The New York herald., 1869-05-01
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

canoe to report.
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
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Operations ut the Philadelphia Navy Yard
Iron-CIads Getting Ready for Service-The
Working Force Largely Incrensed-RecOn-
struction of the Navy.
PHILADELPHIA, April 27, 1862
The navy yard in this city has also been invigo-
rated by budget Of orders from the department at
Washington. But a few weeks ago the business Of
the yard dragged sluggishly along. The force of
operatives had been gradually diminishing the din
and clatter Of the workshops slowly waned until
silence had almost taken possession Of one Of the
largest construction yards in the navy.
small detachment Of workmen was employed
on the hull of the Omaha and in re-
pairing the Brooklyn. With the incoming
Of the new administration and appearance Of the
''speck OF war'' that was raised by the fOOlhardy
Spanish authorities in Cuba new life was infused
into this almost deserted yard. Several hundred
additional hands at once taken on and the ves-
sells ordered to be rented were brought up from the
naval station at League Island.
The vessels now undergoing repairs here that are
destined for service with the North Atlantic squad
ron would make a formidable neet,, without includ-
ing those orders for that station that are being
prepared ut other yards. The hon-cads we're first
seem to be first IN importance whenever the neces-
sity arises TO test their capabilities The one nearest
completion the Canonicus, veteran Of the
monitor class, which met with some hard
knocks at Fort Fisher. She bears q multitude OF
honorable wounds, nearly all OF which are
located amdships, on the sides, on the turret and
on the smokestack guard. Several OF these shot
bear indications OF having been made at short
range, and yet the greatest injury inflicted is an
indentatiOn in the iron plating about four inches
deep, forcing the iron plating little more than an
with two nfteen-inch guns in the turret The Odd
guns have been taken out ana new ones substituted,
II u was tnosght that the latter had been too long in
service TO be safe, and moreover 1t was desired tnat
the guns should be longer SO that the mnzzles should
has been thoroughly overhauled, and large force Of
workmen Is now engaged In putting It together.
she Is being scraped and painted and the interior
wood work Is being repaired. 1t Is expected that
she will be ready for sea Id about three weeks.
Next In order Is the Miantonomoh a splendid
specimen OF the monitor style OF iron-clad. This
vessel has two turrets, carrying four l6inch
won something OF q reputation as a fast steamer and
an excellent seagoinR vessel. The MlantonOmoh, 1t
G ~ Fox to ST. Petersbarr ana astonished the Kas
SANS with the wonderful Improvement in naval
architecture produced by the experience gained in
being entirely redtted. the machinery Is TO be put
in good running order, alterations are to be made
newly painted. steamer is expected to arrive in
New York In few days to take her TO the Brooklyn
Navy Yard IN order ito to put ner IN the dIy dock
occupied by the sloop Brooklyn and the other being
too small for the Miantonomoh. When ready for sea
she will be commanded by Captain E. II. Calhoun.
The third iron-clad being repaired Is the Dictator
the longest monitor in the navy, with the exception
She is ans feet between perpendicular SO feet beam
and Il feet deep IN the hold. She carries two 15inch
Dahlgren guns The Dictator mas never been tried
under dre q q
war and was stationed for few months at Fortress
Monroe. The appearance OF oil these monitors Is
much the same-long, low hull, lower amidshps
than at the bow and stern, decks slightly convex
ana plated with iron, nothing showing above the
deck but the turrets, pilot houses smokesacKs and
ventiIators The machinery, however, Is different In
eacn vessel, both that for propelllng and that for
be built on different plan from the others the prn-
cpe only being the same-that OF Ericsson's original
monitor engine. these are al the iron-clads tnat
which orders have yet been received There are u
number OF others at League Island some OF which
expected to be ordered up for repairs when those
now at the yard are completed.
The Juniata, steam sloop, is also being fitted out
as possible as she is under orders for the North At
lanc squadron. When her duty In the West Indies IL
ended It Is thought she VIII be sent to China The
In the hold. She Will carry six 9inch Dahlgren
guns, one n-inch pivot one eo-pounder. PARROT
North Atlantic squadron during the war and par
ticpated In the engagements at Fort Fisher, but
Deen
The machinery for the Junata is being Constructed
at the machine shops OF this yard, and she is ex.
pected TO he ready for sea In about fye weeks.
The steam sloop Brooklyn Is now In the dry dock
and strong force OF wOrkmen Is employed In get
ting her ready for service. She Is undergoing gen.
eral reconstruction; all the detective umbers are
being replaced by sound ones; her panking VIII be
entirely new. Her machinery Is In the shops, but
that the monitors shall be lifted out irpt. She viii
probably be ready for duty In about four months
Beneath shed, and on the stocks, is half finished
bnlls. b0 nnQ m n m ayon his Of
was commenced toward the close Of the war, and
work was suspended on her when the rebellion ter.
minated. She Ia 332 feet In length between perpen-
dculars SO feet beam and IS feet depth OF hold. All
her machinery and the IRON work for plating tur-
rets pilot houses and everything necessary TO com.
pcte her are slowed away under sheds. waiting for
some contingency that will render 1t necessary to
In the large ship house the unfinished hull of the
steam soop Antletan stands on the stocks. This
vessel was commenced near the close Of 1885, and
work was suspended ON her in 1857. She s beauti-
fully modelled, long, deep and narrow, and intended
to be fast vessel Her length In 3l2 feet, her beam
house mad TO be engihened about thirty feet for her
accommodation she u pierced for twenty.one
Thc other ship house Is occupied by the steam soop
Omaha, which IL 80 far forward that she can he
ready for launching IN from three to four months.
deep In the hold, and VIII carry nineteen guns one
long rincd gun to be mounted on a pivot She s
ossss PROVE 60 be- y.ry 70 s s'a and viii
The only other vessel at this yard Is the Potomac,
used az receiving lship, ana c0mmanded BY Com
modore DeCamp. Her crew at present IN not large,
but a. orders have recently been given for recruit
ing It In expected that IN rev weeks she will be
ned to her greatest capacity.
The Ordnance Department at this yard is merely
q storeho ouse for the issue OF supplies No manufac.
turing OF arms or ammunition Is carried on, and
the shops OF the department only used for ak.
ing and repairing wooden gun carriages. Tne
armory here is alone worth q visit to this post A
large quantity OF small arms, cutlasses pixies and
sabre bayon IL kept on hand They are ranged In
racks along the sides and In the centre of the room.
The Getting ia covered with weapons OF all dcscrp.
circlos aaua rpa and ofbev donra.