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done at Charleston what no other vessels ever built could possibly have accomplished; 
and though the army, as usual when combined operations are carried on, has 
monopolized all the honours, it is a very certain fact that the monitors held their 
own as no other vessels could have done, and under their shelter the army was 
enabled to perform their work successfully. 
“.I have seen a whole army kept at bay for the want of one of these little 
‘ shot-proofs,’ and have, now and then, been tempted to do foolish things, in hopes 
of accomplishing what I deemed impracticable.” 
Opinion of Admiral Lesoffsky, of the Russian navy,— 
“ Rejecting the high sides of vessels, to cover which thousands of pounds of iron 
would be required, the inventor of the Monitor has gained, in comparison with other 
armoured vessels, the following advantages— 
(1) A comparative cheapness in construction. 
(2) The insignificance of target presented to the enemy’s fire. 
(8) The safety of the submerged part of the vessel from shots. 
(4) The possibility of using guns of the heaviest calibres, and capability to give 
great thickness to the turrets and side armour easier than it could be done on 
armoured vessels of other systems. % 
“.Their reports (a Committee of Russian naval officers, sent to America to 
report on ‘Monitors ’) confirmed the navy department in its conclusions that out of 
all known systems of iron-clads the monitor was preferred for our coast defences, 
especially in our shallow waters. 
“ In examining the reports of the captains of the monitors which participated in 
the bombardment of Fort Sumter, knowing exactly the kind of battle the monitors 
were engaged in, the injuries received by them, and remembering that, notwith¬ 
standing a severe concentrated fire from the numerous southern forts, the federal 
fleet had only one man killed and two wounded, we come inevitably to the con¬ 
clusion that the attack on Charleston positively proves the monitors capable to 
compete, and probably with chances of success, with the best iron-clad vessels of 
the French and English navies. 
“ A well-considered new system of fastening iron plates in turrets, taken from 
experience, a large iron ring covering the space between the lower part of the turret 
and the deck, and the 9-inch cast-steel gun, are the means from which we expect 
a great deal. 
“ In conclusion, it will not be amiss to remark, that, in examining the reports of 
the captains who participated in the bombardment of the 7th April, we are far from 
affirming that their vessels were perfect. No, certainly not. Monitors, like all 
other specimens of ship-building, have their defects. They are not easily managed ; 
they are unsuited for passages of long duration ; for fight against fortresses they 
are nearly useless .” 
