Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-07-25
The PRUssIAN NEEDLE GUN.-Spesking OF

The PRUssIAN NEEDLE GUN.-Speaking Of
the battles in Bohemia at the close of the last
month, the London Times says:
"In these sanguinary conflicts, the Austrian
troops fought obstina ely and we'll. but they
we're fairly beaten, and they we're beaten, &C
cording to all the accounts that have reached
us, by the more rapid fire Of the Prussian in
fantry. From first to last it is the Needle gun
that has apparently carried the day, aud the
Needle gun is simply Breech- loading rifle of
very Indifferent quality. In principls, as well
as In construction, it is not to be compared
with several breech-loading rifles manufactured
by English makers; but, imperfect q. 1t is, it
has proved quite good enough to secure victory
for the Pru.sans in almost every encounter. !"
A foreign letter, speaking of matters con-
nected with the war, says:
"These Prussian guns are well-known in
America that is, weil-known as anything
can be which is kept SO profound secret. The
explosive material which is used in manufactur-
ing the cartridge is q compound of ingredients
known only to one man-the inventor and 90
determined is the government that the secret
shall not escape, that that man is guarded night
and day by a squad of twelve soldiers every
letter which he writes is inspected, and he is
not allowed TO communicate orally with any
person except in the presence of his guard.
The same mas applied his invention TO
different purpose than that of a cartridge, in-
tammabe at the touch of needle. He makes
q kind of shell, not much larger than bullet,
which expiodes after il enters the body of
man. tearing the limbs to pieces with resistless
fnrce. These two secrets are supposed TO make
the Prusslan army lnvIncible.'
The following is far description ef this IA
weapon
"The cartridge used in the needle gun is
made OF stiff card board, the ball, powder and
explosive composition being contained in one
aud the same cylinder. Its great peculiarity is
that the sietonating powder is placed immedi-
atey in rear OF base of the ball, aud between it
and the powder The advantage of this is that,
shen tie powder is ignited, that portion next
the bail, in which combustion is first perfected,
exerts its full force upon the proIectile, the
power in rear also exsrtng its Influence, as it
becomes almost instantaneously ignited. Un-
der the present system in which that part of
me powder next to the breach of the gun 10
first ignitsd, portion OF the powder ls fire.
quentiy expelled from the gun with the bali in
condition OF on partial combustion, the ex-
plosive force OF the powder Is first consumed
being adequate to expel the ball and the pow
der in It's front before tie whole charge has time
TO become entirely ignited. Thus in the
Needle gun all the powder is cons umed, and
applied to the best effect, and so as to obtain
its fullest force at the same instant and in the
same direction. The Nee lie gun is a breach
loader; and when the trigger is pulled, a stout
needle or wire is thrust through the base of
the cartridge parallel with its axis, into the
detonating charge, causing it's explosion and the
ignition of the cartridge. Ia accuracy the
Needle gun cannot be surpassed, and its effec-
tive range is said TO be about fifteen hundned
yards