Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-05-08
The Monitors at Charleston.

4 tHe 11"HW " tte ~. - 4 fto~tc'
SIR: Il feel called upon to state, for
the information of the country, that tho
imperfections ef the Monitors, shown by
Admiral Hupont's trial Of their strength
at Charleston, are not Of serious char
acter. What has happened will readily
be obyiated for the future. Everything
connected with our new fighting machines
worked precisely as iutended-not sim
gle change Of plan being called for The
pilot-house proving of insufficient thick
ness was not an unforeseen circumstance.
The limited experience which we have
had in actual conflict indicated that eight
inches thickness would be sufficient, hss
it was by no means assumed to be settled
point Hence such construction was
adopted that, without removing the
structure or changing its interior ar.
rangements, any number OF additional
plates might be attached to the exterior
and its thickness increased to any extent.
So with regard to the turLet; i. is con-
strpcted of an interior skeleton cylinder
composed of plates firmly riyeted together
to which any number Of plates may bs
bolted. 1t is by no means established
that cur turrets require increased thick
ness, excepting, possibly, at the base.-
The public will do well not to be alarmed
by the remarks of inexperienced obsenE-
ers who are startled to Sc the indenta.
tions produced blythe enemy's projectiles.
We apply armor to keep out hostile shot,
not to prevent sears and indentations.-
So far we have fully succeeded. 1t will
be proper to observe that the supposed
imperfect steering qualities are utterly
groundless. There is no class Of vessels
in the Navy that obey their helm so we'll
as the Monitors. The reason is selt-eyi-
dent. The large eGuipoise ruddcr en-
ployed is acted upon by the powerful
current from the propeller with such force
as to change the course Of the vessel with
the slightest molten of the helm. lr
strong currents and shoal water, as in
Charleston harbor, no vessel Can be read.
lily manGuvered.
Admiral Dapo is preliminary attack
on Charleston the p'ss practical test Of
iron. caIs-must be regarded as the most
important event in naval history. To
this country the gallant assault on Sum-
ter by the new and untried vessels ex-
posed to the terrible Aanking and raking
fire of numerous ether forts, is fraught
with incaculable benefit. Whatever
my be the ulterior object Of the Govern
ment the substantial advantage has al.
ready been secured in knowing what the
iron-clads can endure and what remains
to be done torender the new system per-
feet. 1t was high time that Il practical
test was instituted, since we are building
more numerous iron-clad feet than pos
scsscd by all Europe. The nation may
thank the commanders Of the Monitors
for the knowledge gained through their
gallantry. With less daring on their
part, the Navy Department would yet
lack some information necessary to direct
the completion Of the impregnable aeet
now building. At'the same time, the
spirited attack on Sumpter, aad the havoc
made during hafa' hourscontest, warns
;av "a ".c;1..."t,.erate leaders that they must
keep their NUN :rous batteries fully man.
ned, and that they must not for moment
slackcu their vigilance with Dupont and
his Monitors with half days sail
The history OF war may be searched
in vain for an instaRce ct such costly
preparations kept up at such vast expen.
| ditures, as Charleston now REQUIRES, to
ward off the blew from half dozen small
vessels, manned, provisioncd, and coa!ed
at less cost THAN an ordinary 6rst-class
screw ship.
Yours very respectfully.
j. ERICSSON,
New Yorh, April l4th, 1868.