Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-06-27
sAwYRRs PRoJECTILE.

This proiectile, invented by the Messrs. Saw
. yer of this town, we are glad to learn is at
tracing no little attention about Fortress Mon
roe, where there are three of the rihed cannon
in service. One Of them has been mounted at
the Rip Raps, distant some Ia miles from the
rebel battery at Sewall's Point. BY dispatches
from Baltimore we learn that few shots have
been fred at the battery, with complete success,
the shells having been seen to strike beyond
the battery, showing clearly that the gun can be
used effectively at even greater distance. One
shot burst over the battery, causing the rebels |
to scatter in all directions, creating no little |
amazement, at the appearance OF the unwelcome
messenger. One shot was also fred at house
near the battery, from which secession flag
was flying when caused fluster among the
inmates, who Immediately displayed a white
flag. This projectile possesses immense de-
structive power, as, from the shape of the SHE'LL
it is capable of holding more powder than even
the largest sized coumbiad, and its range is far
more accurate, and the gun more readily hand
led. But it is the shell that posses the greatest
novelty, as nothing new is claimed for the gun,
over an ordinary rifled cannon, other than that
the superior skill of tbs inventors has been
brought into requisiton, and the growing of
their rihed cannon is done after their own ideas,
in such manner as to obtain the spiral motion
of the projectle, with the least possible abrasion
to the gun. In this they have succeeded adj
mirably. This has always been the worst diff
Guilty which inventor s3'afe had to contend
against in the manu- (1@.pf riAed cannon.
But this is obviated 81 1Iessrs. Sawyer in
the peculiar corr 81 6|' * ifshell, by COW
i i:'eE j "a .: !; ' & &, {:
gun, therej1 nj VI - ~ friction to break
$ y g.: s; 91's ;sd :; sas '1:
to II hv tbn ~;
q All - Ilt{ fIcature, and we may say the
tunoss smf<ptsIt ohe, which gives this shell its
t3h<>fe<I.f tftr all others, is the ingenious, yet
Z Si1II & 1struction of the butt of the shell.
III ~ zIsssoft metal is much thicker than on the
fsfixk<Whch, when it receives the force OF pow
def, sfattens and fills the space-if there is any
te4zbetween the shell and the groves, and pre-
Vents the possibility OF windage In fact it is
really the Minnie ball principle, obtained in
much more simple and safe manner, making
the shell portable without endangerng its edg-
es, which renders the minnie useless. BY this
principle the whole force of the powder strikes
the shell and gives it an immense velocity and
greater range than has ever been reached by
any cannon in the world. In one of the ex-
perments with this gun, at an elevation of 80
deg, range was attained of S055 yards lover
four miles and one-haf, the cartridge used con-
tanning but one-half the ordinary service
charge) or one-eight of the weight of the pro-
iectile. The greatest range heretofore reported
in the ordnance reports is three miles and one
third at a greater elevation. Thus this gun
combines the rifle qualities and effectiveness of
the shell, possessing a range beyond any other
with the commendable and very essential quail
ties of being more portable, according to the
quantity of powder which the shell contains,
than that of the columbiads in fact, the 46
pound shell of Sawyer pattern, contains more
powder than the largest columbiad and Of
course possesses more destructive material.
The shell explodes by screw cap containing
Illuminating. powder, at the apex, which invari-
ably strikes the object. Though it is adapted
to the time fuse of the ordinary shell, some of
which have been sent to Fortress Monroe.
Gen. Butler, after the trial at the Rip Raps
with this cannon, Immediately telegraphed to
Syvanus Sawyer, Of this town, to send to For
tress Monroe some mechanics Immediately, for
the purpose of riiing some guns now there.
We understand that he will prepare and for
ward machine for that purpose, and send
some mechanics who understand the business
thoroughly. We are glad to see that the eff
forts of these gentlemen to get their guns be-
fore the public, are likely to succeed. They
have always been ready to rest the claims of
their gun upon its own merits, and though the
reports of several committees appointed by the
War Department to experiment with it have
been favorable, that has generally been all the
notice which has been taken of it. Heretofore
it was enough for the authorities to know that
the inventors were Massachusetts men, with
Union principles But matters have wonder
fully changed lately, and Massachusetts is now
receiving her just merit 1t is more than prob
able that the rebels will be taught to respect
here more than formerly. A few messengers
from these bulldogs will be likely to bring
them to reason--or destroy it, WEIGH is the same
thing. We hope that government will order a
sufficient supply of these guns for the especial
benefit of southern traitors fHchJUgh Sen
tnel.