merrimac and Monitor
Battle of Hampton Roads, VA

This sterling silver souvenir spoon commemorates the first battle in the world between ironclad warships in 1862. The encounter was a one-day episode in a larger battle intended to break the Union blockade of Virginia ports.

The Merrimac (CSS Alabama) was a heavily armed and armored gunship that had been prepared for the sortie to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Its first day out met with success, despite its deep draft in the shallow waters, resulting in the sinking and disabling of several Union warships.

The next day, however, the Monitor arrived on the scene, with its relatively shallow draft and rotating gun turret containing two 11-inch Dahlgren guns. While the Merrimac was constrained severely by water depths, and had to line up its opponent under its fixed guns, the Monitor was able to literally run circles around it, bringing its two guns to bear at will.

Then encounter was judged to be a standoff but it set important precedents for future naval warfare. Visit the Civil War Home Page for some stirring first-hand accounts by the participants.

The bowl is embossed to depict the epic battle, complete with roiling smoke from the engines and guns. At the edges of the scene you can see sailing warships, symbolizing the USS Cumberland and USS Congress, sunk and disabled by the Merrimac. The only thing missing from the bowl is the date, 9 March 1862 and the names of the commanding officers, Lt. John Porter (Monitor) and Capt. Franklin Buchanan (Merrimac/Alabama).

The handle of the spoon commemorates the Jamestown Exposition with a VA seal, 1607 & ship, Captain John Smith bust, Pocahontas.

Sterling silver, 5½ inches, no maker's mark, American sterling silver souvenir spoon.