The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-11

July 26.-The board MET at o'clock, a. IN, All the
members present Examined the arms fired Saturday,
and fired Burnsides at 100 yards target with cartridges
which had been put in the chamber more than once ana
with jammed and bruised. The board adjourned
at l2A p. The board met at 2, p m, and tried the
initial velocies with the electro machine) OF
Gibbs Burnsdes, Colts, Morses, and Symmes guns
The board adjoarned at o'clock, p m.
July 2T.--Ihe board met at 8 o'clock, a. M com
mnication received from Mr. j. d. Alden agent OF
Mr.. Colt, and reply returned (Appendix r. and L J
Discussed the results thus far attained Adjourned at
The board met at 2 clock, IN. Further discussed
the results of the rings Washed of the arms in
water, and laid them aside to rust Adjourned at
July 2a.-The board met at 81 o'clock, a, M, and
examined the that had been rusted The lever OF
Sharpes moved with difficulty Gibbss barrel was
also raised with trouble. Burnsdes moved with more
ease. MIR Symmes fired his gun before the board with
paper cartridges twice. and with loose ball aud powder
There slight escape Of gas in each instance
shown by tho dscooraton of the parts adjacent to the
joint The second cartridge would not enter the barrel
until the paper left by the first discharge had been
pushed out with Tho board adjourned at l2A
p IN.
ceved from J. D. Alden agent for Mr. Colt, and reply
returned. (Appendix G and H.
The rusted arms again examined.
The movable cone-seat of Burnsides gun moved
with difficulty from the adhesion Of the rusted surfaces
Sharpes moved with greater difficulty, from the
Gibbs yet sitter than in the morning
An attempt was made at the suggestion of Mr. Morse
this day received (see appendix ~ to load and fire.
when water pouring the from watering
pot Morse fired twelve times cartridge failed to
explode cap substituted for the first and the
cartridge fired Colts was fred five times in
ten trials. Sharpes, Gibbss, Burnsides, MerrilPs
Symmcs's, and Maynards failed to fire. sharpe's gun
cleaned made wet, and placed aside; the other
arms except Maynards, laid away in their wet con-
dition At oclock, p. M, the board adjourned
July 29.--The board met at o'clock. All the
members present Examined the arms rustcd last night
Sharpes could not be moved without apprehension Of
danger of breaking the lever Burnsides was opened
but could not be closed and made to work Gibbss was
moved with difficulty The board adjourned at i, p m
The board met ut "a O'clock p m, and discussed the
results Of the different trials Adjourned at o'clock,
p. M
July 3o.The board met at 81 o'clock, a. All
the members present Examined the rusted during
the night. Smiths moved with difficulty, though not
much rusted. Merrs could not be opened till the
catch was loosened by blow from hammer. Morse g
was slightly rusted and moved stifiy. Maynard was
not rusted except at the end of the barrel Gibbs 8
moved hard Joslyns not r,isted Colts worked
easily. The pin not easily withdrawn. 1t rust
cd only on the head. ,i ~
Five OF Burnsidcs cartridges put in bucket of
water and permitted to remain five minutes, when they
were taken out and fired The first cartridge not
exploded by the first cap, but by the second the
manning four were fired without failure.
Burnsdes, Gibbss Sharpes, Joslyn's and Colts guns
taken out by detachment Of mounted troops, with
forty rounds of cartridges each Lieut. Fields and Capt
y
hodman accompanied them. BURNSIDE gun was ciean
ca ana washed IN water ana iald ASIDE 20 rusl -.
July Sine Doard met az 9 O'clock O. M An
she members present EAanneu BURNSIDE 1 gun. =, -
was rus.eu, pu' nos sulehs W Picscne s woihs VIZ.
ease onth gun was iouhu s.uok ie "is ius', .iiu
coud not DC moved N Inc Ordinary way, pu. rcqui.e9
70 ne turned over that greater iorcc mge DC apphcd
tot.
Mr. Wells did not appear as ne proposed when nc pre-
sented his gun 70 the poar ana as p ING pro-
grnmmc Ills gun was therefore not hred' nor supcceed
70 any OF tne other various trlais.
The board having concluded their iabos' Adjourned
sme af.
a ono' D''e'Fa'o" q Me 4i'ns f'eseau'
In Burnades gun the barrel and stock are soiidly
joined, as In muzzle- loading arm Ihe chamber Is
movable, attached to rear end Of the barrel below and
moving freely in mortice cut in the stock lowered or
raised by lever which forms tho trigger guard and held
in place by catch.
The escape of gas Is cut oil by a metallic cartridge
inserted in the chamber, which enters, ALSO short
distance into the barrel when the chamber Is closed
The act of opening the chamber frees the cartridge case
which is conca In shape, and it Is taken out with the
finger. t,f
Shapes gun has great sodity, the barrel and stock
being fixed. The chamber is in the barrel The part
answering to the breech pin in other guns is movable,
and slides up and down. by acting lever which forms
the trigger guard and fastened to the end of the
barrel below.
Tho escape of gas is cut off by the closely fitting sdc
and by the gas check, q metallic ring which Is ope
rated by the pressure OF the gas.
paper cartridge is used the pnchcd end OF which Is
cut of by the movable slide which Is made sharp for the
purpose and exposes it to the action OF the flame from
the cap.