1862 April 11 from Sargt Jos. D. Richardson (Head Quarters of Company E, Washington D.C.) to Mother re: He feels so big since he is living in a three story brick house. If he stays there until summer, he intends to come home and then bring Aunty to Washington to see the Capital and all the things there. P.S. I suppose you got the money. Send reply to Jos. D. Richardson, Co. E, 10th Regiment N.J.Volunteers In Care Capt. Scott, Washington, D.C. [Letterhead red and blue “The Great Naval Battle Between Ericsson’s Monitor and the Merrimac,” March 9th, 1862 no envelope] [Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack also known as the Battle of Hampton Roads was the first battle between ironclad ships. The USS Merrimack was renamed the CSS Virginia after the Confederates captured the ship and refitted it during the early blockade by the Union of the Virginia’s James River on its Peninsula. The Virginia/Merrimack fired first. The USS Monitor, as an ironclad was a ship of totally new design devised by John Ericsson. So this battle should be known as the Battle of the Monitor and the Virginia. The Battle was inconclusive but believed to be the most decisive Civil War naval battle and it was part of the Confederate’s Peninsula Campaign. Ironically, the two ironclads met again on April 11, 1862 in Hampton Roads (a stretch of water leading to the Chesapeake Bay) during patrol of the ongoing blockade but did not engage in another battle (britannica.com).]