The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-02
Col Col. John N. Brooke's Statement Regard
Ing the Origin of the IronCiad.
he TELLS HIS SIDE OF THE STORY
Extracts on Tie subject from IA
Hnmphiet PnbIished IN 1soI-Re-
sarding tho Plans of the vessel
Incidents in tho Contradiction
-Por,cr's statement.


rimac has been revived recently, and
4 many columns have been filled with
communications regarding the origin of
the vessel;
Inc following, which Is taken from a
pamphlet issued in 1891 by Col. John NJ.
Brooke, c. S. NJ, will throw some light
on the subject. and be read with in
terest:
Early In June. 1861 Mr.. Mallory, Sec
retary Of the Confederate States Navy
asked me to design an iron-clad.
The first idea presenting itself was
a shield of timber two feet thick. plated
win three inches of iron, inclined to
Inc horizontal plane at the least angle
MA omat would permit working the guns.
ms shield to be supported by q hull
Oh equal length. But it was apparent.
on Inspection, that to support the mas
siVe shield the ends of the vessel would
pc so full and bluff as to prevent the
altainmeht OF speed. 1t then occurred
10 me that fineness or line buoyuncy
ana protection of hull could be obtained
py extending the ends of the vessel
under water beyond the shield To pre-
vent the banking UP Of water on these
submerged ends [ erected upon them a
superStructure of shfp-iron correspond
ing IN form with the hull below, but
not higher than would permit the free
use OF bow and stern guns; these super-
structures to be deckcd
VI this design ! submitted outline
e.A"thes-body. sheer and deck plans
10 Mr. Mallory. who approved and
adopted them. | then asked that Chief
Engineer Williamson and Constructor
IoEter should be sent Tor from the Nor
Ioik Navy-yard to put the plan in exc
cution. This the Secretary declined
uoing' but ordered practical mechanic
70 he sent up from the Norfolk ward
The mechanic came aided I'm tho state
ment OF timber. etc, but was unable
10 make the working drawings and
was permitted 10 return TO the yard
constructor Porter and Chief Engineer
.iiiamson were then ordered 10 re-
port They came, and we met i'm CON
: sun ton with the Secretary. Mr.. Por-
Ter brought ana presented for consia
GRAFTON model of an iron-clad of the
same FORM ms that which had re-
Jected FOR reasons above stated
men we had examined the model.
me Secretary said he wished to show.
MeSsrs. Porter and Williamson a plan
proposed by Lieutenant Brooke. Tho
nan was then placed before them. ana
me rcaeons for extending tho ends Of
me hui! beyond the Shield and under
Mater were stated. aud they approved
the plan 1t had been, Ms stntcd above
>
Mr. Mallory then directed Messrs.
!lliamson and Porter to ascertain II
suitable engines ana boilers could he
mad. TO me he said: Make clean
d:awing IN ink Of Your plan. to lie fled
IN thS department." AS | placed the
.iLapsr on me ta"!e ard was about to-
: begin, Mr. Porter sail to me: Won
;. had better let ne DO that. am more
hmiliar than Won are with that sort NJ.
WORK. @cccntlug his 1Hter went with
Williamson to the 'Crcdcgar Works.
Where we learned That no suitable en-
sinsS could be had. Williamson than
saii that the engines OF the Njerri,roc
could he thought. he put in WORKING
condition. but that the vessel wnulI
necessarily have as great Il draucht MS
me M'rr!mac, and that j: would ha use
less 10 build n new huh, as the lower
part Of the old one had not hecn de-
stroNcd and the plan could he opnI,ad
10 her. In View of these facts, Con-
siructor Porter who also knaw what
the condition of the vessel was, agreed
with us that the plan could be carried
OUT on her. We all thought the draught
too great. but we could not do better.
we reported verbally TO the Secretary:
the subject was discussed ana his opin-
ion conceded with ours He then, i'm
order that record might be preserved
directed lis 10 make n written rcport in
accordance with the results OF the dis
cusSion.
AS the plan proposed by me had been
ADOPTED, thought it but proper that
should leave the wording Of the report
to Messrs. Williamson and Porter
noticed that in designating the plan to
be adopted the expression used was
the plan submitted for the approval OF
the department" Which plan was not
stated
Colonel Brooke then goss on TO in
trOuucn n nllmhnr n =
The data of the fight ana Immediately
AFTER tending to prove his statements
among them letter from Lieutenant
Robert ID. NJ. Minor, giving graphic
description of the first days fighting.
The Charleston Mercury Of March 10.
1862, published the following from Il
private letter by Constructor Porter:
u received but little cncOura cement
from any one while the Virginia was
progressing. Hundreds. may say
thousands, asserted she would never
float. Some said she would turn bottom
side. up; others said the crew would
suffocate: and the most wise said the
concussion and report from the guns
would deafen the men. Some said she
would not steer; and public opinion
generally about her said she would
never come ont of the dock. You have
no idea what have suffered in mind
since ] commenced her. but I knew
what ] was about, ana I perscvered.
Some of her inboard arrangements are
OF the most intricate character and
have caused ME many sIeepcss nights
In making them, but all have turned
out right, and thanks are due to n kind
! Providence whose blessings on my cf-
forts have many times invoked /
must say / was aston!shcd at the sue
cess of the Virginia. She destroyed
the Cumberland In fifteen minutes
and in thirty more the Congress was
captured. The Minnesota would have
Ehared the same fatn hui clio 81