The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-26 00:00:00

THE soli, GO DON",. SAITRDAY EVENING, OCIIOI3ER 2G, 1861.

figures and decimaled b .attalions. One section re-
lating to the trials of 'two 10-inch guns, one cast
solid and cooled from. the exterior, the other cast
hollow and cooled from the interior, is most valu-
ablx, and goes far to justify Capt. Rodman's opinion
in favour of hollow cast guns. Nor is anything of
the kind with which I am acquainted equal in re-
search and value t(.) his experiments on cannon pow-
der, and on the material for cannon ; indeed, the
papers are a monument of scientific industry,patient
investigation—every step marked by diagrams and
illus trations of the most finished character. The
results of his labour may yet be undeveloped, but I
recoramend our engineers, artillery officers, and gun-
makers to study them. One result, however, is the
Rodman gun. This piece of ordnance, once called
the " Floyd" gun, from the unsuccessful strategist
of the Southern army, who was Secretary of War
teinivor e Buchanan, is 190 inches long, has a maxi-
mum diameter of 48.1, and weighs 49,099 lb. The
star-gauge does not show a variation of I.oooth of
an inch in the whole length of bore of 15 inches.
The firing was commenced with 251 b. charges of
powder, .6 in diameter each grain, and shells weigh-
ing 3201 b. and 3401 b., strapped to oak sabots of
111 b. The charges were increased by 51b. incre-
ments of large-grained powder up to 401 b., and trials
were also made with a peculiar powder called per-
forated cake up to 501 b. At 28 deg. 35 rain.`the
perforated cake 501 b. charge threw a 3451 b. shell
5,208 yards; 401 b. of coarse powder, with more
than twice the maximum pressure of gas, threw a
3301 b. shell at the same elevation 5,088 yards; 351 b.
at 6 deg. elevation, threw a 3281 b. shell 1,976 yards.
The time of flight of the first was 26.43 sec. ; of the
second, 26.37 sec. ; of the third, 6.93 sec. The gun
is intended for direct fire at short ranges. Hori-
zontal fire, range 1,785 yards, gave four ricochets ;
mean velocity, 747 feet per second ; greatest recoil,
90 inches. There arc numerous experiments with
the gun and its effects, and the conclusion seems to
be that no construction on the water could stand
the impact of such masses of iron, and that thick
shells (one-third of exterior diameter) would be
more effective against masonry or iron-clad ships
than solid shot ; for Captain Rodman disbelieves
that a perfectly solid sphere of cast iron of even
eight inches in diameter, and of proper hardness,
has ever been made. As soon as Captain Dahlgren
has any leisure he intends to try some of his heavy
guns against the strongest descriptions of iron
plates on sections of shipping, and he is quite con-
fident the large shell, fired at low velocities, will
destroy them, In the qualities of iron the Ame-

maintain their usual average when one-half of the
country cannot receive them and the other half is
carrying on a war with its rebellious roma" der. It
is true that the South must be badly off also, but
there passion does its work; the pride o the fierce
aristocracy, their superiority in the fi ld, in stra-
tegy, in political skill, the terrors o' their slave
volcano, sustain them. They are short of clothing
and certain articles of food. Coffee at Richmond is
2s. 6d. per lb., and the Southerners must have it ;
blankets are most costly, shoes are scarce, but
energy, determination, and martial ardour abound.
In a former letter I expressed an opinion which
nothing I have seen or heard has induced me to
alter or to modify, that the North could, if it put
forth all its strength, overrun the South. It has
never occurred to me for one moment that the North
could hold the South as a military province if the
people in the Confederate States were as unanimous
in their resistance after their armies were over-
thrown as they are at present. It must not be for-
gotten that in a contest greater even than this, the
fight for national life, the popular enthusiasm and
support languished and diminished, so that Hamil-
ton complained bitterly in the Federalist that the
collection of taxes had been abandoned by the State
Government in despair. The trading interests must
suffer far more than the agricultural in a prolonged
war; the South can afford to play the waiting
game in the natural order of events longer than the
North. Whichever lasts the longer wins the race,
and the North, knowing it has strength, but not so
confident perhaps of its lasting, is impatient for
speedy success. The champion has not finished his
training, and it would be dangerous to send him
into the ring, however full of courage and mettle he
may be. I am informed that the chiefs of the South
are so confident, they say they would desire nothing
better than to let a commission from Washington
visit and report on the condition of their army. But
if they could but visit Washington and see the mag-
nitude of the preparations against them, they would
perhaps be struck by the comparison. The inten-
sity of feeling in the South is described to be greater
than ever. Their resolution is adamant, and if they
have, like the Federalists, Blair and Fremont con-
troversies, they are kept in the dark. The discipline
of both armies may be on a par, but I am inclined
to think that in actual drill the Northern troops do
not improve more rapidly, and are not better in
hand than the Southerners.
One of the main agencies on which the chiefs of
;he army rely for the establishment of discipline is
:otal abstinence. Never has Bacchus in all his

forms and poor John Barleycorn been so persecuted
in any army in the world, The sword has done
what the pen never dared, and to all intents and
purposes the sale of drink to a soldier is a crime,
and drink of any kind is a malum et prohibitum et

ricans say our standard is much lower than theirs,
and Captain Dahlgren informed me he was sur-
prised to find we were content with iron in our guns
of such inferior fibre.
October 9.—Having nothing more exciting to

per se. One grim colonel rebukes his captain, and do the other day, I sat down to look over the
threatens him with "arrest for "drinking and fid- reports of General M'Clellan, Major Mordecai,
dling in his tent," and intimates it was disrespectful and Colonel Delafield, who were sent as a mili-
to his commanding officer, possibly on the grounds tary commission to Europe by Mr. Jefferson
put by the Indian colonel for a similar offence. Davis at the close of the Crimean War. Per-
" You are to consider yourself under arrest, sir, for haps the American people do not know that their
making a row in your quarters and not asking me commission was treated with neglect, if not with
to it." Another has a judicial decision on the ques- something worse, by the French authorities, and
tion whether lager beer is or is not an intoxicating were not even permitted to see Parshal Pellissier ;
drink, and it is decided in the negative, to the joy while the English gave them quarters in the camp
of Deutschland, who soon prove the contrary, and of the Fourth Division, near Cathcart's-hill, rations,
the lager is put in the index expurgatorius also. In and passes and horses, and detached a staff officer
the complete extinction of news the existence:of to wait upon them, and gave them passages in their
the press is threatened, and the papers are contend- steamers wherever and whenever they required
ing that they are alive, and their opponents, if not them. General, then Captain, M'Clellan's report on
dead, are dying. It is a somewhat quaint study to the Crimea is contained in 24 quarto pages, well
observe the prostration of the journals before the written, clear, and not destitute of a modest self-
military power—how they fawn, and cringe, and confidence. He declares that his object in pointing
flatter. But all will not do. The puissant finger is out errors is to prevent similar mistakes on the part
on their nostril, and they are well nigh smothered of American officers, and then, observing "that it
for want of fresh air. It is now the fashion to may seem absurd to compare small affairs with great,"
contemn politicians, and to affect to contemn the plunges into affairs by remarking that the American
civil power when in any way opposed to the mili- army completed the investment of Vera Cruz on
tary. The efforts of the Pennsylvania politicians to the second day, while the Allies required nearly
get at the votes of their regiments are treated as if seven days to land and march about 15 miles to the
they were the best jokes in the world. The attempts Alma. It is scarcely possible for an American to
of the judges to uphold civil authority and the avoid comparisons on such matters, though they are
rights of the subject are regarded with indifference introduced by deprecatory remarks. Vera Cruz is
or without sympathy, and yet a remarkable instance on the sea; the Mexicans had no fleet. Balaklava is
of judicial boldness and independence has occurred nearly nine miles from Sebastopol, Kamiesh is be-
here worthy of all praise. The military authorities tween four and five. In effect, our landing at Old
here have, by a coup de plume, declared they will Fort, which commenced on the 14th, was inter-
liberate no more recruits, foreign or native, who en- rupted by high surf and wind on the 15th; an army
list into their ranks. Lately an application was made of 65,000 English, French, and Turks, with 92 pieces
to Judge Merrick here for a writ of habsas corpus for of artillery and about 1,100 cavalry, were ready to
one Jeremiah Lyon, a minor, enlisted in the 23d march on the 18th, fought at Alma on the 20th,
Pennsylvanian Regiment, to which Brigadier-Gene- gave two days to the interment of the dead and em-
ral Graham made an unsatisfactory return, and barkation of the wounded, and after a hazardous
after argument the judge ruled that the General march, gaining new bases of operation, opened fire
should appear and show cause why an attachment from their batteries on the 17th October, having in-
for contempt of Court should not issue against him. vested the place on the 27th September. It is indeed
the General pleaded the order of the War Depart- absurd to compare small things with great. But
meat and the exemption of the military from the Gen. M'Clellan—who never saw the Alma, be it
action of the Courts in such matter, but at last observed—goes on to say the position was not really
the minor was produced in court in pursuance of strong, nor was it at all improved artificially, and
the writ and was discharged by order of the judge. astounds one by declaring the Allies were nearly
I append some matter from my diary since the double the number of the Russians, "according to
date of my last letter. both accounts." Menschikoff admitted 36,000 men.
October B.—A review, or inspection, of cavalry Anitschkof says the Russians had 42 battalions, 16
and artillery going on. I cannot go—it is mail squadrons, 11 sotnias of Cossacks, or about 1,000
day—but I see the troops pass my windows ; some irregular horses,72 field-pieces,and 24 horse artillery
few squadrons of cavalry and several batteries of guns, which looks very like some 42,000 infantry and
artillery. Besides, I have two honorary aides, who 2,600 sabres. We know that our force consisted of
go out and tell me all about the affair—one is an 27,000 men, that the French had 24,000, and the
ex-officer of Austrian Dragoons and an ex-Crimean Turks, 7,000 ; but of these the Turks never fired a
cavalry man, the other is an infantry officer en shot, and were not engaged at all. The Fourth
retraite, both Englishmen. They report the artil- (British) Division was not present in the action, and
lery fair—horses light, batteries rather a mixture, the Third Division were but very slightly engaged,
longs and shorts, rifled and smooth bores ; carriages part not coming up till the battle was over. The
heavy, harness not well kept or clean, but strong General considers the battle important only in estab-
and serviceable too, but not " well set up,'' head- lishing the morale of the Allies. Why, it caused
dress condemned. Report on cavalry not so favour- the siege to be possible at all by leading to the de-
able. Men don't ride, no seats, no setting up— feat of the covering army ! Had the Allies been
nothing clean ; horses rather mixed, saddlery and beaten, it would, surely, have proved of some con-
equipments, including swords, scabbards, spurs, bits sequence. Had Menschikoff never fought it, our
and metal work generally very dirty. As to bone and operations against the place must have been still
sinew, the men are good as can be; the impression is, more uncertain; but our victory decided him to aban-
however, that they could not be relied on to stand or don Sebastopol and retire to Bakshi Sarai. The sub-
to make a charge in their present condition, and that seque.nt criticism, referring to the possibility of cut-
they would do more harm than good if any attempt ting off the Russians from Sebastopol would not have
were made to handle them in the field. The Fede- been made if the General could have seen the ground
ralists seem to have increased their artillery force or had been present on Sept. 20,1854. " Drive them
very much since their last advance, when they had into the city and enter at their heels!" No forts,
only 49 pieces in the field. They have now more no citadel, no fleet there to interfere with that pro-
than three times as many guns, well horsed, and an gramme ! " Cut them off from Simpheropol.',
enormous increment is still spoken of. With their With the AVoronzow-road in their rear to lead to it,
foundries, iron works, and resources in skilled le- and in doing it to throw them back on their strong-
hour, there is no reason why they should not be able hold, Sebastopol, as well ! So far from the battle
to fight their battles with artillery principally, and being determined by Bosquet's turning the left
make a Solferino or Goojerat of the affair. The , (under the fire of the Allied ships), the official ac-
Naval Department is ordering guns by the hundred count says that Menschikoff, pressed in front by
tons. It is a pity we cannot sell them the American the English, and on the left by the French, " donna
monster guns which we bought during the Crimean alors l'ordre au Prince Gortschakoff de retirer le
war by the pound, and which are lying in the mud centre et l'ailedroit nos troupes, plus do deux verstes
at 'Woolwich. en arriere de la position qui avait etc choisie, ou
The Americans, having made some very feeble les suiverent aussitot les troupes de l'aile gauche,
experiments long ago on targets of sheet iron bolted qui avaicnt resise au choc de toute le. Quatrieme
together and screwed on wooden backs, arrived at Division Franssaise jusqu' au moment de la retruite
the conclusion that they had exhausted the question generale." When General M'Clellan states the
of iron cased ships and looked with indifference at garrison consisted merely of four battalions
the experiments of France and England to test the and " the sailors of the fleet," he did not know per-
resisting powers of rolled iron slabs ; that is, the haps that the latter consisted of about 14,000 excel-
Government departments did ; but many naval lent soldiers and artillerists, the flower of the Rus-
officers were solicitous that further trials should be sian army, as the siege proved. Of the incidents of
made, and that one gunboat or large vessel at least the flank march the criticism is unjust ; the Scots
should be built on the improved principles of either Greys were close up with the guns, which were not
the English or the French constructions, or on in front; only one horse troop was there, and, in-
plans of their own. It seems to be the'opinion, how- stead of our coming on a strong Russian column,
ever, among American naval officers that the in- we merely hit on the very rear of the baggage
crease in the size of ordnance must always prove guard of one regiment. A plan for attacking the
superior to any resisting powers of iron, and by a English at Mackenz;e could not have been followed,
smashing blow of a large projectile at a low velocity as the only road for the attack would have led the
they think they can break and crush in not so enemy in a thin column between the French and
tore to which they belong. much the plates as the whole side of the strut- the English who were massed above and below it.
exhaustive work on ong. There is no more In many other points the general was misinformed,
ties of Metals for Cannn'o'
the making of large ordnance but many of his objections, conceived though they
in the world than th
Cannon Powder, with an Account andt
Cannon,
on the Proper- may be in a spirit slightly nu/queur, as far as the
the Qualities of Allies, or rather the English are concerned, show
and Trial of a 15-Inch Gun, n
man, of the Ordnance Department, United States' of the Fabrication considerable quickness and military knowledge.
by Captain T. J. Rod- There were many things he could not have known
Army. By authority of the
iSseGcir,taray
quarto of
whEaityletocurtitigeriseeadt, trouble,as,for and perhaps ought not to
ki English
voau. g hltvhtoathNavao-
got Balgal
Boston, Mass. C. If. Crosby, instance, his alleging that the
upwards of 300 pages, copiously illustrated and K
becomeazat cho
f insteadthe
south
f
be the Government at enormous cost. In this of the
up . euldtahkaevne
plateau on which we were encamped P As it
work are explained the principles on which the was, Kazatch in
was bad weather quite unservice-
Rodman gun, now at Fortress Monroe, was cost, able, and Kazatch was nearly under fire. We had
but the details, though most interesting and im- a joint occupation with the French, just as the Sar-
portantprofessional and scientific men, are so dinians were joined with
to us at one time in shares
irritate the bulk of newspaper rea- with Balaklava. It was
technical as to notNiel, butßurgoyne, who
400 by logebnical i'9021.0) oil 49vcil 09/01114 cd first indicated the impoomo ofthe 1\1;41419ff,
04