10 THE DELAMATER IRON WORKS— 



One of the first sets of plans recommended for adoption by the board was 

 presented by C. S. Bushnell, and he was awarded a contract to build the vessel 

 known as the Galena. He consulted DeLamater, many of the naval men having 

 doubted her ability to carry the stipulated amount of iron protective plate. Mr. 

 DeLamater advised him to confer with Ericsson, whose opinion he was satisfied 

 would settle the matter definitely and correctly. He called on Ericsson, laid the 

 matter before him, and was requested to return the next day for his verdict. It was 

 entirely favorable. Captain Ericsson then produced his duplicates of the model 

 and plans of the ironclad steamer he had sent to Napoleon. He found a most willing 

 champion in Bushnell, and gave him both plans and model to present at Wash- 

 ington. 



Bushnell, knowing that Secretary of the Navy Welles was at Hartford, pro- 

 ceeded there by first train. The Secretary urged all possible despatch to have the 

 plans submitted before the board, and the next day Bushnell was in Washington. 

 He was joined by John A. Griswold and John F. Winslow, both of Troy, and friends 

 of Secretary Seward. The latter gave them a strong letter to President Lincoln, 

 who went with them to the Navy Department the next morning. Confronted with 

 the novelty of the proposal, some advised trying it, some ridiculed it. It was at this 

 conference that President Lincoln remarked: — "All I have to say is what the girl 

 said when she stuck her foot into the stocking: 'It strikes me there's something in 

 it.' " The next day the board condemned the plan. Bushnell labored with them, and 

 won over Admirals Smith and Paulding, who promised to report favorably if Cap- 

 tain Davis would join them. Captain Davis told Bushnell to "take the little thing 

 home and worship it, as it would not be idolatry, because it was in the image of noth- 

 ing in the heaven above, or on the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth." 



Bushnell felt the only way to succeed was to have Captain Ericsson present 

 in Washington. He came to New York, saw Mr. DeLamater, and together they 

 went to Ericsson's home to consult him. The exact facts were not given to Erics- 

 son, but he was told that some explanations were needed that he alone could make. 

 He went to Washington that night. As soon as he appeared before the board, he 

 was told that his plans had been rejected. His indignation impelled him to with- 

 draw at once, but he stopped long enough to ask why they had come to that con- 

 clusion. He was told that the vessel lacked stability. His technical skill being im- 

 pugned, he explained with elaborate demonstration and so convincingly that Com- 

 modore Paulding said frankly and generously: — "Sir, I have learned more about 

 the stability of a vessel from what you have said than I ever knew before." He 

 was told the next day by Secretary Welles that a contract would be awarded, and 

 was asked to proceed at once with the work. Chas. W. MacCord was his 

 daughtsman and worked day and night on the plans. The contract was signed Oc- 

 tober 25. The keel of the Monitor was laid by Thomas F. Rowland at the Conti- 

 nental Iron Works, Greenpoint, Long Island, on the same day. Steam was ap- 

 plied to the engines at the DeLamater Iron works, December 30. Ericsson's work 

 during those three months was herculean. Not only the necessary labors, but the 



