Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-03-09
u. S. Steamship Princeton.

The following official letter from Capt. SToeK
TON to the Secretary of the Navy will be read
with no less of interest than comnendaeie pride.
Sufficient time has been given and repeated occa-
sions EMPLOYED to test in various ways the pow
ers and qualities OF this new marine wonder, and
in every particular she seems to have come up
fully to the most sangune expectations Of her
commander. Captain STOCKTON. ii will be rec
objected. had carte b.unche from the Navy De-
partment, and was left free to carry out his own
plans and mode Of construction. He boldly ven-
tured his high reputation as a Naval officer on the
result, and for the triumphant success which has
attended his efforts he is richly entitled 10 the
praise and gratitude of his fellow citizens. The
high honor which this gallant otiic er has earned
for himself in this achievement Is reflected back
upon his country, which, through his Intelligence
and genius is placed IN advance OF other nations
in the important matter OF perfected naval steam
armament Baltimore .7aerlcGn. e5i ssss
UNITED STATES SHIP PRINCETON,
Philadelphia, February 5, 1874.
Sya:--The United States ship Princeton having
received her armament on board. and being near
" ready for sea, have the honor to transmit to
you the following account OF her equipment, &c
The priaceton is s.fnl rugged ship" Of great
speed and power able to perform any service that
can Be expected from ship Of war. Construct
ed upon the most approved principles OF naval
architecture, she is believed to be at least equal
TO aay ship Of her class, scith her sails She has
an auxiliary power Of steam; and can make great
er speed than any sea- going steamer or otheI YES
sci heretofore buir. Her engines iie snug IN the
bottom Of the vessel. out OF reach OF an ei'eny's
shot. and do not at all interfere with the use OF
the salts but can, at any time, be made auxiliary
thereto. She shows no chimney, and makes no
smoke. and there is nothing in her external APP
pearance to indicate that she IS propelled by
steam. ff u :,
The advantages OF the Princeton over both sail
ing ships and steamers, propelled IN the usua,
way. are great and obvious She can go IN ana
out Of port at pleasure, without regard to the force
or direction Of the wind or tide, or the thickness
Of the ice She. can ride safely with her anchors
in the most open roadstead; and may he TO IN the
seyerest Gale Of wind with safety. She can not
only save herself, but will be able to tow SQUAD
ron from the dangers of a lee-shore. Using or
diuayily the power Of the wind, and reserying her
fuel for emergencies, she can remain at sea the
same length Of time as other SAILING ships. Ma
king no noise, smoke, or agitation OF the water,
Gard if she chooses, showing no sal, } she can
surprise an enemy. She can at pleasure take her
own position, and her own distance from the enc
nv. Her engines and water-wheei being below
the surface Of the water, safe from an enemy's
shot, She is in no danger Of being disabled, even
if her inssts should be destroyed. She will not
be at daily expense for fuel. as other steams ships
are. The engines being seldom used, will prob
ABLY outiast two such ships By a6AAE
These advantages make the Princeton, in my
opinion, the cheapest, fastest, and most cer'ain
shin of war in the world. The equipments OF
this shin are Of the plainest and most substantial
kind: the furniture of the cabins being made OF
white pine boards, painted white, with mahogany
chairs, table, and sideboard, and an American
manufactured oil-cloth on the floor. To econo-
mise room, and that the ship may be better ven
| t;lated. curtains of American manufactured linen
| are substituted for the usual, and more cumbrous
| and expensive wooden hulkhcads, by which ar
rallgement the apartments Of the men and officers
NAV. in an instant, be thrown into one, and de-
cree Of spacionsness and comfort is attained IN
| usual in shin of her class. The Princeton !:
armed with two long 225 pound wrought iron
runs. and twelve AZ pound carronades; all o.
which NAV be used at once on either side of thu
lship. She can consequently throw a greater
weight OF mental at one broadside than most frg
ates The big guns Of the Princeton can be free
with an effect terrific, and almost Incredible, aht
with certainty heretofore unknown. The ex
/ firing al target, which was made to represent |
section Of the two sides and deck Of IA gur
shin. and tirrbered, kneed, planked, and boltec
lin the same manner. This target was $50 yard
from the gun. With the smaller charges ofpow
i der. the shot passed through these immense mas
ses of timber, being 81 inches thick, tearing !
away, and splintering il for several feet On eacl
side. and covering the whole surface ofthe groun'
for hundred yards square, with fragments Q
/ wood and iron. The accuracy with which ihes
| Guns throw these immense shot. (Which are tire
feet in circumference may be judged BY thi.
that six shot fred IN succession at the same ele
1vaf;on. struck the same horizontal plank in tar
81 more than half mile distant. BY the az
nlication of the various arts to the purposes Z
war on board the Princeton, it is believed tbs
the art OF gunnery for sea service, has for the fir.
thine, been reduced to something like nathema1
lical certainty. Il. 49,
II The distance to which these guns can thro'
fheir shot 1t every necessary angle Of elevation
has been ascertlined by series Of careful exps
riments. The distance from the snip to any Of