Her distinctive features.
It will be observed in the above quotations from
Secretary Mallory's letter that he regards the
submerged ends of the ship and the eaves of the casemate as the novel and distinctive feature of the
Merrimac.
Lieutenant Brooke's patent is based solely on this novel and distinctive feature.
So that
Brooke's plan and the distinctive features of the
Merrimac are one and the same.
In the same communication of
Secretary Mallory to the
Confederate House of Representatives, in which he awards the merit of the plan of the
Merrimac to
Lieutenant John M. Brooke and in response to that part of of the resolution, ‘and also what persons have rendered especial aid in designing and building the ship,’ the
Secretary further replies:
[
4]
‘
Mr. Porter cut the ship down, submerged her ends, performed all the duties of constructor, and originated all the interior arrangements, by which space has been economized, and he has exhibited energy, ability, and ingenuity.
Mr. Williamson thoroughly overhauled her engines, supplied deficiencies, repaired defects, and improved greatly the motive power of the vessel.’
Secretary Mallory further states that when
Constructor Porter came to
Richmond, as previously stated, about June 23d, ‘
Constructor Porter brought and submitted the model of a flat-bottomed, light-draught propeller, casemated battery, with inclined iron sides and ends, which is deposited in the department.
Mr. Porter and
Lieutenant Brooke have adopted for their casemate a thickness of wood and iron and an angle of inclination nearly identical.’
It is to be presumed that, inasmuch as the
Secretary notes
this similarity between
Brooke's plan and
Porter's model, he would have noted further similarities if such existed, and particularly a similarity of bow and stern submerged and extending under water, which he regards as the distinctive and novel feature of the
Merrimac—a feature specially covered by
Lieutenant Brooke's claim and patent.
We have here before us contemporaneous evidence—the best of its kind, and the best the subject brings before us. If, therefore,
Secretary Mallory be a credible witness of good standing, his award in favor of
Lieutenant John M. Brooke must stand until his testimony be successfully impeached and shown to be false.
When
Secretary Mallory's report to the
Confederate House of Representatives was made public,
Constructor Porter, in an open letter, contested his award and claimed solely for himself the honor of the plan and the building of the
Merrimac.
If he desired to have and to keep this honor, it seems to me that he should have vindicated his claim and contested the issue of the patent to
Lieutenant John M. Brooke at the time when the most material witnesses to the fact were alive.
In neglecting to do this, he has materially contributed to putting his claim out of court.
Mr. Davis, in his
Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government,
Lieutenant Catesby Ap. R. Jones, and
Lieutenant John Taylor Wood (the two last officers of the
Merrimac), all award the plan to
Lieutenant John M. Brooke.
In view of the testimony and the patent granted to
Lieutenant Brooke by the Confederate Government it would be impossible to make a different award; and the death of
Secretary Mallory and
Mr. Williamson, the most important witnesses
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5]
in the matter, makes the possibility of a reversion apparently hopeless.
As early as 1847
Mr. Porter seems to have made model of a casemated iron floating battery, and it is evident the matter was one of deep interest to him. His familiarity with the subject and his experience, ability, and ingenuity, as attested by the
Secretary of the Navy, was most potent in the construction of the
Merrimac.
I well remember at the time his unwearied, unflagging devotion to the work, and I much doubt whether we had within the limits of the
Confederacy a man so well equipped to meet the necessities of the case.
