Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-06-28
TIE RIFLED CANNON AT FOR
TRFSS MONROE.
ITrom tlc Boston Evening Journal

From The Boston Evening Journal
Accounts from Fortress Monroe day or
sin5c, stated that the new Sawyer Biied Can
non had been mounted at the Rip Raps, and
hal astouished the rebels by Pumping seve-
raj shells into their battery at Sewall' 5 Point.
The extreme range of this practice could not
have been less than 81 miles. 1t was stated
Yesterday that Gen. Butler had directed that
several guns be rided Immediately for the
new Troiectllo.
A description OF the Sawyer gnn and pro-
joctile We gave some two or three weeks
since. But the new interest which has been
created by the practical experiments at the
Rip Raps, Will Justify us in furnishing some
further accounts Of this new destructive
weapon There Is before Us one OF the saw
ycr IrOeCules, Il formidable looking missile,
weighing without the charge, 10 pounds. 1t
is q hollow pT0ieculc, and VIII hold poenus
Of powder. The shape Is n truncated cone
TIE shell is Of iron coated with solt alloy,
which viii neither lead the gun nor fly OIL
wncn the piece is discharged, as IN the W hit
worth. Armstrong and other guns. There
are nanres on the side Of the shell, which are
intended to fit accurately the grooves ~ the
gun. At the base of the she'll the alloy IS a
little thick. and when acted upon by the
powder, this fills up the whole space, pre-
venting windage. At the apex OF the shell,
which invariably hits the Ozark hrSt, is
screw cap containing Illuminating powder
BY which the shell is exploded when lts'rlkes
an object,
Experiments have been repeatedly made
with this proiectlle. under the direction OF
The Mar penartment, and favorable reports
have been rendered by several boards OF OH
q 3. I'm. %
ex2sriments viii illustrate Its terrible de
EtluctIveness. if used in a naval engagement
No shin ever built could 10at after having
rescire3 one of these missiles near the water
line
The effects Of the shot on timber were as
"a lows The shell was fired at timber
ta,get flour feet thick and eight lOng) cons
pcsed Of live oab seasoned logs, well squared
fitted and b0ltel together by inch iron Dolts,
held in place Gv screw nuts, The shell was
Ard a distance Of $50 yards (ths range be-
in- aJoptrl ID secure a centre shot in the
4a~rcN penetrated about two feet and ex
DI,ded completely demolishing the target,
troaking sli the bolts and scattering the
riyen timbzls yer fifty yards. The same
shot ysas r.roated at a similar target, lined
with one hall inch wrOught-iron plates with
the same rcsult-the penetration helhS ohly
two inches less. ,.
I'm one 4 tie experiments with tins gun al ~
an deviation # 35 > a range was attained OF
sos yarl, (ovcr four miles and one-hali,
the cartridge used containing but onc-hai II
the ordinary service charge,) OF one-elghth
the weight Of the prQjectile. Inc gTe4tes' gIest
range heretofore reported in the ordnance
reports is 'hr,e miles and one-third, al
grtater elevation.
Orders have been given by the Uo'ern, Govern,
mont f,r d large number OF these suns anu
priactles. aud they will probably play an
Important part in the war:
Smooth bore cannon will soon become as
antquated A. the smooth bore muSke';
Raed cannon are as superior IN range and
ef.;.ncv $ tie corresponding smd arm
Tbe Armstrong, the Whitworth' the Sawyer,
the James. and the Shenkl guns are all
rie, nui II Is this which gives them then
Iopc range TIE Two first, whica are ngllsh
guns. arc brech loading. The others load
at the lsuzzle. and are not essentially dit
fercnt. The difference Is in the projeetles.