Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-10
Tie EGect of ProjectiIes on IRON PIates--.
decreasing Experiments.


Some very interesting experiments, going
to show the effect of projeetiles upon cast
iron plates, were made at the proving
grounds, up the Allegheny, at Pittsburg,
on Wednesday. A twelve-pOunder gun
was loaded with charge of six pounds of
powder, and twelve pound ball, and dis
charged at plate of iron, furnished from
the works of Mr.. shoenberger, nearly FIVE
inches in thickness, and about two feet
square. The plate was madssOf six dis
tinct plates, all bolted together, and manu-.
factured from excellent iron. The reporter
Of the Dispatch, who was present during the
experiments, states that the effect of the
shots was almost Incredible The distance
between the gun and target was not meas
ured, but was probably nearly one hundred
Yards. At this distance the twelve pound
shot penetrated three plates of the Shoen.
berger plate, dished the whole mass several
inches and partially broke through the
remaining three plates The ball was
crushed to fragments, and the front hemi-
sphere evidently half fused The same
effect on The ball followed every shot. The
second plate tested was solid, and inches
| thick, OF the best Juniata iron. The ball
penetrated about one and one-eighth inches
and dished the plate less than in the pre-
cediDg experiment. The third experiment
/ was with two inch plate, which the ball
/ so nearly broke through that light ham,
ner would have removed the fragment
/ Tue plates in all the experiments were
simply set on edge, with no other support
than was sufficient TO keep them in that
position. The six pounder was proved by
two charges Of solid shot and one and one
fourth pounds Of powder.
While the experiments we're going on O
gang Of men had removed the columbiads
] from the cars and set the entire lot-ten IN
number-in order for proving. Two Of
these guns were trained by the same gun.
ner, with the same lack of means, on q
fourth plate of iron, solid, about eighteen
4 inches vide, three feet long, and nearly Eve
inches thick. The guns were loaded with
twelve pounds Of powder, solid, strapped
shot, and wad. The cartridges are care
fully picked fuses affixed, and the 10
touched off together the heavy reports fol
lowing in rapid succession. A cloud o
smoke covers the muzzles, and q shower o
sand the bank where the balls strike, anC
when these clear away, one or two heavy
trees are found TO have been knocked down
The lower half Of the iron plate is half i'm
bedded in the bank, with the half fusei
portion of the ball beneath il. The uppe
portion OF The plates, showing an indenta
lion Of about two inches and fractur
completely through, further up the hill
The result Of alt The firing proves that q
short range no ordinary or practicable iroi
sheathing would resist the power Of Colum
bad shot. The second shot was fred wit
fifteen pounds of powder and she'll th
guns we're cleaned aud inspected, and th
days work was done. In firing the colum
biads the breeeh is sunk in slight excava
ton, in order to level the bore, yet sue
, was the force Of reeoiI that several Of th
+ guns jumped backwards gye or six feet
The work Of inspecting and proving th
. guns on behalf Of the Government is no
| ! in the hands of Capt, McEuft, who has bee
stationed for some time at-the Alleghan
Arsenal