The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-18

The army, calling our attention 10 pamphlet entitled
Remarks on The Circular Letters addressed 10 the Sec
rotary OF War, 10 be signed by Artillery Ofcers with
Review OF The Memoir the United States Artillery Janu
airy, 1884," which he requests to publish reply TO
communication, signed Artillery" which appeared
10 this paper the 18th ultmo and which is said TO con-
tain the substance OF the memoir reviewed in the pam
phlet referred to-
Although disposed by early association, and by friend
ships formed during our brief military career. 10 give
publicity 10 communications from officers OF the army
which IN any way tend TO advance the interests 10 pro-
mote the usefulness OF that OF our national defence,
we cannot al this filled columns with
congressional proceedings make room for the whole of
this somewhat youmnous pamphlet II appears that
The artillery officers who have signed the circular let
tiers" complain that they have the means Of acquiring
practical knowledge OF the duties Of their profession
and intimate chat this state OF things has resulted from
The separation Of the ordnance corps from the artillery
and lis organization distinct branch of the service
To remedy this evil. il is proposed to again merge the
ordnance corps into the artillery and 10 reorganize the
latter by creating bgader general OF artillery. board
of artillery officers, grade OF second captains" to
be taken from the first eutenanis OF artillery, and the
establishment, of schools OF instruction and practice in
artillery tactics.
The great difficulty which our artillery officers expert
in acquiring practical knowledge of the duties of
their profession arises, as seems 10 us not from the
separate and independent organization OF the ordnance
corps-or that to them in the highest perection
the armament and ammunition wherewith to acquire the
desired practical knowledge from the fact that the
greater portion of the artillery have Tor many years past
been doing duty as infantry isgeneraiy admitted that
the present artillery organization is dsproportonaley
large in comparison with other corps OF the army and
although it has been the policy Of this government TO
retain that organization for the that il imposs
Bile TO create an efficient artillery at short notice 10 meet
emergency, j, is absolutely essential to the contnu
OF its efficiency that artillery regiment should
perform infantry service for any length of tme but that
all should in rotation perform duty artillery and that
too, at a well furnished school of practice.
With these remarks, proceed 10 lay before our
readers few extracts from the pamphlet containing facts
of general interest in regard 10 the nature and extent OF
the operations OF the Ordnance Department, and also
practical suggestion for remedying the evils complained
Of by artillery officers We commend the pamphlet to
the careful peusal OF all who interested in the sub
ec Of which ii treats, mastery exposition OF the
utility OF the Ordnance Department. and logical reiu-
ation Of the objections which have been raised thereto
"The Ordnance Department, osi,s resuscila,ion from
its merged state, ts consolidation with the artillery as
proposed) found the whole subject of IFS appropr-
ate abors requiring complete revision Let some OF the
results due to its existing organization, believed TO be
known 10 The army large and to the public be stated
And hrs generally, BY securing for the OF the gov
eminent competent knowledge and experience, il has,
by improved iabIcatons, accomplished vast saving TO
the government; reduced the cost and improved the quail
ity OF all and munitions OF Since the national
armories have been placed under lis exclusive charge
the reduction in the cost OF arms manufactured therea
has been such that the difference between the present
cost Of the musket and that under the former system OF
management, for the whole number of made, would
amour, TO more than the pay OF the iohoie Ordnance
corps, commissioned and enlisted. The American
exhibited with those OF other nations in the Muste des
at Paris said 10 be superior to all others that
military museum. Before The present organization OF
the Ordnance Department had succeeded in
making bronze guns in this country, although many al
temps had been made and much expense incurred 10
pllsh it. The department took up the Subject and
sent its officers 10 the oundres 10 give it their personal
supervision, until by study and perseverance
was attained, and we are now no longer dependent
beicSe foreign imporiaons FOR bronze artillery,
but fabrcae it equal 10 any in the world Under the
former system our heavy coast and garrison
OF iron very defective, Theony ,esi Of their dura
bIty and safety Tor excessive powder proof,
which weakened such whsood ii, and impaired their
fitness for service Now the ienaeity density and char
acer OF fracture of the metal Of each tested,
both before the casting and by samples taken from the
guns. The Uaiue OF The material Is thus ascefalned be-
fore proceed To- tie powder proof, which thus
enabled TO regulate within the limits OF injury 10 the
nearly as formidable 10 their 10 the enemy,
now cast iron guns believed 10 be equal 10 the Swedish
Formerly only test of the strength OF powder de-
rived from the firing OF charge with The mortar
eprouUee, This bore relation 10 the actual strength
and effect OF powder used in large charges in service
This defect noticed under the former SYSTEM AT.
aced the attention of the Ordnance Department, and
was corrected by series OF scientific experiments admIra
bly, conducted by ordnance ocer whose labors have
been published, and their value recognised not only in
service, but by anslaons OF his work into foreign
languages for the benefit Of those in other countries The
result is, that know the actual effect OF powder
as il is used iasteal oil tssupposed effect derived from
iallaclous test Before the present organization of the
ordnance corps there was system OF artillery: arms,
carriages, &c, made al place would not interchange
their parts with those made elsewhere Now the parts of
our small arms thrown promiscuousy together and
The complete and perfect is made up by taking the
paris from the heap they come TO hand All paris OF
our carriages and implements OF invariable dimen
SONS and form, and any part that may give way be
injured in service be replaced by simply calling on
an arsenal for such part OF such carriage imple
ment. From lot OF broken arms carriages the sound
parts be taken, and will fiji together make up
complete servceable articles Such spare parts sent
with the parks in the field, and always available TO
repair damages in the shortest time and AT the least
pense Complete manual and text books admirable for
their mnuteness and sysien OF all the ordnance fabrca
TONS have been published by The ordnance corps which
furnish full Information concerning this branch of the
military service TO all the corps OF the army
These are OF the results OF the present separate
organization OF the Ordnance Department II found its
peculiar business state OF chaos, confusion, and in
efficiency il has introduced system. uniformity, and
efficiency, II point 10 the results of s abors, and
call upon fats to sustain the opinions OF the four
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