The New York herald., 1861-12-31
ARTILLERY PRACTICE.
Trial of Gen. James, Ri1ed Cannon
and Pr0jectiies at Sag HarbOr.
The Guns, Balls and Shells Used
on the Occasion.
INTERESTING TABLES OF THE FIRING

iho present war mas PROBABLY dono more to dovelope
the real strength or our people than perhaps anything
ESQ could have accomplished 1t has thrown them more
upon their own resources and taught them feel that in
no way are they behind other nations In tho time Of
peace we boldly challenged the world compete with us
our Inventions. Reapng machines, sewing machines on.
gines locks, &c. commanded the wonder and admiration
OF all and our mechanics continued astonish the world
oy the rapdity with which they produced this great
Dor saving apparatus But rebellion and the pros
pect vast civil war have darkened horizon after
long continued and prosperous peace the people of tho
United States called upon test their inventive
powers IN altogether different that heretofore
exercised We have now rifles, pistols, swords, steam
and brooch loading cannon together with an almost in
finite amount Of patent projccties intended to sweep
our enemies OF the face Of the earth. The most
prominent among them James Parrott, Hotchkiss,
and others and considerable rivalry exists as to which
Is the best Each party of course claims the superiority
Oh MS invention and has friends at court to urgo hi
ciain, ana try and make the government adopt their
pattern. James and some few others have num-
Der Of their guns and proiecties already in the ser
vice. but they have their favores there as well as else
where and it only makes confusion worse eonoundedn
10 hear and read the various reports that from
our commanding officers of which speak in the
most positive manner Of the utter useesncss of procc
tile that in few days is spoken of in the most
nattering terms by some other officer equally expert
enced oi course great deal depends the persons
VINO IRE the gun many ne and extremely useful nvcn
lions may be rendered perfectly useless by being operat
Cd upon by inexperienced persons while, the con
rary, an inferior article may be made to answer the
purpose, for short time, by being handled by
person having knowledge, both theoretically and
practically Of the true principles OF gunnery Our naval
and military officers have had too short experience of
practical war to condemn, upon short examination
tnf hna haav a..
to It's merits. thing hurredly looked may be de-
cared useless, which, upon closer analysis might be
FOUND 10 possess many good qualities For this reason
many Of the projectcs alluded being subject
cd TO severe test by the proper authorities there
may be fair decision rendered and wronged We
see no reason why there should be much jealousy
hioteu as Two or three inventors may accomplish the
end desired BY different means and if so,
there is ,,enty OF for both or all Tho
Unief States is building up immense navy
~ our scecoas will not be in the future left the de-
porabiy helpless condition that it Is In at present and
has been for some time. The government has taken
tmey step in the matter, and shall all the good
guns That we can procure for time The great point
to be attained and to acquire perfection in which all are
trying is to successfully combine the greatest force with
the greatest accuracy to accomplish this many have
been vainy trying for in all countries Perhaps in
this TOO America win stand eminent and claim her
superiority nation of inventors both in time OF peace
and Of war.
One OF the most prominent of these inventors s General
James, tho inventor Of the projectie and cannon
oosrng ms name. he has already great number Of his
guns and balls in the government servce but he is anx
ous Still further to show the excellence OF them by re-
peatod tests and critical examination by the best
military and naval authorities that can be
found One of those interesting displays took
place at Sag Harbor L. L. last week. and the inspecting
omcer was no less parsonage than Colonel Hudson of
General McCleans staff who has charge Of the Ordnance
Department and bears the Of being one of the
best artllersts in the United States graduate Of West
Point, he has made 1t study for years and thus stands
very high as an experienced artisrist Colonel Hudson
was selected at the time OF the commencement Of our
troubles to reinforce Sumter but readers are well
aware Of the sight met his eyes when the vessels
rived on that fort to render assistance that devoted
little band OF patriots ~
The trial was to have taken pace lac, uordau h,.
extreme severity Of the weather precludcd all idea of
such thing and had to be postponed for short time
menced on Tuesday afternoon and continued day until
AFTERNOON OF Thursday when Colonel Hudson declared
New York that night.
THE GUNS USED.
The used by General James in his interesting ex
perimens consisted of forty two-pounder one thirty
two-peunder (both of from and twelve and one sir
FOUNDER brass pieces FOUNDER was mounted
On one OF the old fashioned gun carriages such as we're
used 10 the oden time 1t rather stiff but taken on
inc whole worked very we'll The thirty.two-pounder
gun had the advantage Of being mounted on an entire
new carriage made for II the day before and the CON
sequence that the working il was as near nerfec
on as was possible without the aid practced artcr
'ts; Inc small guns were both new having been
se' before Both of them brought TO the city
" th> steamboat for the express purpose of being
lseS op that occasion. They were both mount. |
ady needs the lghness and the finely finished appear
nce of the more modern xssrriags They are both
narkably handsome pieces and ehcited the admiration
If all not only by their perormance but also by their
perfect finish
The following table will show at glance the weight Of
he piece together with the weight OF the shot shell
zach carres:-
Weight Of WeigMg
Gun. Wight Shot. Shell
AZ FOUNDER. o 400 lbs. "a lbs. II lbs.
B.. ........... .5,T00 e." SO 4" 81 "
l2...... ...... Il ,221 90 26 'f "a
gsn