The weekly Butte record., 1862-03-29
edeeklp 8utts8eturb
The Ericsson Steamer


The following descrintio, If tho E-;o..o,
battery or Monitor. now become f,,non. go
her encounter with the Merrjmac. Is rom n,
New ork Evening Post
he successful launch of the Ericsson Ra.
'ery tnow called the Monitorl, at Greeupoint
was announced yesterday. a description 0
'his formidable engine Of war has already beer
puoished, but the following account of its ne
cuiiaritles Is OF immediate interest the term,
OF Inc contract requiring that the battery shall
ne tried and proved before its acceptance by
the Government. This trial, we understand
Will take place Immediately.
1he keel OF the battery was laid on the 22d
OF october last, and the work of construction
mas since been actively prosecuted, under the
personal superintendence of Capt. Ericsson.
ihe contractors were John Ericsson, John A
Iriswold, John F. Wiuslow and c. 5. Bush.
neil The hull of the battery was built br
homas +. Rowland at the Continental Works
10 ireenport, Long Island the engines at the
Delamater Works the funnel at the Novelty
orks; the turret engines and gun carriages
AZ Messrs. Clnte Brothers factory in Schenec-
tady
The vessel is sharp at both ends. and con
sists OF lower and upper hull the sides of
tue lormer inclining at an angle Of 5l9 and
coming TO point at each end at an angle of
eighty degrees The lower hull is iron plated
/ ne upper section is FIVE feet high, with per
pendleuar sides, aud the same sharp ends, and
Is Al feet inches wide, jutting over the lower
hull 3 feet and inches on each side The
sides OF the upper section are little over 3
teet in thickness. First there is an inner guard
ol inch plate lrou, and upon this is a section Of
white eak timber 30 inches thick, and covered
=
one 'nch iron plates Tapped and firmly rYeted
together
me deck or top Of the battery Is even with
'he top Of the hull and is covered with two
thcknesses Of inch plate iron, fastened to ter
inch oak timber, but 26 inches apart. There
Is no railing or other obstruction on the top of
sse battery, except round tower or turret, 20
ieet IN diameter. and 9 feet high, inches thick,
made of plate iron. The turret has two port
holes, each two feet in diameter. for two H.
inch coumbiads, and is also pierced for mus
kerry. The turret is of immense weight, but
made to revolve by machinery below, so as TO
bring the guns 10 any desired range, and to
remove the ports from the enemy's guns while
loading. To support, protect, and give eff
cheney to this turret is the whole object Of the
battery, although its immense weight aud
power would sink any vessel with which it
should come in contact.
The battery is steered in front, the wheel
house standing before the turret. The wheel
house IS strongly built of iron, and can be
lowered into the hold like a bale OF drvgoods
W hen lowered the top which is bomb proof,
Is level with, and forms part OF the deck The
Joints are water tight. The house viii 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, aud anchor The pro-
peller Is, of course, at the stern, and the equ-
poise rudder behind that, and they are so
protected by the upper vessel that they cannot
be struck by ball. The anchor is in front,
and is short but very heavy. 1t is hoisted by
a chain running into the hold, up into place
fitted for it outside by small hatchways which,
when closed, form part Of the deck and are
equally secure
The interior Of the battery presents a novel
and interesting study. In the bow are the
cable and anchor chamber next the cabin
nnd quarters OF officers and men, and amidships
the cook room, and overhead the small engine
winch Is TO furnish ventilation and work the
turret Just abaft are the furnaces, and in the
stern the engine working the propeller. The
bunss for coal wood and ammunition, and
~ ""'N' 'AdNNf occupy cNCiN CUuCciNuote
Vacancy. The cabin is neatly but suhstan
TALLY fitted up, and shows that it is meant for
nse more than pleasure. Taken altogether it
would be impossible to imagine more material
aad more substantial aud serviceable. and at
the same time more perfect in a smaller space
than is embodied within this formidable engine
~ warfare.
OF the efficiency Of the battery. great hopes
are expressed. 1t has no vulnerable part save
the port holes, winch 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 en-
trance Is to the top of the turret, which cannot
easily be scaled and even then, but one man
at time can descend There are no places
in the deck where au entrance can be forced.
SO the boarding party may stand until the sea
washes them of, or the sharpshooters assist
their departure 1t is claimed that it can
steam into any port, deliver its effective broad
sides, and retire in safety.
The battery is now about four feet above
water. and weighs 100000 pounds. With
the addition of her armament, coal water and
provisions for thirty days cruise, She will be
but eighteen inches above water, and her entire
weight will be eco tons. Her two coumbiads
will carry round balls weighing each lS3
pounds, or conical balls Of 350 pounds