| Friday, February 20, 1863 |
| |
| The committee met at 10 o'clock |
| Present Messrs. Semmes and Peyton |
| |
| Mr. E. C. MURRAY having been
sworn, the following questions were put to him by Mr. SEMMES, on
behalf of the Secretary of the Navy: |
| *****
|
| 5th Question. State your
arrangements for the iron for plating the vessel, how it was
obtained, and how much was used.
|
| Mr. Murray. I bought about
500 tons of railroad iron that was sequestered by the Government at Algiers. I bought this from a man, I think named Wadley, who was president
of the Vicksburg
& Shreveport
{Vicksburg, Shreveport & Texas} road. This iron was purchased for that road, and Commodore Hollis,
I believe, told me it belonged to alien enemies, and that I would
have no trouble in getting it. I bought 500 tons, at $65 a ton, and
used it upon the vessel, and about 30 or 40 tons were left.
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| *****
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| 10th Question. Where was the
iron plating for the
Mississippi
on the 24th of April, 1862?
|
| Mr. Tift. I think about
one-third of it at least was already laid upon the shield of the
vessel. A large portion of it was on the wharf ready, to go on. The
last train load of our iron was lying at the depot at the [New Orleans
and] Jackson {New Orleans, Jackson & Great
Northern} Railroad on the 24th of April, l862.
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| *****
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