Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-01-15
The Mississiooi Fleet

-f't33Oef djtd th'T1c.ef ~ ne BoItS-IH He , CT-
.RceS-The Hsl.ie-rous al Cstt-o.
Perhaps no rxpedition-not even that
sent along the coast OF the Southern states
has, during the present war. been pro
jected, or Is 50 pregnant with great results
as the one now preparing at st Louis and
Cairo, tor descent OF the Mississippi
more Formidable fleet never rode Amer
lean waters nor was there one ever
sartel on this Continent which had before
it Il work SO gigantic, or one which, ii
successful, could produce resu IS 50 i'm
mcnse-inucnsc in rood to the Union in
evil to the disloyaL The possession of
Columbus and Memphis, which is prom
ised Us by this Undertaking, and the con
se4uent holding Ot the term nj Of some
oil the longest and most important railroads
in the South-the penetration into the
very heart OF the secessionists, with all
the material ana nor i effects which VIII
naturally accompany such resuit-thc
possession OF the mi. hty Mississippi the
introduction Of a loyal element INTO such
towns rs Memphis and others, given over
to the Devil OF Disunion-are among
few Of the results promised by the sue
cess Of the present undertaking.
At its last session, in the july Congress-,
ii was determined to authorize the con
struction oi seven 2unbolts and contracts
Tor their building were invited james b
Eads was the successful bidder amt ON
the Zth Of August a contract was signed
in which he a-reed to bull them for
$4,000 each. BY the terms Of the con
tract, the boats were TO be finished in SIX
ty days in case they were not, there WAS
provided forfeit OF 500 Tor each day
they remained unfinished beyond this
time
The ,ontract also provided that the
boats were to be l13 iect In length, 81
feet six inches beam, and wlen ioadej to
draw five feet Each was to have two
engines and five bon ers, with five fues
cach-cyIinders twenty-five inches, with
six feet stroke; wheel Of wrought iron,
20 be placed near the stern, Ike ferry
boat, So a- to be as little exposed a posi-
ble. \ small engine, to pump water into
the boiler, was also to be provided All
the machinery was to be 50 placed as to
be under water, the boats TO have an ave
rare OF $50 tons to be Gat-boltomed and
cou~t uctsl OF the heaviest and best oak
timber; the sides covered with plates OF
the best charcoal iron. two and a half
inches in thickness, and ~ecurelv bo-tcd
together and TO the wood work within
The sides were to incline inward at an
angle o, about - degrees, so as 10 turn or
glance off ; missile the bottom 0 have
the same inclination towards the kcei-
Each boat was to carry fifteen @unS-lve
siXty-eight 20 nd coiumbials at each side.
three ritled guns at the bow ami TWO at
the stern. The guns and gunners were
to be protected by casemates rising seven
feet from the deck, constructed ot heavy
timber, plated with IRON
This IS, in the main, m outline Of the
boats as contracted for, and as they now
are, except in the case OF the BeatoH, OF
which a more particular description is
given below.
Contractor Eals i'm ediateIv went to
work with he greatest talaeritv-employed
all the saw-mIlls possible. and set all the
men at work that the nature of the thinE
Would permit Five OF the boats were
built here three at Mound CITY Four
more have since been added 10 the fleet
that were brought here from the Ohio
river
\ large number Of mortar boats and
transports were also contracted for, anI
now are all completed. They are as fol-
lows
Guuhoats .--......-.-.-.... .....-...--.-- y
Tugs and Steamboats,. ......... IS
The names Of the gunboats are as fol-
lows