Weekly Trinity journal., 1862-03-29
weaverville. California, 1862
The Ericsson battery, or Monitor"

lHOhlt0F-u
came into the field as would giant in the " Ara
bian Nights" just at the nick of time, and beat
off, tanned and wounded the terribly destructive
Nerrir,ac, which the rebels have been preparing
for the past year. And what is strange, the
Monitor is not the least injured, and it is conf
IDENTIFY expected that when she next meets the
Merrimac she will sink her. We find in a number
of the New York Post. lately received, the fol-
lowing description Of the Monitor, which cannot
fail to be interesting at this time.
"The successful launch of the Ericsson Bat
tery, [now called the .Honitor,] at Green Point,
was announced yesterday. description of TINS
formidable engine of war has already been puo-
lished, but the following account of its peculiar
tiles is of Immediate interest the terms OF the
contract requiring that the battery shall be tried
and proved before its eXceptance by the Govern
ment. This trial, we understand, will take place
Immediately.
| The keel Of the battery was laid on the 22d of
October last, and the work of construction has
since been actively prosecuted under the personal
superintcndence of Capt Ericsson. The con
tractors were John Ericsson, John \. Griswold.
John +. Winslow and G. S. Bushnell The hull
of the battery was built by Thomas +. Rowland
at the Continental Works in Greenport, l.. |. ;
tbc engines at the Delamater Works the funnel
at the Novelty Works the turrct engines and
Gun carriages at Messrs. Clute Brothers factory
in Schenectady.
The vessel is sharp at both ends, and consists
of a lower and upper hnll the sides of the form
er inclning at an angle Of 81 degrees, and coming
to an end at an angle of 50 degrees. The lower
hull is iron plated. The upper section is feet
high. with perpendicular sides, and the same
sbarp ends, and is fl feet and and inches wide,
! hitting over the lower hull feet and inches on
! each side The sides of the upper section are II
little over feet in thickness. First there is an
inner guard of inch plate iron. and upon this is
section of white oak timber 30 inches thick,
| and covered with an armor inches thick, form
ed of 6 one-inch iron plates Tapped and firmly
riyited together.
| The deck or top of the battery is even with
the ton of the hull and is covered with two
thcknesses of inch plate iron, fastened to eight
inch oak plank and tcn-inch oak timber, but 26
! Inches apart. There is no railing or other OBJ
! structon on the top of the battery except II
round tower or turret. 20 feet in diameter and .
feet high and inches thick, made of plate iron.
the turret has two port holes, each feet In
diameter for two eleven-inch colunbiadS and is
also pierced for musketry. The turrct Is OF
| immense weight. but made to rcvolvc by machin-
! cry below so as to bring the guns in any desired
range, and to remove the ports from the enemy $
guns while loading. To support, protect, ana
Give efficiency to this turret is the whole object
| of the battery, although its immense weight and
power would sink any vessel with which 1T would
come in contact.
The battery is stccrcd from the front, the
wheelhouse standing before the turrct. The
wheelhouse is strongly built of iron, and can be
lowered into the hold like a bale of dry goods.
When lowered the top, which is bomb proof, is
level with, and forms part of the deck. The
Joints are water tight. The house will be pierced
for sharp shooters.
The ends of the upper vessel projecting over
the hull fore and aft serve as protection to the
propeller, rudder, and anchor The propeller IL,
| of course at the stern, aud the equipoisc rudder
behind that, and they are so protected by the
upper vessel that they cannot be struck by a
ball The anchor is in front, and is Short but
very heavy. 1t is hoisted by chain running
into the hold, up into place fitted Tor 1t
outside by small hatchways, which, when clos
ed, form part of the deck and are equally Sc
cure.
The interior of the battery presents novel
and interesting study. In the bow are the cable
and anchor chambers next the cabin and quarters
of officers and men, and amidships the cook
room, and overhead the small engine which Is TO
furnish ventilation and work the turrct. JUST
abaft are the furnaces, and in the stern the en-
cine working the propeller. The hunks for coal
wood and ammunition, and water tanks, occupy
every conceivable vacancy. The cabin is neatly
but substantially fitted up, and shows that 1t Is
meant for use more than pleasure. Taken alto
gether it would be impossible to imagine more
. material and that more substantial and service
able, and at the same time more perfect, IN Il
smaller space than is embodied with the formda
able engine of war.
OF the efficiency Of the battery, great hopes
are expressed. 1t has ne vulnerable part save
the port holes, which are exposed only for about
half minute in firing. It's sharp aud massive
iron PROV will enable it TO sink any ordinary
vessel with perfect ease. In case it is boarded
. no harm Is done. The only entrance Is al the tol
of the turret, which cannot easily be scaled
and even then, but man at a time can dc
scend There are no places IN the deck wher
an entrance can be forced so the boarding
party may stand until the sea washes them OIL
or the sharp shooters assist their departure. !
is claimed that it can steam into any port, dclIv
er its effective broadsides, and retire in pcriec
) safety.
, The battery is now about four feet above wat
er, and weighs 100000 pounds. With th'
addition of her armament coal, water ana Prov
: sions for 80 days cruise, she will be but IL
inches above water, and her entire weight WI
be 900 tons. Her columbiads will carry ronnd
balls weighing each l63 pounds, or conlcai D''''
OF $50 pounds"
lIE INIII