On March 8, 1862, the Merrimack entered into battle against the wooden Union ships at Hampton Roads. He was also injured during the battle when a shell from the Merrimack exploded just outside the Monitor's pilot house. The Monitor was commanded by Captain John Worden. Buchanan was hit by a bullet in the thigh during the battle when he went on the deck of the ship to fire his gun at the shore. The Merrimack ( Virginia) was commanded by Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan. It only had two cannons, but these cannons were on a revolving turret, allowing them to be aimed directly at an enemy ship. The Monitor was completely protected with iron armor. With the help of inventor John Ericsson, the north quickly built the Monitor. Upon hearing about the South's new ironclad ship, the North hurried to build their own. The confederates rebuilt the ship with a steam powered engine and iron armor. Union soldiers set the ship on fire, but the Confederates managed to save the hull of the ship. However, it was captured by the Confederates. The Merrimack was originally one of the largest ships in the Union Navy. They were much more difficult to sink with cannonballs. Ironclad warships, however, were protected with an outer armor made of iron. These ships could be easily sunk by cannonballs. Previous warships had been built out of wood. The ironclad was a new kind of warship first used in the Civil War. As a result, the battle is sometimes called the Battle of the Ironclads or the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack. However, the battle was fought between two famous ironclad ships called the Monitor and the Merrimack. Most historians call it the Battle of Hampton Roads because it took place in a body of water called Hampton Roads in Virginia. This battle is often referred to by a number of names. First Battle of Iron Ships of War by Henry Bill What is the name of the battle?
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