University of Virginia Library

90. The Man Who made the Monitor
By ADMIRAL DAVID PORTER (1863)

WHILE I was fitting out the mortar flotilla, "Ericsson's iron pot " was approaching completion, and I received orders from the Navy Department to make a critical examination of the vessel and report my opinion of her capabilities. After this duty was accomplished I was ordered to proceed to Mystic, Connecticut, and examine the Galena, a wooden vessel sheathed with iron plates, building there under the supervision of Commodore Joseph Smith.

Arriving at New York, I called on Mr. Ericsson and showed him my orders. He read them, looked at me attentively, and said: "Well, you are no doubt a great mathematician, and know all about the calculations which enter into the construction of my vessel. You will have many papers to examine; help yourself, and take what you like best."

"I am no great mathematician,"I replied, "but I am a practical man, and think I can ascertain whether or not the Monitor will do what is promised for her."

"Ah, yes! "exclaimed Ericsson, "a practical man! Well, I've bad a dozen of those fellows here already, and they went away as wise as they came. I don't want practical men sent here, sir. I want men who understand the higher mathematics that are used in the construction of my vessel—men who can work out the displacements, horse-power, impregnability, endurance at sea in a gale, capacity to stow men, the motion of the vessel according to the waves, her stability

as a platform for guns, her speed, actual weight—in short, everything pertaining to the subject, Now, young man, if you can't fathom these things you had better go back where you came from. If the department wants to understand the principles of my vessel, they should send a mathematician."

"Well,"said I, as the inventor paused to take breath, "although I am not strictly what you would call a mathematician, I know the rule of three, and that twice two are four."

Ericsson looked hard at me, his hair bristled up, and the muscles of his brawny arms seemed to swell as if in expectation of having to eject me from the room. "Well!"he exclaimed, "I never in all my life met with such assurance as this. Here the Government sends me an officer who knows only the rule of three and that twice two are four, and I have used the calculus and all the higher mathematics in making my calculations.

"But,"said I, apologetically, "I know a little of simple equations. Won't that be sufficient to make me understand this machine of yours? "

"Worse and worse! "exclaimed the inventor. "It would be better if you knew nothing. Here's a man who tells me he knows a little of simple equations, and they send him to examine John Ericsson! "

I was greatly amused with this remarkable man, and entirely forgave his peculiarities. "Well, Mr. Ericsson,"I said, "you will have to make the best of a bad bargain, and get along with me as well as you possibly can. I am perfectly willing to receive instruction from you."

"Ah, ha! "he exclaimed, "that's it, is it ? and so you think me a school-master to teach naval officers

what I know ? I'm afraid you're too bad a bargain for me; you must expect no instruction here. Take what you like best from my shelves, but you can't have my brains."

"Well, then,"I said, "show me your plans in order, and, if you won't explain them, let me see what I can make of them." "Ah, young man ! "said Ericsson, "with your limited knowledge of simple equations you will run aground in a very short time. Look at this drawing and tell me what it represents."

"It looks to me like a coffee-mill,"I answered.

Ericsson jumped from his chair with astonishment in his eye. " On my word of honor, young man, you are vexing, and I am a fool to waste my time on you. That is the machinery that works my turn-table or the turret. I have spent many sleepless nights over it, and now a man who only knows a little of simple equations tells me it's a coffee-mill! Now what do you think of that ? "continued Mr. Ericsson, handing me a small wooden model; "that's my 'iron pot,' as you navy people call it."

I regarded the model with a critical eye, holding it upside down. " This,"I remarked, "is evidently the casemate "— passing my hand over the bottom "and this "— pointing to the turret— "is undoubtedly where you carry the engine."

"Well! well!"exclaimed Ericsson, "never did I see such a— But never mind; you will learn by and by the world was not made in a day."

So we went on till at length I informed Mr. Ericsson that I thought I understood all about his "iron pot."

He was not in a pleasant humor, evidently regarding

me as an emissary sent by the department to try and bring him to grief. As he did not seem to be in a communicative frame of mind, I took a malicious pleasure in worrying him.

After learning all I could possibly from the drawings and plans of the Monitor, I proposed to the inventor to go and examine the Simon-pure article, and we crossed the ferry to Greenpoint, where, if I remember rightly, the vessel was building.

Taking off my coat, I penetrated to the innermost recesses of the Monitor, followed by Mr. Ericsson, who more than once inquired if my simple equations enabled me to comprehend the mysteries.

"Wait till I am done with you,"I said; "then the laugh will be on you, and you'll see what my simple equations amount to."

"No doubt! no doubt!"he replied, "but it will take a big book to hold all you don't know when you get through."

At last, after an hour spent in examining the vessel, I emerged from the hold, followed by the inventor, who looked displeased enough. "Now, sir,"I said, I know all about your machine."

"Yes,"he answered, sneeringly, "and you know twice two are four, and a little of simple equations."

"Now, Mr. Ericsson,"I said, "I have borne a good deal from you to-day; you have mocked at my authority and have failed to treat me with the sweetness I had a right to expect. I am about to have satisfaction, for on my report depends whether or not your vessel is accepted by the department ; so I will tell you in plain terms what I think of your ' iron pot.' "

"Say what you please,"exclaimed Ericsson, glaring

at me like a tiger ready to spring; "nobody will mind what you say !"

"Well, sir,"I continued, "I have looked into the whole thing from A to Izzard, and "—gazing steadily at the inventor, not without apprehensions that he might seize me in his muscular arms and squeeze the breath out of my body— "I will say this to the Goernment—in writing, too, so that there can be no mistake."

"Go on, sir, go on! "said Ericsson; 11 you will run on a rock directly."

"Well, then,"I continued, "I will say that Mr. Ericsson has constructed a vessel— a very little iron vessel— which, in the opinion of our best naval architect, is in violation of well-known principles, and will sink the moment she touches the water."

"Oh,"said Ericsson, "he's a fool! "

"But,"I continued, "I shall say, also, that Mr. Ericsson has constructed the most remarkable vessel the world has ever seen -one that, if properly handled, can destroy any ship now afloat, and whip a dozen wooden ships together if they were where they could not manœuvre so as to run her down."

Ericsson regarded me in astonishment, then seized my hand and almost shook my arm off. "To think!"he exclaimed, "that all this time I took you for a fool, and you are not a fool after all! "

I laughed heartily, as did Ericsson, and we have been the best of friends ever since.

I telegraphed at once to the Navy Department, "Mr. Ericsson's vessel is the best fighting machine ever invented, and can destroy any ship of war afloat."

After examining the Galena, I telegraphed, "I am not satisfied with the vessel ; she is too vulnerable."

On my return to Washington I met a high official of the navy, who said to me: "We received your telegram about the Ericsson vessel. Why, man, Lenthall says she will sink as soon as she is launched. He has made a calculation, and finds she will not bear her iron, much less her guns and stores."

Both Fox and Lenthall soon had reason to change their opinions on this subject; both became strong advocates of Ericsson's system, and in a short time a number of much larger vessels of a similar type with the Monitor were commenced, but were not finished in time to be of use in the most critical period of the civil war, when we came near meeting with serious reverses owing to the great energy displayed by the Confederates in improvising heavy iron-clads.

To Ericsson belongs the credit of devising the Monitor class of vessels, which gave us a cheap and rapid mode of building a navy suitable to our wants at the time. Through his genius we were enabled to bid defiance to the maritime powers which seemed disposed to meddle with our affairs, and it was owing to him that at the end of the civil war we were in a condition to prevent any hostile navy from entering our ports.