, 1862-04-04

tempt WIS made by the enemy to reply to tho
mortars, but nc shot or shell fell anywhere
in the region OF the 1eet. The Impression
seemed to prevail in the fleet that the Island
was evacuated, and that the rebel strength WIS
concentrated on the mainland, although there
was no grounds for this opinion, except the
eilence Of the batteries there. The steamer
Pike came n1ongside the Benton, and after q
visit Of an hour or two, WIS glad to transfer
myself to her, and exchange the monotony Of
: onous existence ut the st. Charles At Cairo,
whittier arrived at II o'clock, midnight.
TIE MANASSAS.
The appearance Of the steam ram Man
assas' at Island No. 10 has given rise to well
grounded apprehension that If our notilla
fails to accomplish desirable results in that
direction, its attention may be turned
towards this locality. have recently con-
yersed with an engineer Of national reputa-
ton, who has visited the monster and under
stands its construction, from whose account I
condcnse the following description, which l
hope will prove intelligible. The accom-
panylng diagfa1n is an exact representation
Of tie vessel as she appears when in action.
Cat an egg into two parts 1sngth|fse, and
place the mt part down upon level surface,
and you will have an almost perfect repre-
sentation Of the ip;1!nnous turtle Of com1no-
dore Ho]lins called the :" Manassas" As she
floats, she is something over one hundred feet
long aEd about twenty feet beam, built Of
live oak, her uppcr works about twelve
inches thick and plated With one and &C hhf
rouraer than . turtles, rising about seven feet
| above the water, and presents such peculiar
conformation that it Is almost impossible to
stand upon it, and shots ~; striking it
| glance harmlestly by: She is entered by a
| Sort OF trap door, Which is closed upon her
| inmates. The pilot-house stands aft, is ci1cu-
lar, enclosed With iron not unlike the gun
boats Of the Commodore's aeet. and Is con
sidered impregnab1e. The. chimneys rise
about seven feet above her shell, and can in
stantly be lowered to the interior, like the
| El1teB Of 8 telescope, it in danger OF being
grappled. Her armament consists Of one
6s-poundcr old fashioned shell gun, located in
the bow Of the boat, or did when she last
visited Columbus before the reduction Of that
stronghold, which, when fired, recoils and
c1ose5 the port which Is Of Uniform thickness
with the shell Of the vessel Beneath the
water at her bows, her ram is fastened, con-
stsucted Of q long iron point with which she
. fere to obstTuct her passage. Her propeNing
power is screw propeller, out of sight, bus
she is extremely Slow in her movements, If
anything, inferior to our gunboats in speed.
Three tugs we're required to tow her from
New Orleans to Columbus. Were her sides,
absolutely inyulneTable, and her speed great,
she could defy the whole power Of our fleet.
Fortunately, it is thought that well directed
| shot striking am1d5hip5 at the water line must
certainly pass into her, and that her slow mo-
tiOn would enable some Of our most active
gunboats to sail around her, and choose po-
: sitionB from which she might be attacked il
ler most vulnerable point, or possibly two oj
them might grapple herand crowd her ashore,
But for the fact that she draws twelve feet oi
water, she would have paid her respects tt
Cairo several weeks ago. The fact that she i:
, considered inyulnerable, and that othur steam
c1s arc being constructed whose iavulncra
, bility to OR present proJectiles is unaoubted
would seem to indicate the prOprlcty OF im
ncdiately furnishing to every gunboat, and Ill
fortibcatious On the Western waters, solit
: steel shot, which experience has proved ar.
alone capsule Of offering efficient resistance K
these eircn-elad monsters. There is not mo
: ment to lose. Let other guuboats be built
: Ia Ioa.itor, and at once. In this way, aud il
t no other, shall We be able to maintain til
r. reputation Of our fleet for impregnabiliiE. Til
battle at Donelson proved that even our iron
q clad gunboats at point-b1ank shot and sho
+ range, are not iuyincible when heavy cast iro
shot are used against them.
= 1t is said, with how much truth we know
y not, that tic HAIanassas' has not recoverc
u from the damage her machinery received i
; the attempt to sink the Richmond below Nc'
{ Orleans. ....
:: The barracks formerly occupied By Col L
!. gan's regiment were yesterday burned to th
e ground They arv supposed 10 have been ST
= IN fire By some dissatisfied soldiers.
= A force left Cape Girafdeau early Sunda
morning for the aEowcd purpose Of capturIn
+ JEFF. Thompson in Lis stronghold at Holcom
| Island, NEAR tie Arkausas Line.
y A large amount Of 1ruit and de.fcacies col
y tFibuteu by citizens of Chicago for hospit
uses at Mound City were yesterday brought
Cairo, sud delivered to Mother Angela, at Il
: hosl'ilal, by y Green of tile Illinois Gel
J. tral Railroad 3.