A Tom's father's ship sank leaving his mother, his older sister, and him. They aren't bringing in enough money so Tom must find work that will bring in some more money. Tom goes to work in the shipyard and finds he will be working on a new invention. A boat made of metal! No one believes it will float. Spies try to get Tom to give them information and he refuses. His life is indanger if they see him now so he must spend all his time in the shipyard and he decides to go into battle in the ironclad, the Monitor. They will be going against the Rebels ironclad, the Merrimac.
