Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-03-20
An Internal Machine Discovered at Column

An Internal Machine Discovered at Column
bus.
The rebels are certainly ingenious. They
devise queer things in a queer way, and when
they run away leave mines and dangerous pit
falls to catch our troops. Luckily, however,
these conrivances are discovered in time to
prevent serious mischief. The torpedoes are
pulled up, and the mines saved from explosion.
The last discovery was made at Columbus, KY
when our troops took possession of the place,
and it is thus described by a correspondent of
the Chicago Times:
After two days exploration for Internal ma
chimes, and to discover where the bluff had been
mined, as was reported to have been done, Capt.
w. A. Schmitt and company, of the 9th reg-
ment, discovered ridges OF new earth, similar to
ridges which are formed by covering up gas or
water pipes in q city, and traced them to
cavern. Ehecting an entrance, he found a
strong, rude, wooden frame, covered BY earth
to attract no attention. Inside this, with the
assistance Of light, he found implements sim
liar to those used in a telegraph office, with
wires running in dozen different directions.
Following the raised rows of earth he soon
came to spot where something had evidently
been buried. Digging down some five feet, he
came to a large iron cask, about three feet high,
and a foot and half through, in shape as near
as can be described to a well-formed pear, with
an iron cap fastened by eight screws.
Taking off the cap be found grape, canister
and four eight. pound shell, surrounded by
about two bushels of course powder. On the
bottom of the cask there was wooden box
containing several batteries, with hollow wires
attached to two larger wires, covered with q
substance imperyiOus to water, connecting with
the cavern before spoken of. A dozen of these
iron pots or casks were thus united with this
cavern. Halt dozen of these caverns have
been found, and probably seventy five or a
hundred OF these internal machines are thus
buried in the earth, some distance from the en-
emys works and the time to be exploded
would be when our infantry had driven them
inside heir works, n sentinel would give the
operator inside the cavern the signal, and he
would send the electric spark through all the
wires and decamp. The result may be imagin.
ed, Whole regiments could thus be blown up
and sent to eternity, without even chance oil
escape. The discoveries as far as made are all
on the north and northeast portions of their
works. Probably other parts of the works are
similarly mined. Fortunately, their indish de
signs were discovered in time, and no damage
has been dime by soldiers, who are constantly
cn the lookout for discoveries, and might by
accident have sent off the train"
The MysrIc IRoN-CLAD GUNBoAT.--The
work on the new iron-clad steam gunboat Mys.
tic is rapidly progressing at Greenpoint, n. Y.
and the boat will be ready for service in q
short time. The Mystic differs from the Mon.
itor very materially Instead of being float
ing battery it is simply screw steamer GOV
cred with plates. 1t is 200 feet in length ant
about SO feet deep, and modelled with a view
to speed. The engines are Ericsson's patent
and by means of a complicated system of lev
ers work below the water line. In addition t.
the screw the vessel will be ship-rigged. Tit
deck is covered with wrought. iron plates two
inches thick. The sides are covered with ror
plates inches wide and l-2 inches thick
overlapping each other so as to cover the Dol
heads, and extend to four feet below the waite
line. Below the sills Of the portfolios is
second iron casing an inch in thickness, includ
ing the first, making a total of IA inches
Above the sills the sides slope inwards, SO tina
shot striking at an angle will glance of
The bow and stern are to he cased in heav
iron. All of the bolts pass through TIE armo
and are fastened by means of nuts inside
Inc boat will carry six guns Of heavy calibre
and the portfolios will be covered 10y drops ex
cept when the guns are run out for use. Tn
| powder magazine is sheated with lead, an
furnished with light by means Of a lantern lt
down on the outside, the light showing throug
q bulls eve. There is also continuance 70
flooding ii, in case the vessel should take fir,
The magazine, machinery, &C., are all below III
water line.