The Winans "Water Tank"

The "Water Tank", 1861

oncerned that it would fall into rebel hands, the steamer was confiscated during the Civil War and guarded by a company of the 2^nd Maryland infantry. The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies includes interesting correspondence about what is called the Winans "tank".

Drawing of the "tank"
Courtesy of Cornell University Library, Making of America Digital Collection
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. / Series I - Volume 6: Atlantic Blockading Squadron, p. 348

In a letter to the Secretary of the Navy dated 20 Oct 1861, Flag-Officer L. M. Goldsborough describes an "iron concern", pictured at left, and voices his fear that it might be used as an "infernal machine" if it were to fall into rebel hands⁵³.

     The correspondence describes the stated purpose of the tank as the collection of sea water for boiler experiments for the Winans steamboat. This is consistent with the mechanical description. Most of the volume consists of watertight chambers with a sea-cock at the bottom controlled by a hand valve on the deck above. The illustration shows "stanchions and a manrope" similar in appearance to those of the Ross Winans, that would permit safe access to the hand valve controls at sea. There is a small cabin (about 15 feet long and eight high) in the center containing two berths and other living arrangements. A small helmsman's tower includes steering gear to control a single rudder. The drawing shows tow points at either end.
     If the drawing is to scale, the "water tank" was about 110 feet long and 16 feet in diameter. The correspondence reports that it was constructed from the ends taken from the original steamer as it was lengthened. The hull is described as constructed of plates 1/4-inch thick, butted together and riveted to internal plates, with the rivets countersunk on the exterior, remarkably like the construction of the Hunley.
     The reports find nothing "inconsistent" with the stated purpose of collecting sea water, but do express concern about the ease with which the "tank" might find its way to the insurgents if it were permitted to be sent to sea. In in a 29 Nov 62 letter to Scientific American³³, a correspondent mentions the water tank and the salt water experiment and reports "an engine and boiler put up on the wharf for that purpose".   I have a doubt or two about the stated purpose, which seems rather mundane for such an elaborate construction. Although it's tempting to see it as a proto-submarine, there is no apparent way to empty the tanks from the interior, so such a use is highly unlikely.
     The 1869 bird's eye Sachse map of Baltimore⁶⁰ clearly shows the smaller tank dockside next to the steamer at Ferry Bar.

Detail from 1869 Sachse map - Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
Detail from E. Sachse, & Co.'s bird's eye view of the city of Baltimore, 1869
Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division

My speculative reconstruction below uses two ends from the steamer as reported by Navy Engineer Chas Loring in his inspection report⁵³, each approximately 45 feet long, and a 15 foot-long central section containing the cabin. The maximum diameter is about twelve feet. I’ve added hardware from the steamer, including a rudder, the tow points, and hatches, although they've been positioned more consistent with Flag-Officer Goldsborough’s drawing. The central superstructure, stanchions, manropes, and steering linkage are based on the drawing. The somewhat fanciful illustration shows a steam tug and the tank at sea. A crewman is filling one of the tanks.

Collecting sea water

Without any self-propulsion it is difficult to classify this as one of the cigar boats, although it clearly has the shape and at least one rudder (a second rudder at the other end might have been missed by the inspector, although this isn't likely). At minimum it remains a very interesting curiosity.

(Source references are in the bibliography on the main cigar ships page.)

Comments and questions are welcome. E-mail me.