The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-31

into the hands of the Confederates, Who
were the pioneers in the building Of ar
NOR ships, they began to construct a
most formidable vessel at Norfolk,
which, when completed, would be ire
sisti5le against anything we had under
construction or planned, and visions
were seen ahead Of the disaster to the
Union cause that this vessel would
probably accomplish when our wooden
ships were sunk and driven away, and
that not only northern cities and the
Capitol at Washington would possibly
be placed under tribute. Also the
breaking of our blockade would be pre-
text sufficient for foreign countries to
acknowledge the belligerancy of the
Confederacy, and three of these coun-
tries were waiting for such an occasion.
To cope against our southern brethren
and against foreign recognition of the
Confederaoy would have been in all
probability a hopeless task. Our ar
mics could have awaited nothing with
out navy and sea power lost. Then
was the time that he to whom this me-
mortal was erected was Providentially
called to dissipate this gloom. Mr..
Bushnell had a short time before inter
ested himself in the practically aban
doned Shore Line railroad from New
Haven to New London, and he also
with friends completed a new road
from New London to Stonington, to
make link between Washington and
Boston. He was in Washington at the
time of the breaking out of the war on
business connected with this railroad
and the United States mails. 1t is i'm
possible for me within the present time
limit to 60 into the details, All of this
is published in book prepared by re7
quest of the Bushnell Memorial assocp-
alton, under whose direction this me-
moritl was erected. =
Mr.. Bushnell knew the Secretary of
the Navy, Gideon Welles, and while the
Confederates were hard at work on the
Merrimac, the secretary in his dilemma
informed Mr.. Bushnell Of the possible
disaster, in not being aole to cope with
this iron-clad. Mr. WeIles, knowing
Mr.. Bushnell to be a man OF resource
and that there was a bill TO which lie
had called the attention Of congress for
the need of iron-clads 1or defense, the
conversation resulted in Mr. Bushnell
engaging Samuel Po5k, Ea1al coa-
structor, to make plsns for an iron-clad
vessel which they named the Galena |
Also the Navy Department ordered am
other type of arnored ship With broad
side battery to be called the New Iron
sides, which was built by William
Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia. The
question as to the stability of the Ga
lena was not fully established. 1t was
at consultation of Mr.. Bushnell with
Captain John Ericsson in New York in
relation to the Galena that plans Of the
Monitor were shown Mr.. Bushnell, who
Immediately on their being embodied
comprehended that no doubt what was
wanted was found, and that the saliva
ton of our Union of States was stored
up In these drawings if they We're put
to practical account. 1t is long sto-
~, but suffice 1t to say the order and
contract for constructing the vessel |
was given through the patriotism, per-
ttnacity and energy of Mir. Bushnell de-
spite the old navy prejudice of wooden |
ships 1t may not be known that Cap |
tain Ericsson was 80 at odds With the
Navy Department at that time on ac-
count of an accident happening to the
guns of a vessel called the Princeton |
which he constructed. and for which |
the government refused to pay, that |
Ericsson refused to offer his plans to
the government, but handed them to
Mr.. Bushnell and told him TO Go what |
he chose with them. Our great, good |
and martyred president, Abraham Lin
coin, was one who also compIehended |
the merit of the plans, and Secretary |
Of Navy Gideon Welles was enthusiast
tic in their adoption.
1t is a long story, but as soon as the |
Navy Board had given permission to
build the ship, called in the contract an
'Iron-clad Shot-proof Steam Battery"
and which was subsequently named the |
Monitor" Mr.. Bushnell enlisted the |
and assistance of John Il. |
and John A. Griswold, Of |
Troy, N. Y, iron manufacturers, to |
supply the material, and the contract |
for building the vessel was made on |
the 4th day of October, 1861, between
Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy |
Of the first part, and John Ericsson,
John It. Winslow, John A. Griswold |
and Cornelius S. Bushnell, of the sec
ond part, and to cost the sum of two |
hundred and seventy-five thousand dol |
lars, A verbal contract was made at !
once with Thomas f. Rowland, an es-
teemed citizen of New Haven, then Of |
the Continental Iron Works, Green
port. Long Island, for the construction
Of the hull and required iron work. |
We are pleased to realize that Mr.. |
Rowland is still living in New York,
and in a fair condition of health for one
IF his years, The formal contract with |
Thomas F, Rowland was made on Octo-
Der %, 1851, or twenty days after the |
contract made with Mr. Bushnell and |
his associates with the government. |
The vessel was constructed in about |
one hundred days, work being pushed |
night and day under the supervision Of |
Captain Ericsson. c. H. Delaneter &
Co., New York, were the builders of the |
engines boilers and machinery.
That there may be no misunderstand- |
ng, 1t must be borne in mind that there |
S no claim that Mr.. Bushnell built the |
Monitor. The sub contract for the con-
struotion of the hull and iron work was |
given. as stated previously, to Mr.. |
Thomas F. Rowland, and the engines
Ind boilers as stated, and there were
others who had part in building the /
zessei But neither of these would |