The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-14
TIE IRoH.oLAD euHsoAr nos1roR.

TIE IR0G'CLAD GCNB0AT AoN1fOR.
The New York Herald gives the following
description of the Monitsr. commonly known
as the Ericsson battery:
This new Eunboat is = long, wide, an fat.
bottomed vessel, with vertical sides and
pointed ends. requiring but very shallow
depth OF water TO float In, though heavily
loaded with an impregnable armor on her
sides, and q bomb proof deck, on which il
placed shotproof revolving turret, that
so low in the water as to afford no target for
an enemy, and everything and everybody IL
below the water line, with the exception Of
the persons working the guns, who are pro-
tected by the shot.proof turret. To give the
upper portion OF the vessel the proper pow
ers OF iocomotion, there Is suspended beneath
1t another one OF less strength, sufficiently
narrow and slopink at the sides, that If the
enemy's balls should pass below the shot.
proof upper vessel these sides can only be hit
at such an ang . that no harm shall ensue,
and IL Its length approaching the bow only
SO far that its raking stem may receive the
shot fred from directly ahead in the same
way, and at the stern giving SUN Glen space
to permit the shot coming from directly aft
to pass under the shot. proof end without hit
ting the rudder, which is abdft the propeller.
Tne- sides OF the vessel are first formed OF
plate iron, half an inch thick, outside of
which is attached solid white oak twenty
six inches thick, outside Of this again Is rolled
iron armor five inches thick. The bomb
proof deck is supported by heavy braced oak
beams, epon which is laid plaMking seven
inches thick, covered with rolled Plate iron
one inch thick.
The turrat consists OF a rolled rlate iron
skeleton, ore inkh thick, To which are r,yet-
ted two thicknesses, OF one inch each, of
rolled iron plates. Outside az this again are
six plates OF rolled iron, all firmly bolted to.
gether with nuts inside, 50 that IL a plate is
started it can be at once tightened again
The top is covered with q bomb-proof roof
perfora,e with holes. The lower part OF the
gun carriages consists OF solid wrough t-iron
beams These are planed perfectly trua,
and are placed parallel in the turres, both OF
the guns pointing In the same direction -
The ports through the side OF the tunnel axe
only large enough to permit the muzzle OF
tho gun to be thrust through. Inside OF them
are wrought-iron perdulums, which close
them against the enemy rs soon es the gun
reccils. She is armed with two uf the larsesl
DahIgren guns, made to revOlve by pair OF
steam engines placed beneath the deck.
The lever vessel Is OF Iron, one- half inch
thick, and made in the usual manner. She
carries her machinery, coal. &C., aft, and
forward the officers quarters. ANN unitiOn,
and stores. The two partitions Of the vessel
The officers quarters are very roomy and
Handsome, and are ventilated and Lighted by
openin gs from the deck.
Her machinery consists OF two horixonta
tubular boilers, containing 5000 square feet
OF fire surface, and two horizon tai condensing
engines Of forty.inch diameter OF cylinders
and 22-inch stroke OF piston. The propeller
IL nine feet in diameter and sixteen fest
stroke. 1t has four blades.
For the better ventilation of the vessel there
are two fan blowers drawing air down
through bomb proof gratiugs In the deck
Though not exactly intended for a sea vessel,
the coast, without fears Of the least injury.
She carries generally three months provi.
sions. and is supplied with condsnsing ap-
paratus for supplying fresh water.
n~yiI Ionn or,F hn rant x~At ~ lob
this vessel has been completed, We may stats
that b or keel was laid on the 26th Of October
1861, and steam was first applied On the Sis
Of december he same year. She was launche
on the Soth of January Last.
GEN. 1ANks's DIyIeIoN.
CHARLzsrown, Va, March 9-loP. M-Yes
terday, for the first time since our arrival
country carriages came Into town, and tht
occupants held social intercourse with our
oflcArs and soldiers. suits of secession gray
areYradually giving way to other hues ard
the ladies beginning 10 frequent the streets OF
business and pleasure.
Dr. William Alexan der, an eminent ply.
stefan and unlinching Unionist, died at nj,
country residence In tais vicinity Last nor th
His SON yesterday rsturnsd home from Char
lOtteevllle, deeply imeued with recession, anC
was sent TO Warrington.
Hundreds of contrabands ere arriving from
the country. The course adoptsdin regard te
them is, II they have been employe ed by rebel
authorities, to turn them over to the Division
Quartermaster, to be employ Cd by the Union
Government; but 1t proved otherwise, they
are returned to their owners.
On Friday. Captain Coles company OF Mary.
land cavalry, forty in number, pursued q
party Of Ashby's cavalry for two miles be-
tween Bunker HUI and Winchester, when b,
came uron about one hundred and forty o.
the latter. A skfrmish ensnsd, lasting al
hour. resulting in the killing Of six Of Ash
by's men and WOunding nve. Tap. Cole hal
three men wounded. A section Of Mathew
battery came mp to Captain Coles support
when Adjutant Wilkins, Of Gen. WilliAms'i
stan had his horse shot under him.
Ii 10 believed generally At Bunker Hill tha,
the force At Winchester has been greatly Ie
duesd, leaving net over three to six thousand
force has been streng thened py the regiment u
from LeesburG.
ERoH ROANOKE IsLABn.
BALTIMORE, March 9..Ths steamer Elisr
S. Terry arrived hero tonight direct from
Roanoke Island, bringing official dispasehs.
l26 wounded and sick soldiers from Roanoke
all Of whom are doing we'll The Terry also
brings the bodies Of Colonel De Montiel. O
the D'Epinenil zo1syes. Corporal Randall
Twenty. nth Massach usetu regiment, killet
In the action ~ Roanoke Island.
THD yBDRRAL NAVY.
A late New Yorx paper says:
Things are ~ brisk a. ever at the Brooklyn I
Navy. Yard, With still large amount o.
work to be done. The two snip houses ar!
undergoing repairs, caused BY the recent
oovore snow and rain stoTms.
The UElted StAtosn \ steam saoop-O1.WA,
Oneida, Oaptaia b. =. Lee commaDatnS, LET
the brookll y Navy. ! esd etan aarly eoar yse
steam sloopo- OF. war lstelg authorized to b
Hcoastructsd ~ Uongreas. and Was Anished ~
conuy q. the Navy Yard, only completing
most satisfactory triel trip On " Wsdnesdal
8 very Asayy haAtesy, compoeeA of two AleVel