The New York herald., 1869-05-01
The Iron.Clnd Fleet mt League Islnnd-The
Chattanooga, Hornet and Rebel Ram Atn-
lnnta TO be Sold.


The Iron-Clad Fleet ut League Islnnd-Tho
Chattanooga, Hornet and Rebel Ram Ata-
lnnta TO be Sold.
PHILADELPHIA, April %, 1869.
Having given some description OF the vessels now
being re1tted at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for
duty in Cuban waters 1t may be interesting to know
something OF the great fleet Of ronclads stationed
at League Island In the Delaware river, about four
miles below the city Of Philadelphia.
The prolonged and animated discussion in Con-
gress over the purchase OF this island for q naval
station must still be fresh in the memory. Nume-
rous arguments were used BY those whose interest
lay in defeating the measure, to the diparagement
OF the place, nearly all Of which, expe-
rience has shown, existed only in magma
tion. League Island is about three and
a half miles long and three-qCarters OF q mile in
width. The only defect to be found in the station
which seems to be Of any consequence is that the
island is very low, being at Its highest point but
slightly elevated above the level of the river large
portion Of the island, therefore, Is swampy, and viii
need great deal Of work to make 1t thoroughly dry
and serviceable.
ievee about four feet high at present protects the
island from beng submerged In its lowest parts
during an unusual rise In the river. Little or moth
ing has been done towards converting the island into
the commOdiOus naval station Is expected, In the
course OF time to become. The cOmmandant Of the
station resides in an antiquated mansion, situated
near the centre Of the island, while the other officers
on duty are obliged to content themselves with mar
row berths In the ward room Of the old steam sOOp
ST. Louis which is anchored at the DOCK and rooted
over to protect the occupants from the weather.
where the steamer New lrOnsides was burnt the
close OF 1856. The government sold the wreck to an
old IRON, for 100000. by surrounding the wreck
with water tight cribs, connected by heavy chains,
which passed beneath the wreck, at low water,
and by drawing on the chains, the Old hull was
gradually lifted from her muddy bed as the tide rOse
and carried up the river. BY short movements OF
this kind the wreck has been carried about three
quarters OF mile UP stream, the object being to get
her into shoal water Thus lar the purchaser has
recovered aoout $50, 900 worth Of iron.
Orders received at the island yesterday to send
the steamer Pushnataha, which has been lying up
here to the navy yard to be fitted up for She is to
have light spar deck, some alterations are to be
made In her keel and her machinery Is 10 be over
hauled. she is to be ordered on duty as soon as
finished and 1t Is thought that the duty will be with
the West India squadron
The other vessels on the eastern side OF the island,
IN the main cnaEnel are tne iolowing:-Ine Purl-
In half finished condition, without turrets or ma
chinery Of any KIND. The Puritan Is the longest OF
all the ir0n.cads, but no effort Is being made TO
finish her or turn her TO any account. The steam
slOop Chattanooga, one OF the vessels Of the Wam-
panOag class. These vessels were built with view
OF securing the greatest rate speed to be attained
by steam vessels, and the matter OF expense was not
taken much into consideration in their construction.
In chase OF fast vessels used during the for
ming the blockade; but they have been pronounced
failures, principally because they taken
up with machinery, and consume SO large q quantity
OF coal that It has been found impossible to carry In
them more than five or six days fuel. The Chatta-
nooga Is called by the officers "box OF ma
chnery," ridicule OF the vast space taken up by
class OF vessels will be condemned as useless and
sold.
Alongside Of the st. Louis lies the old rebel ram
Atalanta which was buitat Savannah, Ca, with the
proceeds OF ewery contributed by the ladies of the
bogus confederacy. 1t seems that she did realize
the great expectations induged during her construc
ton. She Is powerfully built vessel but was dts
abled by the very first shot fired ut her. The shot
entered the pilot house. disabling the ram and kill
ing and wonnding seven men. An offer OF Sac, 600
has been made to the government for her, and IL is
thought that board Of officers VIII meet here to
appraise her, after which she Will be sold.
The vessels stationed here which most interest
ing TO the visitor are the roncads lying in the back
monitors enough, lying in line, to stretch over
haif mile. They touch each other at the ends and
one TO another by means OF narrow wooden bridges.
In tour OF these ir0n-clads we walked
for more than haf mile IN straight
line over the ironplated decks OF monitors AT the
western end OF the line Is the Hornet, sdewheel
steamer-a beautifully modelled vessel. she was
built In England for running the blockade, ana was
noted for speed steaning easily seventeen Knots an
hour. When engaged In blockade running she bore
the name Lady stirling. She was captured near
wilmington. ". O., by tugboat, and was fitted up
as steam yacht Tor the use OF President Lincoln.
Ofers are now being made TO the government by pr-
All the monitors from TINS end OF the line to near
the middle are veterans which have the rough
est Kind OF service and are thicky covered with shot
wounds The PassaIc IL literally battered from stem
to stern, and yet not one OF the many shots that
struck her injured her 80 much as TO disable her.
The following monitors have been In action have
each one turret ana are armed with two guns, one
l5-inch Daghren and one 1l-inch navy Gun:-Nan-
tucket, Nahant, Catskil and Sangamon. The Nahant
and Sangamon In very good order having re-
Gently been repaired: but the others show their age,
hard service and exposure quite plainly. The iron
m m m IN fnn lQ nf.i.ll
These vessels would need good deal OF work TO
get them ready for service The Lehigh and the
Passaic each carry one 15-inch gun and one l5O-
pounder, PARROT. They bear more bruises than any
OF the other vessels, and VIII need more labor to
The rest of tine ronclads are light draught vessels,
known as the Steiner model they proved to be
total failures nasmuch as when they had their fuel.
men and guns aboard their decks were under water.
They have since been altered by raising the deck In
the centre twenty-five inches which has cured the
defect. They are all in excellent order and can be
ready for duty In few days, II being only necessary
to overhaul and oil the machinery. They are named
as follows:-Koka, suncook, Cohoes Yazoo Tunxs,
Napa The three latter have been lifted up IA tor
pedo boats These vessels have no turreis; the gun,
deck forward OF the pilot house.
The government IN purchasing League Island,
also bought the right to 800 feet OF the mainland on
the northern shore OF the back channel, inside Of
which line no citizen IL 10 erect building. An ave-
nue. is TO run the whole length OF this reservation,
from the Schuykill TO the Delaware river, TO be
called Government avenue. Broad street runs
across the island, and bridge connects the island at
this point with the mainland Il is hoped that an
appropriation Will soon be made by Congress, SO
that work may be commenced at the earliest possi-
bic day to make TINS station valuable 10 the navy as
q barbOr for lronsslads.
The naval station at League Island IL at present
under the command OF Commodore o. y. Glss0n
and is 0flicercd as siolows:-Commander @. M. RAN
som; executive oficer; Commander, f. w. Henry;
Lieutenant Commanders G.. b. White aud .. L,
Master W. u JACQUES Passed Asss r
tls; Chief Engineer J. O. A. Zelgler; First Assistant
Engineers, w. u. Bueher, ID. Harde and X. X.
Plots; Second Assistant Engineers. Edward stiles
and Joseph Thomas; Chaplain, O. II. Hale
There are sixty civilians aud about I0rty-hve en-
listed men employed on the island.
Affairs Mt the Charlestown Navy Yard.
BOSTON, April 20, 1869.
The Boston Navy Yard, as 1t IL termed, Is not In
Boston. II is in fact. mile or thereabouts outside