Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-21
THE RAM MERRIMAC.
Detailed Accurate History OF Her
Plan and Construction.
TIE GREAT DAY IN NAVAL HISTORY,
c,sohic Account OF tho Battie-s'nk-
INK Of the Cumberland and 'hr'"-
ing story Of the Congress-
written Tor the DIspa'ch.l

Nf ulNAs fntNN Va w.
,..ttnat time are nearing the hities-
..,. nasscd into the sere and yellow
sr ..l few moro years will have
49,, aha last survivors 20 the silence
@reaeos. Having your encouragement,
st.,,ng bcou an eyewitness and parti-
- 49,, a. al officer Of the Confederate
,f,.. navy In these eyentful actions,
..uotfempt. briefly. TO place before your
-,ch facts as came within my OBJ
-.t..n which to-day seem as fresh and
100 Il. they did thirty years ago. MAJ
.,o.h.nc cxtcuuate, nor set down aught
10 ,. The night Of April 20. 1889,
t..r,1 states forces, with haste that
i. -.I..ahIe and % panic that cannot he
abandoned the Norfolk navy
.,,r "A partial destruction of the
I"' ...r.s. and cannon az that depot.
..-.sfsd that the Confederate Gov
... lg this bunder came into posses
t.,rr ~A000.O0O Of property, price
..s in value and obtalnable from
...,r place within our limits. Inc
..- eri material Of war here found
.....ty dIl good service IN the coast
,r.ni deicnces of Virginia, North
L south Carolina. Georgia, FLORIDA,
t... louisiana. and Mississippi.
'-'.ffle vessels then at the navy
.',.f commission, which the United
,oas sci on FIRE and scuttled. was
..+.l states fricate Merrimac. She
Ifn the new class Of forty-gun fri
-f45l tons. with auxiliary steam
. St4Vas bullt at Charlcstown. Mass,
.... had made several cruises, and upon
.t.,,.r., from her last cruise was put out
l....r..s.l0u 40 the Norfolk yard and
q dob In, Har host
-l,,i under steam power had not
f.I seven miles, and had run down
l.-.r i've miles per hour at the close
.- last service. Her machinery and
..f.I been further damaged at the
... Uas burned and scuttled.
3D.. Nav .ifh she was iloated and locked
$50. l.rf,derates and became IN time
....ni vessel lcnristened the Nir-
.. none widely known as the Mcrri-
... fr1-rC4oH a. THH MEBRINAc AND THE
PLAN.
.r.-..-. two claimants 10 the honor Of
o.. ..r. lieutenant John NJ. Brooke,
I... ..-a.t States navy, and Constructor
.I. Porter. Confederate States navy.
I...r. personal acquaintance with either
..-. rrntiemen and l desire above
.... t.I. injustice TO neither. The
.f.. matter Is made up. WelOOk
DID,. IIue fnr. no new. no additional
... bon the statements before Us
tr4se our Judgment and give our
-..i e.fI a desire 20 know the truth and
D.t..I 18th of March. 1852. ten days sub
....-t. tie action IN Hampton Roads,
..,.l I.rlie House ot Representatives
..I sent communication 70 the
D. Mallory Secretary OF the Navy,
r.II- g- follows:
T.+.s. Secretary Of the Navy be re-
.....I t. make o report 10 this House OF
....,l instruction of the Virginia,
..n-a. flc same can be- properly COM
......nI. oft the reasons for applying the
.r.t.. NrrTmac; and also what per-
.0.f. rendered especial aid in design
.t.rI building the ship
U. fa 2gth Of March. 1862. Secretary
r..-, REPLIED 90 tins message IN COM
.sl.. OBJ some length, the most ma
t.s positions of which / shall here set
"Tl.t On June 10. 1862. lieutenant
rr n Brooke was directed 80 AID the
t.., Department in designing an IRON
..I GU frame the necessary spcclAca-
"Imtn few days he submitted
-.' |..sInr, of a casemated vessel with
ufs. aud inclined IrOn-plated
sl. which was approved 10y the depart
.I..t Chief Engineer Williamson and
Constructor Porter were ordered TO re-
r.. edmond about the 23d Of June
.r...-..tIulu on the same subject gene
rali OBJ all IN the work.
I.lt liT. williamson and MIR. IOr-
approve. ! the plan of having submerged
..tl obtain f1'G'ion and 1nyulnerabllity.
r.Ir. 4U drawing was prepared by Mr.
..r.f ia4adf BrO1kFs plan, which
t 0c.l then filed with the depart
rrt"
That the novel plan Of stsbp,erging
f.nts.f Mo- s..p md ne cares of ne CASE
tn. peculiar and distinctive feature
t OH. Virginia. and was never before
81. "Ilat Ir williamson. Lieutenant
-. snl Str. Porter reported that the
Nrr.le cI.ll bc utilized for this pur-
f-e. a.- commended the submerged
lri inclined easement for this vessel,
...l Was uI1ufri."
l..'.n..t Brooke claims that the mate
rAt..flr' 90 A's plan IS that the bow and
..r .... each extend under water be-
r. ... forward and after ends OF the
. .r mate, 90 give the sharpness
-i .ul buoyancy TO support the
lrNn. anl q patent for this claim
Fs a-., -ucl 90 Lieutenant John Nj.
.a... Dos tac Confederate Government
.-.F. .. leA
nEE DISTINCTIVE TxATUREs.
I. W.l boz observed in the above quota
tt. fl.u Secretary Mallory's letter that
O-I CARDS tln 0.i,D crg.d glds Of ne ship and
ts cGsuiG'. as the novel and dis
ffc.gc feature OF the MerrImac. Lieu
'a.t Brooke patent Is based solely on
W n.fe. and distinctive feature. So
-.. i- plan and the distinctive fea-
..'- u tIc Merrinac are one and the
taH ll lle same communication of Sec
...ft Mallory 90 the Confederate House
Ieu-. -.ltatiyes. in which he awards the
t.r plan Of the Merrlmac TO Lieu
.t.n' John NJ. Brooke and IN response TO
'... f.rf Oi The resolution, and also what
rs have rendered especial AID In de-
at- ani binding the ship the Secrc-
farther replies:
Ar. Porter cut the ship down, submerged
-.' IS. performed all the duties Of con-
r. and originated all the interior
A.i.- Nrnts lY which space has been
lifel. ami no has exhibited energy
..' a,i ingenuity. Mr.. Williamson
-a.y overhauied her engines, sup
M o.icencles repaired defects. and
'ei greatly the motive power OF the
S,cfri.r, Mallory further states that
e.'l Constructor Porter camo 10 Rich
-l hs previously stated. about June
Constructor Porter brought and
United the model Of fiat bottomed.
.--ifaQGAt propeller. casemated bat
Nil inclined IRON sides and ends,
deposited in the department.
Pr loiieF and Lieutenant Brooke have
.'ci ior their casemate a thickness of
.al ifon and an angle of inclination
'-.f IDENTICAL Ii - TO ba presumed
'.' r4smuch as the Secretary notes MS
/ ~ between BrOOke's plan and Por-
/ ''' model, ho could have noted further
/ .Aiiles y such existed, and particularly
/ '.lariiy Of bow and stern submerged
extending under water. which he re-
/ '.'ls g. TIE distinctive aud novel feature
i we Mcrrimac-s feature specially
i ,eIrl ly Lieutenant BroOke's claim and
/ '-'A| We have here before US contem-
.ale Us eydence-the best Of its kind,
~ we best the subject brings before ia.
therefore, Secretary Mallory be a
iaDlo witness of good standing, his
| Al 10 favor Of Lieutenant John NJ.
| 'te must stand until his testimony DO
| '''iaiy impoached and shown 10 be
r wen Secretary Mallory's report TO the
-'e-efate House of Representatives was
.' pubic Constructor Porter, IN an
4eNtr, contested his award and