Ingenuity, Iron & Artillery: The Evolution of Ironclad Technology

The introduction of ironclads in combat during the American Civil War produced a revolution in naval technology. This lecture examines the development of ironclad technology to include the construction and operations of primary ironclad vessels, as well as the associated leaders, battles and naval artillery used by the Union and Confederate Navies. Advancements in ironclad technology had the greatest impact in Civil War navy engagements in Hampton Roads, the James River, Charleston, the Roanoke River, and Mobile Bay.

Our illustration is a 1981 oil painting of the Battle of Hampton Roads by British maritime artist, Edward D. Walker, http://www.edwalkermarine.com/

About the Speaker

Erick Bush is a military historian with a specialization in the Civil War in Alabama and Virginia. His areas of focus in Virginia include the Battle of Big Bethel, the role of intelligence and artillery in the Peninsula Campaign, and the early development of ironclads. His particular areas…