, 1862-04-01

Comm1ttee on Naval Affairs the following
communication
NAVY DEPARTMENT, March Is, 1852.
Sir: In my report Of July 1, 1861, I had the
honor to present to the consideration Of Con-
grcss and the country the matter Of iron-cIad
steamers for naval purposes. a sum Of money
was appropriated at that session to build one
or more arnored iron or steel-clad ships or
floating steam batteries. This appropriation,
Intended as experimental, resulted in ordering
three armored vessels Of different construc-
tions. One Of these three has been built under
4 contract with this Department, and arrived
at Hampton Roads in tinlc to be Of great ser
vice to the country, in driving into port the
jron-clad steamer A1crrinlac, clad in armor,
This memorable engagement is the first which
las taken piuce between vessels protected
with iron, and the results to be dcduced from
it are SO important that feel impeued to sub
init some general views in writing to your
Committee.
lst. Steam Las become snch an indfspcnsa-
ble element in naval warfare that vessels pro-
PEELED by sails only are considered useless for
war purposes. The last sailing vessel built
for the navy was the Constellation, com
1861
I'd. Steam vessels of-War, unless protected
from the eneny's shot and shell, can make but
feeble resistance to, and must surrender when
assailcd by, an iron.elad vessel.
sd. The navy, as i exists at present, cannot
successfully contend against L power employ
ing iron. clad vessels aud consequently cannot
meet the requirements Of the country.
9TH. deem it imperative that We should
forthwith commence the construction OF
nFmored vessels on scale commensurate with
the great interests at stake
5th: The Department, under date Of Feb.
~, 1o633, advertised for plans, Which arc nov
being received, developing the ingenuity and
Skin OF our eountr,1ncn; and I have faith
they will produce models for ! Glass Of vessels
for home defense and for sea service that will
secure to our country equality if not pre-emi-
nencc i'll naval construction.
9th. Tie heaviest ordnance in present use
is not sufficiently heavy and powerful to break
and destroy the armature now placed upon
vessels; We shall, therefore, be compelled to
increase the caliber Of our guns until a size be
attained which will crush any armaturc that
can be borne BY vessel. I have already CIV
en- orders to contruct Is and 20-inch guns, hut
their manufacture is attended Will, great diff
cuitics, and requires the highest skill to attain
success. There arc but few establishments in
the country willing to undertake. the 1nanufac-
ture o1 these guns, and they eau produce but
small number. 1t is, therefore, earnestly
requested that IN appropriation of S500,000 lie
made to extend the grounds and build furnaces
at the Washington Navy Yard, where some Of
tile lathcs and turning machines arc already
in operation. In that event the anchors and
CABLES now manufactured at that yard should
be transferred to some other station, leaving
nothing to be manufactured but guns, ord
nance stores, and matters pertaining thereto.
A civil assistant to the ordnance Of the Yard
al salary Of Il 500 per annunl, and one clerk
at 81 400, and one clerk at 81 200 per annum,
arc rcccoEmded.
9TH The Department proposes to construct
few vessels Of light draught, great speed
and heavy armament, for the Western waters;
also class for harbor defense, and to operate
upon the At1antic coast and in the Gulf Of
Mexico, which shall be rs far as possible in-
Vulnerable, each armed with 15-inch guns.
And finally it proposes to attempt an ocean
armored properties, armed with guns of 70
inches calihre. The two latter classes also to
be used as rams
Stl. Assuming that an enemy can always
construct guns and vessels similar to our own,
and that hc can always attack US upon the sea-
board With superior naval force concentrated
At the point selected to he attacked, and that
lorts, however skillfuly constructed, and
whatever the caliber Of the guns mounted
thereon, cannot be relied upon to sink every
1ron-clad vessel which attempts to pass the line
OF tire 1T high speed, it becomes absolutely
essential that VIC should resort to mechanical
means to clear our ports at the points where
the forts arc constructed. The attention of
our people once invited to such project will
no doubt give us simple plan to do this at
will, without injury to the harbor or lliudrauce
to commerce.
9th. ask the Committee to consider the
important subject Of procuring iron plates for
the arnlature Of vessels It is believed there
arc but few, if any, mills in the country capa-
bic Of rolling plates over two inches in thick
ness, and these cannot he produced in yery
large quantities. Tie demands Of the Govern.
picnt will be likely to raise tile price Of these
plates, 50 as to render the vessels more exnen-
be the case. Under these circumstances.
shall the Government, under proncr restric-