618

THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE NAVIES.

the Monitor. The choice of plans was wise, although the Galena totallyfailed to accomplish what was expected of her, and neither she nor the Iron-sides was afterward duplicated. The Ironsides , however, proved a very efficientvessel within her sphere of action; but so overwhelming was the success ofthe Monitor that hardly any other model was afterward adopted.

The main features of the Monitor were the revolving turret, the low free-board, and the projecting overhang. By means of these devices the ship wasmade to present a very small target, and her engines, battery, screw, rudder,and anchor, as well as her crew, were thoroughly protected, and neither ramsnor guns could make much impression on her. On the other hand, the lowfreeboard had also one distinctive disadvantage, in that it reduced the vessel’sreserve of flotation, thus making it possible for a small influx of water tosink her. The idea of mounting guns in a revolving circular turret hadbeen suggested before at various times, but had never been carried to thepoint of useful application. In 1842 Timby had proposed a system of coastfortification based on this idea, but the plan had been found defective, andhad been rejected. In 1854 Captain Ericsson had submitted to the EmperorNapoleon III . a design of an iron-clad battery with a hemispherical turret.In the next year Captain Cowper Coles , It. N., had suggested a vessel in theform of a raft with a stationary shield for protecting the guns; and in 1859he had improved upon this design by adding a revolving cupola. But it wasleft to the genius of Ericsson to develop by itself the perfected applicationof the principle, and to construct a navigable turret iron-clad which should benearly invulnerable to every weapon but the torpedo.

When the Navy Department finally understood Ericsson’s plan, it immedi-ately adopted it. According to Captain Ericsson, “ The Committee of NavalCommanders . . . occupied me less than two hours in explaining my newsystem. In about two hours more the committee had come to a decision.After their favorable report had been [made] to the Secretary I was called intohis office, where I was detained less than five minutes. In order not to lose any

mate.

THE

NAVY DEPARTMENT BUILDING, WASHINGTON. FROM

PHOTOGRAPH.