Paint

[Bentonville]

In depiction of the CSS Virgina there is rust this is all art of course.

I'm photos of Lewis Payne, Lincoln conpirtior, had his photo taken while in custody on a monitor. The bulkhead, presumably one of the turrets is Shiney and looks like it has a coat of black.

So what were these things painted with? I can't see throwing the Virginia out to gain more rust and was monitor's paint just lead?

This has been bugging me for a week.

 

[rebelatsea]

Virginia was painted with a medium to dark grey shade, but persistant reports state that she wads also covered with some form of oil or grease to deter borders. I've never seen any real evidence though. I've always believed Monitor to be painted black, but bear in mind both sides used red lead as primer/undercoat.

 

[Bentonville]

Virginia was painted with a medium to dark grey shade, but persistant reports state that she wads also covered with some form of oil or grease to deter borders. I've never seen any real evidence though. I've always believed Monitor to be painted black, but bear in mind both sides used red lead as primer/undercoat.

Thanks. I figured it was red lead covered up. The monitors looked Japaned in the Payne photograph but I really should have taken the ginormous flash too.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

There are some CWT threads which discussed the various experiments in protecting the sides of the newly created iron ships during the war. The one linked below, references instructions in the Official Records to "sides kept well greased," and in another, "Do not wait for paint; I will have you greased as soon as you arrive."

Another quote from the post by @RedRover -

"Lt. Cmdr. W.H. Parker, notes before going out to fight the blockaders at Charleston in January, 1863, the ironclad rams Chicora and Palmetto State had their "shields" (casemates) "greased with Slush," just as the Merrimac had done at Hampton Roads the previous year."

"Seaman Robert Watson of the Confederate Ironclad ram CSS Savannah, at Savannah, GA, in 1864 mentions painting the iron casemate over with "coal tar" (and a very dirty job it was said he).

Slush is a general term for greasing or lubricating...

I believe coal-tar is essentially creosote... and perhaps mixed with tallow, etc. to make the grease for the armor a black or gray color..."

Source:

Ironclad - A Very Bad Idea? | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Wouldn't this make the vessels more highly flammable?? "Two days before the running of the blockade at Vicksburg, a little company of us went over from the Sanitary boat to bid Captain Walke godspeed and farewell. He had just completed the task of pouring...

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