Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-04-17
THE KEOKUK

Was designed by Mr. c. " Whitney Of this city, and
was built At the yard Of s Underhill Co. Dry Dock
Iron Works She launched in the early part Of last
winter and sailed from New York the llth Of March,
arriving at Port Royal on the 26th. The following is
description of the vessel.
The Kcokuk was only turretcd vessel but
also ram. She smaller than the Ericsson Monitors
being one hundred and fry nine feet sN inches over a
including the ram, which was five feet long She had
beam uf thirty six feet with depth Of bold " thirteen
feet six inches and drew nine feet of water Her sides
stopped inward AZ an angle VI thirty seven degrees TO shed
the cncmy's shot
She was built Off IRON and her arnor extended nearly
four feet below the water line The horizontal deck
five feet above the line. Her propus,e power
furnished hy two pfopccrs and tive CuWuCs ot five hun
bred horse power The hull NJ the vessel construct
cd of halfiuch rolled iron She had three kecsous
ming the whole length " the vessel and two fore and AFT
AFT bulkhcads, leaving cnch side space aud forming
an inner skin, which would probably keep out the water
IN the event OF the outer skin being pierced 1y shot In
addition TO these she had two hulkhadsone forward and
one awhch could be filled with water as 90 settle
the vessel down while iu action. These could be hcd IN
ing the ran should the vessel DE wfcHched cause
leakage ,hc compartment alluded 10 vasto preserve the
vessel from linking The vessel was submerged one foot
by the appliance " these water tauks
The turrcts were mmoyable thc gun revolving to the
thrco ports pierced n each tuuet They weighed each
forty toms and were built VI groundwork vt haltirch
rolled plates like the hull covered with bars Of ron four
ehes ar1t Che iDersjces being filed 'ith yellow pine.
Over al This were hrpc plates, each hNc.cgtths of au
lu,h uiok-tho whole structure boed together with one
aud "uc eighth ln % bolts with counicrunk heads one
foot apart The turres, therefore six and Quur-
GER inches ck Bach turret had three ports, with hoa-
~ shutters working in two halyCsouc pnIt on each side
and one forward ana an Each turrct contained au
inch guu carrying one hundred and eighty pound shot
Those I moved ou revolving Slides which ,,rrf placed
on hot twenty inches below the level of the deck hu.
giving greater height 10 the turfcts, which Wefc twenty
ttt diameter at tht base fourteen feet 40 thr ophr
ing couch4pcd land tgut feet eight iuchc, high lh,
tuies were additionally supported within hy bars of five
by inch iron cdgcNays fifteen inches apatt; au,
ihc ports were made sufficiently large 90 give Ae gum.
ten degrees vertical and ugnt degrees lateral range
ne ruuNUf huu IlNNflltr guide
ing structure aud wrought guard the after pant
This lte vessel carried one hundred men 40 tod, am,
had capacity n her two magazines flr two hundred clever
inch shot, ONE bundled and hy eleven inch she'll viii
shiapnel aud canister, small Ammunition aud powder
.in proportion. She appeared admirably calculated FOL
river work. her light drtu1ht and easy guiauocJ meant
of two prupclefs fitting her specially f1r tIca uay
CATION Her builder was confident that, though m som'
respects mover 90 cun,uucuon ahe would De- found a.
shot proof and scryccab any and the aud
potouesa with which DE applied every precauton, aut
mutt Piled OF offence and defence. gayeh pes Of
most efficient boat Mf Whitney was one Of the eaili
est Go urge the propety Of building shotproof feet
and his studies 10 the question, well as his knowledge
of tnc qualiuts of iron, gave his opinions weight
The ventilation Of the vessel mad been carefully at
tended Co, aud the accommodations for the officers au
crew were of al excellent character
In many points the details OF this vessel were an,
interesting For instance the entire lower portion OF tn
sides of the tuIrcis could be thrown open 20 admit gh
and ur and Of course to effect the expulsion Of foul
and there being passage each side Of the vessel
communicating nom one turret 20 the other, cone tan
circulation Of air was kept up without artificial means
although such means were provided, and which would
e in the opinion Of many, have rendered the vessel il
point uf ventilation, second 20 none.
THE COMMANDER OF THE KEOKuK.
I Lieutenant Commander Alexander khud, the com
maudcr Of the kcukuk, is native Of the State of Nci
, York but was appointed from Alabama, and Is now
citizen Of Minnesota lie entered the United state
naval service tho 81 Of September 1898 He receive
has present commission ON the 10Th Of July, 1862 II
e has been attached to Admiral DuPonts squadron sine
its organization aud rs prominently man Of fight
Hin courage bravery and judgment is very marked an
If thc Keouk is really disabled no one will iee the bio,
more deeply thauhe His service amounts nearl
sixteen years lie was unemployed seven years, md
shore duty about two years. giving him total Of Owe
t~enty four years IA thc service.