[Battle of Hampton Roads] Wooden Relics from the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimack (Virginia).  Pieces of two legendary ships that engaged in the most important Naval battle of the Civil War. (1) A rough piece, 6.75" x 1.125" x 0.5", inscribed in pencil: "Piece of a Ladder rescued from the Monitor just before she went down. I obtained it from an officer of the Rhode Island". (2) An 8" x 0.75" polished and varnished letter opener labeled in gilt: "Merrimack". Both items were passed down in the family of William Faxon who was chief clerk of the Navy under Gideon Welles during the Civil War. Originally purchased in a Sotheby's auction in 1993. Fine. From the Estate of Malcolm S. Forbes.