The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-22


been said about an alleged sale, by the Com
mlssioners, of all the n uskets in the State Ar
senals, and of q large purchase of powder,
when there were no arms left with which ii
could be used, we have inquired into the mat
ter, and from those who know, learn the facts
TO be follows:
The Commissioners, in making their exam :
ination, soon after their appoin tment, found
in the Arsenal at Lexington and in the Arm
ory at Richmond, some fifty or sixty thousand
smooth bore, fin t-lock muskets, most of them
made in Virginia during the war of 1872, or
about that period. Upon experiment in the
Government works at Harper's Ferry, with
the Virginia made musket, it was deemed ad-
visable not to issue them to the Volunteers
Moreover all the smooth bore, fiint-lock mus
kets were virtually condemned by an act OF
the last Legislature, requiring the issue OF
none but the best arms 10 the militia of the
State.
Under these circums tances, the Commission
ers advised the Governor to authorize them to
dispose of the old muskets in part payment
for the machinery req uired to put the Armory
in operation, and to manufacture the improved
rifle musket. A strong motive for adopt e
this sugges ton was the discovery that with
out such aid to the appropriation, it would
not be sufficient 10 organize the Armory, and
to operate it as intended antil 10000 of the
i'm proved muskets should be manufactured.
In fact the option was prevented of suspend
ing all preparation for the mann fac lure of
arms or going in TO 1t with inadequate funds,
or on the other hand, of selling the mus Ike Is
which could not e. used, aud appropriating
the proceeds to the purchase of machinery.
The Governor adopted the wise alternative
of authorizing the Commissioners to sell them,
and they required the contractor to take
them in part pay for machinery.
To avoid, however, the supposed danger of
stripping the State even of this weak defence,
the commissioners stipulated in the contrac
that ten thousand of the old muskets should
be reserved until five thousand of the new
ones were finished. These ten thousand have
been set apart for this purpose, and may pos
sibiy be con vertei, by the Commissioners, in 10
percussion muskets, if they find IL practicable.
One OF their number is now at the North,
charged, in part, with the duty of making the
necessary inquiry on this head.
With reference 10 the purchase of powder,
which has been the subject OF some censure,
the facts are simply these: When John Brow II
in vaded the State, there were twelve hundred
musket cartridges at Lexington and Rlch-
moud, but no cannon powder in the State
With all the efforts made TO supply the mill
tary sent to Harper's Ferry and Charles town,
they never mad more than ten rounds, ard in
some companies, by the day of exec ution, this
allowance had dwindled to four or five
rounds.
TO save the State from 4 condition of things
so dangerous the Commissioners purchased
powder emo 1gh 10 furnish force OF 5,u0O men
with the means of entering upon an ordinary
cam paign. The purchase included powder for
the batteries of Artillery suitable to arm a
force Two small magazines, costing together
less than g., 900, were built at Lexington and
Richmond, for the powder of the State Here
tofore she has had no place OF deposit for pow
der The Military Academy and the Public
Guard will OF course use this powder, and il
will probably be served out Tor target hiring .o
the volunteers. II 1t should not, however
there is no danger of loss, with proper care
for powder may be kept from ten to fifteen
years without injury.
We have said thus much in regard to the
State arms and the powder, as an act Of jus.
tice to the Commissioners, who wish to let The
people know what they have done ana are no "
in a short time, when all can read aud under
stand for themselves. If they get the machine.
nv ready. and the State Armory in opera tion
nv the last of November, 1861, the volunteers
will then be rapidly supplied with first-rate
arms and the militia of the State will then be
made a n efficient army OF citizen soldiers. In
the mean time weapons will be procured from
other souIces as rapidly as possible, and the
Com ma der in Chief will nave them distrib-
tied without delay.