The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 3, Volume 2. Page: 834
viii, 1007 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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834 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
I did, however, investigate the accounts and look closely into the
disbursement of funds and property of the Government which had
been intrusted to the' committee at that place, and found all right so
far as the committee and quartermaster have concurred.
The prices paid for labor and materials I thought very high, but
the committee explained that they had been obliged to submit to
some extraordinary charges to enable them to get the work done in
the short time allowed.
At Pittsburg everything had been done in a very satisfactory man-
ner, the prices paid for labor and materials were low, and a rigid
economy had been observed in all the expenditures.
On the whole, I think it would have been difficult for the Govern-
ment or for an individual to have had the same amount of work done
in the same time at less cost.
Col. Charles Ellet, who felt to some extent responsible for the suc-
cess of the experiment, spared no pains in getting the fleet out with
the least possible outlay of money.
The principle adopted by him to strengthen the hulls of the boats
to enable them to stand the severe shock to which they were subjected
in action it will be hard to improve upon. His skill as a civil
engineer of large experience shows itself prominently in the simple
and efficient means adopted for that purpose, and should it be
thought advisable to construct other boats to be used as rams it will
be desirable, as far as practicable, to incorporate the same principle,
by which the whole weight of the boat, without the spring which an
ordinary boat would have, may be brought to bear with crushing
effect upon the boat struck.
The battery barges mentioned in the list of boats were some large
barges that had been bought and covered with timber and baled hay,
to tow alongside the boats, and protect them from shot, should it
have been necessary to pass Fort Pillow and Island No. 10, then in
the hands of the enemy.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES BROOKS,
Assistant Quartermaster.
[Inclosure.]
Names, description, c., of boats comprising the U. S. fleet of steam rams under command
of Colonel Ellet, with costs, 4c.
Names of boats. Character. Ton- Where bought. Where rebuilt. When and where received.
nage.
Mingo ............ Stern-wheel 300 Pittsburg..... Pittsburg.....
Lioness............do ...... 300 . d.....do . .....do... Received from Pittsburg, by
Samson .......... . do .... 300 .....do .......... do ....... order of Col. Charles Ellet,
Dick Fulton ...... .....do ...... 175 .do .........do...... May, 1862, at New Albany.
T. D. Horner...........do...... 200 ...do........ do........
QueenoftheWest. Side-wheel.. 400 Cincinnati.... Cincinnati.... }From Cincinnati, May, 1862.
Lancaster No. 3... ... do ...... 350 .....do ........ ..do .......
Switzerland ...... .....do ...... 400 .....do ........ Madison ...... From Madison, May, 1862.
Monarch...............do ...... 400 .....do........ New Albany.. Cincinnati, April 20, 1862.
One batterybarge. .................... Pittsburg..... Pittsbur .... Pittsburg, May, 1862.
Do .......................... Cincinnati.... Cincinnati.... }From Cincinnati, May, 1862.
Do .............................do............do........
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 3, Volume 2., book, 1899; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth139264/m1/843/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.