Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-12
Importation Of Foreign Arm..

The rebellion of the Southern States took us
% much by surprise that ii was found neces-
sary TO seek arms in other countries, our own
manufactures not being able to supply them
last enough to equip our army. These, how
ever, have been worked night and day to sup
ply the demand, double sets of hands having
been employed at many of them. But to equip
an army of SOC, 900 men with the Necessary
muskets, rifles, sabres and artillery in the short
time that has elapsed since the Southern States
took up arms would require more extended
works for their manufacture than we possess
The people of the country have arisen for its
defence almost faster than arms could be fur
nished. Many of our Government factories
have been compelled to devote their time ex.
clusivety to the casting Of shot, she'll and ar
tillery, leaving the smaller arms to be supplied
from other quarters. The destruction of the
works at Harper's Ferry before we had
awakened to the sense Of our danger, was
our enemies. By it we lost the fac
tory best supplied with machinery for the
construction Of small arms that the govern
ment had under its control, while the enemy
acquired means for the manufacture of arms to
be used against as. The treachery Of the Sec
retary Of War under the last administration,
the rebel thief and traitor Floyd, had scatter
ed the arms we had to the most remote por-
tions of the land. What he did not send South
for the use Of the insurrectionists he sent to
California and Oregon, and to the western Ter
ritories, under the pretenoe that they were
necessary In those quarters for the protection
OF the frontier agains the inroads Of the savage
tribes
Thus, then, when the people of the loyal
States were at last awakened from their sleep
OF supposed security by the thunder of the
artillery aimed against Fort Sumter, they
looked around for the arms which they then
sa" would be necessary. They looked in vain
Tor sufficient quantity Of ssrviceable weapons,
and then for the first time realized how they
had been swindled whilst asleep. Our militia
regiments, 1t is true, possessed muskets but a
modern army is not fit for battle armed en-
tirely with these. The manufacture of arms
mas so improved since we were first engaged in
war that those then used are now useless
against those Of more modern invention
Agents were sent to Europe to supply the
deficiency. During the month of August arms
began to arrive at this port in considerable
Quantities, and the Importation has continued
ever slnee-nearly every steamer from Liver
Pooi and Bremen bringing many cases. Among
the articles purchased are rifles, Enfield and
otner muskets, guns, gun barrels, cannon and
swords. The value of those which arrived at
TINS port alone between the lst of August and
the last OF October is, exclusive of duty, about
800, 600, with the duty added about $500. 900.
The articles imported are as follows 46S
~ AinoS, "HLOu, dIohing II 10 each
case, would contain IL ,232 rifles; 5l3 cases of
guns; 7O3 cases muskets; 81 cases swords; I46
cases containing revolyers, cartridges, percus-
SION caps, rifle and musket barrels, cannon
and carbines. We have not included in this
statement the several batteries of valuable
cannon, Whitworth, &C., presented by Amer
leans in foreign countries. The arms above
enumerated have mostly been sent away as
soon as they reached the city, either to Gen.
Fremont, in Missouri, or Kentucky, by way of
Cincinnatti.-N. Y. Herald