Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-01-16
NUMBER 3.

tai fre--all of the highest practical
value in the present crisis.
In lS43 the dry dock in which the
vessel was being constructed Cat Ho-
bokcn) was commenced, but on ac-
count Of a change in the Federal Ad-
ministration, thus interposing official
interference, the construction Of the
battery was not begun until 1854.
Within twenty months Of that time the
completion of the ship proper was ac-
complishcd. The original sum fur.
nished by the Government was
$500, 600 in addition Messrs. Stevens
have expended $4,000 of their own
private funds. The enterprise how
ever, was stopped by the death Of Rob-
ert l.. Stevens, and for want of further
appropriations. Five hundred thou
sand dollars and from four to six
months time are now asked by Edwin
A. Stevens to complete and get ready
for service this formidable war ma
chine, and he promises and guarantees
to the government that the ship shall
combine the following principles, viz:
First-Protcctio Of the entire ship
proper and its contents by water.
The vessel, while having a minimum
draught of seventeen feet, may be
sunk in action to twenty-five feet,
Second-Thc inclined armament.
Third-Great speed.
Fourth-Turning with facility on
her centre by the peculiar action of
her propellcrs
Fifth Adaptation of draught to
circumstances, by means of rising and
sinking.
Sixth-Pcrfect protection to the
crew from hostile shot, except tho
eight firing the guns.
Seventh--By arranging the guns to
fire in any direction, sweeping the
whole horizon.
Eighth--Superiority Of mass over
modern European iron-clad vessels,
viz: While the iron clad vessel La
GIore, of the French navy, and tho
Warrior. of British navy, present per-
pcndicular bulwarks to direct shot
from an enemy, the Stevens battery at
every point presents an angulated
one.
Ninth-Training the guns under
shot-proof protection, and loading the
guns by rammers controlled by steam.
Congress at its last session, in view
of the Importance Of this great inven.
ton to present exigencies, appointed
committee, consisting of Commodore
Striugham. Commodore Inmann, CAPS
tain Dornin and Chief Engineer Stei.
mus. of the navy, and Prof. Henry, of
Washington, to examine more fully
the merits of this battery, and to re-
port progress at the earliest day.
These gentlemen have nearly compile
ted their Investigations, and it is pre-.
sumed it will be favorable to the i'm
mediate completion of the battery.
The hull is 420 feet long over all.
Its bottom is fiat, like the North river
steamers. The battery or ship has
two decks, one fourteen feet high from
the Eattom of the hold and the other
twcnty-one feet. The latter, or main
deck, is of wood, covered with iron
plates heavy enough (as determined
10y a series of experiments by Messrs.
Stevens) to resist the force Of any
modern shells or missiles that may fall
on it from the false deck above. Tho
hull resembles in its general features
that Of large iron screw steamer,
with very sharp lines.
The armament of the vessel is to
comprise guns of the largest calihre,
capable OF throwing shot of from four
hundred and twenty-five to six hund-
red pounds each. The guns are work
ed on nearly fixed pivots, amidst.ps,
nine feet above the surface Of the wa.
ter, and the highest Part Of the armed
portion, or any cart of the ship, except
the chimney, (telcscopic), is but fivo
and half feet above the surface of
the sea. Thus the angle Of the mail
ed size is very fiat. being only two to
one, while the top part of the mailed
part is entirely fat. The whole Of the
armor shuts down over the vessel like
covers, and consists Of battery, be-
ginning LOG feet forward Of the CEN
tire. From the point below water,
where the sides of the ship proper be-
gin to run up vertically, the armor
starts and runs up, inclining outward.
ly to the surface Of the water, and
leaving V shaped space between the
armor and the sides of the ship prop
or some three feet thick, which is filled
with solid oak. From this corner the
armor inclincs inward at an angle Of
one rise, to two horizontal, joining the
upper deck. The inclined parts of the
armor are 6f inches thick. The deck
is covered with iron plates thick
enough to keep off shells. Solid shot
would strike it at such very acute
angle as to glance off. The gun car
riagcs are very heavy masses of iron,
let into and held in place by circular
dcprcssions in the plated deck. They
are heavy enough to resist any known
proiectiles at the shortest range.
Each carriage or turn table has
shaft passing down to the main deck.
where it is trained or maneuvered by
machinery and ranged to any degree
by means Of indexes operated by tho
gunners. After firing the discharged
gun is depressed with its muzzle to a
small shot.proof hood in the deck, and
fitted to the shape of the muza!e Of
the gun. where it is swabbcd and re-
loaded by steam piston. 1t takes
fifteen minutes to load tile Rodman
ffteen-inch gun and. as a part OF tho
armament for this battery is to consist
of two or more of them, it is insisted
by Mr.. Stevens that he can load them
by machinery at least once in two
minutes. The recoil Of the guns il
absorbed by rubber placed behind the
trunnions Of the piece. Experiments
have shown this plan to be feasible.
The armor stands on the twenty.one
feet deck, and extends to tho twenty.
eight feet line, in the middle portion
Of the ship. On the level Of the top
Of the armor, fore and aft and at tho
sides of it, extends light twenty.
eight feet deck the whole length and