New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-19

FROM GEN. 5UTLeR'S COLUMN.
RIFLED.CANNON EXPERIMENTS.
EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS
More Batteries on ScwalFs Point
CANNON 70 BE RlFLED IN LARGE NUMBERS.
Routes to Yorktown Reconnoitered'
A FORWARD MOVEMENT.
ENERGY OF GEN. BUTIA1.
NEWPORT NEWS CAMP
Routes to Yorktown ReconnOitered'
A FORWARD MOVEMENT,
ENERGY OF GEN. BUTIA1.
NEWPORT NEWS CAMP.
THE NE G II o L >
From On Special Correspondent
FoRTREss MONROE,

On Saturday had some experimental hneuchn-
ron firing with practical aims, FROM the Rip kaps 10
Swsns Point, for the purpcss more especially to 'est
the Sawyer projeclile The gun used war 42pounoer
with 24-pound bore. The weight Of the prcJeciile-
An explosive sho-was 40 pounGs with four pounds Of
roxder in the shell and five and a-half beh'ndi Be-
fore proceeding to give tie result Of The firing will
STATE that no one, except perhsps Mr.. Sawyer himself
believed that lie could reach Sewas Point, winch Is
shree and oneeigh,h miles from the Rip RaPs. Gen.
Ruler listened to both sides for time, and finally
ended the matter by directing the experiment 10 DO
tired.
Accordingly on Saturday afternoon, party OF gen.
tlepen. includ ng Gen. Butler and Col. De Russy Of
She Engineers proceeded - the Rip RAYS, to witness
tie test, The GU had never before been hred-a CIR
eumstanee not favorable TO perfect firing. AT The first
,bot 1t was elevated % degrees and aimed SO that If
she shell should go far itwoud the opposite
sbete in the range OF the Rebel battery. The word
was given the explosion took place, followed by q
sharp sereeching noise caused by the shell diminishing
as the lrojectie sped in its career. In lees than
twenty seconds al was sill, and, as we waited,
almost holding orr breath, an explosion WAS heard
eud as that of the gun itself 1t was the
blrstn NJ Of the shell, which struck ct distance
esmaed at three and quarter miles. An In
voluntary cheer artested the appreciation Of all
rose indicating that the spot where the explosion took
place was but short distance In the rear OF the
Rebel battery supposton confirmed by the fact that
the Rebels themselves were observed by those sta
soned where the battery could be seen, 70 out and
sutter in all directions II was evident that they had
received sudden revelation, the precise nature OF
which they probably did not fully comprehend. They
hzd been resting tie beief that they were beyond
the reach c sos except from the decks Of ships which
Ia iuIp they could reach with their guns. Eleven
shells were fred three Of which did not explode, on
Account supposed Of their sirking IN pond oil
.aer ont Of eight de not to explode the cap TIE
r.noe was reduced 10 fourteen degrees, when the shell
exploded partly in the water and partly IN the sand
on the opposite shore distance OF about TWO
md three-sourth miles. Tie last shot eleya-
zion of IS degrees when the shell exploded on the
Point, between midway the beach and the Rebel bat
tery. probably not more than 200 yards from the latter
Tie extreme range attained though no. known aceu-
rsieiy Ia believed to have been upward Of four miles
The experiment was ain Ost wholly for The purpose If
determining the range and was deemed in the highest
degree successful. With greater elevation, MIR.
SAWYER DOES not doubt that be explode biz shell ST
els aDee Of four and bali 10 five miles. The she'll
hse is earnly destructive, and in this respect the
same at whatever distance there being such thing
rs spent shot, for whenever it strikes il explodes.
No; only is unparalleled range claimed for the proec
tie but accuracy in aim; indeed this, in connection
with its extraordinary explosive qualities, lie set forth
rs ts chief merit. Gen. Butler expressed himsef ss
noo than satisfied with the result Of the fri g. did
Col. Do Russy; and, in consideration Of the prompt
manner in which the handing general han seconded
The enterprise and the gratifying results the gentle.
men present proposed 10 christen it the Butler
which was promptly carried.
While the firing was going on men in considerable
Numbers were seen 20 come rouno the front and then
70 back, and on the opposite shore white aags
Display ed, where before rebel fsg famed and
ssxins. which shot was directed. Tho white hsg
WIS, of course respected, and shots sent
IN that direction.
Yesterday morning early it discovered that the
rebels had commenced throwing up battery opposite
70 The RIP Raps in the edge of the woods and toward
evening, when the steamer Catilipe, the Government
transport, was returning from Newport News, the
small rebel tug which showed herself round the Poin.
few mornings since end drew the fire Of the Cum
berlaDd, fred two shots at her, which fell far short.
Ths Cumberland warned the little thing back 10y q
couple O: shots. The rebels, doubt, intend annoy
sbe shipping they doubtless do If they succeed
N constructing batteries where t.ey represented
having commenced work yesterday. II Is not probable
chat they will be permitted do any such thing Even
sho.d they succeed in throwing up battery there,
half dozen Of Swyers shells would cause them 10 |
decamp at least, such Of them as lot killed. j |
doubt whether they will seriously make the attempt 10
throw up works in The direct range of the Rip Raps
The Fcrrsss. The distance from the RIP Raps to the
nearest point the opposite beach IL two and half
nfes, from the Fortress, about ole mile further.
in view Of the Of yesterday, the Catline
hss received rifed gun board and will hereafter
Be able to return whatever compliments the rebel tug
nay choose to send her.
Ipaid flying visit 10 Camp Butler, at Newport
News yssSetday, and found tina, the motion Of the
camp had been somewhat disturbed by episode 10
the morning. scouting party went out for cattle,
and when about four miles from camp, they fell in with
part, of cavalry, wbo At thirty yardsred
with buckshot Charge. Five volunteers were hit,
which fact though the buckshot proved the deficiency
Of The rebels In arms spoke we'll for their aim.
The fire was returned with fatal eec, it was believed
- Que Of the to drop in the saddle and
was sustained by otbers, the party rode rapidly
away. The wounds Of men were slight. They Z
arove In about fifty bead Of cattle the ofwhieh
liiber have been, or viii be fully compensated. 1
Tie redoubt and battery at Newport News sre I'm 4
shed, very much to the relief Of the men, who have
sborsd necessarily. They have accomplished great p
york, ks extent Of which may DO judged Of when il
understood th~t for twenty days from three " i've
bonsand non have labored constantly on IL. Tie G
FORK bas been done under tae eye of Capt Stowat
tho EngiDeera The guns were mounted by the ca
'mened GrebIe abo had completed the last when he
% his heroic end: One fact which came 70 nv NJ
4. 4k. u hsfr | ~