The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-19

distance of thirty yards Fifteen or twenty twere
also fired at this distance and from guns of different
calibers, against target thus constructed and were
made to strike against it within space of about two
feet by four and these produced little effect as TO
leave in fit state to protect any thing in its rear
against similar force. Shells fired from the same
distance scarcely ndented the iron, and both shot
and shells were invariably broken into small frag-
ments.
The aboye-named experiments were tried under
the supervision of the officers of the army and navy
At the last Of these the writer, who had just return
ed from Europe, was present, and trials were then
made upon the effect OF shells OF peculiar construc
tion which prepared by him. These shells are
Theoretically sealed, and efectually secured from
accidental explosion, either from fire from violent
conclusion; they are perfectly safe, also, from in
| Jury by submersion in water They construct
ed as to explode after having penetrated the object
against which they discharged; and, being eon-
| gated, contain three times as much powder as the
common shell of the same caliber; they do not re-
quire the of mortars but may be fired from the
guns in ordinary Out of twenty of these shells
which were discharged into timber, into banks OF
sand nineteen exploded in the manner anticipated,
rendering their action sufficiently certain, and
evncing the possession of properties not possessed
| by any other SHE'LL and producing effects which were
| actually tremendous.
| 1t will be manifest that steam vessel OF battery,
fortified the above described, and furnish
ed with the of rapid propulsion, would be able
to approach adversarys vessel so securely and so
closely to render it nearly impossible to miss her
with shells fired horizontally and it does appear that
vessel possessing the properties above enumerated
would be able to attack and destroy any fleet Of
steamers, or of sailing ships, now constructed
which might be sent to attack city or to blockade
port The part of such vessel through which the
guns are fired having a thickness of four five inch
es only might have portfolios but little larger than
the muzZe of gun, and yet allow it to be fired at
any desired angle. These PORTFOLIOS may be readily
protected from canister, grape, or other shot, by
means of movable screens, constructed as to be
removed and replaced with facility
4single shell of large dimensions, and of the kind
prepared by the writer will suffice to sink the stout
est wooden vessel if exploded within her sides, any
where near the water line The effect Of such
Il shell upon structure of wood fully tested, I'M
der his superintendent, upon Governors Island, In
the harbor of NewYork, upwards of twenty years
ago.. The experiments were made by order OF the
Government, in the presence of the late Col House,
and of several other officers, with the following re-
| suit target of white oak was constructed in the
strongest manner by of the best shp-builders ;
it measured five feet in thickness, and the timbers
secured together by iron screw bolts passing en-
tirey through the whole This target was perforated
by the explosion of a single she'll hole being made
in it through which horse might have passed. Seven
tmbers of white oak, each measuring IL by IL inch
es were into shreds and scattered to great dis
| lance.
| The foregoing plan of constructing and arming a
vessel with most of its Details has been matured for
many years. and the delay in bringing it forward has
resulted from a conviction that period more favor
able to its adoption than any that has heretofore oc-
currod would arrive, and it is believed that it has
no,c ACTUALLY arrived The advantage OF being tho first
to construct vessel of this description would be
very great as it must render secure, for long
time against the vessels of of other nations,
| these would require to be built anew. AS means
of defence it would be cheaper than any other; and
in time of peace, such vessel would suffer but little
from the ravages of time, and but few hands would
be required to keep her in proper condition for
| Her ventilation would be artificial and constantly
and thoroughly applied. In actual service, her crew.
Of all grades, would not, probably exceed one hun
dred and fifty she would need no rigging with an
thracite fuel she would not be rendered visible,
either by smoke or by sparks, and WOULD therefore,
attract the notice of enemy less, either by night
by day, than any other vessel
Although vessel or battery of the kind described,
is equally adapted to the protection of all our ports,
the harbor of New York will probably be considered
as of those the best fitted to first experiment
with it, if experiment it may be called Its spacious
ness its great depth, and its vicinity to fresh water
which will render easy at any time to free the bot
tom of the vessel from barnacles, in pointing
! it out as suitable place for the purpose.
' The knowledge of the existence of such vessel
would suffice to deter most commanders from risking
an attack with vessel of wood, where the chances
;, 49, - ROBERT L. STEVENS.
+ WAsHMeroN January IS, 1912.
The plan of MIR. Stevens if successful, will de-
prive foreign nations of many of the advantages in
assailing us which they supposed they had obtained
by their improved construction and increase in the
: size and number of their steamers. The great
est improvement in this description of force consists
in having adapted it to ocean navigation, whereby
, these vessels be transferred across the Atlantic
n with a certainty and rapdity such as to require
j; state of perfect readiness every where and at all
|, times on our part this being more necessary
J. than when an enemys motions were governed by the
+ uncertain favor of wind and weather. We must
therefore, increase the number of defences,
t augment their force
Buoyancy is an an essential condition to sea-goine
!, steamer. To insure this, material must be used
that combustibe, weak, and penerable to missiles
If these defects be in part remeded by hickenng the
bulwarks, it must be at the expense of buoyancy, ac
vity, and speed, thereby neutraliZng properties Of
y the greatest value. Unless can, therefore, i'm
: prove upon the European models of construction anC
# armament so to obviate the above objections we
only place cities and military establishments
in state of security by having at every prominent
point force equal at least to that likely to be brought
D against US. To do this on the old plan would cal
for large preparations and vast expenditures Of mo-
ney. With the navy proper, and in building some
important forts, something has already been DONE
To complete the system of Notifications is work
time. France many years earnestly engaged in Thu
undertaking.; at the time, too when she made great
e exertions to enlarge her domain. In the event Of
II war, vessels supplied by would afford tol
cradle substitutes for men of war; but, as for wal
S steamers, we have but two deserving Of the
e name-our efforts until of late having proved sigma
failures the unfortunate Fulton will bear witness
From inattention, we have made very cautious an(
deliberate progress in the preparation Of steam
sells for warlike purposes. And this deliberate ad
vance may in the end prove WISE for, if our presen
antcipatons realized many of those vessels con
e sructed by foreign Powers may be regarded as al
most encumbrances, and the enormous sums expend
ed in their construction useless outlay of money
Mr. Stevenss vessel will possess many advantages
which it is unnecessary here to detail Some ofthem,
however, will be briefly advered to- She will
y present vulnerable point to the fire of the enemy
while those constructed on the old method have