30+ Rare and Fascinating Photos from the American Civil War

The Norfolk Naval Yard held immense importance for the Confederacy, housing the USS Merrimack—a prized ship. Captured by Confederates and renamed CSS Virginia, its initial sinking by Union sailors proved unsuccessful in keeping it from enemy hands.

Norfolk was crucial for the Union’s blockade, cutting off Confederate supplies. During the Battle of Sewell’s Point in May 1861, tension flared as Union ships clashed with Confederate artillery, marking a critical moment in naval warfare history.