Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-13


efesS q lie last session made an appropria-
tlsn 81 81, 500, 600 for building iron-olad
vessels. and Captain Ericsson submitted 10
tie oonmiHsioners who we're appointed to
examine the proposals q plan for an i'm.
pregnable iron battery, which should be
novel yet simple in its construction. His
plans we're approved, and the contract for
baildine the battery was awarded to G. s..
Bushnell B Co. By the terms Of the eon-
tract & is 10 be fnished and equipped for
actiVe service in one hundred days from
the Oh Of October. IL Is not to be accepted
if on being subjected 20 The enemy's guns
at the shortest range, il fails 70 fulfill the
pledges made in regard to it. So confident
, are the Inventor and contractors Of its sue
ooss, that one Of these gentlemen remarked
that he shoald bo perfectly ready to suter
into aeontraoi % take any city that can be
approached By water.
~,--- TIE HULL.
Avoiding Sc far as possible technical
terms and phrases, let rs examine the yes
81 and gather IS clear an idea as possible
q Is structure. The hull is sharp at both
eds, and instead Of the gradual curve Of
cusWstsr the BON projects, and coming 10
3 point at an angle Of eighty degrees, the
4 sides, instead cf the ordinary bulge, incline
4 81 an anEle Of about fftv-One degrees 70
4 the vertical lire. This hull is hatbottOm--
\ Cd, six feet six inches in depth, and built
\ Qnits light, of three eighth inch iron. Ii Isl
(, ohe hundred and tHenty-four feet long,
and thirty-four feet vide Ct the top. ~
Il iRestiag on this is smother, OF upper hull,
lal5o ist-bott6msd, with perpendioulaf sides
snd pointed ends. i Is forty.one feet and
-four inches vide, 60 that it juls over che
lover hull on each side three feet and seven
inches. Il is one hundred and seventy
1our feet long, thus extending twenty. i've
fart bEyond the hull ct each end. Ths
siiessr6 Eve feet high, and when in hght-
L ing order the hull wiz be entirely i'm
\ msrssd, and the upper one sunk three feet
elk inches, thus leaving but eighteen in9hss
4 both f5re ana ab6fl shove water, the bat
tsTy drawing ten feet of water.
\ The sides Of this upper hull are composed
Of IN inner guard Of iron outside Of this
lzs Is strsnely fastened Wan Of white oak,
thirty inches Thick and covered with an
ison armor six inches in thickness. The
bottom Of this vessel e Joined to the hull,
- that the Interior is open to the bottom,
e il . sloop. The deck comes hush with
the top Of the upper hull and is bomb proof
First is 3 frame Of oak beams, ten inches
S91ars and tWenty-Bix inches apart GOV.
efed with eightinoh plank, and protected
With two layers Of iron, each an inch thick
IhsFe viii be no railing or bulEark Of any
Had above the deck.
ne ends Of the UPPER vessel projecting 6
oEsr the hull, fore and sbaft, serve as a
1I0tsolion to the propeller, rudder and an
oh0r. 9he propeller is Of course ct tht
E,ern, and the equipoise rudder behind
that, and they GRE 50 protected BY the up
mr. vessel that they cannot be struck by 6
bali. The anchor is in front, and is shorI
Int very heavy. Il is hoisled,b chair
Tunning into the hold, up into q place fit
! fsd for It, outside of the lower hull, bu
4 uithin The imPTegnsble walls Of The uPpsl
hlIL - .7-z--... ssg -e.sg
Tha Inclination Of the lower hull is such
4 lfhEt B ban to strike It in any part mus
!. psss through at least twenty-five feet Q
\ water, and then strike sn inclined iro
A surface, at al angle Of about ten degrees
Z 1tff, fhsfefore, absolutely protected, yet 8
T llieht Is 70 give great buoyancy. A bal
z .gtFiking the eighteen inches Of expose
+ lnppsr-huli, to DO material damage mHl
uass through six inches Of iron, thirt
inohss Of white oak, ard then about ha
An inch more Of iron. Il ie oxoeedingl
doubtful Whether southern ingenuity b
1nVented gun thst win accomplish It,
! Tks hall being finished, We will go Q
board. Only three things are expose
abeFe deck. In the center is the turret
citadel, the wheel house, and possibly
box around The smoke-esospe,
FHT WHEFL-HoUgF
/ Tie battery viii be steefed from Z
front, and the Nhoel-house viii stand
i5SEs tho tuTrsi. twill be Of iron, We
strong, though during action 1t is not
1 tended that II should be exposed. II @
4 be lowered into the hold Like bale Of
1 goods on one Of the Broadway sideWs
! faiis. When lowered, the top, which
I bomb-proof, Is level with, and forms pl
4 Il the deck. The joints are Waier-tigl
/ Tie house viii be pierced for sharpsho
/ TIE CHIMNEY.
Ehs draft for the furnaces Is a fOTt
4 one, and in action no chimney will be us
I aa the smoke win pass through bomp-pr'
/ Rrstings In the deck. As the deck will
! oontinhallg washed by the sea, the accu
! alktion Of oinders, So, will be Of no con
I qusncs. Probably q small guard will 8
! round the gratings, to prevent heavy s
breaking ever them, and continuance
made 10 prevent what water may dash o
( from going into the furnaces.
"a TIE TURREF.
Ths y hole vessel thus described is bu
bed to support the castle. The turi
/ wkioh is the important feature Of the str
/ furs. is s ronnd ey Under twenty feet in
! terror diameter and nine feet high. II
I built entirely Of iron plates, one inch
ffiskness, eight Of them securely bO
] ol. ona over ths other, with the jci
! overlapping each other. Within this L
i IS lining Of iron one inch thick, {
diving nine inches Of solid iron. IL r
I On bed plate, OF rather ring made Of Q
position, which is securely fastened 10
deck. 10 help support the weight vi
is about g hundred tons, vertical 8
ten inches in diameter is attached and
tened to the bulkhead. The top is peI
nted 10 aIlOE the smoke Of the guns.
even more, ths eOnoussion Of the al
rass oif. Ths ooncussion from 3 gun I
n q small close room would kill the inn
/ e Quiokly IS though the ball had stl
them. In small casemates men ca
work for more than q couple Of hours
tine, the ooncussion Of the sir can
ssmstimes bleeding ct the nose and
Treauentiy ths men have to be IN
down &c oarsfully aG raee-hOrse ats
y yioaoEy. The top has alse some small