On the evening of March 8, after a perilous journey at sea, the "Monitor" finally arrived at Hampton Roads, only to find that the "Virginia" had already destroyed several ships of the Union's blockading squadron. When daylight came the following morning, the "Monitor", to the surprise of the Confederate crew, emerged from behind the "Minnesota" and engaged the "Virginia" directly. During the first epic battle of the ironclads, Stodder operated the burdensome control wheel that turned the turret into position, allowing her guns to bear on the Confederate ironclad. The ironclads battled for four hours. Each ship ineffectually pounded the other at close range with cannon fire, changing the way most naval battles would be fought in the future. During the battle, Stodder and officers Stimers and Truscott were inside the gun turret, talking over matters and positioned such that they were leaning against the turret's inside side when it took a direct hit. Knocked unconscious, Stodder, who was replaced by Stimers, was taken below, where it took him an hour to regain consciousness. He thus became the first man injured at the Battle of Hampton Roads. He was replaced by Chief Engineer Stimers for the duration. After regaining consciousness, Stodder recalled, "I was flung by the concussion clean over the guns to the floor of the turret."