Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-20
THE ERICSSON BATTERY.


The successful launch oil the Ericsson Battery Of
Greeupont was 1unced yesterday. description Of
.his formidable engine Of hAs already been publish
ei IN the Evening Pot but the following account Of s
pecua rites Is Of immediate Interest the terms Of the
contract requiring that the battery shall be tried ard
proved before its acceptance BY the government This
trial We understand, will take place immediately.
Tie seel Of tbe battery laid on the 2ai Of 0c,.
las aud the work Of construction has since been
lively prosecuted under the personal supernend OF
Capt Ericsson. The eontrac John Ericsson,
J,hu A. 6rsUold John =. WinsloW and O. s. Rashnel
The null of the battery bull BY Thonas s. Rowan
Al the Continental Works 10 GEesnpont, Long Island
ID, sines az the DsGmster Works the funnel the
NNely Works the tu'r,t engines and gun carriages
at asssrs CluIe Bsothers' factory in Schenectady.
The vessel is sharp at both eHds AID consists Of a
lover ard upper hull the sides Of the former incping
At AZ angle OF h0y-one degrees, and coming TO point
II sach end at angle Of eighty degreeS The lower
hull is iroa plated Toe upper section is Ave feet high
with perpsndicslT sides and the same shape ends and
is feet four inches vide utng the lower
hull three fee inches each side The sides oil
this upper section little three feet in thick.
ness FIRST ID Is AZ inner guard OF irsa plate IRON
sad unon this i section OF white oak timber thirty
:acae6 thick, and covered with amor six inches
thick formed OF SIX one-inch iron plates tapped and
army riVeted together.
Toe deck or top OF the battery even With the top Of
the hull and Il covered with two thcknesses Of iLch
plate iron ened eSh:ineh oak plank and en-inch
oak timber but tHenty-siI inches apart. There Ia 70
Airg other Obstruction on the top OF the battery
cept rouad tower turret twenty feet ia dAmattr
and nine es high and eight inches thick made Of plate
iron. Tho has two portholss each two feet in
diameter tor eleven inoh columbi,ds and ls also
pierced for muskery The turret Is Of immense weight
but made to reyoVe by machinery below, to bring
the guns 10 any desired range and 20 remove the ports
from the enemys guns while loading. To support pro-
o, aud give efficiency this turret is the whole object
Of the battery although lie Immense weight aud pow or
would sink aly vessel ah which t should ID con-
tact
The battery Is s.eegsi from the front. the wheelloue
Standing before the turre TIE vheelhouse Is strongly
built OF iron, and car be lowered into the hold like a
bale Of dry goo1s. When lowered, the top which ia
bomb proof Is level til aud forms part Of the deck
The j1nt5 are water tight Tbs house will be pierced
for Sbarp thooters
The elds Of The rppsr vessel prof citing over the hull
fore aud Eb IT. serve as protection TO the propeller
Fadi,r and anchor The propeller is Of course, At the
Stern and the equpoise rudder behind that and they
are protected by the upper vessel that they canrp:
be struck by bill The anchor Is in 'front.' and snort
on very heavy IL Is hoisIed by chain running into
lie hed w Ole place 6:,ed for H. outside OF the low
or hull The entrance tue hold is by nA hatch sAys
al CD when eloied form part OF the deck and are
equally secure,
TIE interior Of the battery presents q novel and IT,
terssng study. In the bow are tho cable and anchor
chamber; mex, the cabin ard quarters Of ofSers and
men, ard am.dships the cook room, snd overhead the
small engine which to furnish ventilation ard work
the trrre us abai the ruraeces and IN the sierra
lhs engine Eorklg propeller. The hunks for coal wood
and ammunition aud the WateT-tanks, occupy every
conceivable vacancy. The cabin Is saty but cubs tan
italy fitted 1p and shows that ia meant ior use
than pleasure Taken altogether Il would be Impossible
10 in gns more material and that more substantial and
servesable, ard st the same time more perfect, In
smaller space than IL inboded within this formidable
eDeiuo Of warfare
or the efficiency OF the battery great hopes are eI
pressed Il has no vunersbs part save the port holes
which arc exposed only for about half minute In firing
3 sharp and massive iron prov will enable il TO SIM
any ordinary vessel with perfect case. In case IL
boarded no harm Ia done. The only entrance Is a. th'
TOD Of The turret which cannot easily be scaled an'
even then bu, one man At time can descend. TIER
arc no places in the deck where entrance can b
Forced 20 the boarding party may stand until the sc
washes them o the Sharpshooers assist ther tepar
lure Il il claimed that Il steam into any port de
liver lie tsctuSl broa 1sidGs and retire 10 safety.
The battery s about four feet above water, ant
weighs about 100000 pounds With the addition o
her armament, co.., water and provisions for thir
days cruise she will be but eighteen inches above water
and her entire weight will be nine hundred tonG He
tHo eollmbiads viii carry round bslls Weighing sae
enc hundred and eighty three pounds oonoG bas Q
three hundFsd and aty poundi-N y Post.