The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-02-21
Militaay Terms.

So much appears IN print now relating to for
itifcations, ordnance, and arms, that it may not
be Inappropriate to present some brief explana-
tons of the common terms in use applicable to
such subjects.
There are two kinds of cannon bearing the
names of their inventors in use in this country.
The one is the Paixhan, named after Captain
Paixhan These guns are also called Column
biads, and several of them are mounted at Fort
Sumpter. They are designed principally for
throwing shells: and it was one of these, we be-
lieve, which bursted on trial, several years ago,
on board of vessel of war, in presence of a
large party of excursionists, killing several
members of the Cabinet and other prominent
citizens
The Dahlgren gun is the invention of Capt.
Dahlgren, and is peculiar, chiefly, for having
the weight of the metal at the breech; it having
been ascertained by the inventor, that in al
most every instance Of the bursting of ordinances,
1T gives way at the breech These guns weigh
from 5000 to 1900, or even $4,000 pounds
each, and one OF the latter weight is supposed
capable of throwing an eleven inch shell the
distance of four miles, The Niagara is armed
with Dahlgren guns.
A mortar is u short gun with large bore for
throwing shells Mortars are constructed to be
set up at an angle of forty-dve degrees, and by
constant experiments, the amount OF the charge
of powder necessary to drop shell at = given
distance from the mouth of the gun is accurate
" determined. Similar experiments have de-
termined the length of the fuse by which it is
to be exploded, with such a degree of accuracy,
that, under the management OF accomplished
gunners, the shells are exploded the instant OF
their striking. The fuses are small cylinders
filled with fuse powder, and inserted in the
shells, and are ignited from the powder which
projects them from the gun.
Shells are hollow cast iron globes varying
in SIZE according to the bore of the mortar gun
some as large as thirteen inches in diameter,
II not even larger. They are charged with
powder, and pieces of metal; and on exploding
scatter death and destruction in every direction
around them, as we'll from the CONTENTS with
which they are freighted as by their own rent
and flying fragments. They also bury them
selves in earth works and masonry, and effect
breaches by their restless explosion there
a casemate is protection to Notifications or
ships, intended to resist the effects Of artillery.
Applied to forts, the term signifies stone roof
Or case capable of resisting cannon-balls Yes
sells of war are casemated with iron or steel
plates of from two to four or more. inches in
thickness, and their efficiency is Just beginning
to be appreciated, and likely soon to be tested
The Americans have no casemated ships; the
the French are building great numbers of them
and the English are also producing them as fast
as possible. A casemate gun is a gun protect
ed by casemate. A barbette gun is one placed
on the top of a fertilization.
The superiority of rihed cannon over the
common pieces over which our volunteer COM
panies are provided is so great that the latter
would be comparatively useless in an engage
ment with the former. The range and accura-
cy of Armstrong guns and rihed cannon are SO
perfect, that regiment of artillery would be
cut up and disabled by them before it could
approach within distance to make use OF oldin-
airy field pieces. 1t seems likely that the im.
plovemehts in all instruments and means OF
warfare, will soon be such as 10 render the i'm.
mense accumuiations of the old material entire
ly useless Even first class frgates, '-the wood
en- walls of old England" which were once the
pride and glory of naval rch,tecture, are now
looked upon as cumbrsome andunwiiedly hulks
beside the steel-clad steamers turned out at
Toulon, which ask no favoring winds, and de-
fy alike the artillery of man and the rude buff
fets of the deep.