February 18, 1861; The New York Herald
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 1861.
The facts stated in my despatch in the HERALD of the 14th inst., that nearly thirty war vessels of the United States are dismantled and unfit for service, has created an intense feeling in Congressional circles. In view of this fact the following analysis of the actual condition of the vessels named, derived from an authoritative source, becomes important. It developes the fact that many more of these vessels are worthless than was supposed.
KITTERY NAVY YARD.
The steam screw frigate Franklin, fifty guns, twenty three feet draught when fully equipped, was reconstructed at Kittery, with all the modern improvements, in 1855. She is still on the stocks, and could not be ready for sea in less than one year. She has neither her machinery nor boilers on board, and Congress does not seem disposed to make the necessary appropriations to complete her. According to the judgment of the best naval architects, she is the finest modelled vessel in the world. This is the ship that Omar Pasha, Rear Admiral of the Turkish navy, and suite, travelled all the way from Washington to Kittery in 1858, to examine upon the invitation of the Maine and New Hampshire Senators. The constructing engineer attended to the admiral’s suite, as well as the admiral himself, pronounced her the best modelled and most beautiful specimen of naval architecture they ever saw. Such a vessel should not be permitted to remain on the stocks and perish, especially when she is needed on the seas to protect our commerce and the honor of the flag. The cost of putting the machinery, boilers, stores and armament in the vessel and putting her thoroughly in commission would amount to about $400,000. This sum seems large, but when it is remembered that the crack steamer Niagara, which carries only twelve guns and five hundred and twenty five men, and which buried the Atlantic cable so deep that plummet will never find it, and conveyed the Japanese Commissioners home, draws the same amount of water that the Franklin will, with fifty guns and six hundred and twenty men. There is probably no vessel in the American navy that would be better suited as a floating battery or custom house for the collection of the revenue than the Franklin, or for the transportation of troops and stores; while she could not enter the harbor of Charleston or New Orleans, on account of the difficulty in crossing the bars, she could enter Savannah, Mobile and Pensacola harbors, and easily reach the forts at those places, also the forts at Tortuga and Forts Pickens and Taylor. She combines a larger battery by eight guns than the whole of the proposed seven screw steamers, each of which will carry six guns, ten hundred and fifty men and cost over three hundred thousand dollars. A vessel combining so many valuable qualities ought not to be allowed to remain on the stocks to perish for want of the necessary funds to fit her for active service.
The Alabama, seventy four guns, twenty five feet draught, was constructed in 1819, is on stocks, partially decayed, and could not be completed for sea short of ninety days nor at a less cost than two hundred and twenty five thousand dollars, and then she would be almost entirely inefficient when compared with the modern built vessels.
The Santee frigate is a sailing vessel of the old model, built in 1821, but modernized by the construction of a new bow in 1835, and could be fitted for sea in thirty days at a cost of ten thousand dollars. She is built to carry fifty guns. She draws twenty one feet water.
The sloop-of-war Dale was built in 1839, at Philadelphia. She returned from her last trip about eighteen months since, and was condemned after being examined at the Kittery yard. She was so rotten that the floating ice broke through her planking about two weeks ago, and she sank at the wharf. Efforts are now being made to raise her.
CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD.
Screw frigate Minnesota, forty guns, built at Washington in 1855, draws twenty three feet of water, has just been thoroughly repaired at an expense of a hundred and forty two thousand dollars, and can be fitted for sea in ten days.
Side wheel steamer Mississippi, eleven guns, built in 1841 at Philadelphia, draws sixteen feet four inches, is under repairs and cannot be completed in less than two months at a cost of about $90,000. She has been at Charlestown ten months. This is the last time she can be repaired. Several of her timbers were broken during her last voyage, and many of them are in a decayed state.
Sloop-of-war Vincennes, twenty guns, is hardly worth repairing, but she can make another voyage by expending $50,000 upon her, and could be made ready in about forty days. She was built in 1826, at Brooklyn, and draws sixteen feet of water when equipped.
The Vermont is a seventy four line of battle ship of ancient model, twenty five and a half feet draft, built in Charlestown in 1848. She is perfectly sound, and could be fitted for sea in six weeks, at a cost of twenty five thousand dollars. On account of her great draft and ancient model she can be of little value, except as a receiving ship.
The line of battle ship Ohio was built in 1820, draws twenty five and a half feet of water, timbers rotten, and unfit for sea service. She is used as a receiving ship.
The sloop-of-war Prebie, built in 1839 at Kittery, carries sixteen guns, sixteen feet draught, timbers in good condition, and can be fitted for sea in thirty days, at a cost of twenty five thousand dollars. Her model is old, but she will make a good transport ship.
The brig Bainbridge, six guns and thirteen feet draught, built at Charlestown in 1842, is now in dock, repairing at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars, and can be ready for sea in twelve days, if necessary.
BROOKLYN YARD.
The frigate Potomac, fifty guns, twenty one feet six inches draught, built at Washington in 1821, can render but very little more service.
The frigate Brandywine, fifty guns, twenty one feet six inches draught, built at Washington in 1825, cannot be depended upon for active service.
The sloop-of-war Savannah, twenty four guns, nineteen feet draught, built at Brooklyn in 1842, is pronounced nearly worthless.
Screw frigate Roanoke, forty guns, twenty three feet draught, built at Gosport in 1855, good model, fast under sails. Steam being auxiliary, can be fitted for sea in a few days.
Screw frigate Wabash is in all respects as to model and speed like the Roanoke. She has just been repaired and can be fitted for sea in ten days. She carries forty guns, two being pivot, was built at Philadelphia in 1855, draught twenty three feet.
PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD.
The sloop-of-war Pawnee, having returned from a short trip to the Gulf, is undergoing another test of her capacity to carry her machinery without breaking her back. Hatches are being made in her spar deck for ventilation, which were omitted at first for fear of weakening the ship. She will make another trial trip, her fifth or sixth. If it is not satisfactory she will probably be condemned, and the Secretary of the Navy, who gave the job of constructing this ship to a personal friend of his outside of the naval constructors, will be censured. This sloop was authorized, with six others, in 1858, and should be rendering service, as the others have been, for more than a year. She cost four hundred thousand dollars.
The sloop-of-war Jamestown was built in 1843, and, of course, is nearly worn out. Model good, twenty two guns, draught sixteen feet, undergoing repairs.
GOSPORT NAVY YARD.
The ships of the line Columbus and Delaware are unfit for further repairs, and should not be reckoned among the number of our war vessels.
Line of battle ship New York is on the stocks, and would cost a very large sum to complete her for sea. The three last named carry eighty four guns each.
Frigates United States, built 1797; Columbus, built 1836, and Raritan, built 1843, are fifty gun ships. Each are clumsy, and cannot be used in active service.
Sloops of war Plymouth and Germantown were built in 1843 and 1846, have done great service, and are too much decayed to be of much further use without large expense for repairs; draft sixteen feet.
Brigs Perry and Dolphin, of six guns each, built in 1843 and 1846, are being put in readiness for sea. Draft of water thirteen feet.
The idea of altering the seventy four gun ships into steamers, now that they are water soaked and decayed, is pronounced by naval constructors to be impolitic and almost absurd. That no more large steam frigates are wanted at the present time may be seen from the fact that of the six we have five are now laid up in ordinary. Steam sloops of light draft are really wanted, but those who are supposed to know, say they should not all be of the smallest kind, but of different rates, adapted to the various wants of the service. Large ships are necessary for long voyages where rough weather prevails. England and France are building many iron cased ships, and the United States may try their experiment.
Spain had her agents here some two months since inviting proposals for building fifty large steam screw frigates, and contracts will be made for part of them, but they prefer wood to iron. But some builders say that we should have wooden ships with iron frames for two reasons: – First, that it will save space for stowage, and secondly, it will not be possible to obtain live oak timber now that the live oak States have seceded, arguing that no more timber of that description can be obtained, and iron must be substituted. But others say that in order to obtain the same strength the frame must be deeper than those of wood. Besides the large purchases of live oak just made, there can be no doubt that the United States have enough timber to last until the seceding States return again.