The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-06-12
Rilled Cannon Practice.

A second trial of the Ho,chkiss ri,ed cannon
and proiectiles, which was made on Friday a
East New York, resulted in highly salifacror'
manner. A. the previous trial, the result o
which we described AT the time tie shooris..
was very bad, owing in part to the quality OF III,
powder used, and partly to inappropriate o
| the gun-carriage. If We had not had the mos
favorable testimony from military men, and fra
fa,h in the correctness of the priEciplz involve,
IN the Hotchkiss projectile, We should have CO..
sidered the first trial very uniavOrable- But ne
person, we think, could have Witnessed the ex
periments on Friday without being satisfied thai
Mr.. Hotchkiss's deadly missiles are destined tc
play an important part in the bloody drama " hich
has opened 10 cur view. So far as We have in
formation in this county of the nature OIL
European proectiles for rhed ordnance ii
would seem as il our own Inventors had
already produced, or were in fair way to pro-
duce, both shot and shell of greater effective
ness and at cheaper cost. The Hotchkiss shot,
beside the merit OF cheapness, has portability,
accuracy of flight, and powerful effect a, long
and short range, TO recommend IL. Its leaden
band so perfectly adjusts itself to the grooves as
to make the portion of the bore behind it a gas
| tight chamber, and consequently charge of
twelve ounces is made to send the shot as far
ordinary cannon.
At the trial on Friday two guns were used
one, Uniled States brass six FOUNDER, rited,
weighing SCI lbs, carried a II IL ID. HOtchkiss
shot with twelve ounce charge Of powder; the
other, was an iron Dahlgren, of 2-l0th inches
bore, rtled for a 81 10. H0tchkiss shot, we. III
ing go pounds. From the large gun twenty six
shots were fired at a target 200 yards distant,
with mean deviation from the center OF ~
inches One shot went over the target from the
accidental use of two charges of powder. From
the small gun twenty one shots were fired, with
"A mean deviation from The center of Il inches
FOIr shots went over, because OF misunderstood
ing in regard 10 the mode of signals previously
agreed upon. The elevation OF the small gun
While firing at the target was two and three
touIths degrees, with the large gun three degrees
The proportioiiate weight OF the small piece To
the shot was much the greater hence the great
initial velocity and less elevation for the same
range. The recol Of the large gun was nine
feet; OF the small one three feet Several o. the
new shells, patented 10y Smith and liochkss,
and fitted with The Bowman time fuse were al
terward fired, AMI burst in one two, three, aad
four seconds, according to the provision made
respectively. These shells discharge a load OF
lcaden slugs at given time, and, being projec
ted 10 "A great distance with great precision, act
when they stlke much like shrapnel.
Il shot was fred from the small gun with an
elevation Of 80 degrees that was 80 seconds
IN its flight. Ihc initial velocity was said TO be
over 900 feet in a second, and on this liberal
basis it was computed by persons present that
the shot was projected to a distance Of four and
four-iiilh miles With charge Of seven ounces Of
powder. We fear, however, that if the initial
velocity Was 900 feet, in which case supposng
the time OF flight TO have been correctly taken,
the little gun would have thrown its 5 81 pound
shot at Il distance OF about three miles and "A
halt.
A large number Of the Hotchkss shot have
been ordered for the Sickles Brigade, and the
next public trial of the projectes will probably
be made at the new Camp Scott, on Staten Is
land. We suggest that it should be managed by
committee OF competent artierists and ensi-
neers, SO that the results actually attained may
be known with more absolute certainty than has
been possible in the two trials at East New York,
which We have described to the publicly. y.
Tribune