Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-01-16
For the Charles City Intelligence
The Great Stevens Battery.

Mr.. EDIroR At this time, when by
some q war is still considered immi.
nent with England, a nation whose
boast and glory has been her navy,
and who at this time, in the iron clad
frigate Warrior" is said to possess
a vessel impervious to shot or shell,
and which could steam into the harbor
of New York, throw hot shot, burn
the city, and leave with impunity, it
may be interesting to your readers to
know something of the famous "Ste-
vcns Battery" which has been 50 long
in course of construction, and which,
when complete, will give us vessel
superior even to the Warrior of Eng.
land, or the La Gloire Of France. En-.
closed / send somewhat detailed ac-
count Of the Monster Battery" which
| take from the New York Herald Of
the l4th inst: II.
December 2s.h, 1861.
About twenty years ago Robert l..
Stevens and Edwin A. Stevens, Esqs.,
of New York, invented and projected
what they thought an indispensable
machine for the protection of New
York harbor As soon as their plans
were completed they submitted them
to the proper Federal authorities at
Washington. The subject was re-
specially entertained, and referred
to a government board then organized
with reference to coas: and harbor dc.
fences. The board was composed of
Commodores Stewart and Perry, of
the navy, and Coils. Totten and Perry,
of the army. 1t is presumed the re-
port of these gentlemen was highly
favorable to the inventors of the ma
chine in question, as in 1912, the year
following, Messrs Stevens consumma-
ted contract with the government
for the immediate construction of their
immense battery. The contract was
a provisional one, based upon the fol-
lowing facts, viZ:-At that time the
steam frigates Missouri and Missis.
sippi had been built for the United
States Navy but, as they were con-
structcd without any stated sum be-
ing appropriated for their payment.
their actual cost was not known until
long after they had entered active ser.
vice. In this state of affairs tho gov
ernmcnt agreed with Messrs. Stevens
for the latter to build the battery, pro-
vided it's entire cost would not exceed
one-llalf as much as the aggregate
cost of building the two vessels before
mentioned. On these terms the con-
tract was consummated. The Missis-
sippi and Missouri cost over one mil
lion of dollars-a fact not ascertained
until Messrs. Stevens had commenced
the construction of their battery.
From the date of the contract for this
machine even up to the present time a
veil of mystery has been drawn over
the origin, character, size and appear
ance of it. Some people insisted that
the whole thing was myth. or fat
contract with the government; others
insisted that it was hexagonal plat
form, or battery, on the plan of the
mammoth derricks of this day; others
imagined it was large square tank,
a battcring ram. and SO on, to an in
definite number of shapes. The se-
crcsy attached to the plan and con-
struction was highly necessary for the
protection Of the government against
the cncroachments of foreign Powers.
Now, when the mystery is unveiled,
we see an immense war machine, com
bining all the beautiful lines, symmc,
try and speed Of North river steam
boat, the strength Of the best con.
structed ship afioat, and war vessel
probably ontrivalling the modern iron
clad frigatcs of the navies of Europe
and revealing the facts that in this
machine all the important improve
ments in iron ships and machinery
which are now styled modern and as.
cribed to European inventors, but
which in fact were made by two Of
our own townsmen twenty years ago,
but from motives of honor to the
country, and the contract with the
| Federal Government have been until
now withheld from the public. These
inventions combine high steam, the
screw propeller, hollow and fine lines
fore and aft, the iron hull, the box or
tubular bridge framing, the link mo.
tion or steam reverse gear and inclln-
ed armor. The improvements ad-
vanced at that early day, and not yet
adopted in the best practice, are the
two screws for rapid turning, the wa
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