A NEW IRONSIDE.
"I HAVE sent a rough sketch of Hollins's celebrated gunboat — the Manassas or Turtle—taken from the descriptions of intelligent persons in Columbus who have Seen her. She is about 100 feet long and 20 feet team, and draws from nine to 12 feet water. Her shape above water is nearly that of half a sharply pointed egg shell, so that a shot will glance from her, no matter where it strikes. Her back is formed of 12 inch oak, covered with 15 inch bar iron. She is worked by a powerful propeller, but cannot stem a strong current. She carries only one gun, a 68 pounder, right in the bow. The Secessionists of Columbus say that at one time she would have come up here to test the metal of our forts if the water had not been too low. There was no time, however, while she was at Columbus, when there was not water enough to float her. She is said to be now at Island No. 10, and it is reported that she would come up and engage our boats if she could stem the current. There is only one entrance to her—through a trap-door in back. Her port- hole is furnished with a heavily plated trap, which springs up when the gun is run out, and falls down when it is run back. How the crew get their light and air I can't pretent to say. This Turtle is certainly a for- midable affair, a second Merrimac in its way, and appears to be capable of doing much damage, while receiving but little. It would be impossible to board her, as there is only one entrance, and she is supplied with hose for throwing hot water. The rebels claim to have some new gunboats below of it very formidable character."—Chicago paper.
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