The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-23
AMERICAN FIREARMS.


Trial of BrsschIoadIng Rifles at West Point
twenty-five Gums Upon the s1eld-Elxsitasg
priest esr~at Rush 20 West Poant-Os-
scsipSi.. of the 0sfiss--Rssuits or the GxPo
rinss.t4-Eusslan ID icng iish sgs.ts on the
Ground, &c, &C., Nc.
dor several years past the inventive genius moi only or
America but Of the ~ori has been largely exercised In
&nveOsDg and destructive rearmsfor the use Of
infantry and cavalry. me resuu IL thata great many
patents have taken out, especially In the United
States, for guns containing real or ct least alleged
provenens their models or rake Come Of these guns
DC discharged with from four to six the rapdy Of
the percussion cap reIock which at present enjoys
monopoly OF rse The United States servce The reason
that these old askes have been retained long the
army that they are strong of smpis model liable
60 get OF Order easy broken by careless soldiers
Many Of he now guns complicated in their models,
and therefore liable TO get out Of crder they also sub
feet TO accidents IN the hands Of the sodery
body OF Infantry by being armed with of the
rifles, would be able to Ore double the number
shots In given PERIOD equal per csnAge Of the whole
number OF shots nyed taking elect they would soon over
equal force OF infantry posed to Thorn arm
I'd with old h clock This Is one of the advantages
claimed for the guns another the accuracy with
which, and the distance TO which they carry ball. so tbs.
select body Of men armed with them could pick off,
sewers hundred yards.
By oct OF Congress- tits the duly Of the Secretary OF War
to test the accuracy oco and safety of these guns
On the oath Of June last he had trial at Warrington OF
some OF the most coieb Cd rev rfeS and pistols the
suit of which published ia the HERALD at tho time
From tho results OF those exper, meus he decided to
have thorough and extended test of Oh oadiug
rifles made bS board OF competept military OIL ;srs,
with vie to ascertain which OF that description
best ndaped to the Uniet states service Accor 1ngy
The following order -As issued -
WAR DEPARTMENT, ApJurAu GENERALS OFFICE
WASHINGTON, Angus, IL, 1857.
SPECIAL ORDhRs, NO ll8
board OF officers will nble At West Point, N. Y,
tho nth instant, thereafter for
q view IN ASCERTAIN which Of this description il
bea suited 10 the military ser ice
DETAIL FOR THE BOARD.
Lieutenant Colonel h l. 3ssI, Frat Dragons: Major
Henry Hl Pay mas,er; Captain Toomas Duncau Mounted
Rifles; Capa Henry Heta Tenth I"snry; Captain James
.. Benton. Ordnance FIRST Lieutenant John Gibbon,
Cap ain Benton is anpoin' ed Recorder Of the Board
s COOPER Adjutant General
MONDAY.
Captain Benton and Lieut. Gibbon stationed Al West
Point CAPTAINS Duncan and Hoth arrived there Mon
day. l7h !nstno time appointed for the Board to meet,
bu. Lieut. Colonel Bea the senior occr and
" chairman OF the Board did not arrive in time tho
Board 70 get tcgeiher, ., nothing was done Of
IDEALLY Somo eighteen or twenty guns OF differ.
col models were taken 10 Inc grounds by their In
ventors patentees Tho hotels in the place we're
nxed 70 overlooking with sporting men, martial men and
rnen Of pleasure Nor cid the fa!rer lack repro.
ssatatvos; usual 1t this the year, there
were many daughters and mothers thsro-dsughtsn
anxious for the cade .nohers anxious for the daugh
trs. srgv number Of dist pEuish ed present;
amNg them Gen Scott, Gen. Wheat, Col Colt Coils
Green and May Mossrs Sharp Alien, Merrill Morse
and Josiyp; Cot James Watson webb uApt Ingrahan,
United States Navy Capt HAnfeldt, Of toe Russian Ar
slery; Mr. Kerr sgen; Of the EnsAh government
teesed tn Col 3resns gnn The has already 600 Of
iheee gnns 10 the Englsb to be tied) Maj Bab
nt q Baltimore; Beverly Tucker, Of Washington Coi
Rugef OF south Carolina, chief OF Ordnance In the Aex
can war
Lieut. Col BeaIl arrived and the Board held In
ehe forenoon Col Hill present Tho Board sfter
organizing decided upon the In which the trial
should be conducted tina should commence sdncs
day, at 10 O'Clock and adjourned TO arrange
cnents Socordingiy
Shortly ker adjournment, Capt Benton the Recorder Of
ehe Board ssuce the olo~, programme for the nfor
znaion OF all parties Interested
yRoaAMAE OF PRACTICE WITH BRKEcH LOADING
ARMS.
FRS, Inventors viii submit, their Arms In the order
named accompanying Official list from the War Dc
Mt vty