The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-14
the MONSTER IRoM-cLAD BATTERY,

A Formidable War MnchIne-The Great
stevens battery at Hobokcn-A Succinct
Description OF Its ii uIl, ENG ines, Boilers,
Machinery and Arnament-A Commits
tee Investigating It's Adapt ability TO
Present War Purposes, dIe,, dc.
In yesterdays HERALD we gave a snccnct description
OF novel steam battery how being construcc and
nearly finished nj Bordentown New Jersey by Edwin A.
Stevens, ESQ, Of Hobokcn its inventor When finished
VIII be presented to the Union government through
Secretary Chase as reeail offering Of its noble donor
We now propose to give synoptcal description Of the
great Stevens battery invented by the party and
which for number OF years has secretly construct
Ing at Hoboken. history Of this wonderful machine
would doubt be acceptable the readers OF the HERALD
and the public in general but for of sufficient and
exact data give only that served by memory 1t
is twenty years ago Robert L. Stevens and
Edwin Stevens Fsqs OF this city, invented and pro
jeciod what they though. Indispensable machine for
the protection OF New York harbor. As soon
an their plans were completed they submit.
ted them TO tho proper federal authorities a.
washington The subject was respectfully en-
sertained aud referred to government board then or
Ranized with reference 10 harbor defeuces
The board was composed OF Commodorcs Stewart and
Perry, OF the navy, and Coiones Tottsn and Perry,
OF the army. 1t h presumed the report Of
these gentlemen was highly favorable to thu
year following, Messrs Stevens ccnsummated conrac,
with tho government for the immediate construction
OF their immense battery. The contract was provi-
siona one, based upon the following facts vzA that
time tho steam frgatcs Missouri and Mississippi had been
builfor the uhtcd States Navy but they were con
structed without any stated being appropriated for
their payment their actual cost known until long
aer they had entered active service. In this state OF
Affairs the government agreed with Messrs Stevens for
che latter to build the battery provided its entire cost
would not exceed one half as much as the aggregate
cost OF building tho two vessels before mentioned
On these terms the contract consummacd The Mis-
sssippi and the ssour million OF dollars
fact not ascertancd until Messrs Stevens had com
menced the construction Of their battery From the
date Of the contract for this machine up tho pre-
sent time veil OF mystery has been drawn ovor tho
origin, character sze and appearance OF IT, Som
people insisted that the whoe thing a myth or fat
contract with tho government others insisted that u
was hcxagonal platform, battery, on the plan
OF the mammoth derricks of this day; Others
Imagined that 1t large square tank a
gathering ram, and on, to an indefinite
number OF shapes The sccrcsy attached to the plan
ana construction was highly necessary for tho pro-
lection Of this government against the nroads
and entertainments OF foreign Powers. Now when the
mystery Is unveiled, immense war machine.
combining all the beautiful lines symmetry and s,eed q
North river steamboat the strength of the best con
structed ship aGoat, and vessel prob4b out
rivalng the modern ronclad frgates the naves or
Mrope ana revealing the facts that in this machine all
the important Improvements in iron ships and
machinery, which styled modern and
ascribed to European inventors, bt which in
tict were made by two of our own townsmen
twenty years ago. but from motives Of honor t. their
country, and tho with tho federal government,
be0 With all
These inventions combine high sea the screw propoi
Ter, hollow and nc lines fore and afr the iron hull the
box or tubular bridge framing the link motion or steam
reverse gear and inclined armor The improvements ad
vac,d at that early day. and not yet adopted the best
practice are the two FOR rapid turning the water
armor for action, tho ability to rise rapidly to the
surface, the Of heavy ordnance the unlimited hor
zonta fir all Of the highest practical value in the
present r.,.
In 1S43 the "e- in which the vessel is belnp con
struced Cat Hobokcn) was commenced; ba, On account
Of change III the federal administration thus iterpos.
ing official interference, the construc; of the battery
not begun until 1851 Within MY months OF thai
time the completion of the ship proper npshod
The original sum furnished by tae government was
$500 900; In addition thereto Messrs. stevens have ex
pended $500 900 of their private funds The eater
prise however stopped by the death Robert L. Ste
vens and for want OF further appropriations Five huude
thousand dollars and from six months time are
asked by Mr. Edwin A. Stevens complete and 20,
ready for service this formidable war machine aud he
promises and grarannrs to the government the ship
shall combine the o.lowng principles, viz
PRINCIPLES OF THE BATTERY.
Frstproecton Of the entire ship proper snd its con
tents by water. Tho vessel, while having minimum
draught Of feet may be sunk in action to
twenty two feet.
Second-Ths inclined armament.
Third-Great speed.
Fourth-rurnug with facility her centre BY the ne
culiar action Of her propellers.
Fifth--Adaptation OF dfaught to circum stances by
means OF rising and sinking.
SxthPerfect protection the from hostile shot,
except the eight firing the guns.
Seventh--By arranging the guns Gre In any tree.
ton, sweeping tho whole horizon.
Eighth-Superority of over modern European
ron-ciad vessels viz.--whe the iron clad vessel La
Gloire, OF the French navy and the Warrior @. the
British navy, present perpen icnlar bpwarkS 10 direct
shot from enemy the Stevens battery every point
presents an anguated one
Misunderstanding the guns under sho, proof protection
and loading the guns by controlled By steam
Congress at its last sess:op in view Of the
Of this great invention TO present expences appopted
committee consisting OF Commodore Strngham Com
modore Imam, Captain nornn and Chief Eng neer Ste
mus, OF the navy, anu FRO. Henry, of Washington
anime more fully the merits OF this battery and to re-
port progress ut the earliest day These gentlemen have
nearly completed their Investigations it presumed
will be favorable TO the immediate completion of tina
battery.
We will now give brief description Of the battery
THE HULL.
is 400 feet long over ALL Its bottom fat like thr
North river steamers The lines ere hollow fore
and aft The strain is about the sas rs those having m
extraordinarily fine The bow hoows in at the lower
deck about foot in ty the proportion Of the length
TO beam is abcnt eight tho deck lines Of the
perfectly hollow. The bottom plates are OF iron one
inch thick taperng towards the top half inch and
are overlapped oIinier butt Original with Mr. ste
vens) In the style adopted modern iron ships
The ribs frames constructed of two o by a..
inches heavy angle iron, rveed together eugthwise by
three and half inch hanges. me battery or ship has
Two decks fourteen feet hgA from the hntom