The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-09
lie first to pursue


The former course Of four years and the second composed
Of the junior aud less educated members 10 pursue inc
newly-fanged course OF studies Mn WI, VII; 1ouy y,
sion In the supply cadets TO be attached as brevet second
eutenans 10 corps and companes ana all classes erea
ter admitted will be instructed according 10 the plan OF
studies arranged the hveyears In general terms
il may be stated that the scientific has not been M
creased and that the additions made those apperahhe
TO practical military instruction and extension OF the course
of languages and national law These additions were
deemed necessary qualify military officers for me hg
and delicate duties they are sometimes required 10
and they could be added without Increasing Tue Term vi
subacng something from the thorough scienuhe euuca-
tionincluded in the course heretofore pursued
From a recent inspection OF The Academy can oear
Testimony 10 ia successful administration and the any
and decided improvements which have nom time TO ume
been made Additional means OF instruction have greatly
facilitated the acquisition OF knowledge and better arrange
mens in the quarters and recitatonrooms have mater
ally contributed to the economy comfort and order OF the
corps
concur in the recommendation of the chief engineer
for the establishment OF prossorshp TO replace that
of ethics and English studies This chair is now hled
by the chaplain of the post and il 1t was ever desirable
that the pastor of adets should also be member OF the
academic staff the wider range recently given 10 the study
of pbilology national law, and the contemplated add
ton of cognate branches renders it imraccabe Tor one
person properly To perform both duties
also in the estimates of that officer for an appro
praton Tor the commencement OF the construction o au
dtona quarters for officers duty nj the Military achu-
eny The necessity for this is fully stated in the report
of the board of vsers and the chief engineer Inc tota
cost of the proposed buildings estimated at $4,000 40
about onehaf OF which is asked for the current year
The condition of the seacoast defnces is stated in the
report the chief engineer The grant of appropriations
for these works the last sessions OF Congress- after
their suspension for several years during which the policy
of continuing them very fully discussed, is regarded
ms final decision Of the questions and advert to the sub
ect only to say experience in Europe has placed
beyond doubt the wisdom of that conclusion No deences
long avail people who cannot meet their Toes IN the
open field and oricatons are not INTENDED 70 serve
M the refuge weakness the stronghods OF unpOpu-
lar power On the Eeaboad advance OF popuons cities
and important harbor they designed to arrest the prog
res of hostile fleets and force the invader to abandon his
attack, disembark his troops, and pursue his a!ck py
land The capacity OF secoast detence5 10 erect TINS OBJECT
against the powerful ornaments that have ever been
placed aoat is amply demonstrated by the results Of the
late military operations in the Black and the Baltic.
Happily we may profit by the experience of others with
suffering the evils that attend the practical solution OF
Though our arms have heretofore been considered the
best in use inventions in Europe have produced
changes in small which now being used IN war
with such results have caused them 10 De no
ticed among the remarkable incidents of battles ana ind
cate that material notifications will be made in the future
armament OF troops.
The superiority of the grooved or rife barrel and eon
gated ball. in range and accuracy of fire. has been long
known yet the difficulty Of loading this weapon has hith
ero for military purposes, countcrbaanced Its ad
vantages To overcome this difficulty two methods have
been proposed the first by loading the piece at the breec
has been for time in use but has defects winch all
the ingenuity expended it has failed to entirely over
come; the second method, which has produced the I'M
poran results above indicated is to obong ball OF
such diameter be readily introduced into the piece
bat which afterwards is expanded SO fill the calibre.
This first done by providing rest or support nj the
junction of the chamber with bore as in Capt Devgnes
method by of solid pillar in the axis of the bar
rel upon which the ball rested and expanded by blows
from heavy rammer. This the plan OF Col. Thou
venn of the French army and is known as the system va
In ge which has been extensively used In their service
The same object subsequently attained by inserting
iuio the part of the ball conca iron cup which, be-
ing driven into the lead by the explosion of the charge
acted as a wedge to expand the ball. This is the plan
by the of its inventor, Captain Mimic, OF the
French Still more recently in England the ball has
been improved SO as to expand by inc force OF ne
alone without the aid of the cup This is known as the
Pchett ball. having been brought into by Mr. Pritc-
ett gun-aker of London This idea also had been sug-
gested by Capt Delvgne.
NV attention being drawn to the subject directed
perenis be made by the Ordnance department both
the proper shape of the bali and the best mode of
conclusions ereaced-agreeing, afterwards
ascertaned with the results of the investigations then
king in Europe Although our experiments nave Geen
confirm the great superiority claimed for this invention
abroad. They show that the weapon while 1T can be
loaded readily the ordinary musket at least equal
" effective at three times the distance The foreign
perments indicate still greater superiority OF the new
These results render it almost certain that smooth
bored will be superseded military weapons but
great caution requisite in introducing general change
in this important element of national defence for the waste
of public money is not the greatest of the evils resulting
from the adoption of erroneous system. The strong
probability of change and the fact that have already
accumulated large suppl ignore than half million Of
mskes and rifles in the arsenals of the United States
besides about three hundred thousand in possession of the
States cost of ten millions OF dollars-render IT
expedient to continue this time, large scale II
all the manufacture Of small of present pat
But until experience shall enable us to decide on
the merits of the improvements am OF opinion that
expenditures for small should merely be confined
the making such required for fully testing these
inventions have however asked for the usual appropra-
tons for the national in the hope that expert
aud trials in actual service and the experience of the
present in Europe will enable to decide on
the value of the notifications and to continue the
manufacture OF arms upon improved models
Congress- at its last session. made appropriation for
the purchase of number of the best reechoading rifles
To ascertain which among the many that have been in
vented the best public notice has been given through
the newspapers OF the appropriation and its object inviting
all inventors to furnish samples of their When all
who choose to compete shall have submitted their arms
number of each kind deemed worthy of trial will be sub
eced to such practical tests may determine their relative
merits military weapons Should the result proba
bly, will, substantial and simple breec-oading
ARM 1t will snpersede present patterns for the use of
cavalry
The efficacy Of these new patterns Of arms will be fur
Their increased by improved mode printing which has
been approved by the highest officers in military and
naval services. Operations in progress to perfect
the details of fabrcatng this primer and applying it
to finished arms of the old pattern well as to
now in process Of manufacture.
In anticipation of increased if not exclusive of
rifle arms 10y the regular army, and because OF the belief
that the rifle light infantry system of instruction is best
adapted to the foot militia have caused inquiries to be in
tued into the systems used by the light of other
countries that complete light infantry rife tactics might
be introduced into service with such improvements
the experience Of other armies has shown to be valuable
on and it is expected will be- in short time submitted
to you for such action it may be deemed worthy to
ceve.
Attention is again called to the necessity for legislation