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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # NH 72888:  A completely inaccurate engraving of the gun deck of CSS Virginia.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the CONFEDERATE STATES --

CSS Virginia (1862-1862), ex-USS Merrimack --
Grossly Inaccurate Views of and on board the Ship

As the conversion of the former Merrimack proceeded during the latter part of 1861 and the early part of 1862, reports on the work reached newspapers and other news outlets in America and in Europe. Based on the sketchy information, and sometimes using a great deal of imagination and an understandably minimal appreciation of the realities of ironclad warship design, a variety of quite inaccurate depictions of the prospective CSS Virginia were prepared and published. The practice persisted even after good representations of the ship's actual appearance became readily available following her March 1862 public appearance.

This page features all our grossly inaccurate views of and on board the Confederate Navy ironclad ram Virginia, ex-USS Merrimack, and provides links to other views of the ship and her actions.

For more pictorial coverage of, or relating to, CSS Virginia, see:

  • CSS Virginia (1862-1862), ex-USS Merrimack.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 59593

    CSS Virginia (1862-1862)


    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861.
    Entitled "The Rebel Steamer 'Merrimac', Razeed, and Iron-Clad -- From a Sketch furnished by a Mechanic who was employed on Board.", it presents a very inaccurate depiction of the ship. Virginia was converted from the hulk of the steam frigate USS Merrimack.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 390 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 65702

    CSS Virginia (ex-USS Merrimack)
    and
    USS Monitor (1862)

    Line engraving, published in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper", circa 1862.
    Its depiction of Virginia (labeled "Merrimac") is quite inaccurate, with grossly oversized broadside gunports.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 138KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 58860

    CSS Virginia (1862-1862)


    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862.
    Entitled "Exact Picture of the Rebel Steamer 'Virginia' ('Merrimac') -- Drawn by an Officer of the 'Roanoke'.", it presents a relatively inaccurate depiction of the ship.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 365 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 58877

    CSS Virginia (1862-1862)


    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862.
    It is a rather inaccurate depiction of the ship.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 156KB; 655 x 675 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 72888

    "The Gun Deck of the Merrimac"


    Line engraving published in the "Illustrated Times of London", 31 May 1862, purporting to depict the guns of CSS Virginia (ex-USS Merrimack) in action.
    This scene is entirely fanciful: The guns are British Armstrong 100-Pounder breech loading rifles, which Virginia did not have; the gunports are much too large; and the crews' clothing appears to combine features of British and French naval uniforms.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 152KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     

    For more pictorial coverage of, or relating to, CSS Virginia, see:

  • CSS Virginia (1862-1862), ex-USS Merrimack.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 19 May 2001