Report of Commander Rodgers, U. S. Navy, regarding the purchase of three steamers for naval service.
Cincinnati, June 8, 1861.
Sir: I have, after consultation with General McClellan, and after inspection by Mr. Pook, the naval constructor, bought three steamboats for naval service in these waters.
They were called the A. O. Tyler, the Lexington, and the Conestoga. The name of the first of these I will, with your permission, change to Taylor, a name of better augury than Tyler.
The three are side-wheel, high-pressure boats; their united tonnage amounts to 1,167 tons.
They are all sound; the Lexington is a new boat. The price of these boats was about $ 97,000 to the builders; to the Government it
is $62,000.
is $62,000.
All the river boats are so different from war vessels in all their
appliances that considerable alterations are necessary to fit them for use. They needed a good deal of strengthening, and because the crew would be liable to be picked off while passing along the banks of the river in places where no effectual return could be made to the fire of an individual, I decided upon putting bulwarks of oak plank 5 inches thick, which I found by experiment a sufficient guard against small arms.
appliances that considerable alterations are necessary to fit them for use. They needed a good deal of strengthening, and because the crew would be liable to be picked off while passing along the banks of the river in places where no effectual return could be made to the fire of an individual, I decided upon putting bulwarks of oak plank 5 inches thick, which I found by experiment a sufficient guard against small arms.
The boilers and engines can not be defended against cannon shot. We must take our chances.
The necessary changes and additions will cost about $41,000 more, making the price of each of the three boats about $ 34,000, completed.
The principal and longest contract calls for the delivery of these boats by the 27th of June, under a loss of 10 per cent of the whole contract for every day’s delay after that time until delivery.
With such stringent terms I feel assured that the boats will be ready for us by the 27th instant, and I therefore beg that the requisitions which I enclose may receive immediate attention from the proper bureaus.
I am confident that the vessels will be able to render useful service, and I am very anxious to be at my station.
I think it is not desirable to have the crew in town until the vessels are ready for them.
Provisions may more cheaply be bought here than transported from the East. I request permission to buy them here.
I request permission to engage the necessary pilots, engineers, and firemen here.
The management of these engines in the muddy waters of the Mississippi requires a peculiar experience, which it is cheaper to employ than to teach.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
John Rodgers,
Commander, U. S. Navy.
Hon. Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.