RHODE ISLAND. 



723 



The annexed diagram presents the section 

 of a naval tow. 1 by Mr. Tiinby. It 



is supposed to be forty feet in diameter, giving 

 space for six guns. Revolving once a minute, 

 its capacity would be one shot in ten seconds 

 more than can be delivered continuously from 

 any vessel afloat. Another important feature 

 [3 shown in this diagram. The turret is sunk 



about one-third of its height below the deck. 

 It must have an interior height of about nine 

 feet to give space for the working of the guns. 

 But as there never can be any occasion to de- 

 press the piece below a horizontal line, the 

 guns may be on a level with the deck. The 

 carriage may as well be below as above. There 

 need be only enough above deck to give the 



SECTION OF HULL AND XAVAL TOWEE. 



port-holes height for the requisite vertical range ; 

 six feet is abundant for this. The chance of a 

 turret being hit would thus be diminished one- 

 third, and the seaworthiness of the vessel would 

 be increased by bringing the weight so much 

 nearer to the line of flotation. Moreover, as 

 one-third of the turret would be protected by 

 the side armor of the vessel, this portion could 

 be made much lighter. The weight of the tur- 

 ret could be diminished fully a quarter. TV hat, 

 however, is of still greater importance, the one 

 vulnerable point in the monitors as originally 

 built is thoroughly protected. This vulnerable 

 point is the plane npon which the turret re- 

 volve?, which has been placed on the deck. The 

 The elaborate '* Report upon Armored Vessels," 

 made by the Secretary of the Navy in April, 

 130-4, is conclusive as to the superiority of tur- 

 vessels. The valuable qualities of these 

 vessels was further demonstrated in the capture 

 of Fort Fisher. 



RHODE ISLAND. Although one of the 

 least of the States of the Union, Rhode Island 

 has engaged in the war as heartily for her power 

 as the largest. Her contributions to the Fed- 

 eral army, from the commencement of hostili- 

 ties to Dec. 31, 1864, were about 22.707; as 

 follows : 



Three years' men (volunteers) : 



(drafted) HW 



u " (substitutes for drafted men).. 677 



One year's men' (volunteers) 391 



Xiac months' men (volunteers) 



Three months' men (volunteers') 3,144 



I". S. and regiments in other States (about) 900 



United States Xavy (about) 2,000 



The number of men furnished from May 20, 

 1863, to Jan. 27 1865, was as follows: 



3,520 



During this period there were also enlisted : 



In the regular army, &c 413 



Veterans re^nlisted in the field and credited to Khode 



Island 1,11 3 



For the Xavy, estimated 500 



SySH 



Average, 64 men enlisted a week. 



During this period the United States Govern- 

 ment has called upon Rhode Island to furnish 

 as her quota 12,393 men, as follows: 



June 30. 1S63, the call for 300,000. . . 



Feb. 1, iS64. * u 500.000 8.469 



March 14, ISM, " u 200,000 



July 13, " 600,000 



Dec. 19, " " " 800,000 1,49 



By a draft in July, 1863, credits in men and 

 commutations, amounting to 1,296, were real- 

 ized. For naval enlistments, extending back to 

 1861, about 1,500 were allowed, and in credits 

 1,800 for men enlisted prior to 1863, making 

 the State deficient at the close of the year 1,459 

 men. 



An amendment to the State Constitution, so 

 as to permit soldiers to vote, was submitted to 

 the people early in the year, and a vote exceed- 

 ing the requisite three-tifths was given for it. 

 This secured its adoption. At the same tune 

 there was submitted to the people an amend- 

 ment of the Constitution to permit unnatural- 

 ized citizens to vote who had served in the war. 

 This lacked sixty-four votes of the requisite 

 three-fifths majority. It was therefore reject- 

 ed, as was also an amendment to abolish the 

 registry tax 



