Ellsberry V. White

Ellsberry V. White. . , Engineer E.V. White maintained that the Battle of Hampton Roads would have ended differently had the CSS Virginia not lost her ram in the sinking of the USS Cumberland. White, a 3rd Engineer on the ironclad, was in an excellent position to make his case. Stationed on the gun deck, he closely participated and observed the two-day battle of March 8 - 9, 1862., On the first day, the Virginia was in imminent danger of capsizing because her ram became stuck in the side of her first victim, the CSS Cumberland. Finally, with engines full astern, she broke elear but not before her ram broke off. Having mauled the Union blockaders, by sinking the USS Congress and the USS Cumberland and sending the USS Minnesota aground, she anchored for the night off Sewells Point., On March 9, she started out to finish off the Minnesota and break the Union blockade, however, that "cheesebox on a raft", the USS Monitor was there to meet her. The battle that followed lasted about four hours and is known as the "First Battle of the Ironclads". With this engagement entered the modern age of iron warships and instantly rendered entire wooden fleets obsolete., Engineer White told his story in his early history of the engagement. "The First Ironclad Naval Engagement in The World." White stayed on board the Virginia until May 12, 1862 when she was scuttIed to avoid being captured. He saw action at Drewy's Bluff where he again fought the Monitor as she and the Federal Fleet tried to break through to Richmond. He saw minor action at Mobile Bay and then resigned from the Navy. He participated in the "Battle of Atlanta" as a member of the Georgia reserves in June 1864., After the war White, returned to Portsmouth and became president of the Tidewater Insurance Company in Norfolk and a founder of the Norfolk National Bank.