Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-17
The Ericsson Battery.

The Ericsson floating battery, just completed
and known as the Monitor, in shape and machine
~, is an ordinary propeller. l73 feet in length,
Al feet beam and III feet depth of hold. A re-
volving fort, which contains two III inch Dahl
gren guns, is placed upon the deck near the
ter of the vessel This fort CT bomb-proof is %
feet diameter inside 10 feet in hight, and 8 feet
in thickness. The hull is built of iron, and to
protect the sides, the vessel is covered with one
layer Of oak l6 inches in thickness, another layer
of oak Is inches in thickness and the whole plated
with six plates of one inch iron. The whole
thickness of the sides is therefore three feet OF
solid wood and iron, exclusive of any ribs OF
braces in the interior. There are no bulwarks
upon the deck, which is covered with heavy plates
OF iron, sufficient to resist any gancing shot or
shell which NAV be thrown upon it. The smoke
pipe is made with telescope joints, which can be
lowered into the hold during an engagement.
The guns in the interior of the fort loaded
from the inside, and are free from exposure to
the enemy's fire. She is propelled by steam en-
gines.
The Monitor was constructed at the Cont
mental Iron Works, Greenpoint, under the su-
perntendence of Thomas f. Howland, of Brook
lyn.
She was launched a short time since, and re-
tanned for a period at the place of launching.
after which steam got up and the vessel ran
down to the navy yard in BROOKLYN, where her
guns we're put aboard. 1t was afterwards con-
templated to have made trial trip at on
Saturday last. but this was delayed; and mean
while, late on Sunday night, intelligence was re
ceived from Washington of the ordering of the
Monitor at once to Fortress Monroe.
The vessel was built under act of Congress.
making an appropriation of 81 SOC, 900 for build
ing iron clad vessels for the navy, and Captain
Ericsson presented the plan for the Monitor. be
stipulated to launch his battery one hundred
working days from the date of the contract, Oc-
tOber, 1861, and to test It's impregnablity and
efficiency b fore the battery Of an enemy at the
shortest ranges of the guns. In this trial of eff
cheney the Government is to supply officers and
men, guns and ammunition. The day of the
launch was the l0lst working day from the time
the contract was made.
The previous description indicates one hull 10
the vessel, but there are in effect two huls. The
lower one, which is entirely under water, is sharp
at both ends, hatbottomed, built lightly and about
six feet deep. with sides nclining at an angle OF
ffty-one degrees to the vertical line. The second
or upper hull, which comprises the defensive por-
ton has straight sides, is longer and broader than
the under one. is five feet deep, sinks into the
water three feet and is covered with the heavy
iron armor above described 1t has no bottom
except what is required to enable il to fit exactly
on the top line of the lower hull, both of course
forming the consecutive side of the vessel.
The construction of the two hulls is such that
the upper Que, the sides of which are straight,
project over the lower one, which is nearly fat
bottomed to the extent of nearly four feet on the
sides, and twenty-five feet at the bow and stern.
The upper hull being iron plated, and submerged
three feet and three inches thus fully protects the
bottom part of the vessel from injury, and re-
eeiyes against its inyulnerable sides all shots
which can possibly cause damage.
The turret has two port holes for the guns. Its
plates of iron completely overlap and are riyeted
to each other, so that but one joint of one inch
thickness of iron exists at any spot. A she'll
proof fat roof of perforated plate iron. planted
on forged beams inserted six inches down the cyl
inder, covers the top.
Several sliding hatches in this cover, which
give access to the top ofthe turret perforated
inch in diameter to give light, and useful
for musketry fire. in case the battery is boarded.
A spur wheel. 61S inches in diameter. ii inches
full, moved by a double cylinder engine. turns
the turret around and also the guns; rod, con-
Meeting with the running gear Of the engine. en-
ables the gunner to control the aim. The two
port holes of the turret within three feet from
the deck The guns move in forged iron slides,
across the turret. the carriages being made to fit
them accurately.
The battery being sharp is incidentally one oil
the most powerful steam rams ever built in the
known world The battery was commanded by
Lieut.. j. S. WOrden. u. s. N.