The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-05-22
The Iron /. Plated War Steamer ssNew
IrOnsides."


This large war ship was launched at
the Philadelphia Navy Yard on the 10th
inst. The Philadelphia Eeening BulIc.
tin speaks of her as follows:
The New Iron,ides is the first iron
plated sea-going war steamer Of large size
built BY the United States Government.
She is constructed from plans and speci-
ficat'ons presented to the Navy Depart
ment last summer by Merrick & Sons,
OF this city, who are the sole contractors
with the Government. They in turn
have contracted with Messrs. Cramp &
Sons, of Ksnsiugton; also with the Bris-
tol Forge and Brown g. Co., of Pitts.
~burgh, for the Al inch plating, reserviug
to themselves the construction of the
machinery and the general arrangement
Of the several parts. The contract is
dated October 10Th, and tho vessel is to
DO ready for steam July 10Th. Chief
Engineer W. W. Wood, of the Navy,
superin.ends the machinery and plating;
and Naval Constructor Henry Hoover,
the hull.
She is 240 feet long, SO feet 6 inches
wide, and % deep, being $3.50 tons, and
having berth, gun and spar deck, the
latter being shot proof. Her frames are
Of white oak, filled in solid and caulked,
and the average thickness Of her sides is
20 inches. The iron plating commences
at point four feet below the water line,
and extends to her spar deck. The low.
or course is 3 inches all the rest is 4
inches thick. All the plates are Is feet
loue, tho width varying from 25 to 80
inches each plate is fastened to the ves-
sci by 81 inch screw bolts, % inches
long, which secure the several thickness
es OF timber to the plates, thus tying all
together.
The machinery consists of two Lori-
zontai direct action steam engines, with
cylinders of 80 inches diameter aud 30
inches stroke, intended to make IS rev
olations per minute, and drive brass
tour'bladcd propeller Of Is feet diam eter
and Is feet pitch. The boilers are four
in number, (horizontal tubular each II
feet front, l l feet deep, and | l feet hi gh,
of collective forcs Of l,6O0 horses
The armament will consist of l6 1-inch
Dahl.recn guns on the gun deck, and
two ."0-pound Parrot guns on the spar
deck The port holes will be closed bv
iron shutters FIVE iu ches thick, worked
from the inside.
As this is sea.going steamer, intend.
cd to sail as well as steam, she will have
three masts and te bark rugged her top.
mas,s and yards being SO arranged that
in action they arc lowered, and leave
simply three lower masts in view.
When in action, all the men on board
are protected from shot or shell, and are
below the spar deck the commander on.
ly is above that deck, and he occupies a
shot proof look out which rises above the
spar deck, and from which he can see all
surrounding objects, and by signals,
communicate with the officers below.
Unlike the Monitor and Galena, this
vessel can carry large crew, sufficiently
so to board and capture, any vessel In
penetrable to shot and shell, she will
seek close action, and by means Of her
iron PROV sink, or by her heavy guns
capture her opponent. Her light drausht
Of water, l6 feet, will enable her to enter
all our Southern harbors. Even Moultrie
and Sumter can be visited by her, and
she may be able to make an impression
on these forts before they are re. possess
ed by the United States.
The country is mainly indebted to
Com. Jos. Smith, of the Bureau of Yards
and Docks at Washington, for the con
struetion Of this vessel as we'll as the two
which have preceded her. 1t was by hi,
excrt!ous that the money was appropri-
ated by Congress, and as President Of
the Board of Naval Officers On iron clad
steamers, he has devoted much time to
their construction.
1t will be two or three months before
her plating is all done and she is ready
for service. But it, by that time, the
rebellion is not ended. she will be knock
ing at the doors Of Fort Sumter, or help
ing herself to other forts and towns along
the coast. When the rebellion is over,
she will be useful agent Of the Govern
ment in settling difficulties with foreign
powers.