So the battle of hampton rodes was the greatest american defeat until world war 11. Two large war ship went down with 256 soldier's with them. And the great battle the monitor and the merrimack {vrginia} .So first the virgina destroyed the two war ship's and then the monitor came and battled the virgina. And almost sank her and then the virgina ran off declaring victory. And the monitor also won a victory though it ended as a American victory i'm guessing, Cause the virginia retreated and the inventor of the monitor was a irish guy john Ericosson.