Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-05

by so constructing then
- to receive severe shocks with impunity Will,
acting as rams. During his stay in Germany
when the Russian government was contem
plating the destruction of its entire fleet o.
men-of-war imprisoned in the harbor o.
sebastapol by the blockading fleets Of
France and England, Mr.. Ellet having
perfected his plans, presented them tc
the Russian admiralty and offered, il they were
accepted, to direct the complete destruction
Of the allied feet. His views so impressed the
emperor. before whom they we're laid, that Mr..
Ellet was requested to hold himself in readi-
ness for an immediate call to StPetersburg for a
personal conference, when Europe was startled
by the death of the car. The information of
his majestys death and consequent change In
the plans of the government was communicated
officially to Mr.. Ellet some hours before it was
permitted TO reach the public press.
Before his return to this country, at the ap-
pearance of some trouble with England, APP
preeiating the exposed condition of our sea-
board, Mr.. Ellet sent to the Navy Department
letter submitting to that department the
views upon naval warfare the substance of
which he addressed q few months before to the
Russian government. His plan was to connect
the steam vessel into floating battering ram
and enable her to fight not with her guns. but
by her momentum He detailed at some length
his plans for Strengthening the huiis OF the
vessels. for constructing the false prov. &c.
This letter Mr.. Eilet followed bya larger and
more elaborate communication from London,
August 10, 1855. Both letters. with some
further exposition of his views. he embodied
in a pamphlet published December l. 1885, in
Richmond, Va, where be professionally
engaged The pamphlet attracted much at
tention, and was quIte widely distributed
through the country, north and south.
WHEN THE WAR BROKE OUT.
From the first outbreak of hostilities Mr..
Ellet apprehended danger to the navy Of the
United States from some adaptation Of his
plan and endeavored to put the authorities
upon their guard against this possible dan
ger-partlcularly from the United States frigate
Merrlmac, captured by the confederates in
the Norfolk navy yard. and which it was known
they began at once to Mt for service OF some
kind.
he feared, including an urgent appeal TO be per-
United to strengthen a small steamer, man her
with volunteers and proceed to draw out the
Merrimae and attack and destroy her before
she should take the offensive. on February 6,
1852, he finally published the following notice:
STEAM RAMS"
'Tt is not generally known that the rebels
now have five steam rams nearly ready for use
OF these five. two are on the lower Mississippi,
of the i've. the one at Norfolk, Is doubt
less the most formidable. being the United
States steam frigate Merrimac which has been
30 strengthened that. in the opinion of the
rebels. it NAV be used as a ram.
But We have not yet single vessel at sea,
nor. so far as know. in course Of construction
able TO cope at all with a we'll built ram.
'f the Merrimac is permitted to escape from
Elizabeth river she will be almost certain to
Commit great depreGations on our armed and
LII
even be expected to pass out under the guns of
Fortress Monroe and prey upon our commerce
IN Chesapeake bay. Indeed, if the alterations
have been skillfully made and she succeeds in
getting to sea. she will not only be terrible
scourge TO our commerce, but may prove also
TO be a most dangerous visitor to our block
AIDING squadrons OF the harbors of the southern
coast
II have attempted to call the attention of
the Navy Department and the country SO often
to the subject during the last seven years that
i almost hesitate to do it again; ana l would
not do so here but that think the danger from
these tremendous engines is very imminent
but not at all appreciated
Experience derived from accidental col
hsions show that a vessel struck in the waist by
. steam ram at sea will 60 down almost in
simultaneously, and involve a. has often hap
pened In accidental collisions, the loss of nearly
all on board"
Four weeks later. March 8, the Merrimac
In her own way demonstrated the value of Mr.
ELets neglected invention. The loss of the
Cumberland and Congress- with all the noble
lives sacrificed upon those vessels; the blow to
the prestige Of the governments would have
been averted by attention to the warnings of
this earnest and patriotic engineer.
The career OF the Merrlmac was brief
enough: An encounter with the Monitor, in
which both sides claimed the victory, but
which cost the gallant and loyal Wordeu his
a l.
tween each injured vessel and the destruction
OF the unwieldly and crudely built rebel ram
was effected by her own commander-May IL
upon the rnmored advance of Mcclellan.
Mr. ELLET's COMMISSION.
There was no longer any apathy on the sub
iect Of rams. Bulletins and dispatches poured
into the departments from the Mississippi
river. Mr.. Ellet was sent for by the Secretary
Of War and was requested to proceed at once
30 the west and Mt out rapidly as possible in
accordance with bis own plans. river steamers
that might meet and destroy the rebel rams
now fully believed in. This difficult commits
zion the dauutless engineer accepted upon the
tpot, making only two condltiOns-one for the
men he should command, the other to assure
the success Of his efforts.
The men must take service with q full kuovl-
edge of the dangerous nature of the dutv-the
tnemy's ire being the least Of the dangers
end would like to be authorized to assure them
that their names would be reported to the Sec
retary Of War. who will recommend them if
they do well. 10 the President and Congress. |
thIUk Ting will be valued more than specific re-
wards.
CHARLES ELLET, IT.. to the Secretary OF War
For himself he claimed absolute !ndepeu-
renee CT command. Tor the reason that the I'M
Usual character OF the service :ntrJIsted TO him.
and TIE imperfect preparation of the means for
performing II. made OF time and secrecy essen
tial factors OF Possible success lie did not
Disguise from The secretary the PROBABILITY of
els1ster 10 Ills vessels and himself and In one
q his dispatches preferred the follow
lnS request; 10 command the mill
tary guard AMI 10 stand second tn
myself II command OF the heet | respect-
fully ask leave to name my brother can't
Alfred ID. Ellet Of the tfty-nIu:h ulluol, yoI,in-
teers. now IN southern Missouri. a man of
cauntless energy and devoted patriotism. who
VIII carry this enterprise through ii he sur
wives and am disabled"
The RANK conferred upon MIR. Ellet before
leaving Washington was that o: colonel of the
star- From The hour Of his departure he re-
ceiyed ineess~nt tele grams from the War De-
Fartment urging dsIpatch- In PIttsbury he
Received the following:
WASHINGTON, March Is
Unless for imperative reasons do not coptine
your work TO one locality. GIVE a PORTION 70
Cincinnati and New Albany 50 as TO avoid the
tmputatIon OF local fAyoTltIsm and a. SO 10 bring
out the whole mechanical Ingenuity of the
Ohio valley. Proceed As spseIIIIy a. YOU can.
Export daily 10 me- T.. NJ STASTOx
Secretery OF War.