The tender for a steam ironclad sent in by J. Ericsson in 1861 which became the USS Monitor

Line engraving of USS Monitor launching, Greenpoint, NY; published in Harper's Monthly, September, 1862

American ironclad CSS Virgiania. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Virginia as USS Merrimack. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

The Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles (1) submitted the Congress on her session of 4 July 1861 with a report of the building of armored vessels abroad especially France and the United Kingdom. He recommended that the USA would built one of more of such ironclad-steamships or floating batteries. The Congress ordered him on 3 August to appoint the so-called Ironclad Board of 3 skilful naval officers to investigate plans and specifications of such steamships for which building 1,500,000 was available. The appointed officers were the commodores Joseph Smit (2) and Hiram Paulding (3) and the captain Charles H. Davis.(4) They were assisted by Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Fox.

In an advertisement dated 7 August 1861 was asked for tenders “from parties who are able to execute work of this kind, and who are engaged in it, of which they willfurnish evidence with their offer, for the construction of one or more iron-clad steam vessels of war, either of iron or of wood and  irón combined, for sea or river service, to be of not less thantennor over sixteen feet draught of water; to carry an armament of from eighty to one hundred and twenty tons weight, with provisions and stores for from one hundred and sixty-five to three hundred persons, according to armament, for sixty days, with coal for eight days. The smaller draught of water, compatible with other requisites, will be preferred. The vessel to be rigged with two masts, with wire-rope standing rigging, to navigate at sea. Ageneral description and drawings of the vessel, armor, and machinery, such as the work can be executed from, willbe required. The offer must state the cost and the time for completingthe whole, exclusive of armament and stores of all kinds, the rate of speed proposed, and must be accompanied by a guarantee for the proper execution of the contract, if awarded." The commission examined and commented all recived tenders. Recommended were thepropositions of Bushnell & Co., New Haven, Connecticut; Merrick & Sons, Philadelphia, and J. Ericsson, New York, which would “absorb $1,290,250 of the  appropriation of $1,500,000, leaving $209,750 yet unexpended. The commission recommended further that armor with heavy guns be placed on one of our river craft, or,  if none will bear it, to construct a scow, which will answer to plate and shield the guns, for the river service on the Potomac, to be constructed or prepared by the government at the navy  yard here for immediate use.”

In a resolution of the Senate dated 24 July 1868 asked she the Secretary of the Navy all facts necessary for a complete history of the origin and building of the ironclad Monitor. His letter dated the next day was to supply the asked information.

J. Ericsson, New York. “This planof a floating battery is novel, but seems to be based upon a plan which willrender the battery shot and shell proof. We are somewhat apprehensive that her properties for sea are not such as a sea-going vessel should possess. But she may be moved from one place to another on the coast in smooth water. We recommend that an experiment be made with one battery of this description on the terms proposed, with aguarantee and forfeiture in case of failure in any of the properties and points of the  vessel as proposed. Price, $275,000-length of vessel 172 feet-breadth of beam 41 feet-depth of hold 11.5 feet-time 100 days-draught of water 10 feet-displacement 1,255 tons-speed per hour-nine statute miles.”(6,7)

Source

Letter of the Secretary of the navy communicating, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 24th instant, information  in relation to the construction ofthe iron-clad Monitor. 40th Congress 2d Session Senate ex. Doc. No. 86.

Notes

1. Gideon Welles (1 July 1802 Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA-11 February 1878 Hartford, Connecticut, USA), United States Secretary of the Navy 7 March 1861-4 March 1869.

2. Joseph Smith (30 March 1790, Boston, Massachusetts, USA-17 January 1877, Washington, D.C., USA), served in the US Navy between 1809-1871 ending in the rank of rear admiral.

3. Hiram Paulding (11 December 1797 Cortlandt, New York, USA-20 October 1878 Huntington, New York, USA), served in the UD Navy between 1811-1870 ending in the rank of rear admiral.

4. Charles Henry Davis (16 January 1807 Boston, Massachusetts, USA-18 February 1877 Washington, D.C., USA), served in the US Navy between 1823-1877 ending in the rank of rear admiral.

5. Gustavus Vasa Fox (3 June 1821 Saugus, Massachusetts, USA-29 October 1883 Lowell, Massachusetts, USA), Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1 August 1861-25 November 1866, served in the US Navy between 1838-1856 ending in the rank of lieutenant.

6. John Ericsson (31 July 1903 Langbanshyttan, Sweden-8 March 1889 New York, USA), inventor and naval engineer. Designed the USS Monitor.

7. Ordered on 4 October 1861, laid down by Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, Brooklyn on 25 October 1861, launched on 30 January 1862, commissioned on 25 February 1862, fought with the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in the Battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia on 9 March 1862 and lost at sea during to a storm on 31 December 1862 off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA.