Ericsson Steel Clad Battery

HARPER'S WEEKLY

[DECEMBER 21, 1861.

806

THE ERICSSON STEEL-CLAD BATTERY, NOW BUILDING AT GREEN POINT, LONG ISLAND.

A, Revolving Battery.—B, 12-inch Shell Guns. —C, Smoke Stack.—D, Propeller Scuttle.—E, Steering Wheel.—F, Hatchways,—G, Forecastle Hatch.

THE ERICSSON STEEL-PLATED
BATTERY.

THE ERICSSON BATTERY, a sketch of which will be found on this page, is now in process of construction at the Continental Iron Works at Green Point, Long Island. She will be launched in the course of a few days. She is about 200 feet in length, with 86 feet beam and 11 feet depth of hold. Her hull is built of iron, and to protect her sides she is covered with a layer of oak 14 inches in thickness, another layer of pine 14 inches in thickness, the whole being plated with seven plates of one inch iron, making her shot-proof. A revolving fort,

which contains two 12-inch guns, is placed upon the deck near the centre. This fort, or bomb-proof, is eight inches in thickness. The diameter of the fort is 20 feet inside, and it is 10 feet in height. She will be propelled by a powerful Ericsson engine. She is one of the most novel and interesting pieces of naval architecture constructed in this country. For proper reasons we forbear to give very full details in relation to this vessel, as we do not desire to give the rebels any information on such matters.

Other iron-clad vessels are being built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Mystic, Connecticut. By next summer we shall have several afloat.

OUR NEW MAPS.

WE continue in this Number the series of WAR MAPS, which have been so marked a feature of this journal since the war began. On this page we give a map showing the proposed reconstruction of the States of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. This can be hest understood by reference to the following extract from the Report of the Secretary of War :

The geographical position of the metropolis of the nation, menaced by the rebels, and required to be defended by thousands of our troops, induces use to suggest for consideration the propriety and expediency of a reconstruction of the boundaries of the States of Delaware, Maryland, and

Virginia. Wisdom and true statesmanship would dictate that the seat of the National Government, for all time to come, should be placed beyond reasonable danger of seizure by enemies within, as well as from capture by foes from without. By agreement between the States named, such as was effected, for similar purposes, by Michigan and Ohio, and by Missouri and Iowa, their boundaries could be so changed as to render the capital more remote than at present from the influence of State governments which have arrayed themselves in rebellion against the Federal authority. To this end, the limits of Virginia might be so altered as to make her boundaries consist of the Blue Ridge on the east and Pennsylvania on the north, leaving those on the south and west as at present. By this arrangement two counties of Maryland (Allegheny and Washington) would be transferred to the jurisdiction of Virginia. All that portion of Virginia which lies between the Blue Ridge and Chesapeake Bay could then be added to Maryland, while (Next Page)

MAP SHOWING THE NEW BOUNDARIES OF VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND DELAWARE AS PROPOSED BY SECRETARY CAMERON.