The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-04-25
The Mentors at CHI Tleston.
To the Editor of The n. Y. Tribune,

The Mentors at Cns lleston,
TO the Editor Of The n. Y. Tribune,
SIR feel called upon to state, for the mf0rma-
ton of the country, that the impercctiOns Of the
Monitors, shown by Admiral Dupontstrial Of their
strength at Charleston, not Of serious eharac-
ter. What has happened will tc readily obviated
for the future. Everything connected with our
newfghting machines worked precisely as intended
mot single change of plan being called for. The
pilot-house proving Of insufficient thickness was
not an unforeseen circumstance. The limited ex-
perience which VIC have had in actual conflict in
dicatcd that eight inches thickness would be
sufficient, but it was by no means assumed to be
settled point. Hence such construction was
adopted that, without removing the structure or
changing its interior arrangements, any number OF
additional plates might be attached to the exterior
and its thickness increased to any extent. Sos
with regard to the trret II is constructed of an
interior skeleton cylinder composed Of plates firm
" rveted together, to which any number Of plates
may be bolted. IT is by no means yet established
that our turrctS require increased thickness, ex-.
ceptiag possibly, at the base. The public vii. do,
well not to be alarmed by the remarks of incxpe-.
renced observers who arc startled to see the in
dentions produced by the enemy's projcctiles.
We apply armor to keep ont hostile shot, not to.
prevent scars and intentions. So far we have fully
succeeded. 1t will be proper to observe that the
supposed imperfect steering qualities arc utterly
gronndless. There is no class Of vessels in the
Navy that obey their helm so readily as the Mon
itors. The reason is selfeyident. The lar.e equi-
poisc rudder emr loyed is acted upon by the pow
erful current from the propeller with such force
as to change the course Of the vessel with the.
slightest motion of the helm. In strong currents
and shallow water, as in Charleston harbor, no.
vessel can be readily unanswered.
Admiral Dupont's premin ~ attack on Charles.
ton-the first practical test Of iron-cads- must be
regarded as the most important event in nayal his
tory. To this country the gallant assault ON Sum-.
ter by the new and untried vessels, exposed to the
terrible anking and rakilg fire Of numerous other
forts, is fraught with incalculable benefit. What
ever may be the Interior object Of Government, the
substantial advantage has already been secured Of
knowing exactly what the iron-clads can endure :
and what remains to be done to- render the nov
system perfect It was high time that practical
test was instituted, since we are building sinore
numerous irou-clsd fleet thaa possessed By all
EuroIe 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 infor-
nation necessary to direct the completion Of the
impregnable feet now bu ldins. At the same time,
the spirited attack on Sumter, and the havoc made
during half an hours contest, warns the Confed
crate leaders that tbey must keep their numerous
batteries fully manned, and that they must not for
a moment slackeu their vigilapce with Dupont and
his Monitors within half days sail.
The history ofwar may be scar, he'd IN vain for
an instance of such costly preparations, kept up
at such vast expenditure, as, Charleston now re-
quires, to ward off the blow from half q dozen
small vessels manned, provisioned, and coaled ae
less cost than an ordinary frst-class screw ship.
Yours very respectfully,
Nec York April, y. 'sS. J. ERICSSON.