Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-04-21
The Monitors at Charleston.
, Efiiorg ofihe Ert,ling Pos! !:

TO The Editors Of the Eucntng Post;
SIR: | feel called upon to state, for the nfor
nation OF The country, that the mpsrfectons of tht
Monitors, shown BY Admiral Duponts trial o
their strength at Charleston, are not Of a serou,
character. What has happened will be readily
obyiated for the future. Everything connected
With our new fighting machines worked precisely
as intended--not single change Of plan being
called for. The piIot-hou'e proving of insufficient
thickness was not an unforeseen crcum,snce.
The limited experience which we have hsd 10 ac-
tlal conflict indicated that sight inches thickness
would be sufficient, but ii was by no means as
sumed to be settled point, Hence such con-
struction was adopted that, withou! removing The
structure, or changing it, interior arrangements,
any number Of additional Plates might be attach.
cd to the exterior, and ts thickness increased to
any extent. So with regard to the turrst; it is
constructed of an interior skeleton cylinder com
posed Of plates firmly rvetsd together, to which
any number Of plates may be- botsd 1t is by no
means 70; established that our turrets require in
creased thickness, excepting, possibly, at the base
The public will do well not to ne alarmed by the
remarks Of inexperienced obiervers WHO are star
tied to see the indentatons produced by the enc
my's projectiIe,. We apply srmor to keep out
hostile shot, not to prevent scars and indentatons.
50 far we have fully succeeded. 1t will DO prop.
sr to observe that the supposed imperfect steering
qualities are utterly groundles. There is no
cas Of vessels in the navy that obey their helm
50 readily as the Monitors The reason is self
evident. The large equ poiso rudd.r employed is
acted upon by the powerful current from the pro-
peer with such force as to change the course Of
~ Oh tla ,lt, - IL /
In strong currents aud shallow water, as in
Charleston harbor, no vessel can be readily ms
Bpayred.
Admiral DuPont's preliminary attack on
Caareston-the first practical test Of irou.cad.-
must be regarded as the mos. important event in
naval history. To this country the gallant as
sault on Sumter by the new and untried vessels
exposed to the terrible ianking and raking fire Of
numerous other forts, is fraught with ncacuAble
benefit. Whatever may be the ulteror obsct Of
government, the substantial advantage has already
been secured Of knowing exactly what the iron.
cladf can endure, and what remains to be done to
render the new system perfect. 1t WAS high time
that practical test was instituted, since we are
building more numerous Iron-clad feet than is
possessed by all Europe. The nation may thank
the commanders Of the Monitors for the know-
sdgo gained through their gallanlry. With less
daring on their part, the Navy Department would
yet lack some information necessary to direct the
completion Of the impregnsbe fleet now building
At the sane time, the spirited attack on Sumter,
AID The havoc made during half an hours CON
test, warns the Confederate leaders that they
must keep their numGou, battsrie. fully manned,
and that they must not for momsnt slscken
their vigilance, with Dupont and hi, Monitors
within half a days sail.
The history Of war may bo searched in vain for
an instance Of such costly preparations, kept up at
such vast expenditure, a, Charleston now re
qaires, 10 ward eff the blow from half dozen
small vete', manned, provisoned and coaed at
less cos. than an ordinary fr'.-class screw ship
Youn very respectfully
J. ERICSSON
New YORK, April "A, 1868.