Having been able to come back to the board, I now have a question for all my friends interested in the ironclad Arkansas. Does anybody have any significant biographical information on John T. Shirley, the contractor. ALso, I read that Primus Emerson, the actual builder of the ram at Memphis (who founded the Carondelet yards that Eads leased in 1861) was brought into contact with Shirley by Capt. George W. Cable, father of the Louisiana novelist. The only problem is, most sources say Cable, Sr. died in 1859. Can anyone help me resolve the mystery (as it appears) of how a dead man introduced these two living persons. Thanks for any assistance. Jack