The national Republican., 1866-10-31

THE MONITOR "MONADNOCK''-
SHE PROVES a GRAND TRI-
UMPH IN NAVAL ARCHlTECT-
URE-HISTORY AND RESULT
OF HER SEA VOYAGE TO SAN
FRANCISCO. .
The fresh water editor of the Detroit
Tribune, who probably never understood
what the term "put out Of commission
means when applied to q ship-ofwar, pub
lished the following paragraph o few days
since: .. ....
"a private letter has been received in this
city, from q naval oficer at San Francisco,
California, stating that the iron-clad steamer
Monadnock has been put out Of commission,
and lies at the Mare Island navy yard, ,ohere
she tciH probably remain until she sinks"
Now the above paragraph is all true ex.
cept the words we have italicised. The nat
ural inference drawn from these words is
that the Monadnock is in q disabled and
sinking condition. Indeed, we find the par
agraph SO interpreted and going the rounds
of the press with the following question as
a caption: "Is THE IRos-cLAD MoSADSocK A
FAnUREf' . ...-r r.. ..
With the permission and by authority of
the Navy Department we are able not only
to promptly refute the uncalled-for report
but to vindicate her good name and prove
by the record that in every sense Of the word
she is the greatest triumph in naval architec-
ture that the history Of the world affords.
She has been put out Of commission" like
most of the other monitors, because there
is nothing for her to do. We are at peace
with all the world. 1t is expensive to keep
such vessels in commission" II needed
she can be put in sailing and fighting trim
in three days. She is not needed, and her
officers and crew have been transferred to the
Vanderbilt, and will be distributed for SER
vice elsewhere, as the Government may here
after desire and direct
We commend to our readers, and espe-
cially to the fresh-water sailor who writes for
the Detroit Tribune, the following letters
from Commodore RoDoERs and Lieutenant
Commander BuSoE. They speak for them
selves
U. S. STEAMER VANDERBILT,
n... SAN FRAScIsco June 2s, 1855. I
SIR: have the honor to announce the
mock at the navy yard, Mare Island.
The Monadnock found no weather in hel
voyage from Philadelphia to this place
which seemed to touch the limit of her sea
going capacity.
In q gale of Point Conception" on the
coast Of California, two successive waves
rose which interposed between my eye and
the masthead light of the Monadnock. Upon
inquiry found that the light was elevated
seventy-fve feet above the water my own eye
being about twenty feet above the sea level
In this sea, according to the testimony o
her officers, she was very easy
While it blew hardest and the sea was the
most violent she twice parted her tiller ropes
in quick succession. Thus, pithom the use o.
her rudder, she hove to with the double
screw propellers lying dry and comfortable
in the storm. The tiler is too short, throw
ing an unusual strain upon the tiller ropes
The remedy is easy.
The engines have performed as satsfac
torily as the hull, and have arrived in com
plete order.
The Monadnock has not been toi0ed, no
while at sea, during the entire voyage, ha
she received any assistance tUhdteuer!
The success Of the voyage amply Wind
Gates the judgment Of the Department in ur
dertaking it; and the hopes Of the most saI
guine of monitor people are fulfilled il
this crucial experiment.
With much respect, l remain, your obj
dent servant,
JOHN RODGERS, Commodore.
To Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary Of the Nav,
In recent letter, dated United STATE
steamer Monadnock, San Francisco, Lie,
tenant Commanding BUNoE, Of the Mona
mock, writes to Commodore ROGERS as fc
lows:
"During the recent passage of this sh
from Philadelphia to this port she has rtl
by log, 1895 knots. The greatest distan
logged in "a hours being 1856 knots; Il
least, 10 knots. Her average speed has be,
6s2 knots per hour" \
"Not q single piece of spare machine
has been used, and the engines are oil nc
in good working order; they have been full
able to perform all work demanded of thei
This vessel is most excellent seq boat ar
has received no damage from any wealth
we have encountered. Experience has prove
the great value Of the additions made
Philadelphia. Without the turret.hang,
and breakwater we should have often ha
water over the turrets. The pilot-hous
have stood well, and answered their purpol
uulnlruDlyj tnc tuTrct COatS nave eXCluut
all water The addition of ma
and yards, at St. Thomas, has enabled us
carry sail, when the wind would permit, su
fcient to increase the speed l5 knots p,
hour, and tovery much relieve the labor
the engines"
"In her present condition she is as pc
fectly safe and trustworthy vessel for crui
ing to or in any part of the world as vess
can be, relying on steam alone for its IN
tive power, and t,oice as safe as most steal
ers, for she has two Independent pairs
steam engines, either of which are sufiicie
to keep the vessel under control in al
weather, and to propel her, in ordinary co
ditions of wind and sea, five knots per houl
AT sea she has never needed or receiv
assistance Of any kind whatever from 9th
vessels, and therefore regard her, or al
vessel Of her class, as a thoroughly comp
tent independent cruiser.
"'She as mo,o ready for action an every pa
9f her detail and equipment, and as reat
for cruise anychere.h