Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-25
RIFLED oRDN NCE.

Killed ordnance Is likely to play an import
ant part in the war for the Union. The rebels
have, without doubt, O large supply Of the most
Improved Tifed cannon than we have hitherto
believed. They have been preparing them
selves for the struggle which they long intend
ed 70 force upon the nation, and have given
every energy OF theirs and all the means they
could raise among themselves and steal from
the Government. to provide themselves with
the best arms Of all kinds. In the battery at
treat Bethel, from which our troops were un-
fortunately repulsed, the most effective gun
was riaed cannon, which, -accordisg to the
latest accounts, was fred with great rapidity
and accuracy. We have heard one of the off,
GERS OF Fort Sumter, describe the splendid sc-
curacy of the only rified cannon the rebels had
At Charleston. When Capt. Doubleday had
sucseeded in dislodging from the carriages and
rendering useless four guns in one Of the rebel
floating batteries, this rifed cannon was
brought to bear upon the port from which so
much destruction had been done Fortunate
ly, the rebels could not 30 place the gun as to
frs square into the port, bat the accuracy of
the aim and the fearful force of the shot may
oe judged from the fact that they hit the side
OF the port 80 constantly as, after q number of
shots, to knock away the entire side of solid
orick work and masonry, and make hole as
wide on the outside as on the inside
correspondent from Williamsport writes
rs that the rebels, firing across the Potomac
with MIME rifles, cut bOughs and twigs from
the trees on the Pennsylvania side, at 100
yards distance.
However they may be lacking in money or
provisions, 1t is clear that the enemies of the
Union are supplied with the best rifed arms
and as our own forces are also well supplied
With the most improved arms we shall see in
this war certain novel phases-of which two
VIII probably be prominent the greater use
and advantage of field artillery and the de-
creased importance of cavalry. In the wars of
the nrst Napoleon, brilliant cavalry charge
under the leadership of such a dashiDg soldier
as Joachim Murat could be relied on to decide
the tate OF ths day; and il was prover6 that
ne vino wished 20 live long must enlist in the
artillery. kgen then, however, Napoleon was
proud OF Large parks Of Cannon, ana usei to
say that the army which had the most cannon
would F'n the battle. But the artillery Of
those days Was cumbrous, and could be fred
out slowly. Field guns were untenable against
resQlute assault Of cavalry. because they
could not be loaded and fired fast enough, and
were too heavy 10 move quickly. Nowadays,
OWING TO The reduced weight Of the rihed gun,
many more pieces will be taken into the field,
ana can De directed to all points, should the
occasion arise. Of what avail would the most
brilliant cavalry charge be against guns which
can IRE three rounds q minute, and would
empty every saddle ere there was a chance of
reaching the battery? Our battles will, in all
Y
but ere the final charge a frightful slaughter
must take place Individual exploits give way
70 the employment Of heavy masses and
crushing artillery fire.
This being the case, the artillery department
becomes OF great interest 20 the public, and we
are glad to take from an English periodical en-
able historical summary of what has been done
In Europe toward improving this important
branch Of the service.
Our own government has net been behind
hand N improvements Of artillery, though our
engineers have turned their attention chiefly
to the perfecting of heavy guns for ships, forts
and stationary batteries. The American light
and flying artillery earned great reputation
In the Mexican war, where il proved a most
efhcient arm of the service. The Dahlgren
guns are not suited for service in the field
But the inventive genius for which our people
are distinguished has turned its attention in
this direction also, and there are on the Patent
once record at least q dozen different kinds of
rited cannon, several of which have received
the eomnendstion Ofcompetent judges Mean
time, the fact that cur common guns can easily
De rlned, and answer exeellentIy, makes Il
easy to obtain any required number of service,
aole cannon at short notice, and it is stated
that several machine-shops in the North are
now employed in riding cannon for Govern
nent serTice.-N. Y. Post.