The New York herald., 1864-05-24

The new iron clad battery Manhattan made her trial
trip yesterday leaving the yard Of Messrs Secor Co..
Jersey City, going up tho Hudson river as far the
Palisades, where she experimental with her Hf-
teen inch guns, and Then proceeding TO the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. This vessel bu III by secor Co under
the superntendence OF George Brkbeck Jr aud point
of workmanship is perhaps unequaled by any Of
class afoat She handsome vessel and is lifted with
all the improvements dictated by extensive experiments
made in action with the enemy, and thereby avoiding
many tho vessels built in the early part
Of the rebellion.
The left her moorings haf-past nine o'clock,
and unaded steamed up the river, making, according
official statements eight knots per hour although she
appeared to be gong somewhat faster The average
revolutions of the nfty.four per minute
On arriving Off the stone quarres, opposite Fort Wash
pgton. which natural Fort Sumter, the guns
charged FIRST with thirtyhve pounds OF powder and solid
shot, then with forty pounds and lastly with City pounds
The effect Of these huge proectles novel and inter-
estng TO those who unaccustomed TO such sights.
The trial of all parts of the vessel proved emuenty
cesu and after the firing the vessel returned down tho
river passing through the feet Of foreign war at
anchor of the Battery, and then procseded TO the Navy
Yard where she turned to the naval authori
ties.
Among the distinguished persons present noticed
Admiral Gregory, Commodore RinggolJ Captains Worden
and Boggs, and quite number of naval officers; Hon
Townsend Harris Minister to japan; Capt Muaford,
J. N. TiHt, and about fifty others A collation. was
served and the party went ashore delighted with tho
trip
The officers thus far reported for this vessel
Commdnder-J. W. Nicholson.
Lteuten1nt-G M. Schoonmaker.
Acting Mas'er-R b Ely.
Act,no Ensiqs-F, G. Adams, G. b Mott, J. Il. Church.
Acting Asststaa Stvgeoa-J. A. Austin.
Ac ing Assistant PGymastcr-J $ Hays.
Engiwecrs-Chief. j. M Gallagher First Assistants, s
rand, Thomas Furne; Third Assistants, Ed. Merritt, :.
H. Dee
This is the Thirty fifth clad of her class that has
been launched Now, what have these Monitors
plishedf
The dones OF the Monitor in Hampton Roads, in her brcr
engagement with the Merrimac have been popular and
national theme. Amost every has referred the
AFFAIR thousand times since and have been led TO
of the grandest achievements known in the
history OF the world Now that nearly two years
have elapsed since began to worship Monitors,
are beginning 10 see how much that AFFAIR has been
overesiimated so far at least, the Monitor herseR
is concerned When we come TO candidIy review tbe
subject we longer dread any havoc . rebes
iron cad innic upon We look back and
der how could have been far Influenced over the
merit Of the facts. That action has resulted In
Monitor fever, which think has nearly reached its
crisis and the proper rssoratves applied may
doubt that the Merrimac was formidable vessel TO
extent but alone when we state that ie
the Congress and Cumberlnnd-vesses which enc de-
stroyedhad been underweigh, and upon waters OF su
lcient depth and area those two wooden ships alone
could have driven back the rebel vessel and In all pro-
babihty have destroyed her
The power and effectiveness Of these vessels we're Grip
pied fatally owing hs fact that they were unable to
get underweigh, and thus bring their broadsdes to
hAaE FwU.h
could have rammed the rebel perhaps death but as it.
the rebel had the choice OF position the whole con-
troll Of motive 2ower with the advantage Of pro-.
lection TO her 2rsw and addition these very import
ant Advantages she was assisted by squadron Of sacr
by Insignificant, who materially aided
her.
BY accident the Monitor came up, after a periloust
voyage along hundred and forty miles Of
coast and attacked the socsled monster which bad
csved such serious damage the previous At the hands
OF ra wooden ships to be In most precarous
dition--her gone ana she leaking at fear
ful rate. After short light the Monitor obliged to
withdraw from the contest, temporarily, to extrcate
shot which had foued in her gun. Tho rebel took ad
vantage Of this accident and crawlsd into Norfolk which
place she never should have left after her engage
nsnt with the Congress and Cumberland; and
hardy fools eated with bad whskey and the Of
the day previous, would have dared bring ous
again but they In hopes to destroy capture hs
Minnesota which lay hard and ashore and in posi-
ton where she could not her guns. yne Monitor
entitled to considerable respect but say that she
any OF her class has accomplished the miracles
credited 10 them Ia absurd.
The success rather thu advent OF this square bot
toned raft with turret upon IL, created an ,mmcnss
sensation here and abroad. We ran "Monitor madn
while Europe looked eagerly TO what those ves
sells could really do when properly tested England built
none did France, and 10 unsI lately that the
Russians constructed any After deal OF
and grand nourshng the nrst batch OF Monitors werc
launched and their trial trips over they sent
duty for the Union.
The arsi Of this class to zee active service was the
Montnuk, commanded by Commander j. L. worden--be
who noby fought the Msnitor-and he deserves much
credit for veuturng 70 In either the Montsuk or
Monitor. she SEM By Admiral Dupont 10 DESTROY
the prvassr Nashville. then lying under the cover
the Genesis Point battery on the ogoechee river known
in history as Fort hcAser she engaged tina. work for
four consecutive hours distance or from one thousand
10 sixteen hundred yards Tons OF huge shells wers
thrown into the fort yet did the rebels hold their
HON That attack was abandoned account OF the am
munton giving out.
yearins that the koator interest," which was beginning
% assume formidable appearance and power should
esl that he did not give the vessel sunicent tsst Ad
ns Dupont ordered another attack the work. which
asted another four hosrs Nontauk taxing statsos
within hundred yards Of the battery This attempt
roved abortive and the Monitor vessel was wshdrawp
av,ug done no damage 10 the work worth speaking ct
ID her enormous prcjsosies killing bus one oncsr ~
rounding fssr men, Subsequently she dss,roysS
he Nashville by firing - her neck of land ant
rpodns shells in the pirate which had been abandoned
y her officers and
Returning from the event. she passed over torpedo
vhIoh exploded directly under her bottom, letting n
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