Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-04-16
From the Charleston Mercnl

| Our Forts and the Fleet.
Since orr last issue the enemy has made no move
ment of Importance in this vicinity. On the Stono biz
operations to prog very slowly il be
awaiting the issue of the ua contest between the iror
feet and the batteries of our harbor The Monitors
six in number, with the IronSdes still lie at anchor
within the bar, ard at distance of about three miles
southeast from Fort Sumter. Whatever the motives
for their delay may be- there good for be
eving that they will rot depar until they have mace
one more effort for the reduction of Charleston
During Wednesday afternoon many pieces of the Kc
okuks furniture with the spy glasses and otter effects
of her officers washed ashore the Morris Island
beach. Most Of these articles when found were Gov
cred with cotted blood That cur readers may have
correct information of the strength ard charaC ter # b
iron vessel we have sunk we append minute descrip
tien of the Keckuk, taken from New York paper O.
December last.
The Keokuk t invention of Mr.. c. W. Whitney, an iron
merchant of his city, of entirely novel construction
of five feet l59 inches breadth of boam
Fl sides present very peculiar appearance, being
sructed angle Of 81 degress the shot
deck which To- led 10 ss to keep it tight some minor
pieces between decks ard the necessary joiner work
some four feet below the water line while her flash deck Is
about five feet above the water line.
beams,
exclusively of iron. 1t is Constructed Of bslfnch rolled
iron plates Three ket son run the whole length, viii 9
two buwarks. fore and aft form inner vessel which
enables the structure to should the outside be rdded
with shot Two bulwarks one fore and enc af-can be
filed with water in fife minutes and cmptied in forty
minutes, settle rAie the vessel wanted in
action much one foot These compartments also
security against leak caused wrenching
Of of tie The hull is covered with bars
Of four iron Set edgeRsys, inch apart
tween each strip OF yellow pine, which three
fYe-eighth inch ates the whole riveted with !! 3ch
bols with eight untersurS heaGs of ab"a f'ot
apart.
pierced with three port holes each but the gun
volvng slide. They built a base of inch rolled
plates, and covered in the the hull thus
obtaining for the thickness of ST inches Tie
port are provided with heavy shutters so
work in halves The slides for the guns which
will be OF II inch cabre are placed 20 inches below the
level OF the DECK which secures greater height for the
turres which of copica form, 20 feet diameter
the base and ID feet at the top Their length feet
inches They are strongly braced by five linch iron bars
set edgeways The size of the ports allows the guns 10
ton OF the turrets admirably provided Tor by
ment by which the lever portion of the turrets be
opened, and as there communication between the
urrets draft is produced, which the foul air
generated inside.
The vessel will be propelled by propellers and two
engines OF five hundred horse Both udder pro-
peer are guarded by an oVerhangng guard Of wrought
iron on the after part.
Mr. Whitney, who had conceived idea of building this
vessel about four weeks after the outb the war is
quite sore OF her success, both regards easy
and proof against shot eke requires crew of loo men,
and can carry in her magazines ECO 1lnch Shots $50 IL
inch shell, and the necessary powder, &c.
The prOpeers and engines of the Keokuk SO
allow while the other can he re-
versed to turn the vessel own pivot The ns
OF the ship are worked pivot similar the arrange
ment OF the pivot gunboat The ship sits on the
water with all the of regularly built wooden vessel
thus putting all the fears many nauf
cal men that she could not float.