Hand-engraved pearlized conch shell. N.p., ca 1861. With legends "U.S War Steamer Merrimac", "Keepsake", and "Executed with a common penknife."

A hand-engraved patriotic relic memorializing the USS Merrimack (later, CSS Virginia). The shell features a finely carved rendering of the original ship in full sail alongside cartouches with crossed American flags.

Though the artist is unknown, they were likely a member of the USS Merrimack's crew before the vessel was scuttled in 1861. During long voyages at sea, sailors had ample time to practice their engraving skills, often using readily available materials like wood and animal bone. This piece not only serves as a relic and reminder of the historic USS Merrimack, but also highlights the artistic talents of sailors during the Civil War era.

The USS Merrimack was originally a steam frigate that was deliberately sunk and burned by Federal forces as they withdrew from Gosport Navy Yard in Virginia following the state's secession. Confederate naval engineers salvaged and reconstructed the hull of the USS Merrimack, and fortified its top with thick iron armor backed by 24 inches of wood. Renamed the CSS Virginia, the former US Navy vessel played a significant role in the Battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia, on March 8, 1862. There, the vessel battled the USS Monitor- the first combat between ironclad warships. The engagement was a long and intense battle with no decisive winner. Eventually, to prevent capture, the CSS Virginia was deliberately sunk off Craney Island on May 11, 1862.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Navy, Naval History, Blockade, Brown Water Navy, Manuscripts, Letters, Documents, Ephemera, Raphael Semmes]