What happened on March 8 during the U.S. Civil War?

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:25:36 -0500

Much of the action on march 8 took place in 1862. Abraham Lincoln was frustrated at George McClellan and demoted him and usurped his authority. The ironclad CSS Virginia [previously USS Merrimack] sinks to US frigates off Hampton Roads - the first battle of metal versus wood hulled vessels. Three years later the union army burned a CSS ironclad during the Battle of Kinston, North Carolina.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Mar 8 at 2016 11:29 AM

SPC Andrew Griffin — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:29:10 -0500

Hopefully my answer is Correct!

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Mar 8 at 2016 11:30 AM

SSG Leo Bell — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:30:00 -0500

Thank you for the history

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Mar 8 at 2016 11:35 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:35:47 -0500

I'm going to hijack your discussion thread again, LTC Stephen F.! What happened on March 8, was that my daughter was born in 1981!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 8 at 2016 11:44 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:44:11 -0500

I think the most significant event on this day was the sinking of two US frigates by a former US ironclad which had been reflagged as a confederate ship. Lincoln's frustration with George McClellan reluctance to engage the enemy led him to select the four general officers who supported Lincoln's plan to act and appoint them as Corps Commanders even while he demoted McClellan from command of all Union Armies down to Commander of the Army of Potomac only. Three days later McLellan was relived of that command.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 8 at 2016 1:20 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 13:20:00 -0500

This is extraneous but was the promotion for Grant as the over all commander was partially due to the Principle of War of Unity Command, or the creation thereof.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Mar 8 at 2016 1:43 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 13:43:12 -0500

Gen. McClellan proved to be a too timid of a general; for instance, his reluctance to overwhelm the Confederate lines at the First Battle of Manassas is credited as extending the Civil War into a 4 year death match. The fortifications protecting Richmond were immature in 1861 and could have been bested much easier than they were in 1865. McClellan often had a clear 4 to 1 men or better majority over the Southern armies and so he had ideal attacking numbers through out his time of command. He had the gall to run for the presidency against his incumbent chief in the election of 1864.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 8 at 2016 2:55 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 14:55:42 -0500

LTC Stephen F. Further proof that the modern Navy was going to be armed and armored. Furthermore the Zummwalt class of destroyer that the Navy is working on now follows a similar vein in that she will have a smaller crew than her contemporaries. (Monitor had a crew of 49 compared to Constitution which had a crew of 60)

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Mar 8 at 2016 3:01 PM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:01:59 -0500

Great read.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2016 2:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:51:12 -0500

Professor Ford you're on a roll I didn't know that