The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-10-22
AMERICAN GUNS.

of cast iron smooth bores for
round shot and shell; and riff, d "built.
up guns for elongated shot and shell
The smooth. bore cast.iron guns vary in
size from IL Founders up to 425 pound.
ers--,he Is inch guns, and the "built.
up" rif1ed ordnance, range from 10 poun-
ders to 800 Founders. The Is inch guns
are the largest modern ordinance in the
world. The first made Of this caliber
was the Rodman gun, DOW mounted at
Fortress Monroe. 1t was cast at the Ft
Pitt Works about four years ago, aud
weighs 40, 100 pounds. 1t has been
used only experimen'ally with shells and
moderate charges of powder. Its range
however. has been ascertaincd, and is
stated by Captain Benton to be 1878
yards, with a 320 pound shell, charge
of 35 pounds grain powder and elevation
of 60 With charge of 10 pounds of
powder, elevation 2So So, the range is
5 5,435 yards Great results wela expect.
ed from guns If such caibcr, and it was
to construct several of 20 inches
bore; but before such suggestions we're
acted upon it was wisely resolved to
complete several Is inch guns for the
navy, and use them IN ~" turrets of the
monitors. After having been tried at
Charleston, it is now publicly reported
that they have not fulfilled the expecta-
tions entertained respecting their de
structive powers, that they have been
condemned, and arc to be replaced with
Is inch guns
The largest modern cannon ia Europe
is the "HorsfaI gum" composed Of
single forging of wrought iron, at the
Mersey Steel Works, Liverpool. 1t is
about lG feet in le; 9Th, l3 inches bore,
weighs % tuns, and has been fired with
charges Of powder varying from 40 to 50
pounds, behind solid round shot Of 2S3
pounds At an elevation of 12o its
range was 1888 yards, and at 500 yards
distance, its shot smashed through the
Warrior target, made Of Al inch iron
plates, backed with Is inches of teak
and an iron skiu-plate of ! inch. 1t has
not, however, been adopted for the Brit.
ish navy. and its IL inch companion in
the Brooklyn navy yard meets with the
same neglect.
The other class, called "Parrott guns"
have come into use nee our unhappy
war commenced. They are rlhed, and,
10 construction, each consists of cast
iron tubular body, a wrought iron band
shrunk for the reinforce, and a solid
breech screw plug secured in the rear
They are manufactured according to two
patents granted to Captain r parrott,
Oct 5, 1861, and May 6, 1862. The
cast-iron body is bored through the rear,
aod the band is shrunk for the reinforce,
while the body is being rotated and cool
ed in the interior with astream of water.
This mode of shrinking the coiled hoop
on the tube produces most perfectly
banded gun. Such ordnance has acquir-
ed high reputation at Charleston aud
other places, for strength, accuracy and
range. A 10 FOUNDER of 2 8 inches bore
has range of 600 yards, at an elevation
of 10; and, at an elevation of 200, range
of 5000 yards. A 100 pounder of
inches bore, has range Of ! ,45O yards
at an elevation of 80, and range of
8, ,463 yards at an elevation of $50; the
charge being Is pounds Of powder, with
an so pound shell. The 200 FOUNDER is
an s inch bore; the 800 FOUNDER a 10
inch bore, and their respective ranges
exceed miles. At Charleston, the 800
FOUNDER was burst by a shell exploding
before it reached the muzzle-no fault of
the gun.
1t is known that American smooth.
bore cast.iron guns surpass those made
10 Europe for strength but it has been
supposed that the Armstrong and the
VIII, "v,,n rncu guns -Hce''eu tnose Vi
all other nations. Those who have de
voted attention to such subjects entertain
a different opinion After expendiug
sl2, 100000 on Armstrong guns, we
learn that they have lost their high rep
utstion; and Sir William Armstrong has
cease to be the Government gun maker.
The Whitworth gun, which has been so
much lsuded, obtained its fame from the
character of its rifling, and not on &C
count of its superior construction ; and
no better evidence could be furnished
respecting the superiority of American
guns, than to state that Mr. Whitworth
has lately taken out paten. IN England
for making guns upon the Parrott prin-
ciple, except in using forged soft steel
barrel for cast iron one He has the
body made Of tube, over which ia
wrought iron shrunk band, for the rein
force, and the brecch is closed with a
solid screw plug. Upon this principle
Mr.. Whitworth will now be able to man
ufacture much stronger guns than he has
hitherto done.
Banded or "built up guns are old T.;
but to Professor Daniel Tredwell, Of
Cambridge, Mass, belongs the credit Of
revivine aud improving them In 1910,
he constructed three 4 Founders, and in
1874 four % Founders. They withstood
the Governments tests, and were intend