The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-20

have the honor to be, Major very respectfully, your
obcdient servant, D. III. HASTINGS,
First Lieut.. LIST Dragons.
Byt- Major W. A. THoRSToS,
Captain Ordnance Department,
Watervliet Arsenal, West Troy, n Y.
TUCSON, NEW MKxIoo, February "a, 1855.
Mason have the honor 10 report that the sixteen
Shapes carbines which you sent to my company have
been in constant for four months and that find
them greatly superior to any which has been fur
nished 10 any mounted troops under my command since
have been in the service When small detachment is
sent dangerous service, 1t is invaribiy aned with
thea.
The fire is rapid and accurate and the ball is thrown
long distance The objection that the paper remains
in the chamber Of the piece after the cxPosurc of the
cartridge, is easily obyiaied by extracting it with the
little finger have known two occasions forty rounds
to be fired in rapid succession without Inconvenience from
the above have never known accident to
cur with them
In fine have heard the expression of many opinions
the subject, and il has always been most favorable
should consider my company douby efficient entirely
I am very respectfully your most OBJ I servant
EDWARD H. FITZGERALD,
Capt. LIST Dragons and Brcyet Major,
Conimd & Company =. d.
FoRT Buchanan, On. NJ February 10Th, 1858
MAJOR: have for several years past usd myself and
have had in the company have the honor TO COM
mand, Sharpes carbine In constant consider
il the most superior small arm have in my
opinion for dragoon service there is to compare
with il for efficiency and convenience.
would suggest from experience, an improvement
that The sights, &C., be made frr and that the angle
between the stock and barrel produced be slightly in
creased.
haze had the honor in my requisition for the next
six months to apply that this he furnished Brcvet
Major J. II. Carletons Company.
have the honor to he, Major, very respectfully
obedient servant,
Alb CHAPMAN,
I'd Lieut.. LIST Dragons, Comd'g q X" Company.
Major w. A. THoRxrox Ordnance Corps, U. S, A, Wa
terylet Arsenal, New York.
FoHr BpcuASAx, On NJ March Is, 1858.
sm respectfully beg of the honorable Secretary of
War through YOU the chief of ordnance, that my
pany (.B," LIST dragocns) may he armed with Shapes
carbnes, having Il believe, Major Thorntons improve
ments and mounted with the saddle OF the pattern Of
1857 commonly called among US the Mcclellan saddle
and that these and equipments s5 OF each may
be the destination of the company in California
am satisfied, from trial and experience that Shapes
crbne is the best weapon yet known IN country for
than those of the muskctoon. IL is stronger arm the
soldier make il last longer The swiyes and muzzes
of the muskcoon constantly getting broken and bat
tered.
carbine psolits accuracy OF fire greater. The sharpes
be LOADED Mt speed the carbne pistol with
out great Inconvenience. / satisfied that the horse
needs pistol il armed with Shapes carbinc and
a light and sharp sabre
One argument had almost omitted to mention in IA
OF Sharpcs carine rs that dagoon soldiers have
confidence in il than any other weapon have
put into their hands and have them the
musk toon. carbine pistol and Mimic rife Give your
soldiers but confidence in the effectiveness OF their wesp
ons and they will give better account Of themselves
than with those they cannot trust
Hoping that my request for the srming snd mounting
my company, impeilea by other motive than the
efficiency of the 1 command, may meet with favor
and attention. am, sir, most respectfully your obc
dent servant, J. w DAVIDSON.
Captain LIST Dragons, Commanding Company h
We, officers Of the company, concur in the ssovc.
OWEN CHAPMAN, Isl Lent LIST Dragons
b. r. DAVIS. ID Lieut. Ist Dragons
Col. H. X. CRAIG, Ordnance Department
ORDNANCE orrIct, April IL 1853
Respectfully referred the Secretary OF War in con
nexon with letters OF similar parroSt referred from this
office on the 18th instant
H. X. CRAIG, Colonel Of Ordnance
WAR DrraHTsExr, Washington April IL, 1883
I certify that the foregoing letters from Breyet
Mayor ". A. Thornton With the endorsement of Col II
X. cfag, Chief Of Orsinancc Capt n s Eweil MAJOR
" Stccn. and Iieut o. Chapman Lieut. ID II. Hastings
Captain Edward H. Fitzgerald and IScut. A. r. Chap
rnan arc copies and that the letter from Cant
4 Davidson endorsed nv " X Fraiv fshirf "A