Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-22
American Mecha nics and the War.

American Mechanics and the War.
When, at the outbreak of the great rebellion,
Federal forts, ravy-yards, and arsenals were
seized by the public enemy, with their vast accu-
mutation OF ordnance, IL was predicted by a
writer who well appreciated the inventive genius
Of our people, that this stolen property would be
comparatively useless within year, by reason Of
the improvements in guns which the occasion
would draw out and bring into speedy use. The
Prediction stands to-day prophecy,-fulalled TO
be letter. The fact Is wildly recalled to mind
this morning by the National Irfel!,gsncsr whose
editor truly asserts that brick and stone fortIHca
ions prove as defenseless against modern artil-
lery as wooden" navy 10 admitted TO be
against iron clad "Monitors - Our contemporary
triumphantly supports his proposition, by quoting
the evidence Of all The correspondents Of the lead
Ing press, narrating the bombardment of Fort
Pulaski, who declare, with united voice, that
tbs very strong work was hopelessly brfached
in thirty hours, BY James riftd gus, and pro-
tsctikS.
Having long ago predicted this success for Gen.
James invention, the Star points with no little
pride TO the overwhelming testimony vindicating
our Judgment. II Is rare that any novelty In In
vsntion secures such frank, outspoken and hearty
conmecdation, when In active competition with
rivals Of long standing and backed by devoted
htsnds. But the honey combed and tottering
walls OF Fort Pula HI, tell such tale OF destruc-
tiveness, that every beholder seems 70 have been
compelled to present, most prominently In his
narrative, the fnstrEu;en;dI,ty by which 1t was 60
promptly secured with a safety to the Union
forces, working in open batteries, that seems
almost Incredible. The New York Times cor
respondent, In the course Of graphic descrip-
ton Of the shattered fort says: "a The whole side
of the cssemate was shot away.n The
Parrott guns had been comparatively harmless,
fhs tooyE bstxs dors almost snfireiy BY tks James,
prsj.etils. : This testimony 10 10 VI Of tue
greatest value, and IS unanimous on the part or
the ofacen and men. 1t proves that tks only
really .6sc.irs artillery had against TAG fort
srsrs oEr See Jan.s' gxns-oue "a FOUNDER, two
32-pounders, and two 42-poundess"
Another correspondent, writing from the ruins
of Pulaski TO the New York TIibrns, says :-"T1s
srrs tohish contributed most TO the brsaekisg of
tLs tcoH those which carried tks James FRO.
1set,'e. That wes the testimony Of the CfHcers Of
the fcr and in shs thieksst tbs rriss IL .cas al
trGs; tiss. shot ,oAieh roe found most ABUNDANT"
The correspondent Of the New York Herald
thus tells the same story The James shells,
,cAi6h had icsH bored and honey eombsd the pam
cope OF the fort had prepared Il well for the op-
erat ns Of the solid ten-inch shot; and when the
oolumbisds from Goat Point opened, the pancope
began 10 tumble. && practicable
breach, large enough TO drive a four horse wagon
through, had been formed, and our James shelly
were passing through 10, across the terra plain,
and preaching the magazine itself. THis brorght
tie ytbsi; TO terms. They Internationally sur.
rendered"
Describing with some minuteaess Of detail the
prog ress Of the bombardment, a correspondent OF
the New York Express gives Us practical illust:a-
tons Of the accuracy Of firing by James gun,
when be states that /" Eve or six of the effective
psojectiles' from them sometimes passed into
tAs aperture IN Immediate succession " Refer.
ting 10 the scene inside the fort after Its surren-
der, he says the devastation twas terrific;
soarcely sPot In the work seemed untouched
guns were dIsmounted, embrasures knocked
traver'es broken, stairways crushed, blindages
smashed; balls and shells lay all around, frag-
nents were piled Up 30 high that pas,age-way
could hardly be obtained In many instances
livery proof was afforded that one Of the most
effective bcmbardments Of recent times had been
predscsd. Tie breach was clearly practicable;
indeed, the ditch wss half FLIED with the rub
bish thaS had talleDi the magazine had been
suu-k, AID part Of its casing Of brick work torn
AVA 7As 'tte.s, cgfcers and men, spoke with
proiound resre;t Of what had been done, .bxt
sssmsi 70 srteTta,s peculiar horror Of ns
- pro,ecsIis"
We live onky room TO AID one additional ter
tinony drawn from this lombard ment-th.t Of
Brig General GilmSe-ths engineer ofheer 10
whom YVES committed the honor Of reducing
Pulsski. In his cfccial report he makes special
IN niion IT James, gun, and says: " No ,s:.s,
F'es for b'saeA'ng cas- Be dss~st has tas A.
rovsdsr JONES"
At the great battle Of Fort Donelson a battery
In Gen. MeClernsnd's brigade employed three
James with terrible effect, speedily silenciog
each battery agsinst which IL was directed, even
though CT heavier mettie. SO enthusiastic and
conclusive on this point was the oicial report Of
capt Dresser, who commanded the battery, that
Gov Yates, Of Illinois, made regulation on the
Federal Government for seven batteries of H.
Founders In hs letter to the Secretary OF War
De expressly stated that he made the reoui,it,on
because OF The reports from the battle OF Fort
D5nsson, Slowing the "szpe,torisy of the jaime,
gun aud prcjectile both 40 regards range accuracy
aud execution IA fed service, over thai of all
otaers We consideted this high testimony to
the inventive genius ard mechanical skill of our
coUntrymani but the fruits Of his labor pIucked
al Pulaski are Infinitely richer ard more perfec,
We do not In w whether Gea. Mcclellan has
any Of the Jsmes' guhs In the works before York
town, but II Is well-known fact that, In Deem.
her last, he 6ifscted Colonel Hudson, an eminent
ordnance trrcer on his STAFF, to visit New York
aud rsesally superiniesd some experimental
frng Of the Jamss' prcjeciile. Colonel Hudson
'Clri bis mission, ard reported to his chief tina,
iae gVl aud Projsctile wers a eonpisfs sxcesss-
-h<t IN heir use lie had witnessed mo-s aeesvats
oas s'''S' -hT'nE tAas he sad scu sees bsfsrs
VINO se1o-' say m Ie, that American haven't
I've geaihs htqusi TO any emergency, howeva,
'RcdsH IN sTang OF massive In proportions