The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-10
IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN ARMS.

The rebellion Of the Southern States took much
by surprise that 1t found necessary seek In
other countries manufactures not being able TO
supply them fast enough to equip our army. These,
however, have been worked night and day supply the
demand double sets Of hands having been employed at
many Of them But to. equip an army Of FIVE hundred
thousand with the necessary muskets rifles sabres
and artillery in tho short tme that has elapsed
Southern States took ap would require more OK.
tended works for their manufacture than possess
The people Of tho country have arisen for its defence
almost faster than arms could be furnished. Many Of
our government have compelled 10 devote
hcr time exclusively to the casting Of shot, she'll
artillery, leaving the smaller arms to be sup
piled from other quarters. Tho destruction
Of the works ut Harper's Ferry before we
hal awakened to the OF danger was serious
loss to us, and great gain to our enemies. BY it
lost the factory best supplied with machinery for tho
construction OF small arms that the government had
under its control, while the enemy acquired means for
the manufacture Of to b, used against us. The
treachery of the Secretary War under tie admin
sraon, the rebel thief and traitor Floyd, had scatter
ed the had to tho most portions Of the
land What he did not send South for the Of he n
surrectionsts he sent to California and Oregon and
the Western Territories under the prceace ha, they
were necessary those quarters for tho protection Of
the frontier against the nroads Of the savage tribes
Thus then, when the people Of the loyal states at
last awakened from their sleep Of supposed security by
he thunder of the artillery aimed against Fort Samter
they looked around for the which they then saw
would be necessary. They looked in vain for a sufficient
quantity OF scrvccabe weapons and then for the first
time realized how they had been swnded while asleep.
Our militia regiments 1t is true, possessed muskets but
a modern army not At for battle armed entirely with
these. The manufacture Of arms has improved since
We last engaged In that those then used
now useless against those Of modern invention.
cheney, and own factories taxed to their utmost
pacity During the month Of August began TO
rive at this port considerable quantities. and the i'm
portaton has continued snccnearly every steamer
from Liverpool and Bremen bringing many cases
Among the articles purchased rifles Enfield and other,
maskes guns gun barrels cannon swords The value
of those which arrived at this port alone between the
lst Of August and the last OF october is exclusive OF
dity, about 800 900, with the duty added about
500 900.
The articles imported folows:46S cases Enfield
rifles which, allowing twenty four TO each case would
contain 232 rides 5i3 Of guns 7o3 muskets;
81 cases swords l46 containing revolyers car.
tagcs percussion caps rife and muskct barrels can
non ami carbnes. We have included in this state
mept the several batteries OF valuable cannon Whit
worth &C.. presented b. Americans in foreign countries
Tho arms enumerated have mostly been sent away
al soon they reached The city either General Fre
NOM, N Missouri, or 70 Keptucky BY way Of Cincinnati