The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-12-18
More anon

4h6 1I1bAOppON on1 l..
The construction Of the Ericsson Bat
terry furnishes characteristic instance of
American energy and dispatch. The con-
tract for the work was signed on the 4th
of October last; the work itself COM
menced on the goth Of the same month !;
and there is now no doubt that the bat
terry will be finished on or before the 18th
of January, within the specified period.
About 1000 skilful mechanics are en-
ployed on various portions of the struct-
ure and its equipments, and the labor is
pushed both night and day. The central
part of the hull and deck in nearly com
pleted. The principal engines, boilers and
screws are in an advanced state. The
Novelty Works are rapidly giving shape
to the dealh-dealing turret Three large
rolling mills in this city arc employing all
their available force in the production of
iron plates.
Captain Ericsson in, tests his undertak-
ing with no mystery. The public are free
to know all about the plan, the dimen-
sions, the armament, and the most minute
peculiarities of his unique inyention.-
The following description may convey
some idea of it:
The battery rests upon two vessels, an
upper and lower one. The upper one is
built of iron, TIA feet long, Al feet inch
es wide and 8 feet deep, with draught
of feet 6 inches, leaving only g inch
es exposed of the sides above the wa
ter line. The sides are covered with a
white oak bulwark, 80 inches thick, but
receive their principal protection from an
armor of rolled plate iron, 6 inches thick.
The deck is make of oak beams 10 inch
es thick, covered with plank s inches
thick and one inch iron plate. The
upper xessel is fiat bottomed, and has q
wedge shaped stem and stern. The low
er which is entirely submerged, is l24
feet long, "a feet wide and feet G inch
es deep. 1t contains the working ma
chinery, the rudder and the anchor housed
away beyond the reach of the enemy's
shot. Upon the deck of the upper YES
sci, and the only conspicuous object on
this low, raking, and terrible craft, is the
turret, 20 feet in diameter, 8 feet high,
and composed Of nine one inch iron plates
Tapped over each other and fastened with
thousands of bolts. A shell-proof roof,
6 inches thick, cover the turret, which is
entered through hatchways from above.
The total weight of the turret is 100 tons.
The armament consists of two colum-
biads (Which are preferable to rifed guns
at short ranges), each carrying ball of
190 pounds, and working through circu-
lar portfolios three feet above the deck.
The turret can he turned at pleasure by
a spur-wheel and gearing driven by a
double-cylnder engine, and controlled by
a lever in the turret. BY this contrivance
the guns can be aimed almost instantly,
at any point of the horizon. The cylin-
ders for the main engine are 40 inches in
diameter, with piston stroke Of % inch
es. Blowers for the boiler and for ven
tilation are worked by small separate en-
gines. Tho smoke is passed Oft through
gratings in the deck. The entire cost Of
the battery will be $275,Oo0. Guns and
men to work them will be furnished by
the government.
Among the requirements Of the con-
tract is one that the battery shall have n
speed of not less than eight miles an hour
Captain Ericsson believes that this rate
is easily attainable. There is another ere
markable" provision, that the battery
shall be tested at the shortest ranges, be-
fore the enemy's guns, The inventor is
not in the least alarmed at this prospect
i've ordeal. If the nine-inch platings on
the turret did not prove strong enough,
three more inch plates can be put on with
out materially affecting the draught or the
safety Of the battery. But it is believed
that nine inches will be a sufficient thick
ness. The best practicable thickness can
only be ascertained by actual experiment
That four and half inches (the thick
ness of plates on the La Gloire and
Warrior are not enough, was satisfacto-
rily proved by Capt. Ericsson in expert
ments conducted by him many years ago.
The test to which his battery will be
subjected will settle all that is unknown
about the resisting power of iron plates.
Immediately upon the completion of the
battery it will be taken to a position in
front of some one Of the enemy's access
ible batteries and will "pitch in" at ranges
from 1000 TO 800 yards, and rs much
less than that as will be necessary to 81
lence the rebel guns.
The practical results Of this bold and
original invention will be looked for with
great interest by military and scientific
men in this country and Europe.-M y
Journal Of Commerce.