Thomas Gregg’s invention.
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Thomas Gregg was of the Fayette Company. His design consisted of a flat upper deck with sides and ends slooping outwardly to the waterline. The upper part of the vessel was very broad overhanging the submerged portion and so protecting trhe rudder and means of the propulsion. The gundeck was nearly level with the waterline with gunpots cut in the inclined sides. The vessel was to be covered with copper or iron. His widow asked later renewal of his patent for ball-proof for iron-clad vessels. Knight wrote that this floating battery resembled very much the Confederate ironclas CSS Virginia (the former Merrimac) or some of the USS ironclads. The exposed parts were to be covered by copper or iron. He doubt if there was ever a vessel built on Gregg’s plan, but the invention seems to embody features later used by the Confederate and USS navies and using steam propulsion for ironclad floating batteries. Harpers Weekly wrote that Greeg was a quaker who thought that the best way to keep men from fighting is fighting was preventing they got hurt. Between 1814 and 1850 he tried to get recognition from the US government for his design. It was tested by a Dupont of Deleware with a gun with success and even Congressmen were pleased with the principle. Gregg spent thousands of dollars in tests and experiments without getting an order.
Sources
Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute. Volume V. Annapolis, USA 1879.
The miscellaneous documents of the Sentae of the United States. Third session of the forty-sixth congress, and the special session of the forty-seven congress. 1880-1881. Washington, 1881.
Naval Armament: Pamphlet Collection.
Edward H. Knight. Knight’s American Mechanical Dictionary. New York, 1874.
Harpers Weekly. Volume XLIII, 1899.
National Archives USA/ Record Group 241: Records of the Patent and Trademark Office. Series Restored Patent Drawings/ NAID 149285828
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