The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-14

iho S0'c" 'c'Satc Merrlinac now called the
Virginia) was built at the Charlestown Navv
Yard, Massachusetts, in 1855. This splendid
vessel, regarded the finest of the sever screw
trigaies built in lS54-'55, was of 5000 tons
burthen, and carried an armament of fortv
heavy guns. At the time the Northern officers
deserted the Gospot Navy Yard, they fired the
Mcrrlmac, and burnt her to the waters edge.
For many months, since the Navy Yard has
been in oar hands, the work of Transforming
the half burncd wreck into an iron clad floating
battery, has been going steadily onward Hea-
w timbcrs were framed on either side of the
vessel. at such an angle as to form roof over
the gun deck, and hy double layor of railroad
iron, placed croSswisc and covered with iron
plates, this roof was made completely bomb
profit. Light and air Is admitted through a
grating connecting the upper edges of both
faces Of the roof. The sides of the vessel, as
far down six feet below the water mark, are
likewise heavily plated with iron. The engines
and machinery of the ship are also all below
the water line. She mounts only ten guns.
OF these four (tcu-nch ColumLiads) are Of
each side, with heavy rihcd cannon at the
bow and stern. The Mcrrimac is commanded
10y Com Franklin Buchanan. She is thought
TO he almost impreSnable, and French officers
who have visited her have pronounced her
more formidable engine of war than either the
Warrior or La Glorc
THE MINNESOTA, CUMBERLAND AND CONGRESS-.
The screw ri.atc Minnesota, driven ashore
and badly crippled by the Virginia is one of
the best vessels in the encmvs navy. She
was built at the Washington Navy Yard in
1855, is of 5000 tons burthcn, and carries 40
heavy gnns.
The Congress was sailing frigatc of 1867
tonnage and 80 guns. She was built rt Kite
nv, Me-, in 1871.
The Cumberland was sailing sloop-of-war
of l126 tons and carries 24 guns She was
built at Charlcstewn, Mass in lS42. Both
these last named vessels have been DESTROYED
10y the Virginia in evenings work
SrIEs.-Thcrc are unmstakable indications,
says the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel that
the South swarms with Lincoln spies The
information by which the Federal troops guided
their movements in Tennessee could only have
been obtained from spies or traitors. The de-
tails given by the New York Herald of the
stock of cottor i'll Augusta, and other partic-
ulars relating to our ciiy' must have been de-
rived from similar sources.
The cotton States must soon become vast
military camp, and throughout their whole
extent military law should partially, if not
wholly prevail. Every man should consider
himself detective, whose duty it should be
to detan for examination all transient, susp-
ciou> persons. Especially should this be done
along the lines of railroads. BY their means
almost unrestricted communication has been
maintained since the commencement of the var
1t is time some system should be adopted
to prevent the conveyance of Information to
to the enemy. The passport system is more
objectionable in imagination than in in fact,
If is of little Inconvenience to true men and
is very ,tlcctua to traitors. We think the
nee, sstics of our situation require it. adop-
tiCp