NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



503 



used by the English and the French in the 

 Crimean war is given in the article BATTERY, 

 in vol. ii. of the " New American Cyclopaedia." 

 The French were the first to fully appreciate 

 the immense advantage to the naval power 

 possessing the largest number of the strongest 

 batteries of this class, and in 1860 engaged 

 largely in their construction ; launching in that 

 year the battery named La Gloire, a wooden 

 screw-steamer of 900 horse power, 253 feet 

 long, 55 feet broad, and drawing 27i feet of 

 water. To some depth below her load-water 

 line her sides are covered with iron plates, 2 



* About 1.200 tons each, carrying about 7 guns each, 



t About 500 tons each, carrying about 4 guns each. 



% About 700 tons each, carrying about 4 guns each. 



About 4,600 tons altogether, carrying 2, 12, and 18 guns. 



feet wide and 44 inches thick. Her armament 

 consists of thirty-four 54- pounders on her 

 main deck, and two heavy shell guns forward, 

 under an iron screen. Her ports are brought 

 down within 6 or T feet of the water. So well 

 approved was the plan that in 1861 the Gov- 

 ernment had as many as 20 batteries of this 

 character upon the stocks or launched. The 

 English, in order to maintain the superiority of 

 their navy, were compelled to engage with 

 great vigor in the same enterprise. In the 

 course of the year 1861, they conducted a series 

 of expensive experiments in firing from and 

 upon an iron cupola, constructed upon a float- 

 ing battery. Finding that it stood the most 

 complete hammering with the heaviest shot 

 without injury, the Admiralty decided upon 



