The New York herald., 1868-03-08

\ honor or to guide it over the ..roiiing deepn IN
he cause OF humanity and civilization.
One of the most remarkable features In connection
with the outbreak OF the rebellion the studied
Sr s Sey V S Of the and thus
obstacle TO the success Of their struggle. In the
seeding States the entire fighting population were
large majority were disposed to make any sacrifice
TO avert the calamity. On the one hand there was
total want OF it. The only fear indulged by the
Southern people was that navy could BLOCKADE
their ports attack their fortified positions and serve
OF their territory The War and Navy Departments
Of the government virtually in the hands OF the
Fort Sumter the whole navy OF the United States
sisted OF but fory-sx vessels, and OF these onenaII
ce0 ot' 2, ON oregn Stations Events
Followed each other In rapid succession. upwards
OF one hundred and fifty naval officers resigned and
senal and shin belonging to the navy from the Chesa
peake to the Rio Grande fell into the haids OF the
heavy guns three hundred OF which were Dahgrens,
besides vast amount OF small arms, ordnance
stores and supplies Of all kinds, were captured. To
attempt the recovery OF these there were but four
vessels that could be sent to at once; but fortu
naey although the navy @ had r been ss sadly depleted
ragut Dupont Foote, Porter, Rogers, Goldsborough,
Smith, Dahlgren, Stringham and Davis. With such
leaders and counsellors the navy was augmented the
rs year to 225 vessels In the second year 1t was IN
creased to nearly 400 in the third to $780, and in the
which required personnel OF more than S. 600 men.
Among the captured ships at Norfolk was the
irgate Merrimac, and at an early day IT was known
that the ConfederateS were altering her into for
midable armored ship. To contend against such an
antagonist as she was likely to prove was question
ss "a me ssy Sa0e ans ns e
Ingenuity Of the country were taxed to
prove .worthy Of her steeln In this emergency
The rebel leviathan was closely watched by a squad
ron of frigates in Hampton Roads, and the first
Nuaa md hfIil In a Inf h
shed In the HERALD at that time the writer says in
reference to the acceptance OF Mr.. Ercssons plan
less than two hours the committee (Admirals Smith,
Davis and Paulding) came to decision, and while
iron which now forms the keel plate Of the Monitor
was drawn through the rolling MILL" Here, then, is
the initial nit point IN the history st I Of turreed
tion In naval equipments which has since occurred
throughout the world
In the memorable combat between the Monitor
and the Merrimac the 9th Of March, 1852 the coqn
try ran wild with excitement over the unexpected
result The test Of this novel floating battery with
Its formidable fifteen inch guns, sufced to establish
its superiority over every other class OF vessels for war
purposes, and contracts were speedily issued for the
construction and equipment of large number OF the
Monitor type. In the first nine the thickness OF the
ornaments consisted OF one fteen-inch smooth bore
and one 15O-pounder Parrott rifle gun. The third
with the same battery but OF 1000 tons burden and
draugh Of ten feet OF water. The fourth series OF
experiments developed twenty M more Of l,6oO tons
Of fifteen inches thickness Of metal and greater
power OF engines. Then, to answer the ciamors Of
those who were not wholly converted to the ''cheese
box-on.a-raft" principle, the broadside sea-going
frgate New Ironsides Of 1000 tons was constructed
carried q battery Of fourteen eleven-nch smooth m 10Th
bore guns, two 150-pOunder rifles, two 50-pOunder
do, and two howitzers At the same time the frigate
Roanoke was mailed over with iron plates OF five
inch thickness, and fitted with three turrets to carry
two lftcen-inch guns, two eleven-inch do. and two
Iatarv
construct class Of heavy sea-going Moni-
tors, capable Of cruising in any part. Of the
world and this gave rise to the building of the Dcta
tor and other vessels Of that type She was sl4 feet
In icngth OF 5000 horse power and built entirely OF
Iron, with sides eleven inches thick, and single
ception her decks were perfectly clear and ush and
she noated low in the water that at distance OF
proved herself in heavy weather a magnificent sea
boat. Her ventilation was obtained by series Of
ali her The Dictator was
constructed with an elongated forefoot, which rem
dsred her very formidable s as ram' and her bot,
zinc paint that proved entirely successful.
At this time Mr.. Webb, the celebrated shipbuilder,
who had been close observer OF the great changes
which had taken place In the construction Of iron
war vessels projected hts gigantic ship, the Dunder
combine all the improvements which had been
adopted'fn the navy-in word, to plate with iron
heavy metal clad casenate pierced for . battery OF
eight twentyinch guns, and surmounted this struc-
turc with two revolving turrets 81 extraordlmary @
the largest caber. The Dunderberg was $50 feet In
length, sixty-eight feet beam and thirty-two feet
depth of hold. She was fitted with an enormous
ram projecting thirty feet under water, and her
engines were computed at 5000 horse power. This
by s M and our readers
familiar with her successful voyage across the Allan
tic. But she has yet to be tested IN battle
sppi and other great rivers in the West by the rebels
rendered It necessary to equip powerful fleet OF
ir0nclad vessels TO cooperate with the army and at
an early period Of the war Commodore Rodgers and
Admiral Foote were sent to Cairo and st. Louis to
ysed system OF ronclad steamers after plans sub
mitted by the War Department. with mailed case
ments slopng inwardy at an angle Of thirty degrees
eleven-inch guns and rined PARROTS. These YES.
sels built by Edes Of Carondelet, were called tur-
ties" and were conspicuous for their great efficiency
ct Fort Doneson. Shiloh, Island Number Ten, Vicks
burg Arkansas Post and Grand Gulf subsequently,
"a e w9 Of which
he greatly increased by the equipment Of fleet OF
ghtdraught steamers. armed with howzcrs and pro-
teCted by thin plates Of iron. These were known as
"tin-cadsn and were very effective In penetrating
the small rivers and bayous and in operating against
whatever connection the navy had with the rebel
lion, Il we except the attacks on @ New % orleans,
Roanoke Island Hatteras - Inlet and the action be
ably associated with the iron-ciads. And In no In
stance during the war were they - severely tested as
IN the protracted siege Of Charleston Nor was there
any point of attack where so many practical results
were obtained This will be apparent when we con-
slider the length OF time consumed In the reduction
OF Fort SUMTER the great number and variety Of the
projectiles fired and the multiplied character OF the
artillery employed. The siege OF Charleston was in
fact, trial Of English against American ordnance,
conducted by men educated in the same schools and
handled with equal courage and skill. Every item,
therefore, In the history OF this memorable contest
should be preserved and studied the best compen-
dium OF modern siege operations. The attack on Fort
Fisher by the feet under Vice Admiral Porter fur
nished sublime picture OF the greatest lombard
ment In the world; and the annals OF war may be
challenged In vain to find parallel to its mastery
plan and execution. II was par crcetence the most
brilliant operation Of the Apart from the man,
ner In whlchthe vessels OF the fleet were disposed
for BATTLE the superior gunnery that was displayed,
and the gallantry which characterized the final
assault II furnished an enduring testimony In favor
OF the Monitors and iron-cads which were not only
subjected to terrific fire for five consecutive days
within eight hundred yards OF the enemy's works,
hnt tfav rode out IN oafctv af uirotv ,niioa