The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-12-06

DENLY lndllged that this pracuoeship will annually turn
on semen thoroughly trained TO the management Of heavy
ordnance IN storm ana IN calm and that men-of war
may 10 supplied with officers and men tamiarized win
s ,hs appliances Of these great engines Of destruction
commend this subject 10 special consideration and en-
and have no doubt that when enlarged and
aided ~ the suggestions Of experience this gunnery pac
Eoc-shp win prove invaluable acquisition TO the ser
vice
TIE recent changes Ia the armament Of our vessels call
0r somewhat detailed statement from the department on
that saboc 10 many Of those most remarkable conflicts
well settled that the superiority Of the ealibre OF our
guns contributed very much 10 the successful overpowerng
OF the formidable adversary.
In consideration Of the comparative strength OF our naval
force Il becomes vastly important that should call into
exercise the inventive and suggestive genius Of our coun
rymen and strive not merely 10 keep pace WITH but II
possible In advance Of others In the character Of
gines of destruction 10 In this matter the Ordnance
Bureau has not been idle The progress in improving
modifying and enlagng the guns Of the service has been
cautious and gradual, yet steady and impressive
The experimental establishment at the Washington navy
yard has been for many years admirable adjunct 70 the
bureau Having its head officer Of high order OF
intellect and indeaugabe energy aided by small corps
OF assistants the department has found IL shield OF pro-
lection against the Introduction Of the novelties Of vision
airy inventors. No innovation has been recommended I'M
I'll subjected 10 the seyeres tests yet progress and an
eagerness be in the foreground OF Improvement have
been manifest The recent adoption the fgates OF
the o. To- and llnoh shell guns 10 the exclusion Of shot,
was by means inconsderately or hastily made
IL suggested by Commander Dablgren in 1850, that
he could exercise grcat amount OF ordnance poDer 0h
Gegh o. Hledt, ana WIN safety 10 those VINO
managed the gum than any other piece then known OF like
WeightP
Commodore Warrington then at the head of the Bureau
of Ordnance ordered the guns proposed The proving and
testing continued during the years 1862, 1852 and 1854
The points Of endurance and accuracy specially ex
amned. The first gun stood 500 rounds with shell and
500 with shot without bursting and subsequently, other
guns proved 10 the extreme and endured LOGO and
loo rounds without bursting Shells have been adopted
because they deemed preferable not because of any
prehenson that shot cannot be used in these guns with
pcrf
ment This fact said to be attributable to the circum
stance of there being thrown into the hreech very
siderable additional weight Of metal If therefore IL is
at any contemplated to attack the solid masonry Of
Notifications several feet in thickness solid shot can be
used although recent developments in the late European
wars will hardly encourage such assaults TO be often
dertaken Ii is probably true alleged that solid shot
driven by larger charge OF powder their power is
thereby proportionaly greater and that on striking
ship they may pass entirely through her thus exposing her
to the consequences Of two serious breaches These open
ings made by solid shot however often easily repaired
during action but II vessel IS struck and pene
trated by Of these monster shells which carries within
itself the clements of explosion hardly conceive of
the crashing of timbers and the havoc and destruction
which inevitably And thus the work of one
shell would be fatal and disastrous than that OF many
shot
In addition to this heavy armament our national YES
sells have for few years past been supplied with beat
gunsbrass pieces, IL and 2Aponnderg. They truly
formidable and under the management of trained men,
often discharged ten times in minute They
constructed TO he easily placed in small boats which
ccssibe TO the large vessel and when landed be
aged with facility and fatal effect The reports Of their
great service recently China very orcby illustrate their
great advantage as portion OF ships armament
But forbear TO pursue this subject leaving 1t in the
handp of able ordnance officers The cautious and sound
Judgment the late Commodore Morris approved the
ordinance The six new frgetes presented ut once the
question of supplying them with the guns after the usual
old model in accordance wiz the suggestions OF our
able ordnance officer tested by years OF much consldeIa
ton. After investigation unhesatingly sustained the
recommendation 10 fit out the Tgates with their
present formidable battery 1t s true the guns very
heavy but experience and practice and the aid of labor
savng inventions daily made will render then az man
ageable as 33-Pounders were twenty years ago.
THE NEW yRIeArEa-pRoPosrD ADDITIONAL sLooPs
In my last annual report informed you that three Of
the steau-irgaes ordered by Congress were aaoat IL
affords pleasure state that they all ahoa The
machinery for each will be complete and ready for trial in
a few days The Merrimac and Wabash now in COM
mission Thus far the most sangune expectations Of the
department have been fully realized
The performance Of the Merimac has impressed favor
ably the architectural critics. The machinery
and boilers have exhibited remarkable evidence Of power
The material and workmanship superintendent and
approved by the engineers Of the government although
built Of necessity in private establishments The speed is
great than usual In auxiliary steamers in which steam Is
Gy no means the chief motive power but the great desid.
eratum attained Of preserving unimpared all the
lal eements and capacity Of the sailing vessel
Five OF these gees modelled by the Chief Of the
Bureau OF Construction &C. and will each carry battery
az s-nCh guns the spar deck ench the gun deck,
with l0-inch pyotgun, bow ard stern The Niagara,
built in New York modelled and completed In the
nayy.yard by the late George Steers whose genius and
great capacity for shp-building highly recon.
mcnded that he appointed temporary naval con
for that purpose She will carry the novel
OF twelve rnch guns each throwing shell Of 1875
pounds.
The introduction or these magnificent vessels constitutes
an era in the history or The United States navy and while
they may well stimulate the energy and yRoT o. is officers
thew III also excite emotions Of just national pride In
The bOsOns % every American beholder.
know Of 40 reason FOR withdrawing the recommended
ton heretofore made TO build additional soops-owAr
pabe from their small draught Of water OF entering such
pors as New orleans Savannah, and Charleston well
rs New York and Boston formidable battery Of from
fifteen 10 twenty guns would render them very effective
They could annoy the enemy and penetrate and de-
end harbo along the coast inaccessible TO the larger
class Of heavier draught
The arguments and considerations for steady and grad
ua enlargement Of navy have Loot Of their force
Our extended coast multiplied commerce. the maine
nance Of rank among the great powers OF the EARTH
repetition Of the views often somewhat eaborately pre-
sentcd beretoiOTe think II proper 20 remark however
that the passage OF the BIZ for the construction Of
ten sloops-o-war viii be but little very little actual IN.
crease many Old pcss Reessary 70 b laid Up
i az unJrortiy Of repair
4 In addition 10 the establishment for building and re-
pairing machinery and boilers n the Washington navy
yard the department Is persuaded that during the next
year those In process OF construction az Norfolk and Brook
/ Ign will be finished Tho difficulty in making safe found
alton viii somewhat delay The foundry Boston. When
these are completed tho government repair and build
lie own machinery for national vessels take pleasure in
stating that the boilers and entire machinery for the Min
neota built AZ the Washington usyyyard and have
thus far reflected credit upon projectors and builders
/ sEAHEN.
Il II is very important that such policy should be adopt
ed Ia regard 10 viii insure supply when needed