The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-12-20
A Terrible Engine Of Destruction.

The construction ot the Ericsson
battery furnishes n characteristic in
stance OF American nrYy and die
patch. The contract for the WORK
WAS signed on the fifth ot October
last; the work i's,l was commenced
on the 20'h OF the same mont aud
there is no doubt that the batter,
will tm fini, he'd an or before the Is Ii
0f January, 1862, within the spcci.
fled period. About one thou-nid
skiil;ul mechanics are employed "u
various p'irtinns nj the structure and
ifs equipments, ani the Lab + l.
pushed on both nj ht and day. Tho
central l,art oi the hut and deck i
nearly c"nIlet, d AT the Continental
iron works. Grcrnrort. The princl
pal eng ines and b"il.rs uui screws
are ~ an adva crd state. At the ID ).
amater IRON " res, lot OF Thir
teenth street, North river. The
Novelty works aro rapidly giving
shape to the death .denll = lurret.--
Me,sr,. Chute Brothers ol S;hrncc
tady, will not bc behind with TIE
tnrret engines and gun.carrIag"s -
Three large rolling mills in this city
arc employing all their avail ,bl,
force in the production oi iron plat s
Capt. Ericsson invests iis unicr
taking with no mystery. The pub
lie are ireo to know sll alb ut ihu
plan, the dimensions, the arm ;ment
and the most minute pecnllaritics ~
his unique Rvcntion. The follow
ing description may convey som,
idea OF il:
The battery rests upon two YES
sells, an upper and loser one. Th'
upper il bullt OF iron. III ieet long
Al iect 4 inches wide, ana 5 tee
deep, with u draught OF 8 feet
inches. leaving only lS inches OF tll'
sides exposed above the water line
The sides are covered with Whit
osk bulwsrk, 80 inches thick. tn,
deck 10 made OF oak beams 10 inche
thick, covered with plank 8 Inche
thick and . one.i inch iron plate
The upper vessel 10 fiat bottomeJ
aud has q wedgc. shaped stem an
ct. rn. Tho lower vessel. which
entirely submerged. is 124 feet lon4
"a feet wide, and Ct feet deep.
contains the working machinery, III
rudder and the anchor, housed ava
beyond reach of the encruy's shot,
Upon the deck Of tho upper vesse
and the only conspicuous obi ct @
this ''iow, raking," aud terrible crai
is the turr,t, 20 ieet in diameter,
feet high. and composed OF nine on
inch | or plates, iappe over eac
other ami fastened with thousands
bolts. A shell proof rooi. q inch
thick, covers the turret. which ia Z
tered through ways from abov
The total weight OF the turret is /;
tuns. ........
The armament consists Of tv
columbisds (Which are preferable
rIhed caiDon Ut short Ranges ca
CARRYING q ball OF ono hundred VI
sigh,y pounds, and working throui
circular pori-holes three ieet abo
the deck. The cnirisges are INA
OF wrought iron, and move on iorg
iron slides. Tho turret can be tur
Ell at pleasure by u douGle'cylint
engine, and controlled by u lever
the turr.t. BY this con,rivance
guns can be aimed almost instant
Vt any part o, tho horlz,n. The c
inders Tor the main engine are
inches In disuicter, with = pisi
strokc OF % inches. Blowers
the boiler and ior ventilation I
, worked by small separate engin
TIE smoke 10 passed Oft throu
grstipgs In the deck. The ent
y cost Of the battery will be $276, %