Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-05

The conduct of the Monitor In her first en-
gagement with the AerTimac, demonstrated her
ability at least 20 hold her own with the rebel
monster but the prevailing opinion that she is
invulnerable Is not well founded, and neither IS
the confidence that she can take or sink the
Merrmac jasti6abe. There are two points OF
ynlnerabiliiy about her which once successfully
assaulted places her AZ the mercy of her antago-
mist. The hsrt-her piloi-house, and The second.
her port-h holes in the turret Her pilot house is
square ia form. and built OF iron logs eight inches
square. piled upon each other and dovetailed at
the ends-vtrv similar 70 the body of a log cabin
OF hewa timber. shot from the Nerrimae
broke one OF these logs completely in two pieces,
showing that il is possible TO batter down the
structure but il is not even necessary 20 do this
TO njure her steering gear, for the conclusion of
the above mentioned shot injured that important
apparatus 10 such extent TO prevent ner
from following the Merrimac when that vessel
returned 10 Norfolk. The interior of the tur-
ret Is full Of complicated machinery in addition TO
the platform, carriages gearing and guns when
ever they are about TO be fired and shell thrown
in at n port hole will play complete smash up
with her offensive arrangements There are two
-holes-each two feet square-small objects
certainly, but well worth the persevering atten-
ton of an enemy who knows the damage which
will result from a shot thrown into them.
impossible to construct floating engine of war
with less; but they are fatal should the enemy
assail them successfully. Another point upon
which there is much doubt and uncertainty Is her
speed very important one, too, from the fact
that, unless she can catch the Merrimac, all her
other good qualities of no avail. liz has been
said ste faster than the Merrimac, and again
asserted she was much slower. Senator Hale re
marked in the Senate that yesterday that she WAS
fs.sIs.~ f.r Il. aud hot
opinion was concurred in by other Senators
Ii has not been reliably ascertained that a sin
gle shot from the Monitor penetrated the Merri-
macs iron shield, but il is satisfactorily known
that her principal injuries were sustained when
she run into the latter. Her bow run completely
over the ste II of the Monitor, and the sharp iron
rim OF the latter penetrated the inferior protec
ton of that part below water mark. This set her
pumps to work, and beyond shot in port hole,
which dsmounted a gun. it is not probable the
Monitors guns injured her in any manner The
late repairs consisted in strengthening her bow
internally to enable her the better to resist an
other collision, and encasing the bottom of her
bow with iron, the same as her sides and top. In
her late contest she carried ten 64-pounders, but
now her armament includes two or more 100
Founders. of English make.
\ battle of cannon between these vessels will
hardly result in much injury to either. buta pro
{
for. rs the nature OF the late work upon the
Aerrimac creates the impression that she intends
agar, to run into the Monitor, and endeavor TO
sink her by crushing her sides or running her
down The former she cannot do. as the Mont
tor is as strongly built she is. and capable OF
resisting violent collision, but the latter ia
possible under certain circumstances. The Mon
itOr draws so heavily, and her displacement is so
disproportionatey great, it only requires an addi
tOnal weight OF one hundred tons to sink her.
and should the Merrmac run that much of her
weight upon her. down she must go But the
Confederate vessel must have very deep water in
which to execute such maneuver, for should she
try 1t in water too shallow she may send the Mon
itor To the bottom, and stick fast on top of her,
unable to disengage herself. The depth must be
sufficient to sink the Monitor clear of her bot
tom, otherwise her own weight will hold her on
top of the former, perfectly helpless, like ship
on the rocks.
The Merrimac is now hourly expected to come
out and renew the engagement with the Monitor
Great confidence is felt in the stauch little Union
craft, and it may not be misplaced, but should
the result of the contest be unsatisfactory to our
cause, the above sketch of the two vessels may
show that too much expected of her.