| Hdqrs. First Brig. |
| Second Div. |
| Grand Gulf
|
| March 31, 1863 |
| |
| Major Memminger |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
|
|
| Sir,
|
| I have the honor to apply for authority
to erect an iron casemate or tower battery near the water-edge at
this place. All the necessary material may be procured from the old
Grand Gulf & Port Gibson Railroad. If authority is granted, and
the guns (four) can be furnished, I propose to erect it on the
following plan: On a platform, similar to an ordinary locomotive
turn-table, I would build a round tower about 10 feet high, capped
with a truncated, conical roof, and the upper circle of the cone
covered with iron grating. The exterior of the tower and cone to be
plated with two thicknesses of railroad iron, on a heavy timber
frame. The platform or floor, with the tower, will revolve upon a
large center pintle, combined with a relieving circular railway,
about midway between the pintle and outer circle; the whole to be
turned by four cranks, with a wheel and pinion placed in the four
angles between the muzzles of the guns and near the outer circle;
the tower to be perforated with small circular ports, just
sufficient to allow the guns to protrude. All horizontal movements
of the guns will be given by revolution of the tower, and the
gunners will each have a brake to check the motion when he has his
aim. Each gun, upon firing, will, by the revolution, be turned from
the enemy and another brought to bear on them, and while three are
firing successively, the first discharged will be reloaded and ready
for action. It is almost unnecessary to add that the guns are upon
two diameters, crossing at right angles. The only possible doubt I
can imagine as to the feasibility of the plan would be in regard to
revolving the tower; this, I am satisfied, from my experience in
constructing locomotive turn-tables, I can insure as practicable. I
would, of course, build an embankment as high as the port-holes,
around the tower, to add to the security of its base, where the
mechanism for its movement is located. The light will be admitted
through the grating at the top.
|
| Respectfully,
|
|
Jno. S. Bowen
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|