The latter had the advantage of being so much smaller that many of the shells of the _Merrimac_ missed her altogether.

Those which impinged against the pilot house or turret did no harm, while the lesser boat was able to dart here and there at will, dodging the _Merrimac_ and ramming her when she chose, though such tactics accomplished nothing.

All attempts to run down the _Monitor_ were vain.

The novel battle continued for four hours, when the _Merrimac_, unable to defeat her nimble antagonist, steamed back to Norfolk and the strange contest--the first between ironclads--was over.
The _Monitor_ had proven her inestimable value and was held in reserve by the Government for future emergencies.

But the first battle between the two proved the last.