53

JOHN ERICSSON L.S.

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
JOHN ERICSSON L.S.
<b>53. JOHN ERICSSON</b> (1803 - 1889) American engineer and designer of the Union's Monitor and the first screw-powered vessel. Superb content manuscript L.S. "<i>J. Ericsson</i>" 1p. 4to., New York, Jan. 8, 1862 to "<i>The Editors of the Evening Post</i>". While working night and day to complete construction and fitting out of the Monitor for its eventual launch only three weeks hence, Ericsson takes time to set the record straight on details of his vessel. In full: "<i>...Permit me to correct the erroneous impression produced by your notice of my iron-clad battery, that I am superintending its construction in behalf of Messrs. Bushnell & Co. The fact is, that I am constructing the battery for the United States Government, to my own plans approved by a Special board of naval officers, under an agreement entered into with the Secretary of the Navy, dated October 4, 1861. I have associates with me, a few loyal and spirited citizens who have joined in the enterprise under a conviction that an impregnable floating battery will prove an important auxiliary at the present crisis...</i>". Following Welles's call for plans for an ironclad battery, a number of designers presented proposals. Among them was Cornelius Bushnell who controlled several railroads in Connecticut, and now ventured to enter the world of naval architecture. Bushnell's ship, to be called the Galena, was a conventional ship with armor constructed of iron bars lying over iron rails. To verify the seaworthiness of his ship, Bushnell sought out the advice of the renowned engineer John Ericsson. According to Bushnell, after Ericsson had confirmed that the Galena's design was sound, Ericsson produced a model of an "impregnable iron battery". Ericsson emphasized to Bushnell that the battery's design was viable and that the ship could be built very quickly. Bushnell was so impressed with Ericsson's model that he took it to Secretary Welles, who agreed that the design had "extraordinary and valuable features", and construction was commenced immediately.<b> </b>Left margin bears a few tiny chips, expertly inlaid at top and bottom margins, overall very good. <b>$2,000-3,000</b>