, 1862-01-06
TIE MISSISSIPPI FLEET.
Number and Character Of the Hoats..
Their OffacerB-The Rendezvous ut
-f.81ra.

[cairo Correspondence n =. Timca.l
Perhnps no expedition-not even that sent
along the coast Of the Southern SLatcs-Hls,
during the present war, been projected, or Is
so pregnant with great results, as Tue one ~"
nrcpa1iug ut st. Louis und Cairo, for descent
Of the Mississippi. 4 more formidable heet
never rode American waters-nor was there
one ever started on this Continent which had
before it q work SO gigantic, OF one which, it
successful, could produce results SO immense 1 Sc
the disloyal. Tic possession Of Columbus
aud Memphis, which is promised us by this
undertaking, and the consequent holding Of
the te11nini Of some Of the longest and most
Important railroads in the South penetra-
tion into the very heart OF the seeesslonists,
with I'LL the material and moral effects which
/ will naturally accompany such 4 result-the
| possession Of the mighty Mississippi, the in
| PRODUCTION Of loyal element into such towns
as Memphis and others, given oTer to the ls
| Devil Of Disunion-are among few OF the
| results promised by the success Of the pres
cut undertaking.
1t its last session, in the July Congress, it WIS
determined to authorize the construction OF
| seven gunboats, and contracts for their buhd-
| ing were invited. James B. Eads was the sue
cessf,ll bidder, and on the 5th OF August
contract was signed, in which he agreed TO
build them for SIS, 900 each By the terms OF
the contract, the boats we're to be finished IN
60 dags; in case they were not, there was pro-
yided forfeit Of S2oo for e eaca DAY the5 Fe-
The contract also provided that the boats
we're to be ITS feet in length, 81 teet u inches
beam, and when loaded to draw feet. Each
was to have two engines and five boners, VILE
FIVE dues each-eylinders twenty-five inches,
t with six feet stroke; wheel Of wrought IRON
to be placed near the stern. like a ferry boat
80 to be as little exposed is possible. a small
! engine, to pump water in the boiler, Wis als<
, 10 be provided All the machinery was to b
! SO placed as to be under water; the boats 4
, have an average of go tons: to be fat-DoE
: toned, and constructed of the heaviest an,
| best oak timber; the sides covered VII
7 p1ateB Of the best chnrcoa! iron, Two ana
t | half inches in thickness, and securely boite
: ta,sethcr ;ud to the woodwork within. Ill
c sides were to incline inward at an angle c
8 about 45 degrees, SO as to turn Or "giane
4 ! otl'' missile, the bottom to have the sam
$ inclination towards the kec1. Each boat We
> to 1carry fifteen guns-fVe 66-ponnd colun
u biads at each side, three rlhed guns at tt
+ bow and two at the stern: The guns and gu
e ncrs were to be protected b5 case1natcs risl1
= seven feet from the deck, constructed
l. heavy timber, plated with iron.
j. This is. in the main, an outline OF the boa
is as contracted for, and as they now are, exec
l. in the case of the Bsnton, Of which more pa
le ticnlar description is given below.
II Contractor Eals Immediately went TO Wo
" with the greatest aMcrlty-eaployed all +
s Eaw-nlills possible, and set all the men at Wo
h. that the nature OF the thing would permit. FL
Of the boats were built here, three at Mou
CITY. Four more have since been added
III tl1c feet that were brought here from the o.
lit | T.yer.
"a "a 4 large number Of mortar boats and tra1
T | ports were ulso contracted for, and now aIc
he Completed They are as follows:
Of Gunboats.
|