The USS Passaic-- Part 1: 'The Fightingest Ship in Mr. Lincoln's Navy'

From the Passaic County Historical Society "USS Passaic"  by Alfred P. Cappio.

The monitor USS Paissaic was commanded by Edward Simpson in the 1863 attack on Charleston and Fort Sumter.

The USS Passaic was named after the Passaic River in New Jersey.

"It is doubtful that any other ship in the Union Navy fought in more actions, fired more shells at enemy fortifications, or was hit more often by enemy fire than  the Passaic.  Truly this ship might well be called "The Fightingest Ship in Mr. Lincoln's Navy."

After the success of the USS Monitor, nine more monitors were ordered from John Ericsson at his Greenpoint (now Brooklyn) shipyard. The first to be completed was the USS Passaic, launched on August  30th and commissioned  at the New York Navy Yard on November 25, 1862.

Two days later, under the command of Captain Percival Drayton, she sailed to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron under  Admiral DuPont at Port Royal, South Carolina.

--Old B-Runner

Alban Stimers' Grave

From Find-A-Grave.

BIRTH:  5 June 1827, Peterboro, New York   I also saw Smithfield, New York, as his birth place.

DEATH:  3 June 1876,  Staten Island, New York

BURIAL:  Cypress Hills Cemetery,   Brooklyn, New York

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Superintendent of the Ericsson's Btry. Project 10/4/1861, in which he oversaw the construction of the USS Monitor.

Served as a "technical passenger" during the ship's trial run from New York to Hampton Roads, Virginia,  3/6-8/1862.

Operated the turret during the battle with the CSS Virginia 3/9/1862 during which, he was thrown to the floor when a shell hit the turret while he was leaning his hand against it.

--Old B-Runner

Alban C. Simers, USN-- Part 2: Action with the Monitor and Passaic-Class Monitors

Though not a formal member of the USS Monitor's crew Stimers took part in her difficult trip from New York  to Hampton Roads, Virginia, and served on board during her historic battle with the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia on 9 March 1862, known as the Battle of Hampton Roads.

Much of the success  that happened in these two events was due to his inspired work, and Chief Engineer Stimers continued an intimate associate with the Navy's ironclad building program for much of the rest of the Civil War.

In 1862-1863, Stimers again worked with John Ericsson during the building of the next class of monitor-type ironclads, the Passaic-class.  

He accompanied these ships during their early operations against the Confederacy, most notably the 7 April bombardment of Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and helped repair them after the action.

--Old B-Runner

Alban C. Stimers, USN-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

ALBAN CROCKER STIMERS

(June 5, 1827-June 3, 1876)

Was a Chief Engineer with the U.S. Navy.  He assisted with the design of the Navy's first ironclad, the USS Monitor, and later with the design of the  Passaic-class monitors.   His later career was marred by the scandal that enveloped the Casco-class monitors after they were found to be unseaworthy.

Stimers was born in New York in 1827.  He entered the U.S. Navy as a Third Assistant Engineer in January 1849 and became a Chief Engineer in July 1858.  He served in the steam frigate USS Roanoke during the early months of the Civil War and later in 1861 was assigned to work with John Ericsson on the construction of the ironclad USS Monitor.

--Old B-Runner

Timby and the Monitor Blog

Also included in the Timby and the Monitor blog was a drawing of what Theodore Timby believed his revolving turret would look like on a ship.  The one he designed also had a low freeboard and looked a whole like Ericsson's Monitor.  Only, the pilot house was on top of the turret instead of on the deck.

This was sent to China in 1842 at the suggestion of Caleb Cushing, whom I have written about in this blog as the name of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Charles Read was going to attack in Portland, Maine, was named after him.

Another drawing in the blog showed how the turret was to turn.  Also a cutaway of the turret tower which had three levels.

There was also a patent for an  improvement in Timby's Revolving  Battery-Towers.

--Old B-Runner

The Timby and the Monitor Blog-- Part 6: 'The Duplicity of Ericsson'

When Ericsson's vessel was completed it was quickly recognized as Theodore Timby's  turreted, low freeboard ship concept which he had  modeled and exhibited in New York as early as 1843.

Despite high levels of protest by military and political principals of the times and others who knew, duplicity of Ericsson in high places, and a government acting in denial of its own official records, Timby's revolutionary design became famous as the Civil War USS Monitor, but in history, alas to the credit and fame of the wrong man.

Of course, these are the words of Theodore Walcott Dickes, great -great grandson of Theodore Timby.  He definitely has an axe to grind and rightfully so.  Until I came across that article about seeing the remains of the USS Monitor at the Mariners' Museum and under Monitor designers saw the names of Ericsson and Timby, I had never heard of Theodore Timby.

That is why I have been writing about this the last several weeks.

--Old B-Runner

The Timby and the Monitor Blog-- Part 5: Trying to Set the Record Straight

In the ensuing  world famous battle,  which would render all the navies of the world obsolete, the Monitor with its Timby Turret and low freeboard technology turned back the Confederate threat and gave Abraham Lincoln the strategic victory he needed to prosecute the war  toward the preservation of the fledgling American democracy.  (I'm not sure this was the whole reason.)

The Dr. Timby story that follows will reveal why he remains unknown in that final resting place.  It s to be hoped  that this publication and the "telling of the tale" can bring some recognition for him, almost 100 years after his death in 1908.

Although seemingly protected, by law,  thru his  US patent #356789 first filed as a caveat in 1842, his designs were  plagerized by Swedish engineer John Ericsson who used them to offer and win, when war loomed in 1861, a government contract to  build a vessel.

--Old B-Runner

RoadTrippin' with Theo Timby-- Part 5: Stanton, Wilkes, a Confederate General and Spy

And, these are just a few of the notable burials in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C..

**  Joseph Bryant Smith (1826-1862)--  USN.  Acting commander of USS Congress and decapitated in the fight with the CSS Virginia.

**  Also, his father Josph Smith (1790-1877)   Rear Admiral.  In 1862 appointed  Chief of Bureau of Yards and Docks.  And his brother Albert Nathaniel Smith (1822-1866), Commander USN  Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting.

**  Edwin McMasters Stanton  (1814-1869)--  Lincoln's Secretary of War.

**  Abel Parker Upshur  ((1790-1844)--  Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of State under President Tyler.  Killed by explosion of cannon on the USS Princeton.  This ship used some of John Ericsson's inventions including the cannon that blew up.

**  Bettie Duval Webb  (1845-1891)--  Confederate spy.

**  Cadmus Wilcox  (1824-1890)--  Confederate general.

**  Charles Wilkes  (1798-1877)--  Union naval officer.  As commander of the USS San Jacinto, he stopped the British ship Trent and removed Confederate commissioners  Mason and Slidell.  Reburied at Arlington National Cemetery.

--Old B-Runner

An Unmarked Grave for Timby-- Part 6: They Both Deserve Credit

Park Commisiiner Stover told of a visit he paid to Timby in Brooklyn two years ago, only a few days before his death.  Timby was then in his ninetieth year.

"I became deeply interested in Mr. Timby and his rights in the invention of  the revolving turret," said the Park Commissioner.  "I attended Mr. Timby's funeral and since have always wished to have the fame of both Ericsson and Timby written according to each one's merits." 

"The recently discovered letters of the syndicate which built the Monitor show that they recognized the priority of Mr. Timby's rights.  One member of the syndicate states in one letter that he doesn't see the use of trying to break Timby's patent.  Timby unquestionably carries out the whole plan  of the revolving turret in 1842.  Ericsson is, on the other hand, entitled to the credit for putting Timby's invention into practical exemplification."

--Old B-Runner

An Unmarked Grave for Timby-- Part 5: 'To Honor the Man Whose Invention Enabled the Monitor to Do Its Work'

Disappointed in this, Mr. Timby's friends have recently arranged on their own responsibility to have his remains taken to Washington. Yesterday, the body was removed from the public vault at Evergreen Cemetery and taken to Battery Park, where it was placed on the bandstand.

Above the coffin was a big monitor of red and yellow chrysanthemums with a turret of white chrysanthemums was placed.  The coffin itself was opened, and those who gathered to witness the ceremonies were allowed to view the dead inventor's keen-featured, clerical-looking face.

The Rev. H. A. Tupper made a speech, saying that the meeting was not meant to belittle the fame of John Ericsson, who made the revolving turreted monitor a practical achievement, and whose memorial monument stood only a few yards away in Battery Park

"The purpose of this meeting is to honor the man whose invention enabled the Monitor to do its work," Dr. Tupper said.

--Old B-Runner

An Unmarked Grave for Theodore Timby-- Part 3: A Memorial Service Two Years After Death

From Find-A-Grave.

From the October 13, 1911, New York Times  "Late Honors Paid To Inventor Timby:  His Body Taken to Battery Park Where Speakers Credit Him  as Inventor of Monitor.  Ericsson Came After Him Using Revolving Turret Idea, Which Revolutionized Naval Warfare--  Timby to Rest in Washington."

Almost a thousand persons collected around the bandstand yesterday afternoon to witness a memorial service in honor of Theodore Ruggles Timby, the inventor of the revolving turret for the battleships,  who died in obscurity in Brooklyn two years ago, sixty years after he made his invention known.and for which he was never compensated.

Timby conceived then idea for the revolving turret in 1841, after showing a small ivory model of the invention to John C. Calhoun. Timby's friends have always inssted that John Ericsson, who has received credit for inventing the first "Monitor" appropriated Timby's design without giving Timby sufficient credit or turning over to him enough of the Monitor profits.

--Old B-Runner

The USS Monitor the Result of Two Inventors: Theodore Timby and John Ericsson

From the January 30, 2022  Retronewser site "First U.S. ironclad warship, the USS Monitor, launched during the American Civil War 160 years ago #On This Day (Jan 30, 1862)."

The design of the ship was  distinguished by its revolving turret, which was  designed by American inventor Theodore Timby.  It was quickly duplicated and established the monitor class and type of armored warship built by the American Navy over the next several decades.

The remainder of the ship was designed by  Swedish-born engineer and inventor John Ericsson, and built in only 101 days beginning in late 1861.  (And a good thing it was built that quickly because as it was, the Monitor arrived just in time to save the Union fleet from the CSS Virginia in March 1862.)

The Monitor presented a new concept in ship design and employed a variety of new inventions and innovations in ship building that caught the attention of the world.

--Old B-Runner

Theodore Timby-- Part 4: A Writer, Inventor and John Ericsson

During his later years, as a resident of  Brooklyn, New York,  he occupied himself with literary avocations, publishing several small volumes of  poems and essays, including "Bridging the  Skies" (1883),  "Beyond" (1886), "Stellar Worlds and Other Didactic Literature" (1896) and "Lighted Lore for Gentle Folk" (1902).

He died in Brooklyn, New York, on November 9, 1909, and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C..

ACHIEVEMENTS

He is credited as the inventor of the revolving gun turret that was used on the USS Monitor.

He also patented a wide variety of other inventions such as a door sash, water wheel, paper cutter, needle case and a globe clock that was sold in such numbers that some can be seen today at auctions.

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The Washington Post stated in 1909, shortly after Timby's death,  that "John Ericsson has for years monipolized all of the credit for inventing and building the Monitor, but as a matter of fact he was joint inventor with  Theodore Timby."

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In 1844, he married  Charlotte M. Ware.

His father was George  W. Timby and mother was  Sarah (Johnson) Timby.

--Old B-Runner

Theodore Timby-- Part 3: Where Should the Credit for a Revolving Turret Go?

In later years, a controversy followed as to credit for the idea of a revolving turret or battery tower.  Ericsson arguing that the idea for a revolving fort long antedated the 19th century.  Thus it was  one of the concepts  of military engineering that belonged as common property.

Supporters of Timby pointed to his earlier  caveat as proof that credit should go to him.

It seems clear that the  honor of first publicly urging this form of gun housing on governmental authorities belongs to Timby, while the honor of first using the idea in actual construction goes to Ericsson, who may or may not have known of Timby's design.

In 1857 and 1862, Timby received patents for a barometer; in 1869, he patented a turbine water wheel, amd in 1871, a gun carriage; he also devised  a process of  printing terrestrial globes in colors and a process for quickly ripening coffee.

His inventions seem to have brought little financial return, however,  and his family was supported in part by friends who memorialized Congress and the New York state legislature in his behalf.

--Old B-Runner

Theodore Timby-- Part 2: About Those Revolving Turret Patents

During the 1850s, he urged the revolving battery on  Emperor Napoleon III, but it appears that his innovation was not accepted by anyone until 1861-1862.  Then it was utilized by inventon John Ericsson as a distinctive feature on his first  Monitor.  (Some say it was the ship's most distinctive innovation.)  

After the Monitor proved successful, Timby, then a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts,  was granted two patents on July 8, 1862 (No. 35,846 and No. 35,847), for a revolving battery tower discharging guns by electricity,

In September he received another patent for a revolving battery tower.  Ericsson's associates in the business of building  monitors for the government acquired these patents almost at once and thus silenced  all claims if infringement.

--Old B-Runner

So, Who Was Theodore Timby-- Part 2: What Did Ericsson Do?

Meanwhile, a Swedish-born architect named John Ericsson had submitte a proposal to build an ironclad warship for the Union Navy.  The Monitor was built for $195,000 and was sold to the Navy for  $270,000.  Timby received a  5 percent  commission of $13,500.

Timby spent much of his life in Saratoga Springs, New York, having moved there in 1860.

He patented a wide variety of other inventions such as a door sash, water wheel, paper cutter, needle case and a globe clock that was sold in such great numbers that some can still be seen at auctions today.

There was an effort in the early 1900s to give credit to Timby for his turret  invention.  The Washington Post stated in 1909, shortly after his death that "John Ericsson has for years monopolized all of the credit for inventing and building the Monitor, but as a matter of fact he was a joint inventor with Theodore Timby." 

--Old B-Runner

So, Who Was Theodore Timby?-- Part 1: The Revolving Turret

In the last post I wrote that the USS Monitor was designed by John Ericcson (which I knew) and Theodore Timby.  But, who was Theodore Timby?  I'd never heard of his name.  Turns out, he had a whole lot to do with the success of the Monitor.

From Wikipedia.

THEODORE TIMBY

Theodore Ruggles Timby (5 April 1809 - 9 November 1909) is credited as the inventor of the  revolving gun turret that was used on the USS Monitor.  (I always was of the opinion that that was Ericsson's invention.)

He was born in Duchess County, New York.  Early in his life, at the age of 16,  he invented  a method for raising ships out of the water for repairs by  sinking a water-filled box beneath it and then forcing the water out through pumps in order to raise it.

Throughout the 1840s, Timby perfected a revolving gun turret for use on the land and water.  He constructed a  21-foot long model and brought it to Washington, D.C., but met with little success as war was not imminent.  However, with the outbreak of the Civil War, Timby brought his model to the Abraham Lincoln White House, and this time met with much more success.

Something About This New Kind of a Ship to Be Called the Monitor.  --Old B-Runner

See the Remains of the Monitor-- Part 2: Just the Facts

THE USS MONITOR:  

DESIGNED:  By Theodore  Timby and John Ericcson

BUILT:   Early 1862

FIRST:     The Union's first ironclad warship

The USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship built for the Union Navy.  She fought the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads.   The CSS Virginia engaged the Monitor after she had already destroyed the sail frigates USS Cumberland and USS Congress the day before.  She had also run aground the steam frigate USS Minnesota.

FOUGHT:  The CSS Virginia

CSS VIRGINIA FATE:    Scuttled and blown up by her crew to prevent capture.

USS MONITOR FATE:  Foundered in rough seas.

BATTLE:  Battle of Hampton Roads'

--Old B-Runner

USCSS Walker Commanders-- Part &: Alban C. Stimers, Chief Engineer of the U.S. Navy During the Civil War

As this list of the USCSS Robert J. Walker shows,  as an early steamer in the service of the U.S. Government, the ship served as a training platform for  a number of officers eager to learn the operation of steamships at a time when there was not enough of such vessels to go around for all those with the desire to learn their operation.

Among those assigned to the Walker by the U.S. Navy was Alban C. Stimers, a 25-year-old second engineer attached to the ship  on November 18, 1852.  Stimers rose rapidly in naval ranks and during the Civil War served as the Chief Engineer of the U.S. Navy.

He played a major role in working with John Ericsson on the construction of the USS Monitor, and sailed with the ironclad, although not a member of the crew,  on its famous voyage south in 1862 and the resulting battle with the CSS Virginia, the former USS Merrimac.

--Old B-Runner

Other "Devils"

I am still getting the information from To the Sound Of Guns Blog.

But, the Charleston "Devil" is not the only remaining raft of Ericsson's.    Three years after the Civil War, a strange raft drifted close to Bermuda and was pulled to shore.  Later, the raft was identified as one of Ericsson's.  A report indicates that it was surveyed as late as 1965.

Had it drifted all the way there?

And, there is another potential Ericsson raft in Texas.  In 1980, Hurricane  Allen uncovered remains that matched the particulars of Ericsson's design on Mustang Beach.  But, apparently there is some room for debate about the identification of the wreck.

That "Devil" Ericsson.  --Old B-Runner