Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-03

battles into skirmishes and making fearful Of gett
too the enemy Amid much remark Of this kin4,
however there suggestions Of great practical value
all interested in such subjects As, for instance, th
whatever variety of firearms may be adopted BY the NH
tia by the regular troops they should all have
otherwise You may be able get ammunition whet
you want it,"
So also with respect to the mode Of testing inyet
lions in firearms intended for purposes Of war Hp
eommsnds that they be tried under exactly the cre
Stancss in which they would require TO b used ee
sans ysiAciPls viii apply u Other ossss. Tha
H. - "a : Nj ~ u l
depends and tho should be made by he6
uncouth stupid sodissv from che ranks, &C. Indeed
this subject the gsllsnt soldier wakes sarcastic.
81 maintan that before the musket and bayonet are
condemned these gentlemen ought in fairness,
do that which they have do viz have mushet made
the s' sp ghsy
beautiful MIME rifle, costing large sum of money and
then try it Woolwich practice ground. Now, have
any confidence in such trial. where musket which
costs about pound is pted against MIME rife that
costs probably ten fifteen guineas.
~ laugh at battle powder sixteen guinea rife,
used by dead shot, and all such humbug, with cham
pagne uncheons at Woolwich the great damage of Off
GERS pockets and distinguished foreign travellers applaud
ing This is trial Of weapons fit for war-frng in
dark night rainy weather. tired soldiers clumsy fingers
made more stiff by cold, empty stomachs, not drop of
champagne to wash the experiment down! but stern
viii to shoot all foreigners the moment they become
distinguished in the gloom of the night the dawnng of
day We do not want firearms in the infantry for individual
combat but for combat in masses, where the nice aim Of
the deerstalker is anted and human nature will
take it till men grow old in war, and become calm
in danger than those who less practiced and
then the veteran cannot through the dense smoke of
battle he knows that level oc and load quick his
game If the MIME rifle be really improved mushe,
have not another word say against it, but this is
yet proved and before the nation its hundred
thousand with such weapons the fact should be very
clearly demonstrated
However, you, gentlemen whose chief work would be
distant Shots avoiding close encounter with the enemy
unless good opportunity offers for skiyering him.
the soldiers say you who may have battle powder
and champagne too, please you may try the MIME
rifle The weapon that best pleases YOU who dead
Dssk ball. for there must not be sizes of ball for
the small arms Of an army This is imperative"
Other parts of Gen. Napers letter show how long fa
miliarty with may harden mans feelings and
gea the finer emotions Of his nature We do not believe
that it operates upon all men.
And here let tell you chy lay SO much stress up
the advantage of the musket ball. After the battle of
Waterloo the celebrated surgeon Sir Charles Bell had
charge of the hospital for the wounded soldiers that be-
onged TO the French army and had been made prisoners
He told me himself that the wounds made by or musket
made by the smaller bali Of the French musket He made
also q Ne beas. e French and Engh SOD
diers who died Of thsix WoundR or lad limbs ampn-
tated The fractures by EngIM balls fearful when
compared those made by the smaller French balls. OF
course the mortal wounds were proporonaby,
merous Now, as the object Of Is TO kill, disable By
thinking that the weapon which does these things most
efectually is the best.
A jeza win kill you if it hits you in the right place,
and you must expect to be killed in battle and when
mounting steep rocks in face of eza or even Of pocket
pistols but you not 10 forget that your nasket Kills
is man as we and Kills more men too These gentlemen
to have battles with the killing oil side and
their tales of terror about ezails and matchocks and
such rubbish, alarm the soldiers. confess am much
disposed doubt the Mimic rife O weapon of war;
though it may suit the deersalker However the proof
Of the pudding is in the eating and the proof the MIME
rife will be IN stopping the proof Of the puddfngf
Again, other portions of you take charge of
conveys and finally should the Duke think it expedien
fight in entrenched position, you would ut his
mand pour into cntrenchments where man9uvrng is
requirednohing but courage and there you would be
good any regular soldiers for you would have only
to shoot down the enemy he came on knock the
brains of any that got your enrenchmen Then
again, If his struggled his march, you would shoot
them make them all prisoners, and every hour you
would become more expert and more daring"
We conclude with few other from the epistle
for although have little sympathy with military mat
ters many Of readers have and they may possibly
gather valuable hints from the following
with regard to your volunteer corps, think each
should consist Of from four companies, each
pany consisting of one hundred men, with captain and
two eutenants, and advise you let each carry
small cartridge made to slide grdle round
the waist that may be carried before and one be-
hind each holding thirty rounds Of ammunition thus the
weight would be divided, and consequently more easily
carried.
Get old soldier for your adjuant to teach you,
long Of drill but just things, namely
-. To face right and left by word Of command.
90. To march in line and in column.
'3. To ertcad and close files light infantry, with
'supporfs
a. To change front in crtended and in close order.
80. To relieve the skirmishers.
80. To form solid squares and 'rallying s9udres'
al. To form advanced guard.
These things all that you require do not
let any persuade you to learn more.
Let your practice at target be constant; also ha-
buate your corps to take long marches from fifteen to
twenty miles, with your and ammunition and
also in running whit is called double quick time
These be arrived at by gradually increasing from
small distances No single man, much less body Of men,
can make these exertons without training Also, sub
scribe TO premiums TO those who the best shots Do
not be exclusive in forming your corps take your game
keepers your comrades and any Of your aborers that
will enrol themselves gentleman win find no drawer
or better comrades than among his immediate neigh
bors and tenants. Should you require to throw up
breastwor they will be handy with the spades and
pickaxes than yourselves
The fifth point would speak of is not to forget
that enthusiasm though good il under command is mis-
opposes seishness and makes devote themselves
the service of their country but If it gets heavy
fire. il generay-runs away II is sort Of Dutch
age When il arises under heavy FIRE, and upon
der charge bayones il is not very injurious but IL
IL berins With Mimic rifle miles distance from