Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-03-19

| The battery externally presents to the fire
| of the enemy's guns hull rising about eigfl-
teen inches above the water, and a sort OF
| Martelo tower, twenty feet in diameter, and
ten feet high. The smoke stack during action
| Is lowered into the hold, it being made with
telescopc slides. The hull is sharp at both
ends, the bow projecting and coming TO a
! point at an angle of eighty degrees to the YER
ticie line. 1t is fat bottomed, six and halt
feet in depth. one hundred and twenty four
feet long, thirty -four feet wide st the top, and
| is built of light three eighth inch iron. An
| other, upper hull, rests on this with perpeu-
dicular sides and sharp ends, five feet high,
forty feet -four inches wide, one hundred aud
seventy -four feet long, extending over the
sides of ,he lower hull three feet seven inches,
and each eud twenty five feet. thus serv-
ing as protection to the propeller, rudder,
and anchor, The sides of the Il pper hull are
| composed Of an inner guard OF iron, wall Of
white oak thirty inches thick. covered with
an iron armor six inches thick.
When in readiness for actioG, the lower hull
is totally immersed, snd the upper one Is sunk
3 feet inches, leaving sHly Is inches above
water. The interior is open TO the bottom
like sloop, the deck which Is bomb proof
coming flush with the top OF the upper hutl
No railing or bulwark OF any kind appears
above the deck, and the only things exposed
are the turtet or cttideI, the wheel hoase and
the box crowning the smoke stack. The in
clination OF the lower hull il such that bs
to strike it In any part must pass through at
least 70 feet OF water, aud then strike an in
ciined from surface at an angle of about 10 de-
grees. In the event of the enemy boarding
the battery they do harm, as the euiy
entrance is at the top of the citidel which
cannot easily be scaled, and even then only
one man at a time can descend into the hull
This ferret Is revolving, bomb proof fort
and mounts two ll-inch guns. 1t is protected
by eight thicknesSes Of inch iron, overlapping
so that at one spot Is there more than
one inch thickness of joint. A shell proof
fiat roof Cf perforated plate iron placed
forged beams, inserted six inches down the
cylinder, covers the top. The sliding hatch
in this cover is perforated. to give light. and
for musketry fire In case the battery is board
ed. spur-wheel 81 inches In diameter
moved 10y double cylinder eng ne, turns the
ferret, guns and all, rod connected with the
running gear of the engine enabling the gun
ner to control the aim. The guns move in
forged iron slides across the ferret, the car
cIages being made to tt them accurately.
these guns,were furnished with 400 wrought
iron shot by the Novelty Works, each ball
weighing lS4 pounds and costing S47. The
balls were made by forging square blocks OF
iron, which were afterwards turned in the
lathe. Cast iron shot would break against
such vessal as the Merrmac, and these shot
were forged for the especial purpose of smash
ing through her sides. Lieut.. Wordon in.
tended in case the Merrimac lid not come
out, to go into Norfolk harbor and hay his
vessel alongside of her there. She saved him
that trouble.