Southern pioneer, and Carroll, Choctaw and Tallahatchie Counties advertiser. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-20
40, NC ~ ~
eePaixhan Gun.v

Speaking of "war and big guns" we ar
reminded of description of the celebrated
"Paxhain gum" so called from the name of II
inventor, French military engineer-whic
did such yeoman service at the bombardmen
of San Juan de Ulloa, and of ST. Jean d'Acre
This is deemed by Mr.. Paulding in his lat
Report of the Naval Department, the mos
formidable engine of modern warfare. 1t ha
been introduced successfully into our nava
service.
| The steam frigate Fulton, was employee,
during the last summer in experimenting witt
Paxhain guns and shot, under the direction o
Captain Perry. Mr.. Paulding says that tn
reports of Captain Perry, present very inter
esting results, and it is contemplated to con
tinue the experiments for the purpose of dem
onstrating the relative advantages of the Pax
hahn guns and those in ordinary use. Thi
celebrated engine of war is thus described:
ats length is not less than fourteen feet
and its bore is so considerable as to admit of {
hollow shot, which when charged, weighs 81
poulds; but solid, would have the ponderosity
of lao pounds. The weight of the whole ma
chine. with its carriage and the powerful pivot
on which 1t turns, so as TO traverse nearly
three-forths of the circle, is equal TO no less
than 8 TONS" The huge shell-ball, when dis
charged acts as bomb, and explodes, it is
SAID, with terrific power, SCATTERING every
thing into which it has embedded itself.
The report OF Mr.. Poinsett states, that the
projectiles which will be used in future wars,
will, from their size and description prove de-
structive to any wooden battery, and give an
immense advantage to stone walls over any
fabrics that can be penetrated by shells. The
capture of the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, at
at Vera Cruz, has led TO the belief that stone
revetments may be destroyed by Shells
This he SAYS is not correct. After that event,
experiments were made at Old Point Comfort,
by firing at point-blank against stone wall
erected for the purpose; the shells broke against
it, making very little impression. No doubt,
therefore, need be entertained of the ability of
our building materials to resist hollow shot,
thinks Mr.. Poinsett. But the capture of the
fortress of st. Juan d'Acre had not then &C.
CURED. This event is thought by European
to decide the question, whether any
mode of fortification now known can with
stand the modern Improvements in lombard
ment.
The invention of this remarkable species of
artillery, and the introduction of Perkins
steam gun into naval service, and the various
other Improvements in science during the past
quarter of a century, will render military
tactics in the next war that occurs, very diff
erent thing from what they were during the
of Napoleon. Whether the de-
struction of human life will be increased or d.
ninished by these facilities it is not easily TO
determine; but if, human slaughter decreases
n proportion as it is conducted on scientific
principles, we incline to the latter oplnlon.-l
The fact is well ascertained, that, since the in
7ention of gunpowder, the destruction of life
n the wars of Europe has been far less than
when there was charging of knights and
quires, clad in mail, with lance in rest and
'izor down, and when, striving hand 10 hand
md toe to toe, excited passion forbade the con-
est to cease, until life in one or both combat
nts was extinct. 1t is not impossible, that
he next great feld-fght may be decided by
rtillery, without single charge of ''horse,
Dot, or dragons. Vicksburg Wig.