The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-05-11

About Modern War Material.
The probability Of war lends interest to the
following sketch, which we find in the Gin.

following sketch, which we find in the Gin.
cnnati Go-cHe:-
The construction of the most ancient can
non, we are informed was of pieces or bars
Of iron solacr ed to each other lengthwise and
bound Together by lead or iron hoops, and the
cannon alls used were Of stone. Cannon
we're cast about the middle Of the fifteenth
century, about the end of which period
bronze was used. Brass cannon were iirSt
cast in England by John Owen. in 1855 -
foundry was established in E!lnl Gig abont
The sanne time, under James II of Scotland
M"rtarS We're made in Eng land during the
reign ofllcn,yNl,I.. and cast iron durlng the
reign of Edward VI.
At the beginning Of the fifteenth century
they began to give them names, such as
Falcon. "Cnlverln," - Ba>lisk i" Dra-
gon, Syrcn,' &c, supposed to be 50 called
from some fancitul application to them for
SwiTinesS, force, cruelty, or other attributes
which were fancicd resemblance At the
present day they are principally designated
by weight and calibre: for instance, piece
carrying ball weighing 30 lbs. is called a
80 FOUNDER; II his. a IL. FOUNDER, and lbs.
6.pounder. A field battery such as is
usually termed hight battery. consists of six
guns, comprising four G.pounder guns and
two 6-pounder howi'zers. white siege bat.
terry consists Of guns Of a heavier callbre. such
as Is. 81, 50 and 42.pounders We will
more particularly designate the different guns
uGder their proper headings and we will first
notice.
]EAvY ORDNANCE.
Heavy ordnance is MANUFACTURED from cas-,
iron and brass. Brass tield-peccS are made
OF sunmetal. which is an Hoy of two parts
nt copper TO one of tin Cannon were former ~
cast with a cave or hollow, but are now cast
solid, being stronger and less liable 10 burs, :
the metal lleer from honcycon5lng and the
bore IS rendered more perfect. In boring
cannon the gun is made to rev0ivc about the
bit or boIcI, the size Of which is successfully
increased. The heaviest piece Of ordnance
known to exist Is brass cannon st Bee inpour,
east in memory o! the capture of that place III
1888. ly Alum Gecr Its length is II le, t i
inch. diameter of bore 2 feet inches. and
which requires an iron shot to fit 1t weighing
over GOO pounds.
Another enormous gun. Mons. Veg" is
shown to the curious traveller ON the iampat Is
at the Castle in E.dinbnrg, Scotland 1t Is
made OF IRON and carried heavy stone ball
weighing over two hundreds pounds it is
now only used as an ornament, being perfect
IN Its construction, One of the largest guf.s
made In modern times was one made bv the
British Gav.rnmen, in 1856. by Mess,s HorS-
fall, of Liverpool. It's material is wrought
iron welded, Is feet long, 3 feet 10 inches in
diameter at the large end. . feet 10 inches at
the small end, and weighing &c tons. 1t re-
CURED 40 men i'll its construction. who were
employed seven weeks day and night. aud
when completed after boring, its weight was
II tons Is cwL. It's capacity is for ball
weighing 3O2 lbs, TO be propelled by a
charge of 90 lbs. Of powder, and its range is
tive miles. In America are several very
heavy pieces Of iron ordnance.
Within the last decade we have constructed
and brought into practical use the heavy
Columblad and Dahlgren guns. which we will
speak :Eore particularly of hereafter. There
are also used 40. 80, "a, Is, ~, 6. 3pounder
guns OF brass and iron, some for Sea-coast
and teld service, and others for naval purpo-
SEES. The length ola 32-pounder gun. used
OF the lower deck Of 4 llne.o bait le.ship is
ieet T. inches, weighing SIS cwt., being
about l92 times the weight of the ball.
Llehteen-polnders are rarely used at the pre-
sent day. Twelve Founders, q brass field
gun, are feet inches in length. weighing
10 cwt., with a calibre Of 46 in diameter. -
The length Of Is, II, Q, G, aud 3.p"under
brass guns, is lG caihre. Abou. Is caihres
is the maximum Of the American service,
while in ;he English it is from ii to TO-
Since the war IN the Climea, heavy siege
AMI naval guns have BEEN generally adopted
and have proved, by their great froce and
terrible accuracy. to be invaluable. One
OF the most excellent of these war imple.
ments is the celebrated
LANCASTER GUN.
This large and elective siege gun was in.
vented few years previous to the late Euro
pean war by Mr.. Lancaster, an English gen.
,eman. 1t is Of great weight, and is con-
slructed OH the priciple of the application of
rotating shot to guns of elIptical bore. which
causes the ball toproceed like that from rife.