The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-06-07

was 1S9, at an average cost OF Sl'3o IL
was said the Charleston rebels had imported
several Armstrong guns to make sure OF cap
turing seventy men in Fort Sumter, their
nineteen batteries not being enough without
them. There are very few such guns in this
country perhaps none.
The steam frigatc Niagara is armed with
sixty Dahlgren guns, weighing Qearly five
tons each. Six of them carry l0-inoh ball
or shell, the remainder 9-inch, and viii carry
them from two to three miles. This gun was
contrived by Capt. Dahlgren of our navy,
after multitude of trials to determine the
best form to avoid bursting. As all guns
burst at or near the breech. this is made of
extraordinary thickness at that part, and for
some three feet OF its length, when II tapers
down sharply to the muzzle. One of these
guns has been made which weighs 10000
pounds, and will throw ll-inch shell four
miles.
An embrazure is the small opening in the
wall of 4 fort through which the guns project
the same as the porl-holc of a ship. Loop
holes are small openings through which mus
kerry is fired.
\ casemate is the stone roof under which
stands the gun, the roof being proof against
shot and shell. The gun being SO protected
IS called a casemate gun. But harhette guns
are those which are placed on the top OF L
fort without any roof or other protection.
The highest engineering talent, both in
Europe and in this country, has been devoted
to the construction of improved ordnance.-
Science aud mechanical Ingenuity, combined
with millions of money. nave been devoted 10
the business of discovering and rcmeGyiug
the defects of these death-dealing engines, as
well as OF inyenting others more destructive.
The French have rendered the riff, ten times
as deadly as formerly. while the English. IL
the Armstrong gun, seem to have rendered
the cannon IS true a mark nan Is the Iiic
| p to tins time, experience has demon n>trateu
that there are iusuperab,, obstacle, - ,h,.
formation of cast IRON guns OF more than 10
inch c;,iiber. Bryond that So many defects
are liable to occur in H.. CASTING i !. ro,
considered safe to GO. though with mortarS
the caiibcr las been extended TO thirteen
inches, As All a,tem,ts ,o r,alc c,,,;,cs
larger than this nav, s,jeJ ,.teo..on J.,
been turned 70 wr.Ycb, IRON. w..b H.. b..,.
Of increasing n, ra-b,r Vet the ~. -.
wrought iron has been proved ,o he limos.
as dangerous as that of cast iron. 1t ! Eah-.
to many destructive casualties. even after rcr-
ttt Welding has been secured. IT,. .ar.e
wrought IRON gun which burst o.. board the
Princeton in 1913. WIS proved to have par.r:
with onc-thrL of the original strength &c IT,.
iron by the intense heat used !. tn.-.u. T..
Wrought iron guns Of large caiibcr nl.>. 'r
built OF Separote pieces, and Only q >ma..
amount ci heat ana welding force employed.
battalion Is body smaller than Il reg
meh' TWO or tour compan.rS-,.d :
commanded by mayor. \ regime, IS com
posed oi t'5ht or ten companies, ard Is com
maN"'d by Il colonel, as" a lieutenant co.ouo
al" q mayor \ brigade = composed g.: w
or more regiments and '> commanded by
u S""ieI genera. y G'V.Si"n IS oompoSet
o' Two or more ofSa@r>. ard IS commanded