Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-11

AT nniEheads ana l3 cross bulkheads, making
III all 10 water tight compartments The deck
lrahic-htaiAS are III inches square The main
deck Is planked with A Inch plank. The
forward defence runs down TO the feet water
line and Is OF 2l-inch timber, all sheathel
WIN Z3'lhch IRON plating. The entile boat is
seated win and t inch oak plank, caulked
ami made perfectly tight Classmates extend
around the whole boat, and are made of IL
inch timber At the knuckle on the main
deck the timber is iron three to four feet in
thickness, solid.
The Benton is pierced for and will carry IS
heavy guns, all ui which are now aboard. The
guns are from 81 Founders to AZ Founders cab
lber, some rltied and some smooth bore and
there are two 9inch Dahlgren guns. The
principal part OF the armament is disposed in
the forward part of the boat, there being two
guns only at the stern.
The machinery, boilers, &C., are all under
the deck. The cylinders are 70 inches in d.
ameter, with Z feet stroke. There are four
boilers, "A feet long and 40 inches in diameter,
doubled ttued. The wheels are 20 feet in di,
ameter with 81 feet bucket. The wheel house
is protected by timber from six to eight inches
thickness, and will be she alhed with heavy
iron. The pilot house is protected by l2-incli
oak timber placed at an angle of about thirty
degrees with the upper deck, is concal in
shape, and of very ingenious construction. 1t
VIII also be protected by sheathing OF heavy
iron.
mere are two magazines, one on each side,
Just forward ot the wheels. They are each
capable Of carrying one hundred rounds of am.
mnnlion Tor every gun and afford ample room
for the necessary evolutons within them. The
magazines can be flooded with water in mo
ment, from the main deck, and are furnished
and arranged III true naval style.
lie morar-boats, thirty -eight in number,
are bullt OF heavy timbers.-the sides OF boiler.
IRON, loop holed tor muSketry, are so arranged
thai they can 6c used as bridges, and will each
carry one of the heaviest mortars used in
warfare. Small tug-boals will be used to tow
the mortar boats into position.
There is also puntoon train being built, by
- johnson Of New York city, 1t is of
guta percha, composed OF inflated floats and
may be put IN use, taken up, and transported,
III the smallest possible time, and with but
little labor.
The expedition was commenced by Com
mander John r. Rogers, with the Conestega.
Lexington, and Tyler. But it has been man
W arranged ami brought into its present state
OF efficiency by Flag officer A. H. Foote a
distinguished officer OF the naval service, and
"iiN 's'S l'i'A gu us tlllCtSnCG anu Hdldntff IN
every position III which he has been placed
during long course OF active service His
daring attack aud stormng OF the Chinese
forts Is part OF the history OF the American
navy amt lately, as commander OF the New
York Navy 1ad, he d scharged his duties to
the entire satisfaction OF the government.
Ills former brother officer, but now rebel
Antagonist Captain IlUlIins, in sending his
regards 10 him, lately, from Columbus, under
ndg OF truce, was constrained to say that he
was the right man in the right place
rag officer Foote holds the same rank as
Mag Gen. lIalleck, although his junior by date
OF hiH commission. Each is entirely indie
pendent OF The other, but, as a matter of
course, VIII GO operate in the proposed expe-
ditlon The magnitude OF the preparalions
may to some extent be inferred wien it is
known that the salaries of the officers reach
the amount OF 100000 month-that 5O0,OOO
bushels OF coal have been contracted tor and
delivered at Cairo-tha. clothing to the
amount OF $40, 1000 has been contracted for and
IS on lis way hlther-thai 5000 tons OF powder
nave Deen sent to Cairo, and other war mater
lttl beyond AL computation. The grade Of Of.
hcers, the gunnerS pilots. all other classes nee.
esSar' 10 man the boats, are arranged precise
ly as IN the navy of the United States The
number OF men required on each boat cannot
be given without attording information to the
enemy.
81 confident are some of the naval officers
III Tie strength Of the gunboats, that several of
them have offered TO take the Benton and Law
her under the batteries OF Columbus, confident
that her immense strength will resist the heav-
lest metal IN the possession Of the coniederates
The plates upon the gunboats were submitted
to severe tests, and evinced almost fabulous
mvhcibiity. Heavy rifed shots were fired
al them at distance OF only 100 yards, and in
every case they were either only slightly in
dented or else they shvered the shot into in.
Vulnerable fragments or turned them harm
!essiy aside.
1t is very generally thought that the defend.
ers OF Columbus are mostly OF the Younger
caSses-the older and the more veteran sol.
dicra being now with the army on the Poto.
mac This inference is made from the reports
OF individuals who have lately come north.
ana also from tbs fact that during the visits of
their flags of truce there has been great deal
OF that buster and braggadoco which is never
ihuuiged Ill by truly brave or tried foe.
There has been good deal OF talk concern
ing Itulns batterng ram, which was TO do
shch great service at New Orleans in raising
the national blockade, and which is now sun.
posed to be at Columbus. However formi,la
bic III theory and in the columns of secession
Journals, the ram eXcites no particular terror
among our naval officers here AS to the
other fleet OF gun and tug boats which are said
to be at Columbus, there is considerable doubt.
Most of the New Orleans tug boats draw from
III to II feet, and hence it is an entire impossi-
bilty that they could ever get up as far as Co.
4mous- hence the story of the New Orleans
Heet having arrived at Columbus is, to say
llIe least, highly improbable. 1t will not be
Iaf rom the truth 10 put the entire force at
Columbus at from 20 600 to So 900 men-their
gunboats at three, and the balance of the fleet
at malt dozen tugs and lesser steamers.