The New York herald., 1868-03-08

the ships captured the forts and obtained possession
stores fell Into the hands OF the Americans.
On the llth Of July, l7ss, new marine corps was
with the navy Of the Revolution which it belonged.
This contained eight hundred and eghtyone officers,
non-commssioned officers, musicians and prvatees
dangers and vicissitudes Of the war with France,
there is abundant evidence Of the gallantry and
Instances they preserved the discipline Of the yes
sells by suppressing the turbulent conduct OF the
crews ana tney were the unerrng , ahe ths
enemy. In 1906, during the Trpolitan war; an expe-
dition was organized by Commodore Barrow, under
Derne with view to cooperate with Hamet Cara
MALL, In the attempt to overthrow his younger
TrGener 'gssun VINO naa nsnrped tne sovereignry 2.
part under Lieutenant O'Bannon, who landed with q
field piece and stOrmed the principal work, upon
which he hosted the American ag, and for the first
time in the history Of the country the Stars and
Stripes noated from the ramparts OF Moslem
Throughout the subsequent war with Great Britain,
in Florida in Mexico and California an and during tho
called into requistion, whether afoat or ashore
the Marine corps has been sgnally conspicuous;
and while 1t has thus participated in the glories
out complaint its prvations and dangers 1t has ever
preserved the integrity of Its ancient organization
pace with the march Of the times 1t has steadily ad-
vanced in the path OF military improvement and
efficiency As organized at present the men are en-
listed under the same system as adopted for recruit
ing service in the army and when employed at q
navy yard or shore station their exercises parades
guard mounting, reviews, &C., are made to CORE
spond with the army regulations In matters OF as
simulated rank the line officer of marines takes pre-
cedence next after the line oficer Of the navy, and
when serving on shore with q mixed detachment
composed OF sailors and marines the marine officer
exercises command according to his relative rank.
On shipbOard the marines are required to be in
struCteu in the exercise of great aharn-
shooters. 1t Is somewhat curious to note that Of all
the Military Academy at West Point but i've
In July, 1862, the corps reorganized under the
command of colonel who has the breyet rank OF q
non-commissioned oliicers, musicians and privates
was fixed at ,l66 men. The pay Is the same as the
THE GUNBoAr MANIA.
The persistent policy Of Great Britain to maintain
the right OF search forced reluctant war upon the
country, and the affair OF the Leopard and Chesa-
that a collision was at hand. But strong the
popular belief In the overwhelming naval power Of
England, illustrated by the victories of EXmouth,
Nelson and COllingwOOd that the idea OF maintain
ing successful contest on the sea against such odds
was REGARDED as (. Cooper SAYS with
tory OF the world cannot probably supply parallel
to that forgetfulness which the American govern
ment has manifested of all the known incentives Of
human exertions in the management of the navy"
At this time there were sixty-nine small gunbOats
belonging to the naval establishment and imme-
diately on the assembling OF Congress propositions
were made for the substitution Of this insignificant
class OF vessels for the entire navy and to place the
country in an attitude OF defence instead OF OF
aggression, policy well calculated to stine the
yearnings Of patriotism and to dethrone the pride
and the morals of the service A mania for gunboats
not unlike that which seized upon us during the
rebellion for "iron-clads' and "double-enders''
possessed the authorities and on the 18th OF Decem-
Der, 1907, bill was passed authorizing the construc-
ton Of 1855 additional gunboats making total of 257
These were modelled after designs obtained from
Spain and Naples, and were long, low, narrow
orr,,aI I1ptff a
two thiry-two-pound carronades, and constructed
solely for harbor defence. AS an evidence OF the
oommendaton was made to Congress to raise for
"this gunboat service" 1872 men, who, being ap-
p0rtioned among the 257 vessels would be less than
crew OF five men to EACH Fortunately, however,
this proposal defeated. and although the country
was sadded with fleet OF useless vessels wiser
cOunsels prevailed, and the hopes OF the navy were
revived by material increase OF sea-going ships and
men. Two years later, rs matters eliminated in
acts OF open hostility there appeared on the stage Of
action man whose name Is now closely interviewer
with the naval history OF the United States. That
man was
who was the founder of that school of naval architec
ture which is now recognized as purely American,
and from the teachings OF which all OF our shpbuild-
ers have 80 abundantly prohted.
Henry Eckford was born In Irvine, In Scotland, on
the 18th March, ITS. AT the are OF sixteen he emf
grated to Canada and took up his abode in Quebec
with his uncle, John Black, who was shipbuder.
Five years afterwards in 1896, when he had attained
his majority he removed to New York, where his
skill in designing soon gave him ample enlployment
He, however, began by working In bOatbuilder's
shop in Dover street for 81 25 per day. 1t was his
habit to obtain from the master OF each vessel, on
her return to port, minute account of her perform
ances ut sea and her behavior under all the inciden.
tai casualties or navigation With the experience
thus gained he improved upon every succeeding
model, and he soon gave to New York that SUI
premacy in naval architecture which came to be
knowledged throughout the civilized world. One OF
the secrets Of Eckford's success was that Mt that
time he was almost the only man in the country
who understood the art Of shipbuilding rs science
who cOud pyDapd the bOly of n a
drawing. In the construction of merchant
ships he increased the length and gave
also to their beauty and comfort by rails
ing the transoms and giving lighter and hand
somer serns with better quarters s., His designs
cargoes and for speed. As a practical mechanic he
the best OF the age 1t is matter OF surprise.
therefore, that the eyes Of the Navy Department
fixed upon this man. During the war OF 1912 Eek
ford contracted with the United States government
to construct the squadrons on the lakes, and in o
few weeks he had them complete Notwithstanding II
was necessary to fell the timber in the neghbOring
forests and to transport the equipments from the
board, ut time, too, when New York had neither
steamboats, canals nor railways His first vessel ON
Lake ontario was the Oneida, Of sixteen guns and
on November 26 1913, he launched the Madison, the
timber for which was growing but nine weeks previ-
ousy. In like manner he built the Sylph in twenty
one days. and by sating the frames the vessels were
prevented from rotting But, apart from his untiripg
perseverance and skill, he placed not only all the
professional knowledge he possessed, but his
entire fortune, at the disposal Of the gov
halo which enclrcles the fame OF Chauncey,
Perry and McDonough, are golden letters that spell
the name OF Henry Eckford. In 1914 he designed
the steam frigate Fulton, OF 1000 tons, and which
cost the government s320000. This vessel subse.
quently was destroyed by the accidental explosion
of her magazine at the Brooklyn Navy Yard In 1929.
Up to 1915 a wooden model was unknown In this
city-cvery vessel being built from drawings or
designs on paper. As nearly as be ascertaned
the first wooden model was made by Christian
Bergh with the assistance Of william otherwise
called Doctor) Vincent, and thenceforward, under
the auspices OF Eckford, the model became feature
peculiar to American shipbuding. In 1919 he. par.
ticpated In the construction OF the steamship Sava-
nah, OF 800 tons burden, and successfully demon
strated, by voyage to Europe, the feasibility Of
transatlantic steam navigation. This vessel was
built by Pickett h Crockett, and was originally
designed for southern packet. Her engines were
made at the old Alaire Works In this city. Her wheels
were entirely unprotected by guards, and the jour-
nails for the shaft rested the planksheer In 1870
Eckford accepted the appointment Of Naval Construc-
tor at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where he designed the
line-of-battle ship Ohio and the frigae Hudson But
the red tape and the old f0gysm Of the navy too
much for him, and he resigned on the day the Ohio
launched. ls1l hp Pm pd