Consequently she inflicted no damage on the _Monitor_, and the action continued, the turret ship directing her fire at the iron roof of the ram, while the latter pointed her guns especially at the turret and pilot-house of the _Monitor_.

At length, after a battle which had lasted six hours, the _Monitor_ withdrew, one of the plates of her pilot house being seriously damaged and her commander injured in the eyes.
When her foe drew off the _Merrimac_ steamed back to Norfolk.

There were no men killed in either battle, and each side claimed a victory; the Federals upon the ground that they had driven off the _Merrimac_, the Confederates because the _Monitor_ had retreated from the fight.

Each vessel, however, held the strength of the other in respect; the _Monitor_ remaining as sentinel over the ships and transports at Fortress Monroe, while the _Merrimac_ at Norfolk continued to guard the entrance into the James River.
As soon as the fight was over Vincent Wingfield, greatly pleased that he had witnessed so strange and interesting a combat, rode back to Norfolk, and the same evening reached Richmond, where his description of the fight was received with the greatest interest and excitement..