The New York herald., 1861-12-31

We give the above fair sample Of the whole show
mel Hudson made the remark that the shots made
were the best he had in fact he could find no
iault with any Of them Quite number Of the shots
firing at long ranges both with shot and she'll Instead
Of tho usual style of erecting targets at stated distances
and nring at them 10 determine the accuracy of the
ectiles, different objects selected such as clump
OF trees or spot upon some Of The sand banks great
practice to what would actually upon the field
| Of battle, and was the most severe test
to- which anything Of the kind could be
| One Of the principal points in artillery practice
is to make what are termed line shots, and this
much time devoted Several dis tapces were cbosen
such one and thrceq two and three miles
and the experiments went very far to provo the superb
orty o. James projecties In many instances the balls
shells would faa little short go some distance be.
yond the points aimed at but in almost every case the
shot would be in direct line for the spot Indicated The
audience, which by this time had greatly increased,
would watch with breathess anxiety the course of ths
ball she'll and they it strike burst in line
with the object their admiration knew no bounds, and
they would gaze mt the cannons IL they some
thing supernatural.
After for dinner the firing was commenced
again. but differed very little from the mornings prac
tice Several excellent shots were madeline RI
cochet and long range shosa Of which gave the great
est satisfaction, everything working charm AT sun
the firing ceased and matters were put to rights
for the next days practise.
THE THIRD DAYS FIRING.
On Thursday the firing continued. The morning
remarkably fine, scarcely breeze stirring the
face of the water aordng most pleasing with
the two days previous Quite a number gathered to-
gether the hill to witness the trial. among whom were
ladies' who hclped enven the scene although
artillery practice entirely variance with their
ideas OF enjoyment Tuesday and Wednesday having been
devoted almost entirely the heavy guns Thursday
the twelve and six Founders principally used. A
target placed the beach about thousand yards
| FROM the gun at which shot, shell and canister
were discharged Some OF the shots splendid but
the target rendered useless by the OF shell
pn,nat into rp.b
| as to be suitable only for flrewood The guns
| were then turned towards such targets
| ture Afforded, and they legion. The guns
were loaded with canister for the purpose OF showing
effect upon water, thing almost impossible upon land
it fails to show in what direction the balls go while
upon the every shot and its effect is clearly
second two after the discharge OF the piece the
would bubble If hail storm had suddenly struck
it. and that at distance that put any fear as TO the in
jury Of troops entirely out Of the question After
being tired with this practice line shots again tried
with the most signal success stake standing uprgh
in the water at distance, selected a guide
and towards IL all the shots were directed The frs
went m lie short the second struck directly at its base
the third little beyond it, and the fourth just graxed
top Every Of these shots was in line direct
possible; Of them would have missed an object
large as q horse. much less egiment battery woul
not be from such nring unless entirely out Q
. range.
AS Colonel Hudson was desrous Of reaching Washngto
within certain period, il was deemed advisable to brn
the firing TO close Thursday, the Colonel having o,
his entire satisfaction at the result OF the
tce there being point at which the slightest obectio
could be made. Everything perfect, and there wa
no delay customary such occasions
As the General anxious TO show the effect at Ion
distance Of the guns arranged that as soon as tt
steamer that contained the party bound for New Y0r
had reached certain distance three Of the guns shou
be nrcd-the signal to be dipping Of the flag As
the boat got Just opposite Cedar Island lighthouse tt
flag was dipped, and a white smoke from the shoi
: was the response, shortly followed by rushin
J nolse not unlike the passage Of a railroad traI
The shots rushed by the boat and buried themselves at
long distance away 10 the water. The sound OF the n
rot came some time after booming the surface
the bay long after the ash and smoke Of the discharf
took place
Thns ended the trial os James proecte, and II wi
be hard 70 fnd better more certain battery tha
few Of MIA raed cannon, fHrnsbed with the proper pr
iectie could supply. In al hundred aud two sho
ware ared not any thsna missing ars the slghte
accident Occurring We are at liberty 70 say that Colon
Hudson extremely gatfe6 at tbs FesHlt D the hrin
General James is busly engaged naas9factang from w
three batteries week Of has rsscd cannon and proo
sies both or the government and FOR stata ppfses