Buoyed by the victory gained by Ericsson's during the Battle of Hampton Roads in early March 1862, the Navy Department decided later that month to build several ocean-going monitors in case the British or the French decided to intervene in the war. Ericsson submitted preliminary designs in May and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles authorized two ships, one with a single turret ("Dictator") and a larger one with two turrets the following month. On 28 July the Navy Department awarded Ericsson with a contract for "Puritan", having changed the name of the ship from Ericsson's submission of "Protector". He subcontracted the hull of the "Puritan" to the Continental Iron Works of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and the propulsion machinery to the Allaire Iron Works of New York City. The ship was laid down in 1863 and was launched on 2 July 1864. However, due to delays in building and the casting of the 20-inch smoothbores, her construction was suspended in 1865 and she was never completed.