New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-26

durance necessary for guns A 6-pdr. smooth-bore
Gun. was originally designed to deliver projecte Of
such size. as would allow proper number to be
carried in one timber ammunon-chest, and such
shells burst into sufficient number Of pieces TO be
very destructive within moderate ranges; but when
rited guns came into service, the smallest projecte
at fret proposed was one weighing IA ID, for the
James csliber Of $50. This caliber was adopted
because United States 6.pdr. smooth-bors damaged
bronze guns could DO reamed out to that uniform
size. and ria ed. The weight Of this carriage aud
gun had been originally arranged for q proJectlle 10
weigh ak pounds. When the heavier pro)ecti'es
came to be fred from them. the recoil WA found 70
he 40 great as no. only to materially increase tho
labor of the cunnes and affect the precision Of aim,
but it had the effect to destroy the carriages hwss
also found that the guns soon became enlarged IN
the bore, which was accounted for by the In
creased strain upon them. 1t was, however,
chiefly due to the longer time the surface OF tho
bore was exposed to the heat Of the powder.
First. tho heat expanded the inner metal, dis.
tending or stretching the outside metal them when tho
gun was cooled, the tuner metal was distended
slightly beyond its elasticity, and it was enlarged
This effect will always be more apparent in bronze
than in wroughtiron steel gun, and it destroysa
bronze rifle gun after few rounds and this effect is
produced much sooner where the twist very quick
as in the Dahlgren Navy bronze rifle howitzers,
which have in five feet, than twice
as much as is proper even in iron guns. After thc
James Gun" the next field rifle gun officially
adopted, was the 3-inch wrought-irou ordnance gun.
In this model, the caliber st too large. ~ but
forty rounds can be carried in one ammunition chest
and the gun 10 much too long for rapidly OF band
ling and accuracy Of aim, and ID too light for the
weight Of projectile, it having only about eighty
pounds Of metal in the gun for one pound Of shot.
The best proportion 10 to have the gun about lou
times as heavy as the powder and shot, and the gun
aud carriage about 300 times that weight The 3-inch
gun was mounted the Same carriage as the old b.
FOUNDER smoohbore gun, and ts recoil was found TO
he so severe that the carriage was very liable to DO
injured, and very often entirely destroyed, especially
when the guns were fred with more than usual
rapdity. The Hon. P. II. Watson, the able and in.
tslysnt Assistant Secretary Of War, once informed
me that he had received a great many reports Of
broken carriages, and saw about thirty broken or
bsnt sxles after the second battle Of Bull Run, all Of
them 3.inch guns or 10-pouuder Parrots. l saw,
aso a, the Washington Arsenal severalaxles injured
bv proving II and 24-ponnder James guns on their
carriages. These guns were after ward and
cred while lying on the ground, when they recoiled
from twentythree to thirty four feet. Whom 1t 10
considered that if the gun and shot Of the same
weight, the gun would DO projected as far a. the
shot, it will be seen how important part recoi'
plays in the delivery of the shot, Ito accuracy and
range. A gun-cariage wheel doss not roll back -
far 40 tho gun rscols; it merely clips part OF the
disance aud. as the wheels the last par. OF the
csrr;sre TO receive motion, tho consequences is many
of the sxles are bent, broken, or twisted out and
away from their fastening under the checks aud
TRAIL where the fastening 10 insufficient, by tho re
sstance which the heavy wheels offer to the recoil.
70 When tho rebellion FIRST inangurated, The
III authorities Of the State Of NewYork caused all the
guncarrages belonging 10 the State to DO examined
"a for the purpose Of putting them in repair. Ttct
carriages had not been In service, but had ssoot
~ unu.ed for years in tho arseaais. ! was Presen
=" when some Of Thorn wore examined, and 1t wa
decided that all would require repairs to the wheels
many Of the spokes would have to be taken ont
wrapped with canvas and redrivsn and that all the
tires would have to be cut, welded and reset II
ID was estimated this would cost $40 FOR each Of the
carriages belonging To the State The wheel have
y designed and adopted for all my field artillery
; carriages, hereinafter shown, resulted from the
> suggestions received at that time.
,, I look upon my system Of field artillery, at thu
time of writing this article, with much satisfaction
q from having 80 thoroughly appreciated what WA
necessary for an efficient system Of field artillery
the time fret designed it, and that it has requires
80 little improvements alteration as my experience
= rs increased.
l have, however, found it necessary to make tn
/. following improvements, which have, at my owl
expense placed upon all the batteries Of my fsbrca
ton, without charge, after they were delivered
n to the Government and paid for, although / had
> in Some cs.es to send workmen long journeys to at
, tach them to guns ia service.
+ These improvements consist Of an improved man
ner of locking.
y Improved sights and means Of adjusting them.
A A number Of additional spare articles for repairs
!, among which are two spare hubs aud plates, an
also, parts Of whees bolts etc., anvil block, a
:, improved grindstons frame, and maui.
= now propose to furnish l2-pounder howitzer il
place Of my original l2-poundcr rife, thus requiring
but one form and size Of carriage for my l2.pounde
smooth bore and 6-pounder rife feldgun; also, Il
fix the implements on the top Of the trail, wher
they are not liable TO DO lost or injured in passn
over bad roads. =
An improved elevating screw adjustment. +
avoid injury to the gun by pounding on the head o
the screw in travelling, and 10 avoid the projection o
the screw below the trail where II was liable b
strike stumps other obstacles, when passing owe
newly cut roads; and relieving much of the difficult