The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-08
THE NEW IRoN-clAD STEAMER FOR THE NAVY
Additional Particulars Regarding Her
ConstructiOn-When She will bc Ready,

4
| &C., &c.
On the I'D September published the facts that the
government intended build ironclad steamer that
would resist almost anything in the shape Of proctie,
and that successful several Of the kind would added
to our naval force AT that time gave partial descrp-
ton Of her showing to readers the plan which she
WIS TO be built, and tho qualifications that such vessel
should p ssess We now finish the sketch, giving his
tory Of her arnor, armament &c. and the progress that
9 being made in her construction. Shc Is being built
Mystic, Connecticut.
Tho magazines located forward and the other
att The shell room win be Of much argor size than is
usual In war vessels, the cabre Of the guns anu the
service they will be employed require larger number
than Is usually carried by shirs-of-war.
The shape OF these vessels win be very different from
anything readers have ever seen They are quite
Hat on the bottom gently curving the bge Is reached
then coming up IN almost true circle until shortly after
leaving the water line her sides tall in quite until
Inc Distance Of about seven feet above the gun deck Is
reached, when they fail almost 10 horizontal The up
per portion OF the circle forms promenade deck The
stern rounds up from all sides while the bow falls in 10
point nj the bowsprt. Standing little distance AMI
locking NJ the vessel she viii present unpleasant
sight but 10 look at her rnl on, she win look somewhat
odd, and VIII resemble class Of vessels known maay
years ago kctte bottoms" In fact. II you were
and round IT in At the top you would have good model
OF ono Of the iron-ciad vessels sides.
Ihcig great beam gives them buoyancy, and they
enabled 10 carry their very heavy armament us well
the immense weight Of their armor, which
to over four inbred tons
The wood work Of the huh extends six feet above tho
gun Deck and from that point the reminder Of the up
per works are Of iron alone.
When the wood work If the vessel Is completed she win
pass from tho hands Of MiSson Fish & Co. TO arm in
Troy who have the c. ntlact to plate her
Her armor will consist Of the ordinary shaped rail
road IRON boel 70 her Sides bolts passing entirely
Ii oagh the wood work and firmly rvcted on the inside
j space Of three inches win intervene tween the rails
! which viii be filed up with oak wood. After the
weasel is cred with the railroad iron plates of iron
If peculiar temper, four feet in length by two feet in
width and inch in thickness, viii be boiled
the railroad iron the bolts going through the sides Of the
vessel, and rivctcd the INSIDE. On reaching the
wooden main rail Of the vessel the bars a railroad iron
will have space left between them Of eighteen inches,
these being covered by the iron plates OF the dmen
those tho side. THIS armor covers the
upper portion Of the vessel and for the upper
| promenade neck.
The portholes in che sides Of the vessc win be of new
pattern tlat only sufficient portion will be open when
| TIE vessel Is in action
The Of tic vessel hns yet bacn raly do
| clcd tpen, but in all probability she viii carry two
pivot ried guns the largest ibre-say poanae -
aa1 twelve - Founders, also rled. In action no one
VIII be On the upper deck aud therefore it is probable
very few, If any one, viii be cut to pieces by the
! my's shot ana shell
one cannot fail sec that this must b. q yory formi
dablc vess'loI-war. Experiments have demonstrated
that with proper support behind, four and La inches
Of iron ssd,y shells hot shot and cast
iron shot II IS true that plate Of that thickness has
been penetrated by wrought iron eght-nc SHOT al slo:
rangessay two hundred y.rss--bit only by successive
! hitting in near he same spot.
Mr. VIII worth has forced one OF his tat headed wrought
ison pre cities through tourinch plates AZ hundred
yar:s dlstaace, tho side of the tugst shin Trrsfy
royal navy ami at four handrcd yards the side cf t
wooden target ship Alfred; bat At Thousand yards
vessel Of the cass aud build sUeh have just lie
saribea win. without doubt, be iapregnahlc Tn,
plating which we have described commences trs,
cct below the Light draagAt line, and she is
safe from besag riddtd as to sink, whi,
the convex lhes q the vessel promise tara or the
balls without much oamage to the roa An,;hce exec
cnt feature Of the American plan Of boats Is their si1
llc krcDcb Ia Iioic and the Bril- 81 Warrior (ioncad
ships) Six Thousand tousgseat uawic!dy YES
scs-+lnd good target, whic the Anne lean boa,s
Will b. BIZ little thousand TINS, Consequently
presenting less surface 10 the marksnan, and conse-
| qu,ntIy less liable TO stamage.
The igiish have at odacci, about to introduce
the prucl, Of icluing invag,y at au angle OF about
thrt iyc ,rty deg ccs iii, siles OF vessels win
view Of causing The shoi 70 gancc M
They propose t. supp. IS purlhocs and place their
CUTS rotating iron curo,as from which, bs rotary of
hundred and eighty degrees they fire over the bull
wars either side. Tie objections TO this theory arc
very Numerous, AID frobab they win never b. used
ar ga
proof cover The guns and gunners.
Many believe that ship sagess mostly in action
by sAo. ho through them cacsirg them to sink &c
! brt THIS y not the great trouble A ri.led shot
makes q hoe which = easily pGggcd, and it but
her bgt SHOT that will smash large piece
I ot her SIDE is the one mC4I ~ be feared
should ono Of tie i9onciad vessels building FOR our
government oe GA II! upon oengage forth att and
OF the English vessels b. II, TO the same SER
vice, there b, but little doh at the former could
of scarcely any
1t woud be uslss morars with view of killing
the gunucrs disinountng the gins FOR hy would b.
sheltered wae those OF Or fansitlantic friends would
| be olen and subjected 10 the FIRE OF tn enemy
The ongnes az building by G. II. ih'am-t-r, OF this
city but OF their size and character til goyer nj desire
nothing .honid be said AT present. suffice 10 say tln
chat two boilers of an improved pattern vii b, usc,
which viii ia pish steam tp powerful eneiues SIT
icnnt to this o tote II rate II at least
oarlen knots per hour II Is intended that the
cn run down aud cut tnta any ordiary war vassoi with
out doing herself any damage.
The wood work q the vessel will br completed In about
seventy day, au about oy' days Will b, reuuig,!
70 pate her and have her realty 81 hat carv IN
1852 The frs irpnclad war vessel built Nv the United
States g9ven mop, AID The rs bii on this cont.
Ien Will DO aoat and y 10 do service for the far Of
| InuH
About hundred and atty will required for tn,
vessel rs her complement inoldipg clieers marines &c
The general details OF stores, &c. will ne similar 10
those d ginboais Those wiz De furnished by tho
contractors the government furnishing only the ordnance
! powder and provisions.
The Mystic folks feel naturally proud of tho contract
bi1g AWARDED 10 81 their firms. and il common with
them they feel great interest the success Of the enter
prise rs wel a. the success AID vindicaon OF the
| of the tag.
| LETTERS FOR OUR SOLDIEES.
! MYsTAEEs AND OMISSIONS IN nIRgCTIoSs--A HINT TO
THE WRITER'S.
TO THE gnroR HgEArp
WASHINGTON, u. G., Sept 81 1861
! Among the mary nconveneaccs {, which volunteers
arc tniiect nnrhas nnae are ,nnrc nrnrnino I'm H.