The New York herald., 1862-01-05
stevens Marine Battery.

EXPERIMENTS AT HoBOKEN-THE RESULT, ErC., ere
We published yesterday the report the Naval Board
appointed to examine the famous stevens floating bat
terry which gave our readers succinct and interest
Ing Of this grand mystery that has been for
ons hidden with the creates, from the eyes OF the
inquiring public.
We this morning give synopsis Of some expert
mcnts that were naie by NJ. stcyoas Hobokcn yes
tcrday Tho ebicct of these experiments to show
the case and expedition with which large guns could be
managed by steam power and also 10 practically demon
strae the idea OF checking the roccil Of gun by
means Of India rubber springs. There also othor
points TO be Illustrated Of which We shall speak here
AFTER
Two guns were mounted rough looking frames sup
posed TO represent carriages and In front platform
intended TO represent deck Of vessel under this was
situated tho machinery that loaded the gun. small
steam ons inc was erected and through the deck ost be-
meath the muzzlc Of the gun, space through which
Tic machinery operated when loading the gun. The
zc Is depressed Until IL opposite this hole, when
rsmrod worked tho principle Of piston, is thrust
into it and tho gun ready for firing After being again
brought into position, tho charge, ball. &C., & placed In
the gun while the muzzo s under this deck, AM rammcd
home ss stated above.
target, representing section OF tho battery, was
erected In the water at about distance Of one
quarter Of a mile, and at this th, balls were
directed The target was similar 20 that of the
strongest Part Of the battery and for that
by many considered anything but fair test.
The arst shot fred from ten inch columbad,
rying ball weighing 1c0 pounds II struck the target,
making an indeutatlon OF inch aud half In the iron
aud then, glancng oil, dashed ahead II must be UNDER
stool that the target inclined at about angle Of
forty Eve degrees allow ing but little hold for ball The
second and third shots missed the obec, wont far
out the water threatening desructrn 10 the craft
that portion Of the river During the firing several OF
the springs rings OF india rubber became damaged by
rccoi and IL occupied some time to matters right
Tho firing very tedious and severely tried the pa
tiencc OF those who went 10 witness H. Another shot
struck the target and this time an indenaion OF one
| inch and flve-cshlhs made. The Parrot red gun
was next tried but u had less effect than tho round balls
| had. probably account OF Its conicai form But
few shots wore fred owing ~ the length OF time re
quired 10 do After was the party adjourned
the palatal residence Of Mr.. Stevens, where the
miindcr OF the day spent IN rarakng of the hospi
| ,alitics Of tho host, spcechmakng &c Mr.. Stevens
| had out In tho stream boat TO show how the bat
terry could he turned in distance not exceeding hor own
length and also the principle Of lowering and raising her
when in active service. IL did not attract much atten-
ton however, nobody appearing TO regard part OF
the days practice. There wore quite number present
TO witness these trials, among the most prominent of
which we noticed Mayor Opdyke, cx-Govcrnor King,
General Wright, several members Of tho Union Defence
Committee and tho Chamber Of Commerce; Robert J.
Walker Esq, General Bsnham, Major Watts, Colonel
Lcncrts, Captains Meade, Footc, and others OF
| the United States Navy; Commodore Stringham,
Of tho ato Examining Board, and Isaac Newton Engineer
United States Navy. Eleven A. NJ. was tho hour dosig
mated for the trial to bcgn but IL was nearly two r.
before tho first shot fired. The morning chiefly
spent In examining the battery she lay in her suber;
rancan bod There one thing clearly demonstrated
by the hrng and that that the wooden deck under
the gun would not be affected by tho discharge
ilrst supposed.