Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-11

to it in such manner that they essentially
form part of it. These beams are planned
perfectly rue, are seven inches deep by four
inches wide, and placed perfectly parallel
IN the turret both guns pointing in The same
direction. This permits the officer working
tile guns TO take his aim by sights fixed WITH
tie tnrret instead ofwith the guns in the usu-
al way, which requires personal exposure
when taking the ann. The ports through the
side OF lie tuuet are only sufficiently wide To
permit 1T the passage through them OF the
Inuzzie of the guns, and with Just enough adj
diilon, vertically, for the elevation required.
Inside of these swing iron penduiums, which
close them against the enemy soon as the
gun recolls. The whole is made to revolve
10y pair OF steam engines placed beneath the
deck the handle which governs them passing
up INTO the turret convenient TO the hand of
the officer who aims the gun.
HER AMMUNITION.
AT the Novelty Iron Works a quantity of
solid wrought iron shot was forged for the
Monitor, each one weighing 1877 pounds,
These were Intended for periprating and sink
ing iron clad vessels Of the enemy whose sides
are the ordinary height above the water line
Besides these she carries quantity of cast
iron shots, weighing IT'S pounds each, and one
hundred rounds Of shells, in weight 155 pounds
each.
THE MACHINERY.
MIR. G. II. Delamater fitted this vessel with
machinery. 1t consists of two horizontal tn
oular boilers, containing 5000 square feet of
fire surface, and two horizontal condensing en-
giues Of 4Oinches diameter of cylinders, by y
inches stroke of pisions. The propeller is 9
feet diameter, l6 feet pitch, and has four
blades. Her speed is about 6 knots an
hour. All her machinery is below water-line.
THE MONITORS OFFICERS.
The following were the officers of the Mon.
itor when she left New York, seven days
ago.
Lieutenant Commandiug-JofnS S. Worden
Lieutenant and Executive Officers. ID.
Green
Acting Masters-L. N, Stodder and ]. W.
Webber.
Acting Assistant Paymaster-William F.
keeler.
Acting Assistant Surgeon-D. c. Logue.
Chief Engineer-A. c. Steiners.
Engineers-First Assistant, Isaac Newton
Second Assistant, Albert S Campbell; Third
Assistants r. w. Sands and NJ. T. Sunstron.
Acting Masters Mate-George Frederick
son.
THE SCIENTIFIC PLAN OF THE MONITOR.
Capt. Ercssons idea in building the Mont
tor was to give the greatest buoyancy to the
vessel, and as small target as possible 10 the
enemy, so as TO enable him TO completely
protect every part, all its attachments, and
every person on board, when under the fire
OF an enemy. He conceived that to do this
| was to build broad flal-bottomed vessel with
| vertical sides and pointed ends, so that i.
requires but shallow depth to displace water
sufficient to buoy itself up, though loaded with
| an Impregnabie armOr upon its sides, and
bomb proof deck upon which is placed shot
proof revolving turret containing two of the
heaviest Dahlgren guns. To ensure such a
vessel the power of lOComotion, it was only
necessary to suspend beneath it a vessel OF
| Spffi t.ia nj
sloping at the sides, that it, as actual expert
ment has proved possible, the enemy's missile
should pass below the shot proof upper vessel,
these sides can only be hit at such an acute
angle that little harm is likely to ensue and
IN its length approaching the bow only so
nearly that its raking stem may receive the
shot fired from directly ahead in the same
way, and at the stern giving sufficient space
to permit the dipping shot coming from direct
~ ait to pass under the shot proof end direct
ly on Its course, without hitting the rudder,
which is placed abatt the propeller
The sides Of the upper vessel are first form.
ed OF plate iron half an inch thick, outside of
which is attached solid white oak twenty.six
inches thick, which again receives the rolled
iron armor of five inches thickness. The
bomb proof deck is supported by well stanch
Toned and diagOnally braced oak beams en-
inches square, placed with their faces enty-
Six inches apart, upon which is laid panking
seven inches thick, covered with rolled plate
iron one inch thick. AS the bottoms of these
beams are on level with the water line, the
armOr above water is supper ell by a backing
of forty.one feet in depth. The lower vessel
is OF iron, one half inch thick, made in the
usual manner and contains in lis after part
the steam machinery and coal, and in the lor-
ward part-the poop being divided by IL
wrought iron bukhead-the quarters for the
officers and crew, and the ammunition and
Tn, IL.
vessel, it must not be imagined that they are
constructed separately they form together
one vessel; il is only as respects form that
they can be regarded as two.
THE PILOT HOUSE AND ANCHOR.
The pilot is protected by shot proof pilot
house, which alone weighs $4,000 pounds
The house stands five ieet above the level of
; the deck The anchor is suspended from
circular well, open at the bottom, situated in
the extreme bow OF the upper vessel, and con-
nected with the capStan i'll the bow OF the low
er one. An arrangement is also provided Tor
" taking soundings below the water line.
THE TURRET.
The turret spoken OF above is for the pro-
lection Of the men while working the guns :;
i'll fact, no one is exposed or seen by the enc.
my. The turret reyolyes and consists, first
of rolled plate iron skeleton, one inch thick,
to which is riyetad two thcknesses, of one
: inch each, of rolled iron plates Outside of
= these riveted plates are six lhickhesses, of one
: inch each, OF rolled iron plates. Outside of
these riveted plates six thicknesses, of one
inch each, of rolled plates boIled firmly to the
1 first two tlicknesses with screw bolts having
: deep countersunk heads on the outside aud
| nuts within, so that if in action the enemy s
shot should loosen any of the plates they can
easily be reastened. The seams are vertical,
and these break joints with each other, cOnse.
quently no shot can strike the seam of more
than one thickness. The top is covered with
bonbproof root, placed six inches down
within the turret, and perforated with holes
In addition to the above the gunners are pro.
, tected by a shield, within the turret, of one
and half inch thickness.
The Ericsson Battery was not intended for
/ an ordinary cruiser, but for the defense of our
! harbors aud coast, and for operations such AS
, those in v hich she has just achieved a signal
success. She is enabled to carry eight days
fuel, and thus can proceed easily from port to
> port along our seaboard. Provisions for three
= months can be stowed away in her, anu con-
! densing apparatus tor supplying fresh water
\ to the officers and crew las been fitted up on
: | board.
On the 3D. inst, the Monitor went on a trial
trip down the Bay in New York harbor, about
five miles beyond tort Lafayette Her steer
; ing qualities were found to be all that could
ne desired The Guns vera hrpd ia taet tLa