The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-09-23
RoN-cLADs, FORTS AND BIG GUNS


intended for the Coniederates.
IRON CLADS, FORTS AND BIG GUNS.
British Lessons and Inferences from the
- Siege or Charleston.
N From the London Times Sept. OIL
ApafV6m the interest naturally excited by sirugglc
30 CALAMITY sustained. we find in the incidents OF the
siege Of Charleston many lessons Of the utmost Importance
Ameicans ave practising Our specniations and expori
nents proceed side by side with the actual work OF war
across The Atlantic and u behooves to lose oppor
tunty OF testing our conclusions by the results OF the
perence there acquired Unfortunately this IL not 8,
easy a task as might be supposed The Americans,
from the very beginning OF the war have nd
hered 10 one particular system with little devia
ton, and this system happens to have no para
therefore. for want OF homogeneous quantities. Tho
Americans have not tried our models and have made
no trai 81 theirs Besides this impairment II s almost
absolute accuracy ~ required for calculations Ike
these Before could balance the powers Of attack and
defence as exempfod IN any particular operation,
should demand exact description Of the armamsnt
side and the protecting works the other whereas
is usually uncertain what guns employed against
what defenccs they are directed We learn the results
in general terms, but nothing more.
Just now, however, VIC have received report which,
although leaving much conectured or Inferred does
undoubtedly convey remarkable piece OF intelligence
m @ On sne ausnory o. '1e uenerai 10 com
the famous Fort Sumer-has been practically demolished
by tho irc Of batteries al range OF TWO miles up
deed have been regarded by the combatnnts
both sides. The federal General Gilmore makes
Gates also opinion OF General Feauregard-a most
competent judge-to the eject that the proectiles
used in warfare. But not told what these missiles
Beyond the general compliment their efficiency
s % wa nsn me S
OF some kind and not solid shot, and also that
the bomSa.dmsnt lasted seven days We collect too
with 20Upounder Parrot guns but II 10 certain what
class classes Of ordnance comprised IN that desg
the fort from day 70 day have no authentic
return, and though we know that powerful squadron
wha. extent this cooperation was Carried Above ALL
we have no sufficient account Of the dcfenccs OF Fort
piece Or SreKwo and that Il had BEEN cen recently
strengthened by all the additions and supports which tho
sti, though cotton bllcs and similar coverings werc
doubtless useful they could not turn weak place nto
Gos ,cs saS . as n s
BEFORE Offer any remarks on the operations thus
ported wish TO give account Of Of
the war 70 which attention has not been sufficiently
directed month or two ago new Conredsrate IRON
clad, called the Atlanta. came out from Savannah
Nahant--engnged IN the blockade OF Charleston Tho
Atlanta larger and heavier vessel than either Of
o G each
only ixnch and seven inch guns, mounted two
each oroadsde and two fore and aft white the guns Of
throwing solid shot OF four hundred and forty pounds
weight The Confederate ship commenced the action
confidently with her pivot guns and fred three shots
the Wechawken, but to little purpose The weehawken
then replied with Of her aud the
rst shot We are told "vrualy decided the action Il
tore right through tho Aanas SIDE and knocked down
forty OF her crew. Four other shots followed but az
the 9th discharge the southerner ran up white
Gag aud the battle over. Il had lasted scarcely
fifteen minutes, and was finished before the Nahant
IS rcordeS not only With natural aeou oa sSo
part Of tho federas, but a. convincing prof ne e.
ciencp-pkich has bsen sonephrt ubJorniy ofea>d-of
fbS n1hL 01uW IanV hat fbo e.
striking one but we happen: on this occasion to know
something Of ~ other side The victors specca.
ton OF the and dcfences or the captured sbp
aud turns out that the four inches Of wrought plat
Ing with which she was armed only two layers of
iron bars two inches thick. placed tna other In
short, she second Merrmac, and though credtabe
we say the skill OF the shpwrghts working undes
difficulties. can hardly be regarded as efficient iron,
clad. 1919. - z,
TO return however, 10 the general question: We md two
great principles steadily preserved in American practice
In artillery, the cabre Of the gun and weight OF the
shot are made a. great a. possibe 10 shspoundne
turret pattern prevails over cvery other These prue
pies, too, would appear 70 be IN degree connected
Il we are 10 assumewnai has not yet been proycdtha
ouly urre ships can carryery heavy But ne,ther
principle the other has yet been recognized in
this country We building tnrres shire, il is true
among other models: but We have not given them any
pr se ~" sgn s n
Oar artiierss, indeed haye explicitly condemned the
very doctrine on which the Dahlsren system OF ord.
nance Is based-that of throwing heavy pro.sesiles
with low veocities-and prefer 70 rely on velocity
rather than weight II must be remembered however.
the two systems that The Americans shaping ali their
Efforts according to the exceptional requirements Of
work and harbor service only ns BY meane certain
that any Of the ronclnds engaged the siege Of
Intended only Tor such work As shsy have boon perform
ing. rhsrcds ne additions of xperimens far wore
ss..siss .Neye,,hsess Until our inquiries have been
cans are wrong Ths irsn.csds wsrs once Ssa,sn OF
q ss but .s%. sv: .s oS. sSsp
them oay IN inferior part In TIE performance Before
necessary 70 ascertain with accuracy what msspc were
employed on each occasion either side, and In what
rs: :'sa:r the attack s 2 dssc: nsd i.svss q a.
consdsrabls advantages, but ksvs achieved very re-
moas @ tsr s1 I ssa r;x
bsaasa by guns bus We know tAai sAs fort was only
= s. :: :: . s a
msas asd content ourselves with indicating NE suco
sivs insid.n which this r1 produces foS our Dsruo-
csps:sss:. ., ce,s =, !. Z y: e. sAs nsvsl.iss
tae..so TEE sDrroa OF rHx LONDON TINES.
A NJ revolving shisld wi.nipIs cssss AMUSEMENT
ana ,n warfare, hope may pcs & ccsssac,sd psms.
ture ~ directing attention 70 come o. NE facts whicA
recent sysnis hays slseIisd shall nrs instance sbs
/ have bssors me drawing q these vssssss n.
vessel cut down, Carrying her Kuns IN squArs bon y
The esnsre q The vcsss similar typs 70 several Va
ss,s being constructed Tor COR navy. go III ~
The secosd instance would bring forward o. ths sue
cessfu application o the revolving shield pvinepe shAS
Of The Rolf Krake an iron clad gunbcas desieDsA ana
huis By Meears. Napier q Glasgow eus shs Dsnhn sev
srnsnA Ths vcese which vas confSuotex N ia sjot
spacs u tsn monns whslly plassa with lk nsA lsos
sud cfthe fsowinG dlusastoas IAngh n vs 200 fcse
breath extreme 10 ices; depth moulded fsss inches
tonnAsa 400; drar4ht q water, fes oehss apssd,
l0A horss pows, 2bo. $40 has Two tvrres, eaoh an.
Cd wi&h swo sinty poundsrn ~neh,, and ha< viii -
sseu. As.wssd shs sxpscsascss whsch bid been csrA