New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-08
WINSLOW AND ERICSSON.
WHAT JOHN +. WINSLOW DID TO BUILD
THE MONITOR.
TIE VESSEL PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST
rIAtE- pEE SInENr IINcQIN,S
TEEEsT IN THE VESSEL

| TEREsT IN THE VESSEL
| Poughkecp,ie. y. y. MAY t>pecaD.-None Of
| the sketches OF the late John +. Winslow. con-
tanned much more than reference to the fact that he
was Of the quartette who had such confidence in
the forethought and inventive ability of Captain John
Ericsson and such loyalty TO the National Government
dat when it resolved itself into the question OF means
" build the Monitor they stepped into the breach and
| said We will furnish everything that Is needed
Everybody who took part in the late Civil War and
every body who has read the history Of that four years
OF strife is familiar with the fact that the Monitor was
| built and that under the gallant commander. now
RcarAdmiral John l.. Worden. the Monitor I'm March,
1862, fixed the boundaries Of the Rebellion by water at
| Hampton Roads as the battle Of Gettysburg fixed
its boundaries BY land beyond Pennsylvania In other
words, removing the theatre Of its action back upon
the territory that originated it, and In the end crush
] Ing ii forever.
The history Of the origin of the Monitor and its short
but emlncntly successful career has been published
more than once. but important and interesting
facts have been published. hence one or two
In which Mr.. Winsow prominent will be Of interest
TO five men belongs the full credit Of building this
noatinS fortress that gave advice and instruction
by way Of rcproof' to the COnf,dcrates. They were
Captain John Ericsson, the designer; John i. WINS
low and his partner, John a. Griswod. two dis
tlnguShcd iron Of the state OF Ncw-iork. and
c. :. BUSHNELL Of New Haven. who was an associate
contractor with MeSsrs. Ericss0n WinslOw and Girls
void, but whose name does not appear IN the ofgiha
contract, and Thomas +. Rowland. proprietor of the
Continental Iron Works, Of this city, who built her
upon conditions. The world knows Of the Monitors
brilliant action In Hampton Roads. by which the I'M
pcrlcd vessels Of the Union Navy saved aud the
fortunes Of the civil War were changed; but the
world does not know 10 what extent John n "ilSo"
and his partner made tins action possible. These
men, II they did not 20 To the front. certainly furnished
the sncws of from brain and purse Under
difficulties that wOnld have appalled, most men, Mr.
Winsow and the two others who came forward Win
the undertook the construction of an iron YES
sci which many had predicted would not float after
she built. II step which required large
faith, energy and capital on their part. They were
not shipbuildcrs; had special facilities for CON
structng vessels knew nothing from experience OF the
business and there had been any iron warships
built IN this country hence for them " attempt To
put aloat any kind Of war-vesSel was Il hazardous
experiment. Nevertheless. after full consideration.
they decided, patroticalIy to risk all in the attempt
and IL they failed u bear the loss and the blame teI
selves.
Mr.. Wnsow was self made man by honest. per
slstc and welldrcccd effort. and he first learned "f
Captain Ericsson's scheme when In Washington with
Mr. GriswOd. In the autumn OF l76l In The adjust
rncnt Of some claims against the Government
for Iron plating furnished By them for the warshp
Galena. The Naval Board. consisting Of Commodores
Joseph smith Hiram Pauding and Charles II. Davis,
appointcd by Congress TO examine aud report upon
Ericsson's plans and specifications for a naval war
machine or floating iron battery" reported against
the scheme. and Ericsson aud his agent, MI bush
nell we're thoroughly dishcartened and dcmoraizcd at
this failure To Interest the Government upon the sub
cct Mr. Winsow carefully examined the whole
subject and becoming satisfied that the plans were
both feasible and Gcsrnble he determined to take the
whole matter to President Lincoln. Accordingly, an
interview arrasg'd with hr ldncoIn to whom t"e
plans Of Captain Ericsson were presented win all the
JUNCTION and enthusiasm Of all honest ana mastering
conviction by Mr. Win-lOw and Mr.. Gris"Old, who
had now become thoroughly interested In the proposed
Monitor. The President listened with attention ana
cowing interest and when the conference was finished
hc said: We'll. gentlemen. why do you bring this
matter 10 me Why not take u 10 the department.
having these things in charger
Mr. wInsow: " II has been taken already 10 the
Navy Department and there met with rcpul'e ana we
now come to you with IT, Mr. President To secure your
influence We are here not simply a. business men.
but rs lovers OF country, and We believe most
thoroughly that here Is something upon which We can
cpcr that shall be Of vast benefit to the United States
Mr. Lincoln was reused by the earncstness ana
perslsency Of Mr.. Winsow, and also OF Mr "ris"oh'
and said in his inimltabc manner: well ooht
know much about ships. though once contfiV'n
cannlboat the model OF which Is down IN the fatcn'
Office and .he great excellence 0f which was tat IL
where there was ~ WHIT bHi ''"''"
there is something In this plan OF ErIcssons tell
Won what will do. will meet You tomorrow nj 10
o'clock ut the Office Of Commodore smith. and We VIII
talk It all over"
MFR. Winslow, upon whom The onus OF presentation
and advocacy wa, thrown, snld TO friend few days
nfterward 81 scarcely slept wink on the neh' ioI
uine tbIs interview so anxious was about the mat
tor | again and again went through the drawings
and specifications Of Ecsson's plan Inc after line,
lghf f.mt lafir
ui,b the whole subject" The next morning the
oc,,nr took place according to appointment, and be
acs President Lincoln and the Secretary oil the Navy
there were many Of the most able and ihhneh'ihi
officers Of the Navy present. The room IN "mch inc
,oo,inc was held was rude in all its belongings. Mr..
Lincoln sat upon romgh box ana ioho"'" W.T.
w,uslow,s arguments and explanations OF the draw
lncs and plans very closely Mr.. Winsow entered
nnoo his task with great trepidatlon, but his whole
heort was in II, and his showing was 80 earnest
practical and patriotic that profound impression
was made
After Mr. winslow had finished the President turn
ing 10 Commodore smith, said We'll, Commodore
what do You think Of t." The Commodore made some
general and non -c0mmtia reply whercupoh the
President rising from the box added; well 'h'bh
there ls something In IT, the girl said when she put
her log in the stocking. Good morning. een'iemcn'
From this interview grew contract the veesei
70 ne nloccd I'm the hands OF the Government within
100 DAYS at a rost Of $eI3.OO0 The Government
officials had 50 little confidence IN tie ability OF such
+, vessel as was proposed that the contract was
hardened with conditions and restrictions WHY"
amounted 70 almpSt an Injunction upon the chrprSe'
The vessel was launched. however on Jann-
orv 70 1862 Just IOI days from the exc
cutIou Of tie contract thus making the work PROB
ably the most expeditions Of any recorded III t"c
annals OF mechanical engineering. The manning OF
such cofinIkc ship face 70 face with uncertainties
wa, an example OF sublime heroism. Those WHO vol
untccred for the first OF the Monitor were brave
men, Here a hitherto unknown and untrled YES
sci not foatn- the water as other vessels, but
nearly submerged her deck being only eighteen inches
above the water; lcr TO live, il they could be
low the surface, and the ocean beating with Its Wild
and restless right their heads She sailed
from New York Oh March u. 1867 with orders TO pro