The monitor defeated the merrimac at hampton roads in the first battle of the civil war.
a. true
b. false

This is false. Not only was it not the first battle, but it was not even the first naval battle. The first battle overall was the battle of fort sumter where the Confederate forces attacked the fort from all sides and took it with ease. This event marks the beginning of the civil war, and we all know how it ended and how it was lead.