The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-10-14

THE MoNIToR.-The IN. W Times pub
fishes brief biography of John A. Griswold,
the Republican candidate for Governor of
New York, from which we gather the follow
ing interesting facts about the first monitor:
The fame OF the Warrior and of the French
GlOiTe induced the belief that wooden walls
as fighting crafts on the water were to be
superseded, led Congress, by an Act APPROX
ed August 3, 1861, to make an appropriation
of 81 SOC, 900 for the construction of one or
more armored, or iron or steelclad steam
ships or floating steam batteries. A few
weeks later c. S. Bushnell of New Haven,
Mr.. Griswold and John T. Winslow of Troy,
were at Washington engaged in closing a
contract with the Government for plating
wooden vessel with iron. This business
having been concluded, these gentlemen call
ed the attention of the Navy Department
and the Naval Board to a model of an iron
clad vessel made by John Ericsson which
they had brought with them, and suggested
the propriety of building vessel after his
plans. The suggestion at that time was not
received with much favor, but no conclusion
was reached. These gentlemen subsequent
ly had interviews with President Lincoln
who manifested great interest in the ideas
presented. Taking up the model, he ex-
amined it closely and critically; commented,
in his shrewd and homely way, upon the
principles involved in the construction ofa
vessel upon such model, spoke favorably
of the design, and proposed that they should
meet him with the model at the Navy Depart
ment. This meeting suggested by Mr.. Lin
coin himself, was held, he being present.
In their report, which was made soon af
ter this meeting, the Naval Board composed
of Commodores Joseph Smith and ii. Pauld-
ing, and Capt. G. H Davis, recommended
that an experiment be made with one battery
of the description presented by Capt. Erics-
son, with guarantee and forfeiture in case
of failure in any of the properties and points
of the vessel as proposed. The contract as
made stipulated for the completion of the
contract which was on October 5, 1861 and
the extraordinary provision as-introduced
| that the test of the battery upon which its
acceptance by the United States Govern
ment depended, should be its withstanding
the fire of the enemy's batteries at the
shortest ranges, the United States agreeing
to fit out the vessel with men, guns, etc.
The building of the battery was begun in
October, 1861 For her construction S215, 600
was advanced by the Government. She was
built at the Continental Works, Green
point, Long Island, by j. F. Rowland, under
the supervision of Capt. Ericsson. The plat
ing of the vessel and portions of her machi-
merry and other ironwork were manufactured
at Troy, at the Rensselaer, Iron Works, and
| the Albany Iron Works. -On January so,
! 1862, which was the one hundred and first
working day from the time the contract for
building her was entered into, she was
launched at Greenpoint, was named the
Monitor, and was delivered to the govern
ment March 5, 1862.
Her subsequent history is well known.
Formidable in appearance, and unconque-
rable as she proved herself to be, she show
ed herself at Fortress Monroe at 10 O'Clock
on the evening of Friday, March 8, 1862.
On the following day in conflict with the
rebel ironelad Merrimdc in Hampton Roads,
she not only compelled her antagonist to re-
tire in disabled condition, but saved For
tress Monroe from capture, preserved mill
ions of shipping and public property and
| thousands of lives, put an end to all the
plans and expectations of the rebel autho-
rites based upon their experimental vessel
and gave us prestige abroad, the worth Of
which to us as nation was inestimable.