The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-09

SpIKING MON

/
| One of the most important movem ents in connec
| ton with the South Carolina secession was the re-
cent retreat of the United States forces from Fort
Moultrie to Fort Sumter. Before the former work
was abandoned, It's guns were spiked and, far as
possible, dismounted, by order of Mai Anderson
and the question of how far the guns would be dis
abled by such process has led to considerable dis
cusslon IN this community, many persons contend
ing that 1t would forever impair their serviceable
ness. AS any Information in rega I'd to the matter
is of considerable interest at the present time we
publish the following communication from an ord
nance officer of this city, of long experience and ex
tenslve acquaintance with the operations of the
ordnance department, in reply to request for in
formation addressed to him:
PITTsBURG, Jan. 5th, 1S61-Dear Sir: There is no
method OF spiking cannon, which will forever pre-
vent its use. the spike is made of iron or of un-
hardened steel, it may be removed by the drill IF
it is loosely inserted or without much force it NAV
be blown out by firing a charge of gunpowder
placed in the bottom Of the bore But if the spike
is made OF hardened steel, to fit the vent closely,
end is made soft and riveted within the BORE then
neither the drill nor gunpowder can remove it: the
vent remains permanently closed. The remedy in
done without impairing the serviceableness of the
gun new vent may be drilled in any cannon by
Skiitul machinist in two or three hours.
In experimental firing, when a vent becomes too
much worn and enlarged, we drill new one. and
sometimes as many as three or four vents are made
in the same gun, and many hundred fires are made
afterwards.
During the recent Crimean war, an article rela-
i've TO- splking cannon was published in the Lon
don Tunes, In which it asserted that the use of
a new "patent spike" would destroy the servicea-
bleness Of the gun. The spike was described as
piece of finely tempered steel turned to fit the vent
but to freely in it, and turning out in forked
spring in the bore. This spike, it was alleged.
could not be removed, as it would turn readily
with the drill, but it seems that the possibility Of
cutting or breaking off the tongs or forks of the
inSiH hn har lNuac nof pci6 Tbo
communication given above, from high authority,
may be looked upon as conclusive that the worst
effect of spiking would be few hours delay in the
use OF the gun-often very important NATTER
Pittsburg Despatch
NAVAL INTELLIGENoE.-The naval force that can
be called into requsition in the rebellion ex-
tends or renders resort to arms necessary on the
part OF the general government, is at present very
smali. Ihere are but few vessels with which ope-
latohs 20 the harbor OF Charleston could be con-
gunboats. aie prinoipahy
The Brooklyn, now at Norfolk, draws ton n,u,b
water TO permit her to pass the bar at Charleston
at which there are but thirteen feet of water IT,,
Macedonian requires twenty feet, but the Donbin
could enter the harbor. At the various nav yprd
there are the Dolphin, Harriet Lane, Water Witch
Corwin, Crusader, and Wyandote, already in
commission These have a total of 90 guns and
900 men. From the navy yards and forts about
$50 men could be despatched if necessary -States
and Union.
THE PORE has caused a medal to be struck in
honor of the soldiers who fought in his behalf in
the recent war with Sardinia. The medal is both in
bronze and in silver, representing, in memory of
the martyrdom of the Prince of the Apostles,
cross reversed, surrounded by serpent forming
circle, the symbol of eternity, with the inscription:
"Pro Petri sede Pho TX. pontiface marin,o A. X Y"
(For the chair of Peter, Plus TX. being sovereign
Pontif, the fifteenth year of his reign.) And on
the other side, Victoria qua rincent mundum, fdes
nostra," (the Victory which triumphs over the
world is our faith.)