Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-07
The monitor and the errimac.

The conduct OF the Monitor IN her hrSt en-
gagement with the Merrimac, demonstrated her
ability at least to hold her own with the rebel
monster but the prevailing opinion that she is
invulnerable is not well founded. and neither is
the confidence that she can take or sink the
Merrimac justi6ab.e. There are two points of
vunerability about her which once successfully
assalled places her at the mercy of her antago
mist. The hsrt-her pilot-hOuse, and the second
her portfolios in the turret. Her pilot house is
square in form, and built of iron logs eight inches
square, piled upon each other and dovetaled at
the ends-vtrv similar to the body of log cabin
OF hewn unber A shot from the Nerrimac
broke one of these logs completely in TWO pieces
showing that it is possible to batter down the
structure; but il is not even necessary to do this
10 inure her steering gear, for the concnssion of
the above mentioned shot injured that important
apparatus to such an extent as to prevent ner
from following the Merrimac when that vessel
returned to Norfolk. The interior of the tur-
ret is full of complicated machinery in addition to
the platform, carriages gearing and guns when
ever they are about to be fired and a shell thrown
in at "A port hole will play a complete smash up
with her offensive arrangements There are two
port-holes-each two feet square-small objects
certainly. but well worth the Dersevering atten-
ton OF an enemy who knows the damage which
will result from a shot thrown into them.
These are her two defects, and it is probably
impossible to construct floating engine of war
with less; but they are fatal should the enemy
assail them successfully. Another point upon
which there is much doubt and uncertainty is her
speed-a very important one, too, from the fact
that, unless she can catch the Merrimac. all her
other good qualities are of no avail. Ii has been
said size was faster than the Merrimac, and again
asserted she was much slower Senator Hale re
marked in the Senate that yesterday that she was
fixture us far as speed is concerned. and that
opinion concurred in by other Senators.
Ii has not been reliably ascertained that sim
gle shot from the Monitor penetrated the Merri-
macs iron shield, but il is satisfactorily known
that her principal injuries we're sustained when
she run into the latter Her bow run completely
over the stern of the Monitor and the sharp iron
rim of the latter penetrated the inferior protec-
lion of that part below water mark. This set her
pumps to work, and beyond shot in port hole.
which dismounted gun, IL is not probable the
Monitors guns injured her in any manner. The
late repairs consisted in strengthening her bow
internally to enable her the better to resist an
other collision, and encasing the bottom Of her
bow with iron, the same as her ssides and top. In
her late contest she carried ten 64-pounders, but
now her armament includes two or more 100
Founders. Of English make.
A battle of cannon between these vessels will
hardly result in much injury to either, but a pro.
longed engagement of that kind is not looked
| for, as the nature OF the late work upon the
Nerrimac creates the impression that she intends
agai., TO run into the Monitor, and endeayor to
sink her by crushing her sides or running her
down. The former she cannot do, as the Moni-
tor Is rs strongly built as she is, and capable of
resisting MS violent collision. but the latter is
possible under certain circumstances. The Mon
tor draws so heavily, and her displacement Is so