The USS Weehawken's "Devil"-- Part 2: Another Ericsson Invention

From To the Sound of Guns blog:  "The 'Devil' or the Ericsson Obstruction Remover, As You Prefer."    Craig Swan.

The "Devil" here was attached to the bow of the monitor USS Weehawken.

The "Devil" was an invention of the famous John Ericsson (USS Monitor, you know) as the request of the Navy to come up with a way of combating Confederate obstructions at the mouths of harbors.  He developed a raft that could be attached to the bow of his monitors.

The device was officially named the "Ericsson Obstruction Remover" but often just called "Ericsson's Raft.  However, Union sailors and Confederates came to calling it "the Devil" since it could be so hurtful to friend or foe.

The Navy sent four of these "Devils" to Charleston in the winter of 1863.  One was lost in route.

Never Heard Of It Before.  --Old B-R'er