The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-04-19
WAR TERMS.

Inc ColumbIad or PalXhan pronounced
pa! zaal is large gun, designed principally for
ilrmg sheils-It 6eiEg far more accurate than
the ordinary short mortar. A mortar is very
short cannon, with large bore, some OF them
thirteen inches in diameter, for firing Shells
Those in use in our army are set at an angle of
40 deg, and the range OF the she'll is varied by
IasssFSns the charge of powder. The she'll IS
W. sKpiode at just about the time that il
Strikes, BY Oceans fuse, the length Of which
is adjusted to The time OF flight TO be occupied
by the ball, which of course, corresponds with
the range. The accuracy with which
the time OF the burning of fuse can be
adjusted by varying ITS length is surprising,
good artllerists generally succeeding in having
their shells explode almost at the exact instant
OF striking. In loading mortar, The shell is
| carefully placed with the fuse directly forward,
| and when the piece rs discharged, the she'll is
SO completely enveloped with flame that the
fuse is nearly always fired. The fuse is made
by filing wooden cylinder with fuse powder,
the cylinder being of sufficient length for
the longest range, 10 be cut down for shorter
ranges, as required A Dahlgren gun is an
ordinary cannon, except that it is made very
thick at The breech for some three or four feet,
when il taprrs down sharply to less than the
usual size. This form was adopted IN conse-
quence OF the experiments OF Captain DahIgren,
OF u. S. Navy, having shown that when gun
bursts, II usually gives way al the breech.-
The Niagara is armed with these guns, and al
the Brooklyn Navy Yard there are sixty, weigh
ing about 5000 pounds eaCh and SIX of 2. 900
pounds weight each, the former of which are
capable of carrying nine Iuch and the latter
Ten inch she'll a distance of two or three miles !;
and there Is one gun of this pattern which
weighs 1876 pounds, and is warranted 10
send a seven inch shell four miles. A case
mate is a stone roof TO fort, made sufficiently
thick 10 resist the force of cannon balls, and
casemate gun is one which is placed under a
CaSemate. A barbette is one which is placed
on top of the forti6catIon. An embraSure is
the hole or opening through which guns are
fired from fortlfications. Loop holes are open
ings in walls to fire musketry through
Scientific american.
A COURAGEOUS GlRL.-Here is little item
from late Texas paper, showing the old
pioneer spirit still pervading the wives and
daughters of the back-woodsmen. The party
oi Indians who passed through Jack Parker
and Palo Pinto counties last week, marking
their way with deSolation, and striking terror
TO the stoutest hearts, drew up in front of the
residence OF Eubanks, and were holdinga par
ley, and no doubt forming plan TO attack The
house. There was not man on the premises
at the time. Mrs. Eubanks, her daughter and
several small children were alone. The yard
was enclosed in pickets, about SIX feet high
Miss Mary Eubanks, the daughter, with un-
equalled presence of mind for one SO young,
seIzed shot gun, put on her brothers. hat and
placed bench near the picketiug so as TO peep
over without exposing her body, and then
deliberately fired at the party, which stratagem
and heoric conduct doubtless saved her own life
OF her mother and little brothers and sisters, as
the cowardly scamps Immediately fed, no
doubt believing the house occupied by body
of armed men.