Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-12
The Ericsson BATTERY.

The Ericsson floating battery, just completed
and known as the Monitor in shape and machine
~. is ordinary propeller. l73 feet in length,
al feet beam and IL feet depth of hold A re-
volving fort, which contains two III inch Dahl
gren guns, is placed upon the deck near the cen
ter of the vessel. This fort or bomb proof is %
feet diameter inside. 10 feet in hight. and s feet
in thickness The hull is built of iron, and to
protect the sides, the vessel is covered with one
layer of oak 10 inches in thickness another layer
OF oak ID inches in thickness and the whole plated
with six plates OF inch iron. The whole
thickness of the sides is therefore three feet of
solid wood and iron, exclusive of any ribs OF
braces in the interior There are no buiwarks
upon the deck, which is covered with heavy plates
OF iron, sufficient To resist any CHANGING shot or
shell which may be thrown upon It. The smoke
pipe is made with telescope joints, which can be
lowered into the hold during an engagement.
The guns in the interior of the fort are loaded
from the inside, and are free from exposure to
the enemy's fire. She is propelled by steam en-
gines
The Monitor was constructed at the Cont
mental Iron Works. Greenpoint, under the SUI
periutendence of Thomas f. Rowland, of Brook
Ign
She was launched a short time since, and re-
tanned tor period at the place of launching,
after which ste TN was got and the vessel ran
down to the navy yard in BROOKLYN, where her
guns put aboard. 1t afterwards con
tempated to have made trial trip at sea on
Saturday last. but this was delayed: and mean
while, late on Sunday night, intelligence was re
ceived from Washington of the ordering of the
Monitor ut once to Fortress Monroe.
The vessel was built under al act of Congress.
making an appropriation of 81 500 600 for build
ing iron clad vessels FOR the navy. and Captain
/ Ericsson presented the plan for the Monitor. be
! stipulated to launch his battery one hundred
working DAYS from the date of the contract, Dc
tober, 1851, and To test its impregnabty and
efficiency before the battery of an enemy at the
shortest ranges of the guns In this trial of Elf
cheney the Government is to supply officers and
! men, guns and ammunition The day of the
! launch was the l0lst working day from the time
/ the contract was made.
The previous description indicates one hull 10
the vessel. but there are in effect two huIs. The
lower one, which is entirely under water, is sharp
at both ends H. bOtomel. built lightly and abou;
! six feet deep with sides incnng at an angle OF
fifty lone degrees to the vertical line. The second
or upper hull, which comprises the defensive pOr-
ton. has straight Sides is longer and broader than
the under one, is five feet deep, sinks into the
water three feet and is covered with the heavy
iron armor above described. 1t has no bottom
except what is required to enable it to fit exactly
on the top line of the lower hull both Of course
forming the consecutive side of the vessel
The construction of the two huls is such that
the upper one. the sides of which are straight
4 project over the lower one, which is nearly fiat
bOttomed, 10 the extent of nearly four feet the
sides, ami twenty-five feet at the bow and stern
The upper hull being iron plated and submerged
three feet and three inches thus fully protects the
bottom part of the vessel from injury, and re-
ceves against its invulner;be sides all shots
which can possibly cause damage.
The turret has two port holes for the guns. It's
plates OF iron completely overlap and are riveted
To each other, so that but one joint of one inch
thickness of iron exists 1t any one spot A she'll
proof fat roof of perforated plate iron. planted
on forged beams inserted six inches down the CYL
indcr. covers the top
Several sliding matches in this cover which
give to the top of the turret. perforated
an inch in diameter to give light, and are useful
for muSketry fire in case the battery is boarded
A spur wheel. 81. inches III diameter. IL inches
fun. moved by double cylinder engine turn:
the turret around and also the guns: a rod, con
Meeting with the running gear of the engine. en-
ables the gunner To control the aim. The two
port holes of the tuTret are within three feet from
the deck The guns move in forged iron slides
across the turret. the carriages being made to fl
them accurately.
The battery being sharp is incidentally one oil
the most powerful steam rams ever built IN the
known world The battery commanded by
Lieut. j. ). W0rlen, L. ) y.