On March 8, 1862, the CSS Virginia, popularly known as the Merrimac after the ship from which it had been salvaged, became the first ironclad warship to sink an enemy vessel, when it attacked the Union fleet at Hampton Roads sinking the USS Cumberland and running the USS Congress aground. The following day, the USS Monitor, the first ironclad warship of the United States Navy, arrived at the natural harbor and the two state of the art vessels engaged each other in the first battle between ironclad warships in world history. The battle ended indecisively, with the Merrimac retiring back down the James River and the Monitor deciding not to pursue it. …show more content…
Many cavalry regiments in the Army of the Potomac were also outfitted with breech-loaders. Infantry regiments in the Army of the Potomac were at the time outfitted with muzzleloaders.
A muzzle loading rifle musket like the one with which Lindsey would have been armed could have been loaded and fired three times per minute by a trained soldier.
The Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines began on May 31, 1862 when the army of Confederate General Joseph Johnston launched attacking a portion of McClellan’s army seemingly isolated on the south bank of the Chickahominy River with the arrival of Union reinforcements the battle only increased in intensity and General Johnston was severely wounded. The battle resumed on the morning of June 1, but neither side succeeded at driving the other from the field. In the afternoon the fighting ceased with both sides locked in a stalemate. 5,000 Union and 6,000 Confederate soldiers had been killed or wounded, including Charles Lindsay and 35 other soldiers from the 36th New York. (S7) (Regimental