“Iron Merrimac”

Description

The Merrimac starts from Norfolk to "make an end of Yankee Doodle Dandy-O." After sinking the Cumberland, the Merrimac confronts the Monitor.

Notes

This song is a rewrite of "The Constituion and the Guerriere"; however, as it describes a different battle, with different ships, half a century later, I've given it a separate entry. - PJS

For the historical background on this battle, see the notes to "The Cumberland Crew" [Laws A18]. - RBW

Historical references

  • March 8, 1862 - U.S. frigates Congress and Cumberland sunk by the CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimac). The Minnesota runs aground; had not the Monitor arrived the next day, the Merrimac would have sunk that ship also

Cross references

Recordings

  • Judge Learned Hand, "Iron Merrimac" (AFS, 1942; on LCTreas)

References

  1. Roud #4767
  2. BI, RcIroMer

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1942 (recording, Judge Learned Hand)
Found in: US(MA)