The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-19
THE NEW YORK sun.
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 10, 1861.
Rev Eusinss Of war-steveu.' & Rris-.
s0nsa Ratterfes


sons Batteries.
There are now in process Of construction Il
the neighborhood Of New York two new engine
dwu, which, when completed, will lie Of i'm
portant service to the Government either II
defending Us from an attack upon the part o.
England, II We are to have war. or to aSsi'' 10
the capture Of southern Notifications. ihe-e
are tho Stevens Marine BIn'ry which is no"
resolving the finishing touchcs at Bordentown,
N. J., ADD will soo1 10 ready for her trial trip,
and the Enosun Battery, now building at
Greenpoint
The Stevens battery is a strongly built vessel
sfiron. 10i feet long, 20 feet beam and : 4 feet
depth Of hold, drawing 4 feet Of water when
light, aud or 8 feet when in action. Tho iron
bull Is surrounded by bulwarks made Of white
cedar, which does not splinter They arc 2 feet
thick outside the hull, and one foot thick in
eide, extending 2 feet 10 inches above tho deck,
and the same distance below, and PLACED on the
outside with wrought iron. She is moved by
engine acting indept ndcn,ly Of each other up
or the &c ev, 50 that with one reversed aud the
othcr moving ahead, the vessel can lie turned
around within her own length, and with great
rapidly.
Tho hold has wator.tght compartments for
ward ard AFT that can he filled 10y hole in tho
bottom Of c,ch, which l. closed by valve
from the d,tk When the battery adyanc s 10
the attack these compartments are filled, by
opening the valve and setting the pumps Mt
work, throwing water into them until tho yes
Ael settles with the deck some Il inches below
tho SUFFICE, when she is kept steady by the
heavy wooden bulwarks. To prevent the water
running into the ofcers' quarters, tho hatch
way Is surrounded by high combinga The
wheel house is arranged 80 as TO settle down
the after hA,chway completely out Of range
but whero the holmsman can see TO direct the
motion Of the vessel The smoke stack can
ALTO be lowered out Of sight.
Tho armament Of the vessel is a single hun
drod pound iiAcd Parrot gun, having a range
Of seven miles. 1t is mounted upon dais, sur.
rounded by combrg to protest it from the
water. The gun is loaded from The hold, tho
muzzlo being depressed 20 the hold and but
single man is loft on deck ~ Gro it.
IL Is next to impossible Cor such a craft as this
10 be hit, as nothing is visi lie to the enemy but
tho unsubmorgcd portion of The bulwarks and
the gun amidAhips aud it can be made most
formidable weapon Of ofrcnsc against an enemies
Notifications or vessels.
It has boon built by +. S. STEVENS, the
Commander Of the Yacht Cuh, at his own ex-
ponsc, snd is to be presented to the Government
A. patriotic offering. Another purpose in
Niayr Ia n afU, nc ho I,r,,o
Of the sams description which has been con
siructing for so many years at lloboken, and Of
which tho smaller one will serve rs a model.
II successful, tho Large battery will be at once
completed.
ERIoCsoHs Battery is ION a different PLAN
not being 30 completely submerged but de-
pending for ia protection somewhat upon the
inpIegnSlAs character Of It's defensive ar-
NOR. LIS hull is OF three-cigh,h inch iron, 12i
feet lorg, 81 feet wide, g. 4 feet in depth, AMI
fat bottomod. 1t is sharp at both cnds and
iurnishsa tho f,n ndaiion for a second and LARGER
hull, also fiat bottomcd, which juts over ii
nearly four feet on each side and twenty-five
feet at the culs rising four feet above il. The
sides Of thi, upper hull are encased in oak 30
riches thick, covered with iron plates 6 inches
In thickness which Is sufficient 10 protect il
against any gun yet invented, while the vessel
when in action, is TO he submerged TO within
IL inches Of the deck, furnishing sufficient pro.
lection for tho lower hull. The deck is bomb
proof and is built flush with the top of the mp.
per hall, having no railing on it of any sort.
Tho propeuur rudlor, ard anchor, are
thoroughly protected by the overhanging upper
hull, and the only things exposed on deck is
the turret which rises in the centre. No chim-
noy is used, the smoke escaping directly through
bomb-proof Grsiugs in the deck aud the wheel
house is maze 50 as to line through the deck.
The OffensiVe portion of the battery is thu
tuuet shove mentioned, which is an iron cytin.
der, eight inches thick rising nine feet above
tho deck, and having bomb.proo top with
perforations to admit the escape of the smoke
from the guns, and the compressed air. Within
this tuiret are two heavy rihed guns with
which avery accurate aim can be rapidly OBJ
tAinod by nicely adjusted wheels. The turret is
mate 30 as to rcvolye at the rate of sixty revo-
buttons IN minute, and as fast as one gun is
discharged, it is drawn in and loaded while the
turning the turret 40 that q continual discharge
can thus be kept up.
The Battery will be driven by two powerful
engines, which, with its sharp and heavy iron
prov, will eratle it to easily sink an ordinary
vessel. 1t promises to DO invunerable. and
ev'a II boarded cannot be entered as the only
opsnng will be at the top of the turrct, which
can easily be defended against the single man
who can alone enter it,
II has been built under the act Of Congress-,
making an appropriation of ono million five
hundred thousand dollars for iron clad vessels,
and is to be ready by the middle of January,
subject to rejection if, when brought before the
enemy's guns at short range, it fail to fulfil
what is claimed for it. Its constructors are
confident of its ability TO destroy any city tina,
can be spproached by water.
secession Artincea.
The whole southern rebellion was initiates
aud founded, 20 far as tho masses OF the south
cru people we're concerned, by the manufacture