The Merrimack entered into battle against the wooden Union ships at Hampton Roads. The Union cannons fired shot after shot at the Merrimack with no success. The cannonballs bounced right off. The Merrimack then took aim at the Union ship the USS Cumberland. It smashed its iron ram right into the side of the ship. The Cumberland sunk. Then the Merrimack went after the USS Minnesota, damaging the ship and forcing it to ground. After hours of fighting, the Merrimack returned to Norfolk for the night.