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The glasses were directed toward it, and a general exclamation of surprise was heard. "What is the thing? It looks like a raft with two round turrets upon it, and a funnel." A moment's consideration, and the truth burst upon them. It was the ship they had heard of as building at New York, and which had been launched six weeks before. It was indeed the _Monitor_, which had arrived during the night, just in time to save the rest of the Federal fleet. She was the first regular ironclad ever built. She was a turret ship, carrying two very heavy guns, and showing only between two and three feet above the water. The excitement upon both shores as these adversaries approached each other was intense. They moved slowly, and not until they were within a hundred yards distance did the _Monitor_ open fire, the _Merrimac_ replying at once. The fire for a short time was heavy and rapid, the distance between the combatants varying from fifty to two hundred yards. The _Monitor_ had by far the greatest speed, and was much more easily turned than the Confederate ram, and her guns were very much heavier, and the _Merrimac_, while still keeping up the fight, made toward the mouth of the river. Suddenly she turned and steamed directly at the _Monitor_, and before the latter could get out of her way struck her on the side; but the ram was bent, and her weak engines were insufficient to propel her with the necessary force. Consequently she inflicted no damage on the _Monitor_, and the action continued, the turret ship directing her fire at the iron roof of the ram, while the latter pointed her guns especially at the turret and pilot-house of the _Monitor_. At length, after a battle which had lasted six hours, the _Monitor_ withdrew, one of the plates of her pilot house being seriously damaged and her commander injured in the eyes. When her foe drew off the _Merrimac_ steamed back to Norfolk. There were no men killed in either battle, and each side claimed a victory; the Federals upon the ground that they had driven off the _Merrimac_, the Confederates because the _Monitor_ had retreated from the fight. Each vessel, however, held the strength of the other in respect; the _Monitor_ remaining as sentinel over the ships and transports at Fortress Monroe, while the _Merrimac_ at Norfolk continued to guard the entrance into the James River. As soon as the fight was over Vincent Wingfield, greatly pleased that he had witnessed so strange
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