The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-11-10

ueSs1 N*eAso SncS VI tOrpeuQ& uPon
an q my's Bsels, hay BONG been nown,
but cir vd e as a NJ hs of hawai- arfare
has Hthertol2Aeen buS Slightly appreciated,
owing to the uncertainty of their explosion at
the right moment, and the great difficulty
and danger attending the attempt to bring
them in contact with the vessel to be destroy
ed.-weT afe'Aappy 20 ps bble to state1thaf
these difficulties have at last been surmount-
ed, by the ingenuity and skill of one of our
gallant Naval officers. Chief Engineer, w.
W. w. WooD, has for long time been ex-
perimenting with these weapons, and has at
length, after much patient and persevering
labor, succeeded in constructing torpedo
which accomplishes all that could be required
of such weapon. Its certainty of explosion
destructive effects, and the ease, certainty,
and safety with which it can be used, renders it
one Of the most formidable weapons Of naval
warfare ever designed. The first occasion
upon which one of these torpedoes was ever
tested, was in the recent attack upon the Reb-
Ell ram Albermarle, when, although the boat
used for the purpose was not designed for
torpedo boat, and consequently offered no
protection to the men, this monster which had
been the boast of the rebels, and the terror of
our fleet in those waters, was instantly sunk
at her moorings, under the protection Of
shore battery. Had the boat used on this
occasion, been one of those now being con-
structed according to the designs of Mr..
Wood, and specially adapted to this work,
not only would the same result have been ac-
complished, but also the boat and crew would
have returned in perfect safety. They can
be carried on any vessel, and attached and
discharged with almost the same facility as
any ordinary cannon, and with equal safety.
It's almost impossible to over estimate the
Importance Of this discovery, as one of these
boats stationed in each of our harbors, would
render them safe against an attack of the
combined fleets of the world.
The success of his invention must be highly
gratifying to Chief Engineer Wood, who has
Tor many months labored assiduously to per-
feet his designs, and also to the numerous
friends which his courteous manners and ma
ny accomplishments have gained him. An
invention which has already accomplished SO
much, and which promises to be OF such i'm
portance in our National deienses, should
bring suitable reward to its originators.~
Below we copy an authentic account of the
Albermarle, that the reader may the better
appreciate the Importance of an invention that
could so summarily ensure her destruction:
The Confederate iron-clad ram Albemarle,
reported to have been destroyed on the 2sth
ult by the United States picket boat No. /,
was built on the Roanoke River. for the pur
pose of clearing the waters of North Carolina
of our naval vessels, and driving off the Unit
ed States troops who were located at various
posts. On several occasions she has spread
terror throughout that department, and has
caused serious annoyance to our forces, both
naval and military. On the 9TH of May last
the United States naval forces, consisting of
the wooden gunboats Mattabessett, Sassacus,
Wyalusing, Miami. Whitehead, Ceres and
Commodore, engaged the Albemarie and her
consorts, Cotton Plant and Bombshell, and af-
ter terrible conflict the Albemarle was fore
ed to retreat, having been seriously damaged
by the fire of our gunboats, but principally by
the Sassacus.
The Cotton Plant escaped, but the Bomb
shell, which had been captured short time
until few weeks since, the ram has been qui-
city receiving repairs, and has been strength
ened, with the view of accomplishing her OBJ
iect with fatal certainty. Lieut.. VIM. Cush-
ing, of our navy, was anxious to have her
come out, so that he might test the merits of
the torpedo arrangement devised by Chief
Engineer w. w, w. Wood, y. S. N. It is
perhaps proper TO state here that the Abe
marie was constructed upon the general prin-
ciples OF the Merrimacand Tennessee class of
vessels, and was perhaps much stronger than
either of those vessels since she was repaired
of late, She had the ordinary casemate, in
which were placed four heavy guns She was
probably shot-proof against any projectiles
thrown by our vessels, and the only hopes of
destroying her, before the advent Of the tor
pedo affair, was by ramming her to death; but
with the torpedo boat the matter was easily
accomplished, provided, always, that she could
get close enough to do the work without be-
ing observed before the guns could be trained
and fred upon her. In this case the little tor
pedo boat did its duty, and but for shot from
shore battery, she would now be ready to
perform imilar feat
The little vessel which has performed the
deed of destroying this noted ram, Is boat
not unlike ships launch, and about the same
dimensions. Six of them have been built un-
der the superintendent of Capt. G. s. Boggs,
". .. IN. TneT engines, D0hers, &C, were put
in at Schenectady, N. Y, and were brought
down here via canal. They were designed at
first for picket boats exclusively, and for the
purpose of relieving the seamen from the
hurtful and unhealthy work Of pulling boats
on picket in all kinds of weather. Before they
were completed, however, the idea of placing
the torpedo attachment on them was suggest
ed, and Immediately adopted. and it has prov
en- already the wisdom OF the suggestion.
No officer has labored more faithfully to des-
troy this Albemarle than has Lieut.. Cushing.
A few weeks since he visited New York, and
selected some of the picket boats tor service
in the Albemarle Sound. and we now have the
first results of his daring and good Judgment
in using this new engine Of naval warfare,
which in short time will revolutionize naval
fights. The true plan is being adopted. The
bottom of a vessel is its most vulnerable part,
and by this arrangement 1t is reached, broken
through, and the vessel must sink OF be utter
ly destroyed. Ii segsas r.