New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-23
WANT OF UNIFORM SYSTEM OF
CAIHRFRR

thorough supervision of its subordinate bureaus.
No matter how broad and comprehensive the
basis upon which it is constructed-no matter
how earnest. capable and patriotic, the men
who are chosen to direct its policy, nor how
benefcent aud far-seeing the plans suggested
by their wisdom and experience-the harmony
of the system can be destroyed, the best efforts
of the wisest men may be frustrated, and their
plans, which might have insured the prosperity
aud glory of the country, can be utterly de-
feated by series of (seemiDgy) small blunders
and want of integrity on the part of those IN
trusted with the charge Of inferior but lmPor-
tant official departments.
Were we to review the various Bureaus
tbrou gh which the business of the Federal Govern
ment, in all its multudnous details, is transacted,
we could give instance upon instance OF blum
ders and mismanagement which have seriously
prejudiced, if they have not paralyzed, the ac-
ton of our armies in the field, and our navy
in the various sea-coast and river expeditions.
We will, however, reserve our general criti-
cism on the Bureaus, and refer to the single
subject of want Of uniformity in calibers OF
the ordnance and small arms used in our army
and navy. No one unscquainted with the sub
iect can have an adequate idea of the impor-
tance of the consideration; but to those who
are informed it opens up at once the question
of the efficiency or otherwise of the entire
Military and Naval service Of our country.
Between the Army and Navy Ordnance De-
partments there has been for years past con-
slant struggle and perpetual rivalry. 1t is
true that, after all the apparent efforts of the
Chiefs of Ordnance, and notwithstanding the
millions of public money expended on expert.
ments, trials and patents, but little has been
accomplished; since not one Trustworthy gun
has yet been produced, and nothing definite
has been settled except the establishment OF
organized Reorganization resulting in sucn
confusion of calibers that it is not more than
an even chance that the right ammunition will be
furnished TO battery, fort, ship or regiment.
Not only do the calibers differ materially, but
the chambers Of the various guns used in the
Army and Navy differ 30 essentially that no
common cartridge can be found TO serve even
guns of the same csliber. 10 will hardly be
credited that the rifles, muskets, carbines and
pistols used in the Army and Navy are of no
less than one hundred and tn,Rty-siI different
calibers, or that the small arms supplied to
our soldiers now in the field exhibit eItraordi-
nary varieties in this particular. Yet such is
the case; and there 10 ample evidence to prove
how disastrous this confusion of calbers has
proved in several instances, especially ut the
battle of Shiloh, where the wrong ammunition
had been served out TO a regiment, which, not
fitting the guns, for time, paralyzed its
action and put the lives Of thousand men IN
imminent peril.
II would be worse than useless here to dis.
cuss the question to which Of the various
callbers are more desirsbe-those adopted by
the Navy, or those invented or retained 10y the
Army Ordnance Bureau. The one thing in
dispensable is a uniform system of calibers for
all the guns to be used hereafter IN the service
of the country. 1t is at this crisis point Of vital
importance and must not be lodged nor evaded.
Both the Army and the Navy are in great need
of heavy Ordnance; there is no reserve whence
to supply this demand; consequently, new guns
Of all kinds have TO be made.
The untrustworthness of the great guns now in
service has attracted general attention. The
subject has been thoroughly investigated by
acute and competent experts, and original and
valuable suggestions have been made, which
will inevitably revolutionize the present system
of gun-making, and give u.s. in place of the in
sufficient and untrustworthy ordnance now in
use, guns of immense strength aud power which
will prove terror rot to ourselves but to
our enemies. This. then, is tie time TO settle
what Kind Of great guns shall be manufactured,
and also tie question of calibers Upon the
settementiof these two points depends thes fu-
ture efficiency of our ordnance, and to this
end immediate action should be tahen 0y the
Government.
A commission should be at once appointed,
composed OF che most able and intelligent Off
GERS, selected from both services, together with
the most competent civilian experts, whose
duty IT shall be TO settle ana report upon certain
calibers, the most desirable, and the fewest al
lowable in number, which shall aiterward be
confirmed by act of Congress, and thenceiorth
be the recognized standard for all the guns
manufactured for the Government. BY this
means, the most effective uniformity Of cabers
will be secured through the entire service aud
the system so settled-frst by q competent
commission, ard secondly by an net OF Con-
presk--Min be ulacel berond the nOWer Of ord J