90. The Man Who made the
Monitor
By ADMIRAL DAVID PORTER (1863)
[_]
John Ericsson, a Swede by birth, but a genuine American in his way.
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
[_]
The Monitor was built on a new plan; the two guns were set in a revolving
turret.
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.