The Officers of Fort Sumter
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HARPER'S WEEKLY. [MAY 4, 1861. 284 STEVENS'S BOMB-PROOF FLOATING BATTERY,STEVENS'S BOMB-PROOF FLOATING BATTERY.EVERY one has heard of the famous floating battery which has been for many years in course of construction at Hoboken, New Jersey. The idea of this battery occurred to Mr. Stevens shortly after the war of 1812, as an effectual means of protecting the harbor of New York in case of future wars, and the Government appropriated a large sum for its construction. Every thing relating to the machine was, however, kept a profound secret. No one but a few confidential workmen were permitted to enter the inclosure in which the battery was being constructed. Armed watchmen and fierce bull-dogs guarded every entrance. The most vigorous exertions have been made by newspaper reporters and others, from time to time, to ascertain the nature of the work ; but all proved unsuccessful. For the first time since the work be- gan, a reporter of the World newspaper, who is also an artist, penetrated the inclosure, and obtained a sketch and materials for a description of the battery. We publish herewith a drawing made from his sketch, and copy from the World the following description THE BATTERY.Descending the sloping side of the dock, which is built in a rude manner, evidently designed to be used for the one purpose only for which it was constructed, we reach the bottom, which is about twenty-five feet below the surface of the yard. Standing on the bottom, which is formed by the solid ground, near the stern of the vessel, and looking forward toward the bow, amidst the forest of shores and beams which keep the hull upright, one can not fail to be struck with the magnitude of the proposed work. It was once stated that she was 700 feet in length, with a beam of 70 feet, but had such been a true statement she would have exceeded the famed Great Eastern in size. As for as the judgment of our reporter could be relied upon from eye measurement, she is about 400 feet in length, with about 50 feet beam. Even at this figure she is the next to the THE HEROES OF FORT SUMTER. |
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