This is how U.S. Navy physician Charles Martin described the immortal fight between the ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia on 9 March 1862.

“David goes out to meet Goliath and every man who can walk to the beach sits down there, spectators of the first ironclad battle in the world...  The day is calm, the smoke hangs thick on the water.  The low vessels are hidden by the smoke.  They are so sure of their invulnerability they fight at arm’s length.  They fight so near the shore, the flash of their guns is seen and the noise is heard of the heavy shot pounding the armor.”