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

tive than the Parrot gnns and prolectes; OUT, 1ke
,bese were constantly failing me IN action, wpeu
most urgently needed, from ofenAins "nu "''""e'
mept of carriages, NC - IT,. rLu.or,.
have had twelve Wizard guns Capt, Johnsons
I'D he Recks Batteresj which never failed me e1-
cent from entire exhaustion OF ammunition. MONO Oh
the axes or other parts of their carriages ever broke
down. and their mobility accuracy, and range, TO-
gstber with the remarkable facility for adjustment
and repair on the field the subject Of general
remark among officers and men. In my judgment
the Wizard guns and equipments are superior to any
6eld-srtillery have over seen IN service.
i: slGEL. Majir.GensrAi U. g. V.
Letter from Capt. johnson. e,
FAIRFAX, Va, Dec. 8, 1862.
N. W1ARp-Dear SIR: You asked ne TO give
YOU nv experience and opinion Of your guns.
have used four different kinds OF guns in the lat
eig cen months, TO wit: A battery OF 6pounder
smo ,-bore bronze guns; one battery OF 31nch
regu 'on wrought.iron rifle guns; one OF Napoieon's
l2-po 'ers, and one battery of wizards, consisting
of fom vounder and two l2pounder g1us. have
fired III. Ward battery nearly or perhaps quite,
900 tim, At the battle of Cross Keys hred
not less Ii q 600 rounds. One OF the axles was
off and bruised the iron axle but dd not break Ii.
This gun has since been fired about POO 'nes,
and is still to be seen in Fort Brown, ready 10
fire az many more. I moved the Wizard battery
from Western Virginia in the campaign with Ten.
Mllroy, and also through the enIire campaign WIN
Gen. Fremont also, under Gen. Sigel, crossing the
mountains from Laurel Hill TO Bull Run, travelling
about COO miles, and have not in all that time had
An axle break nor wheel give way either IN march
ing or in firing, which was often very rapid.
find the following advantages IN the use OF your
guns over others: let, The recoil is less than that
of any other gun / know Of, being on an average
but about twenty inches %, The guns can be fired
with greater accuracy. This has been proved III
two successive trials by target practice, fret under
the direct supervision and in the presence OF Gen.
.nk, d,Qa nd .t m
on trial-,hs Wizard proved the most accurate; Sec
ond under the charge of Col. Psen Chief Of Artil.
lery at Middletown, with nine different kinds-thc
Wizard proved its superiority at the distance Of 900
and 200 yards respectively. a more certain
and reliable aim can be taken with your sights than
with any other that l know Of. The range is equal
to that of any gun have ever used. In tact, most
Of the artillery officers with whom am acquainted
prefer a battery Of Wizard guns TO any other, and
am sure no arGienst will be satisfied with other
guns aud carriages after nsing yours. My men are
much dissatisfied with the 3-ipch regulation guns
which they now have, and are anxious 10 yet back
the old battery. With the Wizard battery have no
fears of an axle breaking from the recoi respect.
fully refer you 10 the following officers, who have
witnessed our firing with the Wizard guns on the
batte-field: Gen. k. II. Milroy, Major.Gen. j. Z.
Fremont, Msior-Gen. Sigel, aud Col Pilsen, Chief
of Artillery under Gen. Fremont. Gen. Milroy was
my immediate commander in the following engage
ments in all OF which had Wizard guns, VIA At
Mcdowell, Cross Keys, Freeman's Ford, White Sui
phur and Bull Run. Any further information that
! can give you on this subject will be cheerfully
given, and should be glad TO eco your guns more
extensively u,ed. Yours, A. {. JoBssos,
Captain 18th Ohio Battery, sisefs Corps
The frst gun of my fabrication elected the follow.
ipg repor. from officers appointed by Mi Gen d. f.
Sickles of the Excelsior Brigade, after an inspec-
ton which was made July 4, 1861, in the vicinity OF
Camp Scott, Staten Island:
- There are several important improve
ments in the construction Of the guns and carriage
which make them, i'll mobility and efficiency, supe
rior in many essential particulars to any guns we
have seen in service.
In the distribution of materials the
adaptation Of parts, the syle Of inish, aud work
msnship of his gun, Mr.. Wizard has displayed mas
tcrly ability. Respectfully submitted,
GEO Il. HALL
Colonel Commanding I'd Regiment Excslsior Brigade
CHAs. X. GRAHAM
Colonel commanding 5th Regiment "a eeI'iOr Brigade
- JOHN ", PkutH.
- Acting Captain OF Ordnance