New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-29
TIE MONITORS.
letter from Capt. Ericsson.


10 ne Editor Of The " u Tribune
SIR: The several paragraphs Which have recently
appeared GA tie alleged uufusss OF tue Monitors for
sea service lave produced great encouragement ia
tie minds Of loyal people. So numerous are tho IL
quirss called forth by those raracrafhs'h il would
be impossible for me to answer the same. You will,
therefore, much oIlge ne by admitting the follow
ing explanation into your columns.
The Inference drawn from he fact that tho Navy
Department employs steam tugs 20 accompany and
assist the Monitors is quite erroneous the Object
being ,iu2ly to guard against accidents. The aeege'
tary Of the Navy wouiI incur heavy responsibility
il at this crisis he omitted 10 adopt every recHauon
within lie power to place The ev iron-o'ad7 at h''
disposal safely 90 the pOin,s where they are needed
In rofut.ion OF the uufayorable opinions eXpreese
in regard % the seagong qualities Of the Monitor
Ipeed only present the following s'hteElenis o. tue
commander Of she WeehawkaD, the only officer who
has thoroughly tested tie new system in heavy
weataer.
Extract from le,.crot Capt. RODGERS, addressed
20 the assistant Secretary OF the Navy
.Op T.e.lsy night when a Chireote,-ae Shoals. we had
very severe gale from L. y l.. viii aver heavy sea
maze couase3 snd dangeru. ~ tho proximity Of the land
The waves molsured cfsr tie -baed' found tfei .
fe high They we've csI.-a ies hsr' in TO nid'
Of The stern
Darpc thu heaviest Of tue gale stood upon The iarfe
and aJge3 the behavior o. toe yssse Sae 1850 aud Tell
the wave, AID then CONCLUDED tho Monitor ;orr hal
gee. sea gips qualities Il leaks were prevented no h
care could H. june her. orcsgag IN two dy' sha b
really Tor any service need ;ePaS and only sola
lille f.t!p.s."
Extrsc: of latter from Capt Rodgers, addrcsssC
% William L. Hodge, e.q.
The gale wes very seyl'e l' ny vessel b,h7yed pimi
ably DusiDg be higher s.e ..OIm sosd The 'ariss
end watched Der movements rrost u;c'oti they CAV
.hs zion Of great saey N- water can te k'pt o.
G. g. a. sl'- as d rais o. case Of Zee.
While watched the ..0l Of the veaael 10 he ha'deh
Of the storm. nothing % imp believed CO..
have corrected sLy ~Ions teoie4>y By san!4g THROWN
ovssboard ;aega but TIA, dea n unnecef'ay
"Ibe Lad great force tpd bad upon ~" hoh 90 -
Impede car wsy very muoa b.. size had no oi and zoe
Were she iook''
The o,inion thus expTeeaed b. Capt. RoigeTs
based on close observation a; sea, eiitc,aally con
rradicts Ell adverse statements on tie suljecf
founded ON speculation
With reference to tie speed Of The Mon'ior
emphatically csny the cor-cc.ae1a Of tie a'ateme"
ttat the INTENDED nine knots an hour csauot be "a
tained Not one Of tho contractors, al experiences
.;esmbo.t builders objected, when signing the con
traet win the Navy Department, to warrant Tie
tate alluded 10. Nor could any wel-nioFme1 enc .
ueer hesitate, since the power Of the engines isqui'
large compared with the size Of The lull, aud IL
aersed midship tectop; the lines being moreover a.
G.,orable AZ those of fsst- ding vessels. Tie over
haao fore aud afs presents ba,uie resstiuce o"inl
% the shear. 1 need only remind The pubic TIA
Harrison Loring OF Boston is one Of The contraction
who warranted Tue Line knots, ,osnow HAT s'dhcen
power had been provided. The fact u thai tot'
engines and boilers sro comewho, above the usnh
u.easure 10 90 the wogG Intended. Steam engineer
need only be told that, while Il hull Of the 'etfe!
under s. feet BEAM wit1 i0 feet draft the cylinder
arc 40 inches in diameter, aud that tie boilers con
tain Dix large furnaces AID present nearly l,uV
square feet Of heating surface The full rate vii
unquos,iouabiy be attained when tie boilers sIe il
Proper working order, end the engineers have &C
9uirtd necessary experience. Cap. RodStra bavinl
demonstrated what Monitors are AZ gea craft, th
public " N soon sec tie impegnabe feet iraversin
lie coast IN all weaheIs, unattended by steam tugs
YOuTs, very respectfully, .. EhIDoSJ-"
Asp b0'A, Jan. 20 ietS.