The New York herald., 1863-12-10

To tho above should be added the mortar scbooners
carrying isnch nortars and broatsde batteries Of 81
Pouh"ets or > nch guns.
rIx pouspREs
The only establishments 10 the country which ~ere pro-
pared or tho work founding heavy cannon when the
rebellion took place the South stcn Fort itt ami
the West Point oundrcs the rredogar Works at Rich
mond virginia, having passed. into the hands OF the
rebels No government establishment OF the kind exist
ed and consequently the sole reliance OF both army and
navy at the commencement OF our difficulties was upon
these three ioundrca.
Although such operations always attended with
great risk TO hOso who unaccustomed 10 the casting
OF heavy guns, twas not long before several other 81
thshmons were ready 10 corporate, and the ~Ork OF
producing the guns o various cibres required was COM
menced. and has successfully prosecuted. In
addition the above named foundries tho bureau has
now hs sources OF supply the est bshment nt Provi
dence. H. L. known as the Builders Iron Foundry, the
ioundrios OF Messrs. Iinkey, Williams 4. Co, OF Boston
ana the Portland Company OF Portland, Me aud at Read
m Pennsyyina. the Scott Foundry OF Aessrs scyfert
from all these establishmsuts except the West Point
foundry tho navy IS turpished with TX inch Xnch, and
tured
From the Fort Pitt foundry in addition to tho above
classes O guns. 1t obtains the heavy Winch aGd from
the West Point foundry receives tho PARROT rifles OF
all cabrca which now constitute part OF the battery OF
nearly every essel anoat and the great Effectiveness OF
which has been strikugly manifested during tho re
cent battles at Charleston.
In procuring cannon for the navy tho same conditions
have been exacted from all these foundries regards
the Character metal and every other necessary
% constitute good and reliable guns No gun has been
accepted a. stand ard which has not been su bject.d to
the ordeh OF th usaud rounds of charges
With ths standard thus ostabished all tho of
tract mas. coincide in their composite elements.
The on exception TO this rule has been In the case OF
tho XIV uch guns cast upon tho plan OF MAJOR sodman OF
too United staos Army. Time did not permit Of this
proof being applied.
All doubt Is removed q the ability Of the Fort Pitt
foundry to produce guns OF this geiI szs which can
safely DO rolled upon and tho powor thereby added 10
the re OF Monitors has been most iuy oScmpihed
ia the capture of tho Atlanta.
The introduction ot lew rhed guns OF heavy c,ibre
into the batteries of ships had already taken place ia
foregn prior to the date OF our present rebellion
and service experiments were besng conducted
at tho Washington Navy Yard under tho direction o Rear
Admiral Dahlsreu tor the purpose OF dev,sing system
rLed ordnance Nothing decisive however, has been
Accumulated except with tho red howitzer and tho
experiments we're rudey interrupted IN the spring OF
1881.
Al the same time Mr.. PARROT engaged In perfect
log his present system and the results obtained by him
we're so satisfactory that in the summer Of 1882 tho
bureau conjunction with the army ordnance directed
hundred pounder to be subeced to series OF 900
The gun stood the test without bursting and ts accu
racy ana range considered sufficiently good 10
ran, tho adoption Of those re guns permanent part
naval armament Since then the demand Tor tho
several cbres has been unccasn and as before stated
they be found board nearly every vessel in
SERVICE and will continue 70 DO supplied until some bet
tor system l. established.
Finally from personal inspection and witnessing the
firing OF hundred rounds from these guns at the
wost Point foundry recently tho bureau 10 satisfied that
whenever attention paid TO details, and even moderate
skin In the OF loading and nrng Is attained they
viii prove the II servceabc i1ed guns that have
been introduced into any service.
N
Co. g. arc uudcr tho are of Commodore Hunt At Fort
PITT foundry Captain Berricn s1pe n'cnds Captain John
! bauncey has oen stationed at the SCOTT Noundry
Reading aud Commodore Hitchcock ID duty al the
West Point foundry
The proiec,cs row commonly used 10 the navy may DO
divided nto classes tie smooth AMI tho fihcd and
arc used almost oxclusivoy IN their respective guns
For the smooth bOres have the shot. she'll shrapne
grape and and the sane tor tho ries,
tho grape and canister which are not geDey provided
lbs iorwof se sprerca tbs ntie' o. naatad aud Of az
A.- .t.Sae tn
Parrott iIotc lax uss, scbepsi and othern.
hardly possible 10 state tn sxa1tacss tbo napbsr
OF each pro ostca hand aud aba March
1851 bat the fDlospy 'aboiv st,,emcnt may ~ Of
showing The vast amouai Of kssds which has
been De ARDS OF pgnhNs,i rom prtyAto est b
tzbltshtnsuts Tor - ~ the navy since that
Cut Of M Vary fards.