The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-27

RIFLEp cANNoN Ar LAsr.


RELIED CANNON AT LAST.
Most Of your readers are doubtless aware that for
than century all the great military powers Of the world
have made sedulous efforts 20 render the rne principle
available for ordnance Hitherto the attempt has been
warded with valuable results though neither time skin
money has been spared 70 In object Of SO
much Importance in the great game Of war in which ma
tons are occasionally compelled to engage.
The great Lancaster gun OF Sesastopo notorey which
has consumed much Of English skin and English treas
itself but abortve scheme for securing the e.
fects Of rifle grooves by substituting therefor
form in the bore Of cannon Our country first
illustrated the great efficiency Of the common rife
weapon Ii appears to have been also reserved for
10 furnish the first practical solution Of the applicability OF
the rifle principle to cannon.
There every believe that the problem has al
length been solved by citizen Of Alabama who few.
months ago presented for the consideration OF the War
Department form OF proectles for red cannon OF his
invention which have since been twice submitted with
good results 10 the test Of actual experiment These ex
pernlents made with rifed tweniy-our FOUNDER
conducted by experienced and competent officers Of the
United States army. r...
The results such a. 10 secure the confidence Of the
War Department and induce arrangement for third
and extended trial Of the proecte with view
to ats adoption by the government if finally as SATISFACTORY
y as Anticipated.
These facts sufficient TO Justify all that have pred
caed OF them but may state additional endorse
men that the practical and El proprieiors OF the West
Point foundry (among whom is Captain r. Parrott late
of the United States army have purchased oneourth IN
in the invention for this couIy alone at the rate Of
fifty thousand dollars.
Arrangements have also been instituted for bringing
this invention the notice of the European powers and
securing for the inventor the profits Of his discovery
The proece in question is of the elongated form now
much in vogue. and by simple yet ingenious combine
1Arln
of the Minnie ball
Being entirely of ron has decided superiority in an
economical point of view over the forms of loaded
cannonbAs that have been proposed while il possesses
the important advantage Of being used red hot when de-
sreda mode Of attack particularly formidable to ship
ping The only change necessary to adapt it to the ord
nary form of the cutting Of two three grooves
in the gunar operation of but little cost or difficulty
An increase Of range and accuracy in the fire of artillery
two of the important results that will nure from this
inventions and artillery the great by which the
fate of modern battles whether land is mainly
decided the importance of such results may be readily
| timated.
| We may mention as q third and still more important
gain the increased efficiency that will be secured for the
terrible system of direct shehring especially against
shpsa system that win long render Snope dark dayin
the Turkish calendar and which has mrortazed the
of Psxhan while it should in justice have brought fame
American officer of artillery; for coupled with in
Of range and precision in direct she6rng as dis
nguished from the vertical fire of bombs from mortars
this invention WILL in such cases enable artillery Off
to dispense with the ordinary time uze the burning
of which of necessity less uncertain and liable
to be extnguished by striking the waeran incident of
constant occurrence in all naval combats.
From the fact OF this proecle uniformly striking
upon its apex the time fuze be substituted by
cusson fuze that be exngusbed by water, while
it viii explode by impact with any solid body inevs-
bly, cap upon the best percussion lock- Ii will in this
way therefore be to lodge and explode shell in
the side Of ship strike with solid shot while the
effects Of she'll thus exploded may be disastrous
| a whole broadsiae of the latter.
SPntes usually plug the apertures made by solid shot
however large but the consequences OF shell exploding
in the hull Of ship would be the tearing and bursting e
feels Of mine and such taking effect the
water line might compel the talest ree-decker
cumb to comparatively Insignificant adversary properly
armed.
We think recognise in this improvement Of rifed
eIpedient for promptly and economically bring
ing up navy something like equal footing with
any European marine For this and other obvious rea-
hail this invention another and valuable addi-
ron to the list Of makers that will eventually
der terrible and too expensive game TO be played
at except in sedeence by the most beioose and wealthy
| of the nations.