Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-22
Historical Facts Regarding the Original
Monitor.
From the Mechanical Engineered New York,
Of April 4, lSS5.l


[From the Mechanical Engineered New York,
OF April t. 1885.
An effort having been made to contro-
vert the facts stated by us in our article
on this subject, in our issue of January TO-
we have returned to the matter as briefly
as possible, in order that the truth NAV
be known. The Burlington, VT, FREE
PRESS says in its issue of February "a re
ferrng to our article:
LAS some of the alleged facts contained in
it were new, and rs it seemed TO us of doubt
formation in regard = them. from sources
whose knowledge and authority can not be
impugned, and have learned that much of
The Mechanical Engineers account of the
transaction was of the loose and inaccurate
character which is apt to mark history writ
ten upon hearsay, instead OF from original
responsible sources"
Replying to this we may say that there
were no alleged facts in our article
The statements made therein were deriv-
ed directly from principals, one of whom,
Hon. c. 5. Bushnell, stated, in our issue
of March "a, that the article was correct
Another one from the inventor and or
iginator of the Monitor, Captain John
Ericsson will be found in this issue In
this note, addressed to Messrs. Egbert b.
Watson 4 Son, publishers of the MCchdH-
icdl Engineer, under date of March u,
1885, Captain Ericsson says II have
rtdu your I1tStOTicft IuttS TtJiTuiNI INC
original Monitor, published in your issue
for January TO- 1883, with much attention,
and can not suggest single alteration"
ED. f. p. * I.
We quote from the FREE PRESS:
1.-The facts in regard to the points in ques-
ton are briefly as follows: The Mr. Bushnell
mentioned, went to Washington, in the fall of
| 1861, as Captain Ericsson's agent, to lay be-
fore the naval board Ericsson's plans for
floating iron battery"
This is contrary to the fact. Mr. Bush
nell was no more an agent of Captain
Ericsson's than Messrs. Griswold and
Winslow were Mr. Bushnell had been in
Washington prior to the Monitor affair
on another matter entirely, He did
not go there as Captain Ericsson's agent
! in the matter of the Monitor. (n
" After eXhausting much time and
! argument, despairing of success through his
own influence and efforts, he took the plans
and specifications to Messrs. Wlnslow and
Griswold who were AT the time in Washing
ton, engaged in the adjustment of a claim for
iron plates furnished by them for the iron
cad Gdlend.'
| This is inaccurate also, for the reason
/ that the association was formed previous
/ to the rejection of the plans by the Board,
and it is Inaccurate because Messrs Girls
void and Winslow were not at Washing
| ton for the purpose stated. %
We quote again
mfr. Winslow examined the specifications,
struck by the strong points embodied IN
them, and after learning from Commodore
Smith of the Naval Board that its objections
were absolute and the rejection final, he and
his partner decided to take the matter direct
to President Lincoln. They did So Mr.. Lin.
/ coin was impressed by their earnestness. L
/ don't know much about SHIPS he said,
| though once cOntrlved canal-boat, the
| great excellence of which was that il could
run when there was no water but | think
there is something in this plan of Ericsson's.
| will meet you tomorrow at Commodore
Smiths office, aud we will talk IL all over At
that meeting next day the President, Secreta-
ry Welles of the Navy, the Naval Board and
! other influential men of the Navy Depart
ment were present. Mr.. Winsow presented
| the subject with all the earnestness and power
! he possessed, which was not Il little and Mr..
Lincoln after asking Commodore Smith for
| his opinion and getting non-committal re-
| ply, announced his own approval in the ia
| nous remark, "Wcll, think there is some
/ thing in il, as the girl said, when she put her
leg in the stocking. Good morning, gentle
men,"
| This interview was obtained through
! the courtesy of Secretary Seward an Incl
dent of sufficient interest to deserve no.
tice by the FREE PRESS in the article we
are commenting upon.
The Secretary of the Navy was not pres
ent, being still at Hartford.
To be exact, we correct one word in this
/ famous opinion of Mr.. Lincoln S. He
said stuck not put"
1.-The Presidents attitude put new face on
/ the matter. The navy department no longer
turned II cold shoulder To il, and within two
days after the meeting, n contract for the CON
structon of the Monitor, burdcned, IL is true,
/ by the still faithess Naval Board with cOnd-
/ tions which almost amounted To an injunc-
tion upon the enterprise, was signed by
/ Messrs. GrIswold and Winslow. One hundred
and nine days later, they had completed the
Monitor. The statements of The Mcchdnicdi
| Engincer that Messrs. Winslow and Griswold
! were armed with letter from Secretary Sew
ard, and that Captain Ericsson was got on To
| Washington by II ruse to eXpound his plans
before their acceptance, we are assured are
pure fancy. No such letter was asked for or
had"
| We re-assert that the Presidents favor
did not influence the Naval Board in the
! least degree. (c).