Keyword: "Sewell's Point" | ClipArt ETC

"Destruction of the Confederate ironclad steamer <em>Merrimac</em>, blown up by its commander, on the morning of May 11th, 1862. The abandonment of Norfolk compelled the evacuation of the Confederate positions at Sewell's Point and at Crany Island, and on May 11th, 1862, the <em>Merrimac</em> was blown up to prevent her falling into the hands of the Federals. The Federal officers who witnessed the burning and blowing up of the <em>Merrimac</em> described the scene as one of the grandest imaginable. For nearly an hour before the explosion the roof was red hot, and at short intervals the guns would discharge themselves, solemnly breking in upon the stillness of the night. Just at the first dawn of daylight the whole black mass heaved upward, then came the report, so terrific as to shake houses at a distance of eight miles. With a flash, an unearthly hissing sound, and the great monster, the <em>Merrimac</em>, ceased to exist." —Leslie, 1896

Destruction of Merrimac

"Destruction of the Confederate ironclad steamer Merrimac, blown up by its commander, on the…

"Practicing with the celebrated Sawyer gun on the Confederate batteries at Swell's Point, near Norfolk, Va., from Fort Calhoun, on the Ripraps, infront of Fortress Monroe. The Ripraps, on w hich Fort Calhoun was erected, was in advance of Fortress Monroe, being between it and Sewell's Point, and was an important position, as with guns of a proper calibre it could completely command and destroy the enemy's battery at Sewell's Point. General Butler gave special attention to this point, and various kinds of ordinances were experimented with, the Sawyer rifled cannon and the Hotchkiss shell having been proved the most complete and effective." —Leslie, 1896

Sawyer gun

"Practicing with the celebrated Sawyer gun on the Confederate batteries at Swell's Point, near Norfolk,…