The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-11-18
THE GATE CITY.
EOKU K:
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER Is.
CEN. Roberts, New Du1lets and Dul.
smooth Bored Gums.

Cen. II oberss, New Ou1lese and Dun.
let and 0uck 0Aoe Oa4eE1ago Fer |
smooth Bored Gums.
This new projectile, Invented and per-
fected by Gen. Roberts, has been tested
in series of experiments BY order Of the
Ordnance Department, under the direction
Of Major Kinsbury, of the Ordnance
Corps, on Rock Island. Several Of the
experiments have been witnessed BY ~,
and the last trial having been msde yes
terday, we are grati6ed to be enabled to
announce the complete success of this
most important invention that must ma
terially change the prevailing system in
our armies Of using. almost exclusively,
the Minnie ball for rife ordnance.
This invention consists in such con.
struction Of bullet to be used in smooth
bored guns of all calibre, as to close all
windage and to propel the bullet point for
ward without tumbling. and to give flight
to it of equal range with the fight of the
Minnie ball from rifled arms. 1t is used
with or without buckshot in an smooth
bored arms, and is equal IN all respects to
the Minnie ball when used in ri6ed guns.
Thus it answers all the purposes of the
conical projecties and rifled muskets
and, more than this, is equally destructive
when single in smooth bores. and with
buckshot must become the most destruc-
tive projectile yet perfected in all the i'm
provements in the science of projectiles
made during the past ten years. When
buckshot are used with Gen. Roberts
projectiles, those small but efficient aids
in destructiveness are thrown two, three,
and four hundred yards effectively, while
the ball fred with these goes on it fatal
errand from SCOT 1000 yards.
The precision offire seems to equal that
of the minnie ball from rifles. The fact
that an elongated EQUIPPED cylinder con-
vex bullet has been constructed that
closes all windage and flies point foremost
its entire range, without the rotary mo-
ton that bears up the minnie ball, is q
new and startling announcement; but
the accomplishment is fact which can
be no longer gainssyed. The report OF
Major Kingsbury will, doubtless, an
noupce this to the world officially, and We
have seen with our own eyes what we
should have been slow to believe without
that witness.
We refrain from giving a particular
description Of this bullet, and the proper
tons that have established its centre oil
gravity where the flight point forward is
as fixed as the laws of gravitation, In the
belief that these peculiarities should be
kept secret, SO far as it is possible that
such an invention can be. so as to secure
the invention as long as possible for the
sole use of our own Government.
The study of this important subject
now happily consumated in such crafty
ing results, has been steadily pursued By
General Roberts for several years past,
and since he came to this command bis
leisure time has been mostly spent in our
machine shops, where after variety of
changes in his moulds and models, he has
struck The exact proportion that gives his
new projectile the certainty Of flight point
forward, it's great range, its accuracy and
destructiveness.
We may add that Gen. R. is now per-
fectiug his patented "breech loader" for
rihed arms, heretofore alluded to in the
Gazette, SO as to secure the rapid loading
and firing OF his ball and buckshot cart
ridge from breech loading smooth bored
musket. A few hundred thousand of
such arms in the hands of our troops now
in the field would add one hundred per
cent, to their efficiency and strength
With this arm for the defense of fortifica-
tons, with long range for the bullet and
the destructiveness of the buckshot at
short distances, secured by General Rob.
erts' field prcjectile, field works and forts
would be made impregnable to assault, as
troops have not yet been known in history
who can pass through the hail of bullet
and buckshot at from four to six hundred
yards.
We hope soon to be able to chronicle
the application of these valuable inventions
BY every portion Of our armies in the
field Davenport Gazette.