The Virginia.
We are requested to publish the following communication, which recently appeared in the columns of one of the Richmond Journals:As the brilliant success of the Virginia has attracted the attention of all the country, and is destined to cast so much glory on our infant navy, it may be of general interest to publish some account of the origin of this magnificent ship.
On the 23d of June, a Board, consisting of W.P. Williamson, Chief Engineer; John M. Brooke, Lieut; and John L. Perter. Naval Constructor, met in Richmond by order of the Secretary of the Navy, to determine a plan for the construction of an iron-clad vessel. The Secretary was himself present at the meetings of the Board.
After full consultation, a plan proposed by Lieut John M. Brooke was adopted, and received the approval of the Secretary of the navy.
The plan contemplated the construction of a light-draft vessel; but the means at our command being limited, many reasons induced them to take the Merrimac and alter her according to the plan adopted. Her boilers were good, and her engine was only partially destroyed, and could be repaired in less time than would be required to construct an engine for a new vessel of light draft. It was found that the plan of Lieut. Brooke could easily be applied to the Merrimac. In fact, no other plan could have made the Merrimac an effective ship. Her guns now command every point of the horizon.
A report was made by the above named officers to the Secretary of the Navy on the 25th of June, in accordance with those facts; and the Secretary ordered the work to commence forth with.
Experiments to determine the mode of applying the armor, and to fix the dimensions of its parts, were conducted by Lieutenant Brooke.
From the moment that the plan was adopted, the Secretary of the Navy urged the work forward with all the means at the command of the Government, and without regard to expense. From this date to the day of the Virginia's egress from the dock there were from 1,000 to 1,500 men employed on her.
The four rifled cannon which were used so effectively on the Virginia were of a plan entirely new, designed by Lieut. Brooke Most of the foregoing facts came to my knowledge long before the completion of the ship — others I obtained recently from reliable sources.
I am a private citizen, wholly unconnected with the Confederate or State Government. I thought the public ought to know all these particulars, which reflect so much credit on the Secretary of the Navy and his officers.
Justice.
