With Her Colors Flying: USS Cumberland Remembered

Date and Time for this Past Event

• Tuesday, Mar 8, 2022  7pm - 9pm

Location

visit website

Details

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum will host Dr. Anna Holloway, Fleet History Team Lead at the Naval History and Heritage Command on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 7pm for a FREE in-person lecture titled "With Her Colors Flying: USS Cumberland Remembered." The lecture coincides with the 160th Anniversary of Cumberland's sinking during the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8, 1862 during the Civil War.

On March 8, 1862, the Confederate ironclad ram Virginia slowly steamed into Hampton Roads and in short order sank the Union sloop-of-war Cumberland and set the frigate Congress ablaze - a horrifying defeat for the Union Navy. The next day, Virginia met the Union ironclad Monitor in an inconclusive battle that nonetheless captured the public imagination in the north and south.

But as fascinating as the ironclads were, the Cumberland held her own in public sentiment and became a tragic icon of the passing of an era. To many, this was the moment in which naval warfare forever changed. The wooden walls of the past were no match for the iron sides of the present, and future. Yet it was not merely this passing of the torch from wood to iron that drove poets to write of the Cumberland. Quite simply, the ship was not surrendered. She went down with flags flying and guns blazing.

This illustrated lecture will highlight the Cumberland's role and mythos in public memory throughout the 19th century.

This in-person evening lecture is free, and reservations are required. You can reserve free tickets via Eventbrite here.

For questions or additional inquiries, contact Hampton Roads Naval Museum's Special Events Coordinator, Tom Dandes via email or call (757) 322-3106.