PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 485 



and iron caused my flat boat to begin to sink, and both iron and tools were 

 too valuable then and there to risk their loss. I reported the fact to the 

 commodore, who said, " You had better remain and save things, and then, 

 if you wish, come up on one of the tugs." I worked all that night and next 

 day before I got things out of danger, and then reported to Capt. Pcnnock, 

 and requested to be sent to the Essex; but as he told me there was no tug 

 to spare, I had to remain at Cairo until the Essex returned with her boiler 

 exploded, and her decks covered with dead and dying men. The first man 

 I tried to see was the commodore. I could see where he was, but neither 

 his face nor hands were visible. I believe the first words I spoke to him 

 were: "Captain, are you badly hurt?" He replied: "Mr. Jones, is that 

 you ?" When I answered, he added: "Mr. Jones, we had a hard fight, but 

 we took the fort. I feel badly on account of my men — they are brave boys. 

 This will all be for the best; I will now be enabled to go to St. Louis and 

 repair this vessel as I want to." He never spoke of his injuries for several 

 days. I sat up with him several nights, until at length he told me I had 

 better go to St. Louis and get things ready. I went the next day, but the 

 Essex did not come for two weeks after. She ai'rived at St. Louis on Sun 

 day the 26th day of February. The commodore was taken to the residence 

 of his executive officer, Mr. R. R. Riley, where a consultation was held, for 

 some days, about the rebuilding. We finally went to work as directed by 

 the commodore, tearing the casemates down, and removing the machinery. 

 The hull was put on the ways, and the stem was cut ofl", in order to lengthen 

 her, and fix for putting in the machinery, all of which was done as fast as 

 men could work. The hull was soon finished, launched, and taken to the 

 wharf to receive the machinery, and while that was being put in, the car- 

 penters were busy making the casemates of oak and pecan timber, as fast 

 as it could be procured. I was constantly running and writing to various 

 parts of the State to procure timber, it being rather scarce at that time in 

 St. Louis. In the meantime the plate armor was being manufactured at 

 the iron works in St. Louis. The iron was one inch in thickness on the 

 forward casemates, but on the sides only three-quarters of an inch. The 

 stern casemates were made circular and covered with plates three-quarters 

 of an inch thick, slightly cupped or corrugated to give elasticity. 



On the 6th day of July, 1862, she left St. Louis for Vicksburgh. As the 

 iron work could not be done until after the wood work, it was the last fin- 

 ished; and it not being then completed I went with the Essex to Vicks- 

 burgh, and finished hanging her port doors on the 16th day of July, the 

 morning after the ram Arkansas ran the blockade. 



I will state one or two circumstances connected with her, and events that 

 occurred. I was up very early getting my men at work, and before long I 

 heard a heavy gun fired in the direction of the Yazoo river. This was 

 enongh to arouse the commodore, who had been sleeping on the upper deck 

 under the awning, and without coat, vest or cap, he walked forward and 

 asked where the firing came from. Before he got a reply, another gun was 

 heard which answered the question. The commodore said, " Our vessels 

 have found that ram." By this time the firing became rapid. I could see 

 that the commodore had fight in him. He sent one of the officers to the 

 chief-engineer, to know if it was possible to get up steam. He replied that 



