Daily National Intelligencer

STEAM FRIGATES.

Report of Henry Rutgers, Samuel L. Mitchill, and Thomas Morris, the commissioners superintending the construction of a steam vessel of war, (at New-York,) to the Secretary of the Navy.

New York, Dec. 28, 1815.

SIR—The war which was terminated by the treaty of Ghent afforded, during its short continuance, a glorious display of the valour of the United States by land and by sea—it made them better known to foreign nations, and, what is of much greater importance, it contributed to make them better acquainted with themselves—it excited new enterprizes—it induced latent talents—it stimulated to exertions unknown to our people before. A long extent of coast was exposed to an enemy, powerful above every other on the ocean. His commanders threatened to lay waste our country with fire and sword, and, actually in various instances, carried their menaces into execution. It became necessary, for our defence, to resist, by every practicable method, such a formidable foe.

It was conceived, by a most ingenious and enterprising citizen, that the power of steam could be employed to propel a floating battery, carrying heavy guns, to the destruction of any hostile force that should hover on the shores or enter the ports of our Atlantic frontier. The perfect and admirable success of his project for moving boats containing travellers and baggage by the same elastic agent, opened the way to its employment for carrying warriors and apparatus for fighting.

The plan was submitted to the consideration of the executive of an enlightened government. Congress, influenced by the most liberal and patriotic spirit, appropriated money for the experiment, and the navy department, then conducted by hon. William Jones, appointed commissioners to superintend the construction of a convenient vessel under the direction of Robert Fulton, esq. the inventor, as engineer, and Messrs. Adam and Noah Brown as naval constructors. The enterprise, from its commencement, and during a considerable part of its preparatory operations, was aided by the zealous co-operation of Major General Dearborn, then holding his head-quarters at the city of New-York, as the officer commanding the third military district. The loss of his valuable counsel in conducting a work which he had maturely considered, and which he strongly recommended, was the consequence of his removal to another section of the union, where his professional talents were specially required.

The keels of this steam frigate were laid on the 20th day of June, 1814. The strictest blockade the enemy could enforce interrupted the coasting trade, and greatly enhanced the price of timber. The vigilance with which he guarded our coast against intercourse with foreign nations rendered difficult the importation of copper and iron. The same impediment attended the supplies of coal heretofore brought to New York from Richmond and Liverpool. Lead, in like manner, was procured under additional disadvantages. These attempts of the enemy to frustrate the design were vain and impotent. All the obstacles were surmounted. Scarcity of the necessary woods and metals was overcome by strenuous exertions and all the blockading squadron could achieve was not a disappointment in the undertaking, but merely an increase of the expense.

So, in respect to tradesmen and laborers, there was an extraordinary difficulty. Shipwrights had repaired to the lakes for repelling the enemy, in such numbers, that, comparatively speaking, few were left on the seaboard. A large portion of the men who had been engaged in daily work had enlisted as soldiers, and had marched under the banners of the nation to the defence of its rights—yet, amidst the scarcity of hands, a sufficient number were procured for the purpose which the Commissioners had in charge. An increase of wages was the chief impediment, and this they were enabled practically to overcome.
By the exemplary combination of diligence and skill, on the part of the engineer, and the constructors, the business was so accelerated that the vessel was launched on the 29th day of October, amidst the plaudits of an unusual number of citizens.

Measures were immediately taken to complete her equipment; the boiler, the engine, and the machinery were put on board with all possible expedition. Their weight and size far surpassed any thing that had been witnessed before among us.

The stores of artillery in New York not furnishing the number and kind of cannon which she was destined to carry, it became necessary to transport guns from Philadelphia. A prize, taken from the enemy, put some fit and excellent pieces at the disposition of the Navy Department. To avoid the danger of capture by the enemy's cruizers, these were carted over the muddy roads of N. Jersey.

Twenty heavy cannon were thus conveyed by the strength of horses. Carriages of the most approved model were constructed, and every thing done to bring her into prompt action, as an efficient instrument of war.

About this time, an officer pre-eminent for bravery and discipline, was commissioned by the government to her command. Prior to this event, it had been intended by the commissioners to finish her conformably to the plan originally submitted to the executive. She was a structure resting upon two boats, and keels separated from end to end by a canal 15 feet wide, and 156 long. One boat contained the cauldrons of copper to prepare the steam. The vast cylinder of iron, with its piston, lever and wheels, occupied a part of its fellow; the great water wheel revolved in the space between them; the main or gun deck supported her armament, and was protected by a bulwark of 4 feet 10 inches thick, of solid timber. This was pierced by 30 port holes, to enable as many 32 pounders to fire red hot balls; her upper or spar deck was plain, and she was to be propelled by her enginery alone.

It was the opinion of Captain Porter & Mr. Fulton, that the upper deck ought to be surrounded with a bulwark and stanchions—that two stout masts should be erected to support lateen sails—that there should be bowsprits for jibs, and that she should be rigged in a corresponding style.

Under authorities so great, and with the expectation of being able to raise the blockade of New London, by destroying, taking or routing the enemy's ships, all these additions were adopted and incorporated with the vessel.

It must here be observed, that during the exhausted state of the treasury, and the temporary depression of public credit, the commissioners were exceedingly embarrassed—their payments were made in treasury notes, which they were positively instructed to negotiate at par. On several occasions even these were so long withheld, that the persons who had advanced materials & labour, were importunate for payment, or silently discontented.

To a certain extent the commissioners pledged their private credit. Notwithstanding all this, the men at one time actually broke off. The work was retarded, and her completion unavoidably deferred, to the great disappointment of the commissioners, until winter rendered it impossible for her to act.

Under all this pressure, they nevertheless persevered in the important object confided to them. But their exertions were further retarded by the premature and unexpected death of the engineer.

The world was deprived of his invaluable labors before he had completed this favorite undertaking. We will not enquire wherefore, in the dispensations of Divine Providence, he was not permitted to realize his grand conception. His discoveries, however, survive for the benefit of mankind, and will extend to unborn generations.

At length all matters were ready for a trial of the machinery to urge such a bulky vessel through the water. This essay was on the 1st day of June, 1815. She proved herself capable of opposing the wind, and of stemming the tide, of crossing currents, and of being steered among vessels riding at anchor, though the weather was boisterous and the water rough.

Her performance demonstrated, that the project was successful—no doubt remained that a floating battery, composed of heavy artillery, could be moved by steam.

The commissioners returned from the exercise of the day, satisfied that the vessel would answer the intended purpose, and consoled themselves that their care had been bestowed upon a worthy object.

But it was discovered, that various alterations were necessary. Guided by the light of experience, they caused some errors to be corrected, and some defects to be supplied. She was prepared for a second voyage with all practicable speed.

On the 4th day of July she was again put in action. She performed a trip to the ocean, eastward of Sandy Hook, and back again, a distance of 53 miles, in eight hours and twenty minutes. A part of this time she had the tide against her and had no assistance whatever from sails. Of the gentlemen who formed the company invited to witness the experiment not one entertained a doubt of her fitness for the intended purpose.

Additional expedients were, notwithstanding, necessary to be sought for quickening and directing her motion. These were devised and executed with all possible care.

Suitable arrangements having been made, a third trial of her powers was attempted on the 11th day of September, with the weight of 26 of her long ponderous guns, and a considerable quantity of her ammunition and stores on board; her draft of water was short of 11 feet. She changed her course by inverting the motion of the wheels without the necessity of putting about. She fired salutes as she passed the forts, and she overcame the wind and tide in her progress down the bay. She performed beautiful manoeuvres around the U. S. frigate Java, then at anchor near the light house. She moved with remarkable celerity, and she was perfectly obedient to her double helm. It was observed that the explosions of powder produced very little concussion.

The machinery was not affected by it in the smallest degree. Her progress, during the firing, was steady and uninterrupted. On the most accurate calculations, derived from heaving the log, her average velocity was 5 miles per hour.

Notwithstanding the resistance of currents, she was found to make headway at the rate of 2 miles an hour against the ebb of the East river, running 3 knots. The day's exercise was satisfactory to the respectable company who attended, beyond their utmost expectations. It was universally agreed, that we now possessed a new auxiliary against every maritime invader. The city of New York, exposed as it is, was considered as having the means of rendering itself invulnerable.—

The Delaware, the Chesapeake, Long Island Sound, and every other bay and harbour in the nation may be protected by the same tremendous power.

Among the inconveniences observable during the experiment, was the heat endured by the men who attended the fires. To enable a correct judgment to be formed on this point, one of the Commissioners (Dr. Mitchill) descended and examined, by a thermometer, the temperature of the hold, between the two boilers. The quicksilver, exposed to the radiant heat of the burning fuel, rose to 116 degrees of Fahrenheit's scale. Though exposed thus to its intensity, he experienced no indisposition afterwards. The analogy of potteries, forges, glasshouses, kitchens, and other places, where laborers are habitually exposed to high heats, is familiar to persons of business and of reflection. In all such occupations the men, by proper relays, perform their services perfectly well.

The government, however, well understand that the hold of the present vessel could be rendered cooler by other apertures for the admission of air, and that on building another steam frigate, the comfort of the firemen might be provided for, as in the ordinary steam boats.

The Commissioners congratulate the government and the nation on the event of this noble project. Honourable alike to its author and its patrons, it constitutes an era in warfare and the arts. The arrival of peace, indeed, has disappointed the expectations of conducting her to battle. That last and conclusive act of showing her superiority in combat, it has not been in the power of the commissioners to make.

If a continuance of tranquility should be our lot, and this steam vessel of war be not required for the public defence, the nation may rejoice that the fact we have ascertained is of incalculably greater value than the expenditure—and that if the present structure should perish, we have the information, never to perish, how, on a future emergency, others may be built. The requisite variations will be dictated by circumstances.

Owing to the cessation of hostilities, it has been deemed inexpedient to finish and equip her as for immediate and active employ. In a few weeks, every thing that is incomplete could receive the proper adjustment.

After so much has been done, and with such encouraging results, it becomes the commissioners to recommend that the steam frigate be officered and manned for discipline and practice. A discreet commander, with a selected crew, could acquire experience in the mode of navigating this peculiar vessel. The supplies of fuel, the tending of the fire, the replenishing of the expended water, the management of the mechanism, the heating of shot, the exercise of the guns, and various other matters, can only become familiar by use. It is highly important that a portion of seamen and marines should be versed in the order and economy of the Steam frigate.—They will augment, diffuse, perpetuate knowledge. When, in process of time, another war shall call for more structures of this kind, men, regularly trained to her tactics, may be dispatched to the several stations where they may be wanted. If, on any such disposition, the government should desire a good and faithful agent, the commissioners recommend Captain Obed Smith to notice, as a person who has ably performed the duties of inspector from the beginning to the end of the concern.

Annexed to the report, you will find, sir, several statements explanatory of the subject. A separate report of our colleague, the honorable Oliver Wolcott, whose removal from New York precluded him from attending to the latter part of the business, with his accustomed zeal and fidelity, is herewith presented.

It is hoped these communications will evince the pains taken by the commissioners to execute the honorable and responsible trust reposed in them by the government.

SAML. L. MITCHILL,
THOMAS MORRIS,
HENRY RUTGERS.