2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
Confederate imprint “Report of the Secretary of the Navy” 4p. octavo, C.S. Navy Department, Richmond, Virginia, March 29, 1862, with excellent content pertaining to the CSS Virginia, it reads in part: “...In compliance with the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 18th instant, ‘that the Secretary of the Navy be requested to make a report to this House of the plan and construction of the Virginia, so far as the same can be properly communicated, of the reasons for applying the plan to the Merrimac, and also what persons have rendered especial aid in designing and building the ship,’ I have the honor to report that on the 10th day of June, 1861, John M. Brooke, C.S. Navy, was directed to aid the Department in designing an iron-clad war vessel, and framing the necessary specifications. He entered upon this duty at once, and a few days thereafter submitted to the Department, as the results of his investigations, rough drawings of a casemated vessel with submerged ends and inclined iron-plated sides. The ends of the vessel and the eaves of the casemate, according to his plan, were to be submerged two feet, and a light bulwark or false bow was designed to divide the water, and prevent it from banking up on the forward part of the shield with the vessel in motion, and also to serve asa tank to regulate the ship’s draft. His design was approved by the Department, and a practicle mechanic was brought from Norfolk to aid in preparing the drawings and specifications. This mechanic aided in the statement of details of timber & c., but was unable to make the drawings, and the Department then ordered Chief Engineer Williamson, and Constructor Porter, from the Navy Yard, Norfolk, to Richmond about the 23d of June, for consulatation on the same subject generally, and to aid in the work...The steam frigate Merrimac had been burned and sunk, and her engine greatly damaged by the enemy; and the Department directed Mr. Williamson, Lieut Brooke, and Mr. Porter to consider and report upon the best mode of making her useful. The result of their investigations was their recommendation of the submerged ends and the inclined casemates for this vessel, which was adopted by the Department. ...” Followed by their ‘report upon the Merrimac.’ More. Fine. CSS Virginia was an ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War (built using the remains of the scuttled USS Merrimack). She was one of the participants in the Battle of Hampton Roads in March, 1862 opposite the USS Monitor. The battle is chiefly significant in naval history as the first battle between two ironclads. Ironclads were only a recent innovation, started with the 1859 French La Gloire. Afterwards, the design of ships and the nature of naval warfare changed dramatically.
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