Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "USS Monitor & CSS Virginia" Signed lower right. Original Oil on Masonite painting. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. On March 9, 1862, the first battle in history between ironclad ships took place at the mouth of the James River, at Hampton Roads, Virginia. On March 8, 1862, the CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimack) had wreaked havoc on a Union fleet of wooden warships off Newport News, Virginia, destroying the sloop Cumberland, the frigate Congress and forcing the frigate Minnesota to run aground. Early the next day, the USS Monitor arrived to protect the Minnesota. The two ironclad ships engaged in a spectacular battle that lasted for several hours. Although it ended with both ships simply leaving the scene in a state of exhaustion, the Monitor was credited with the victory since she had succeeded in preventing the Virginia from sinking the Minnesota. Image Size: 10.5 x 13 in. Overall Size: 14.5 x 17 in. Unframed. (B15904)