The Camden daily journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-10-31
Relative DeS,ruc1ivca,ess of Shot and
She'll


Shell.
NJ. Dufour, surgeon of the French navy,
has published an interesting account Of the
wounded scamcn who were brought to the Ia
val hospital at Cherbourg, after the engagement
between the Alabama and the Kearsagc. One
ol the fist remarks suggested by reading NJ
Dufour's statement is that the greater number
of wounds were caused, not by the cannon shot
or shell, but by splinters from the ship.
1t has been observed by naval surgeons that
since the use of shells in nava. engagement the
destruction of human life has been much great
er than when round shot alone was used. 1t
has been learned from the same engagement
that it is an error to suppose that the plating of
wooden ships protects the crew from splnlcrs
scattered about.
The increasing calibre Of the guns used in
modern warfare required greater numbcr of
men to serve them, aud it follows that one shot
may cause more destruction by striking a com
pact group of men. This was the case on
hoard the Alabama. A shell fired from the
Kcarsagc falling among 10 men 'who were
serving. one Of the Alahama's guns, killed or
wounded fifteen.
The Alabama fired altogether 21o shots, Of
which the greater number were fired from
howitzcrs. There were but lG3 shots fired bv
the kcarsage Nobody appears to have been
killed by the round shot all The injury WAS i'll
fictcd directly by the shells.
The captain OF the kcarsage very soon ceased
firing from his four 32-pounders which pro
duccd little effect, and used his two howi'zors
aud nhed o0-poundrr placed forward The
victory was gained by these three pieces alone
PRospEcT OF GENERAL WAR IN EuRopE
Iho Ror1in ~, ~
aid, under date Of Oct. 5, comments thus on
the prospect Of IL general war in Europe:
Altogether the situation is extremely curl
ons; Russia is on the best possible terms with
Prussia, and at the same time marrcs her
Grand Duke to the daughter Of the King of
Denmark, whom Prussia has already stripped
of two ffths of his dominions, and threatens to
deprive him of the balance; England, in all
other respects the antipodcs of Russia, cooper.
atcs zealousy with tie Car in patronizng
Denmark, and would gladly bring on a coalition
against Prussia, whose Crown Prince is the
husband of her Princess Royal. Austria seeks
the alliance Of England to protect her from the
enmty Of France and Italy, and England is en-
deavoring to persuade Austria to join france
and Italy against Russia and Prussia. What
will be the end of this imbrogo it is mpossi-
eral war it will only be because the finances OF
at least four of the Powers conccrned-Aus-
tria Russia, France and lta y-arc in SO di-
lapidated condition that they would not be
able to carry on war for three me nths without
declaring themselves insovcrt.
In Boston, there are now 100 divorce suits
upon the calendar Of the courts. Also, large
number of nctitiOns for leave to marry araf
by divorced persons.
The Richmond Enquinr strongly y urges the
appointment of Gen. j. E. Johnston to the com
mand of the Shenandoah Valley Department
A change is certainly desirable.
Gcu. George b. Mcclellan spent the day al
James Gordon Benefits house on the Goth
The Herald, Of the 22d, advises a union of al
parties on "Lttle Mac"
Enter into details, as Cooper did when he
concluded to reinforce the army.