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Photo # NH 59583:  Conjectural depiction of the 'Stevens Battery', published in 1861

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

The "Stevens Battery"
(under construction circa 1843-1874)

In 1841, New Jersey businessmen Robert L. and Edwin A. Stevens proposed the construction of a fast armored steamer to defend New York harbor. After consideration by both the Navy and the Congress, the Stevens brothers received a contract for such a vessel in February 1843 and began building the ship at Hoboken, New Jersey. This visionary project, which came to be called the "Stevens Battery", represented a number of significant advances in warship technology. However, it rapidly grew beyond the available Government finances, absorbed a great deal of the Stevens' own money and went on for over three decades without coming anywhere close to completion. By the time of the Civil War the Navy had little interest in completing the ship, which would have been far too large for use against the Confederacy.

A much smaller vessel, produced in 1861-62 to demonstrate some of the "Stevens Battery"'s proposed armament features, briefly served in 1862 as USS Naugatuck, but official enthusiasm for the larger vessel was never rekindled. However, Edwin Stevens never abandoned hope, and upon his death in 1868 left a large bequest to the State of New Jersey to finish the project. Though work resumed, with the design brought up to date with the idea of perhaps completing the Battery as a large, fast single-turret monitor, by 1874 the available funds were exhausted with the ship still far from completion. The "Stevens Battery" was ultimately broken up on her building ways, according to some sources as early as 1874-75 though others date place the project's end about a decade later.

This page features all the views we have related to the "Stevens Battery".


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 59583

"The Stevens Bomb-Proof Battery as it will appear when completed."


Line engraving, published in "Harper's Weekly", in 1861. It provides a very conjectural depiction of the "Stevens Battery", which had been under construction at Hoboken, New Jersey, since 1843.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 460 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91885

The "Stevens Battery"


Line engraving, published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874, showing the ship's ultimate planned configuration as a large sea-going single turret monitor.
This depiction is virtually identical to that of USS Puritan as seen in Photo # NH 42278.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 430 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91893

The "Stevens Battery"


Engraved view of the ship's hull, housed over in its building dock at Hoboken, New Jersey, circa 1874. The boarding around the protective shiphouse has been artistically removed to show the hull, which is seen from off the port quarter.
Published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 133KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91892

The "Stevens Battery"


Engraved view of the ship's hull, housed over in its building dock at Hoboken, New Jersey, circa 1874. The New York ferry pier is in the right background.
Published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 151KB; 740 x 495 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91886

The "Stevens Battery"


Engraved plan of the ship's hull lines, midships section and curve of displacement, published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874. It represents the ship's ultimate planned configuration, with a monitor-type armored extension around the hull at the waterline.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 85KB; 1200 x 340 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91887

The "Stevens Battery"


Engraved side elevation of the main engine, of the return connecting rod type, published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91888

The "Stevens Battery"


Engraved end elevation of the main engine, of the return connecting rod type, published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 97KB; 560 x 675 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91889

The "Stevens Battery"


Engraved plan view of the main engines, of the return connecting rod type, published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 141KB; 690 x 630 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91890

The "Stevens Battery"


Engraved plan ship's propellers, published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874. This pair of cast-iron screws were built to turn in opposite directions.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 410 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91891

The "Stevens Battery"


Engraved plan of a section of the ship's side armor, showing armor support, backing and 10-inch iron armor, as planned for installation in 1874. This armor scheme reflects the ship's ultimate configuration, with a monitor-type armored extension around the hull at the waterline. Published in the book: "The Stevens Ironclad Battery", in 1874.
The original volume is held by the Navy Department Library.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 110KB; 650 x 675 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 18 April 2002