The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-01-16
LOCAL MATTERS.
WING MEETING.

| tiods passed unanimously.
Themeeting then proceeded to nominate can
didate to fill his place.
George N. Johnson was nominated by DR.. Maui
min: Joserh r. Anderson was nominated by B. B.
Minor, (who, at the same time, declined nou,ina-
tlon of himself by Mr.. s. PriceD aud James A.
| Scott BY George r. Peake.
The vote was taken by ballot the name of the
voter being endorsed on the ballot, and the ballots
submitted to q committee of ten to count and re-
port the result, which was as follows:
For Joseph R. Anderson .2l7
g George N. Johnson ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 81
!" James A. Scott -....----.-..--...-- ~
Scattering -..---.-----------
Mr.. Anderson was thereupon declared the nomi-
| nee Of the meeting.
resolution pledging the unanimous support OF
the meeting to the nominee was then passed, and
the meeting adjourned.
THE STATE ARmoRY-We surveyed at leisure
few days since the implements Of war that contri
butte to The battles magnifcently stern array" and
which are manufactured, repaired and preserved at
the expense of the Sate-in this extensive establish
ment under the able SUPPLEMENTARY of Captain DIM
mock There are upwards of $4,000 stand OF arms
fer infantry cavalry, artillery and rifle service here
deposited subject to the drausht OF the volunteer
soidery in the State, through the Governor-al OF
which are kept in the most perfect order by the in
defatigable master-armorer, Mr.. ]. II. Knowles
We have repeatedly heard the neat and service
able co,ition in which these potent engines of death
are kept, spoken of in terms of the highest enco-
MUM.
Preceded by most competent guide, we were
in our tour of exanina don first introduced to
century of juvenile muskets, or one hundred mus
kets reduced some six OF eight inches in length, for
the use of the pupils of the Norfolk Academy, in the
development of their military education-and in
fulment of the injunction to teach the young idea
how to shoot" They-the muskets-had very
smooth and shining faces-neatiy trimmed and curling
locks breeches free from rents and we should judge
from their generally firm and staid demeanor, that
good report would be heard from them when put into
active service.
Passing from this room came to a small apart
ment, filed with revolving Wheels used in polishing
the guns and from thence were shown some artillery
wagons manufactured and mounted at the armory du-
ring the last two years. This is new branch of
manufacture here and certainly the specimens were
fully equal in finish and strength to any that we have
seen in the United States service. Contiguous to
the dwellings of these carriages is the yard wherein
lie between two or three hundred pieces of ordnance
of various sizes and caibre of iron and brass
rial-several of the largest Of which were trophies,
captured from the English forces during the of
the Revolution and 1912. We mention this military
implement more particularly because those made cut
of iron all cast at the foundry belonging to this
establishment and can be excelled for service or
workmanship by those of no other arnlory in the
Union But not to extend the ualk of this article
too far, next examined the L. S. percussion rifle,
that can send ball eight hundred yards-Halls
patent rifle carbine for cavalry-the auger-rie and
carbine with small sword attached, for charging
all articles of the most killing character. Though
reserved and lstlessly reposing in seats admirably
prepared, and carefully protected from the cold,
damp atmosphere-we suspect that they were no
parordlers but in the hands of the brave and coura
geous, would tearessly discharge their duty and en-
dure the trying vicisstudes of campaign without
mur1nur. To give point to this statement, we would
mention in connection the new style of dragon
sword, of flexible and easy temper, yet when drawn
out i'll company, by tho opposition or assaults of
others-yery cutting and pointed. Their scabbar1s
were an improvement the old style-being of
thickness sufficient to guard against bending through
ordinary means.
Unlocking over the array of short and long swords
300 of which, together with 500 muskets are kept
sort of Gold Guard, only to be used in case the
people thec city required to be suddenly armed
because of instruction or like emergency Our
eyes upon the four foot scyhc of Peter Francisco
and certainly the company of ''bould Tarleton dra-
soons vino fled in dismay its uplifted crest in the
''huge paws" of the valiant Peter could not be
charged justly with cowardce for their continuance
of the fray must have resulted in the reapinp of
large harvest OF deathsheayes by Peter Rooms fill
ed with boxes, containing 90 muskets in full repair
and artillery and infantry accoutrenents, closed the
array OF implements employed in the profession of
war. The vast quantity of to which we have
thus slightly alluded inspected during every ses-
sion ofthe Legislature by Committee of that body,
constituted of Ii from the House., and seven from
the Senate. There other Inspections made by the
City Authorities and Superintendent; and as this Is
the case with the 10000 stand of arms that are kept
at Lexington, and belong to the State-and these in
pections have always resulted in favorable reports of
the fine condition of the arms, Virginia can certainly
say, with justice and pride that her arsenal is unri-
vailed in the completeness and etficeucy-nu number
and improved character Oh its equipments and nipple
ments of war, by any other arsenalin the Union
This perfectness of the military arm of the State
should be perpetuated and Competent workmen,
in numbers sufficient to the service should be en-
ployed to effect that object We sorry to lrarn-
however, that by the Revised Code, which went
into effect let July, $780, the number of artiicers
| employed at this establishment was Fixed at only
sye-a reduction Of Ave, the original number being
ten. This small number is entirely insufficient to
the preservation and repair of sixty thousand stand
| of arms and we believe tie fact needs but to be
brought to the attention Of the proper authorities
and the old number of workmen viii be restored
Arms are continually being given out and returnsd
and thousands of guns come back to the Armory
with bayon ITS gone, locks of, and breeches bro
ken. 10 addition to the duty of keeping the arms
at the Armory in order is this. of repairing those
returned and We are sure that o moments
.-rat n 81. 4