Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-05-08
PuAlA M ORNAMNNrAL PRlNlINe.
40 sn.nes RInea cannop.

war materials, and since the late Crlmean
war great proficiency has been attained in
the manufacture OF arms and proiecileA es-
peciallE 10 Billed Cannon, which have been
tested and proved to be the most efficient gun
in war. Among these riaed guns may be
enumerated the Armstrong, the Whitworth,
tie Napoleon the oavalli the Lancaster, toe
D~ahlgFsen and ths JAmos:Riaed Cannon, the
latter Of which is being extensively adopted
in the United States service, and which we
shat eonBne our attention to.
The gJames Rife Cannon and PrQieclile"
was patented some four years since by Gen.
Charles T. James, Of Rhode Island, and is
advantages may be thus summed up It cOn-
sist Of a system of riding the smooth-bOre
guns at present in use, and the adaptation Of
the wsu-known principle Of the rihe-pateh
to the proiecdle to be used in them, when
riaed The chief invention IS in The prOjec1
tile, which consists Of a pointed cylinGer
with an ~expansible ring or band of metals,
tin or lead, with N outer covering OF con-
vass, thoroughly saturated with talloW or
other lubFicating substance eRyeloping near
" the whole % its cylindfiel portion. II
weighs mare than denbls tbe spherical balls
used in snoOth-bors guns; for Instance, the
ordinary -pOunder bronze gun which carries
a~sx-pouIs round ball, viii, when rihed and
sdpplisd win this projsoele, carry IA pounds
0 fmetal, and other calfbres In similar pro
portion, thus megs than d~opSling its effect
iTsnea; bas when the greatly increased
rang sns accuracy Of these prQjeetiles ars
considered it makes the siE=poundsr far SUI
perior to the twelve-pounder s~mOoth-bore,
and. increases in the sme ratio Of effective!
ness the vsrious ealibses Of guns used in fhe
service.
Let as examine more particularly the pro-
aisctle, The ~expausible ring or band Of
metals with its CANVASS covering, is firmly
fitted into a broad recess around the c~ylindri4
cal or bearing surface Of the proiecdls, one
eighth OF an incho u more in depth,and slight
1y projecting above its metal part, which pre-
vents all contact betweenth latter and she
grooves of the gun and consequent ipji to
them, by abrasion, bruise or any otherinjury.
Atthe base end ofths ball is cavity extending
nearly its length, radiating from which are
ducts OF passages, like the mortiee holes in
the hub Of 2 wheel, 10 the inner surface Of
tue ezsaasIbie band. The moment the pow
der i~-si,es, the gases generated by the ex-
p,osisn sIisI inuo tbs CAVITY aud through The
Gic,s Or aaias, tae eS aalsibts6and,
@ o6. arAy 4l3 on all
SIDES against tls 5are o. us "a and into
rvs grooves, prevents - escape IF gas
aasuoss Aa Wiadaze, and causes theproie,t-
le, bs sea O. It's connection win the
bana, 70 follow accurately ths twist Of the
grooves and to rotate on its axis on leaving
the muzzle. Like the well-known u fs-patck,
the expsnsible band, with its outer covering
of CREASED canvas, prevents all leading of the
guns, and, being firmly preset into tie
grooves, effectively e4pels at the muzzle, all
residum Of a former discharge.
This rife esRnon Of Gen. james is tie
most won3erfl Improvement ever yet made
in the science of gunnery. the force by
which these projecEiles are throwu and the
extent OF range, as well as the accuracy of
results, is lar beyond anything before at
tanned or supposed to be possible The accu-.
racy is as great even at the distance of two
miles as that of the best rife at ordinary dis
tances. To give some idea of the immense
range of this gun, a l2-pOdndsr has dred q
shot a miles. The writer of this article
saw, summer before last, at Ames Cannon
Foundry, in Cabotvile, Mass, a test of an
ordinary six-poundsE rihed, and from which
one Of James l2-pound sho: was fred. The
projectile was taken fresh frcn the foundry
and the range of the shot was 2t miles, with
less than the ordinary charge Of powder
The bah passed through a small pine tree
and lodged in a sand bank, with sufficient
rotating force to polish the bur of the cast
ing off as if it had been done by the hands
Of a skillful mechanic.
No vessel ever yet constructed can resist
the force Of these projectiIes propelled from
dny riHeG cannon at q distance OF even two
OF three miles. They can be used in all sizes
and kinds Of brass, iron or bronze guns that
are riaed, and the cost to any State of riAiHg
their cannon on hand, would in the saving Of
the powder alone, pay the cost Of rding.
The highest testimonials have been given
BY e Beard Of Ordnance officers of the Army,
convened to test the James rife cannon, as
viii be seen BY the following endorsement Of
the Wsr Department: |
qIt Is admirably adapted to the various
calibres of guns now in use, requiring only
taat they be rlhed, (which can be readily
done without even removing them from the
Forts and Arsenals, where they now are)
and supplied with q proper proportion of the
rihed projectles. Besides the advantages
thus TO be attained Of converting our smooth
bored cannon into rihed cannon, the weight
Of metal which each will then throw, with
out an increase Of the powdsr charge, and
with more accurscy and effectiveness, and of
greater range, will be about doubled; for in
stance the 4~2-psnnder will be an s0-pounder, |
and the other eaiibres in similar proportion.
nThe Board have no donbt Of the fitness
and bility of Gen. James plan OF rihed
cannon and prcjectile for the military service,
and they suggest and recommend, that meds!
Grg Be taken, at once, to rife fhs whole OF at
kast fifty per cent, of the good and serUteeaBk
cannon at al oar Forts and ArseaaJs, aad for
supplying them, 81 soon as Il can be done, Oith
dpT6per proportion, say 100 rounds each, of
ne rfsd pTqseaks."
Thus it viii be seen, to sum ell up in a
few words that the great merit Of James
riHed caupon5 consists in their perfect accu-
raoS their immense force, the adaptstion Of
the projecliie to any kind Of smooth bored
canu6a now ia use, added to The great saving
Of powder, which Of itself would pay for the