Steampunk Research: Ericsson and Iron Clads

John Ericsson - Mechanical Engineering Guru

John Ericsson, like Nikola Tesla, is truly one of the unsung heroes of engineering, innovation, and technological developments. This extraordinary man was working on SOLAR energy projects and designs in the 1870's! YES - 1870's!

A hands-on mechanical engineer - he is known for his advancements in nautical design, steam engines, and caloric engines.

Most notably, he is known for his design and manufacture of the Monitor Iron Clad ship for the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Before I started my research on the American Civil War, images of the land battles between blue and gray clad soldiers came to mind. We so often hear of the Westpoint graduates who lead armies on both sides of the war, but let me tell ya, there was a whole heck of a lot happening between the respective naval forces, too. One of the main goals of the Union Navy was to form a blockade to prevent the flow of resources needed in the south. Remember, the north was the seat of industrial power and there were many goods and services supplied by the north to the south.

One of the most famous naval battles took place on March 9, 1862 between Ericsson's Monitor and the Confederate Iron Clad, the Merrimack (Virginia). The battle lasted for five hours and ended in a tactical draw.

In Olav Thulesius' book, The Man Who Made the Monitor:A Biography of John Ericsson, Naval Engineer, Thulesius details Ericsson's life and the challenges he faced to bring his designs to fruition. As with any new technology, there were traditionalists who viewed Ericsson's propeller designs (now a naval design staple) and plans for an iron clad sub-aquatic vessel as pure folly. In the end, he proved that his designs were worth far more than their initial investment for fabrication.

The Monitor designed by John Ericsson, built 1861-1862,
Image courtesy of the Naval Historical Center.

For a sense of scale, here is a picture of some of the USS Monitor officers on deck near the turret.

Image courtesy of the Naval Historical Center.

Why am I so interested in John Ericsson? Well, the hero of my latest steampunk series obtains a position as an apprentice engineer employed by John Ericsson.

Here is another interesting tidbit I read in Thulesius' book... there was a slave woman named Mary Louvestre who was owned by a ship's chandler in Norfolk, VA. Like a scene out of a spy novel, Mary Louvestre copied the drawings and plans of the Merrimack (Virginia) and smuggled them north to Union Naval officials. Hmmmm....I feel a short story brewing.  :D