Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Battle of the Ironclads
A description of the first battle of iron-clad ships during the Civil War. Includes great primary source documents from officers involved.
Curated OER
National Park Service: James Buchanan Eads 1820 1887 [Pdf]
A biography James Buchanan Eads (1820-1887) and the story of his attempts to tame the mighty Mississippi River with science and technology during and after the Civil War.
PBS
Pbs Nova: Lincoln's Secret Weapon
A website that tells the story of the Monitor, the first iron-clad ship, and its archeological salvage.
Other
Css Virginia Home Page: Css Virginia
Find out how the USS Merrimack was converted to become the Confederates' first ironclad gunboat, the CSS Virginia. Navigate the site with the topics on the left.
Other
Brooklyn History: The Uss Monitor Construction
Excellent description of the Monitor and the battle with the CSS Virginia (Merrimack). Historic pictures are included.
Archaeological Institute of America
Archaeology: Steam Machines
Information on the Civil War's naval confrontations and the impact of steamboats as used by the United States Navy during the war.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Newscast on the Battles of the Ironclad Ships
This lesson is on the ironclad ships and the battles that took place during the Civil War. Students will use the information from previous lessons to create a simulated newscast that takes place during an actual battle between ironclad...
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Civil War Gunboats
Descriptions of specific gunboats used by both the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Remarks Relative to Iron Clad Gunboats
Remarks from Confederate General Beauregard about the feasibility of iron-clad ships for fighting naval blockades.