Tuhia he haere tonu mo tenei whitianga - I hangaia te James River Squadron i muri tata mai o te wehenga o Virginia i te Pakanga Tauawhenua o Amerika. Ko te kapa he wāhanga o te Virginia Navy i mua i te whakawhitinga ki te Navy o te Confederate States. He mea tino rongonui te roopu mo tana mahi ki te tirotiro i te awa o James, koinei te huarahi wai nui ki te taone nui o Confederate, Richmond. E rua nga waahanga: te pakanga wawe, i te nuinga o nga kaipuke rakau (haunga te CSS rongonui "Virginia") i mutu me te Pakanga o Drewry's Bluff
i te Mei 15, 1862; me tana hanganga rino i muri mai me te CSS rangatira "Virginia II".