The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-03-19
VOL. I, NO. 4S.-WHOLE NO. $50.
From the Chicago ZINES
Tne Moustor-Letter from Lieut.. WOrSlen
giving description NJ the Vessel.


After the rebel eontrivance, the Nerimsc had
dined upon the two Federal sailing frigases,
supped upon the land batteries, and enjoyed q
comfortable nights repose, she moved down
towards the Minnesota and ST. Lawrence in en-
tire confidence that they had been reserved for
leisure breakfast. What must have been her
surprise when, just in the &C, q, making the rs.
past, the htse Monitor steamed forward and eh-
lectsd 10 the contamination, and how the sur
prise must have heightened into amsaement
when the same little craft deliberately proceeded
TO Close Qsrters With her.
The Monitor is the erandest achievement IN
naval warfare. She has realized the hishrst an.
tlcipstions OF her protector, and these ~ers by
no means moderate. Her commander has NO
more than realized the antcspations Of those
who know him best, to whom IL is cf course
cause OF JOY that the government uill feel re-
paid for the confidence il gave him We ap-
pend brief description of the vessel by Lieut.
worden himselfin private letter TO his brother,
| one OF the publishers OF this paper:
"New York, Jan. "a, 1864
"DEAR BRorHkR- She il suppo-
sed TO be shot proof Her hull fuau Is inches
above the water and i r..vars ed ~ nh five thick
ncsees Of wroughtiron plates, each ! inch thick.
to point l-2 feet below water line. Her deck
10 covered Win I-incn wrought Ircn A wrought.
iron turret, II l.2 feet outside diameter, y fces
high and inches thick, lie placed near the cen
tire OF buoyancy. In this turret are mounted
two ll.inch Dahlgren guns The turret re-
wolves, and 10 turned round with great facility
by steam. its movements being controlled BY
the commanding officer inside. As che goes in.
to action, there is nothing above her deck bus
the turret and a shot-proof pilot house, and,
when che Is anchored outside q fort or battery.
the latter 10 lowered below the deck In that
position, if she is boarded BY the enemy, they
| cannot get below nor in the turret, and her
decks can be swept by her own guns loaded
with canister. She is propelled by steam, aud
il expected to 60 eight knots the hour, and car.
| res eight days coal at that speed is fat bot
toned, and draws ten feet water. She 10 not
intented for cruiser; only to 60 from port 70
port on our own coast. Great hopes Of her sue.
cess are entertained by her constructor and
Others, and, il she answers their expectations.
| she will be very serviceable vessel and will
have some rough worx to do.
Length OF upper vessel, l72 feet;
/ .-.l T f------t e.
Breadth nf "rnsr vss..i. 40 Ca. 4 i--...,
Depth OF upper vessel feet;
Breadth OF lower vessel at top, So feet:
! Breadth Of lower vessel at bottom, l6 feet:
Depth of lower vessel, 6 feet inchea
"As you may imagine, her apartments are
/
expect much comfort in her; but II her capsbil.
tiles turn out as we hope for, shall be veil sat.
isfed to rough it, 1t seems that Commodore
Smith, Of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, has
bad the supervision Of her construction, ard il
greatly interested in her success had letter
from him, which is quite complimentary 10 its
Tone stating that he named me for the command,
whereupon, examined the vessel ana accepted
at once, getting my orders by return mail.
apprehend that it is the intention Of the Depart
ment, il she proves successful, to build the
twenty iron clad gunboats recently authorized
by Congress on her plan, with notifications sug-
gested by experience"
The Monitor Was furnished with q peculiar
description Of projectiles for use by the two
Dablgrens with which she 10 armed. They con-
eissed of four hundred wrought-iron shot. each
hall costing tAo, and weighing one hundred and
eighty four pounds. Tbos" balls 70 made BY
forging square blocks Of iron at the Novelty
Works, West Point, New York, aud then turn.
ing them at the lathe. The cost of the 400
amounts TO SIS, ,O0O and their total weight IL
$4,000 pounds. Cast-ron shot arc liable to
break in pieces when fred against thick iron
plates These wrought-iron shot," the Sciss.
tife American Of late date remarked, "are Tor
smashing through the sides of such secession
floating batteries as the Merrimac at Norfolk :
This was certainly very correct prediction o.
to their destination.