The Portland daily press., 1865-01-19
! FROM WASHINGTON.
Proceedings of Congress Commodore Por-
!. ter's Opinion of IRON Clad Vessels of Var.

I44 Hair. q
Proceedings of Congress Commodore Por-
ter's Opinion of IRON Clad Hessels of WGr.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.
,sa The Senate in Executive session to-day con-
frmed Alfred II. Terry Brigadier General Of
Volunteers, to be Major General OF Volun-
teers Charles B. Dicerelles Consul at Bou-
logne, and E. Rice of Me-, Consul at Hakodadi,
Japan. es~f4 . ) ttosv
The fertilization bill reported to the House
to-day appropriates $6,640,O00. The items for
the defence of the lakes and northern sea-
board are materially increased over last year.
Half million issgiven for the defence Of
Washington. esf- Hie8 aasss' mg7 tfia
"a ss The President has approved the Joint reso-
s luton charging the President with the com
munication of notice to the Government of
Great Britain, of the wish of the United States
to terminate the reciprocity treaty of 1854.
Admiral Porter has sent report to the
Navy Department on the subject of monitors
and iron clads in which he states what his ex-
perience has been with the Monadock, Maho-
pac, Canonicus and Saugus, all vessels of some
difference of construction and build. He be-
lieves in different constructors. He says the
last named left Hampton Roads on the 18th,
and on the 21st it blew hard from the south
west, they made the best weather, and rode
easier than any of the other vessels Of the feet.
j.
that was quite unnecessary. After the fight
he inquired of the commanders of the mont
tors how they passed the ordeal, and they
. seemed to think they got along very WE'LL
The smaller monitors, the Mahopac and Ca
uonicus at times almost disappeared from
view, and the commander of the former yes
sci complained of discomfort, owing to the
decks leaking, but the decks were In no danger
at the time. AS TO the Monadnock, she could
ride out a gale at anchor In the Atlantic
ocean. She is certainly the most perfect sue
cess so far as hull and machinery are concern
ed, and is only defective in some minor details
which in the building of these vessels, require
the experimenting of thorough seamen, and
practical and Ingenious mind. The Monad-
dnock is capable of crossing the ocean alone
If her compasses are once properly adjusted,
and could destroy any vessel in the French or
British navy-lay their towns under contribu-
ton, and return again, provided she could
pick up coal, without fear FLEEING followed
She could certainly clear any harbor on our
coast OF blockaders in case that we were at
war with foreign power. toaaen at1
AS strong and thick as the sides of this yes
sci are, one heavy shot from Fort Fisher in
denied the wire on her side armor, without
however. doing any material damage. These
vessels have laid five days under fire from
Fort Fisher, anchored less than 800 wards off
and though fired at great deal, were seldom
hit, and received no injury except to their
boats and the light matter about decks. Com
pared with the ironsides, their fire is very
slow and not at all calculated TO silence
heavy batteries, which requires rapid and con-
tinuous FIRE to drive the men from their guns
but they are famous coadjutors in fight to
put in heavy blows which tell on casetnates
and bombproofs. The smaller Monitors will
always require steamers to tow and take care
of them, OF e0S 5JIdW enG
Admiral Porter states that he has never yet
seen vessel which came up to his idea Of
what is required for offensive operations as
the Ironsides She combines very many good
qualities. The most important is the comfort
with which people on board OF her live, though
she would be no match for the Monadnock in
fight, the latter having more speed.