The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-20
BREECH-LOADING ARMS.
Report Of the hoard OF Examination

WASHINGTON, DecemDer l0.-The following
report has only now been PROMULGATED
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GBNBBALs
OFFICE, January 80, 1S66.-A Board of Officers
will assemble at Washington, d. c. on the 10Th
day of March, 1866, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, to examine thoroughly the follow.
Ing questions, and make recommendations
there0n:-
l. What form and cslibre Of breechloading
arm should be adopted as model for future
construction of muskets for infantry?
2. What form and cellbre should be adopted
as a model for future construction of carbines
for cavalry?
3. What form of breechloading arm should
be adopted as a model for changes of muskets
already constructed to breech-loading muskete
Each person who submits an arm to the above
Board will be required to state IN writing the
lowest price at which it will be furnished in the
event OF being adopted by the Government.
The Chief OF Ordnance will furnish the Board
all the Information in his power, and will also
provide it with office room, stationery and
place for experimental firing, targets, ammuni
ton, etc.
The report of the Board will be made through
the Chief of Ordnance.
DETAIL FOR TUE BOARD.
Major-Geueral w. s. Hancock, U. s. "; Bre.
vet Major-General r. c. Buchanan Colonel 1st
U. S. Infantry; Brevet Brieadier-General p. V.
HagneT, Lieutenant-Colonel Ordnance Depart
ment, U. S. A.; Brevet Brigadier-General Charles
Colonel j. G. Benton, Major Ordnance Depart
ment, q. S. A.; Brevet Coouel Horace Porter,
Lieutenant Colonel, Aide de Camp; Brevet
hieutenant-Colonel Wesley Owens, Captain 9th
U. s Cavalry.
BY order Of the Secretary of War
f. d. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutaut- General.
The Board met from day to day, and gave the
following report to the Secretary of War;
The experiments OF the Board lead it clearly
to the following conclusions
First. That the 45-lnch Calibre ball has given
the best result as to the accuracy, penetration,
and range.
Second. That all rifle muskets and single
loading carblnes used in the military service
should, if practicable, be fitted for the same
cartridge.
Third. That the charge for muskets should be
from Go to 20 grains OF powder, and from 4S0 to
500 grains of lead.
Fourth. That The Board recommends the plan
of alteration submitted by II. Herban. This
gives the stable breech-pin, secures the piece
against premature discharge, and involves only
slight change of our present pattern of arms
The bore OF our present barrel (as has been
proved by experiments before the Board) can
be reduced to the desired caibre by roaming
out the grooves, and inserting tube.
Fifth. The Board has carefully examined the
various patterns of breech-loading arms pre-
sented TO If, but finds itself unable to recommend
any one OF them for adoption for future con-
struction by the Government. While fully i'm.
pressed with the great mechanical ingenuity
displayed in many Of the plans no one offers
advantages for service superior to the altered
musket recommended and therefore the Board
considers that, ln view OF the large number of
excellent muzze-loadlng muskets now in store,
and the slight changes of machinery necessary
to make new arms on that plan. should more
arms be deemed necessary, there can be no JUS
tihcation for an entire change of model, and the
great expense consequent thereon, until some
further improvement shall oe devised producing
more decided advantages than any Of the arms
yet presented.
Sixth. The Board is not decided in the opinion
whether it would be best to have only magazine
carbtnes in the cavalry service. From past eX-
perience the Board would be unwilling to dis
pense entirely with magazine arms, and as these
arms can be used ordinarily as single-loaders
(retaning a number of charges in thu magazine
tor extraordinary occasions, free from danger of
ignition in the ordinary use Of the gum, the
only objections TO their exclusive use are the
additional expense OF this arm over the simple
single-loader, and the greater Inconvenience of
the use of lever-gun compared with some
patterns of the hinge breech gun which have
been presented to the Board.
In consideration of the above, and also of the
manifest advantages OF having single-loading
carbines Gt needed) and muskets made upon
the same pattern, except in length of barrel
the Board recommends that until a suitable plan
for new muskets can be obtained, offering de-
cided advantages over the proposed plan now
recommended tor altered muskets, no single
loading carbine should be constructed for the
army.
The experience of the late war, as well as all
experiments by this Board prove that the
Spencer magazine carbine is the best service
detected defect in the arrangement for the
extractor, which has been corrected by the
manufacturers upon the suggestion OF the
Board, producing, in the opinion of the manu-.
facturcrs themselves, decided improvement in
the arm, and one that will lessen much the liza
bllity to become disabled in the service. 1t is
believed, however, from models and from eX-
perlmen's Of the Board, that the magazine arm
is capable of further Improvement; and the
Board would, therefore, recommend some
delay in adopting definitely pattern for future
construction of carblnes for cavalry service.
Should new carbines be previously needed, it is
recommended that the Spencer carbine with
the modified extractor, be used.
Seventh, The B card is of opinion that for
facility of handling, hghtness, and accuracy
OF ire, it will be of advantage to reduce the
length ofbarrel when practicable, to not less than
33 inches, retaining the present length of bayo-
net; and aIso that with the adoption of the
metallic cartridge, the present cartridge-b OK
should be modified. WINFIELD S, HANCOCK,
Mai.-Gen. U. s. Vols, President OF the Boa cd.
{. G. Parsons, Bvt. Lieut.. Col. u. S. A., Re
corder OF the Board.
General Dyer, Chief of Ordnance, on the con-
trary, thinks that the 50-inch calibre should be
used until a smaller one is proved to be supe-
rior. His recommendation is all the stronger
when it is considered that the army is furnished
with a large number of the 50.inch calibre.
General Dyer also recommends that the different
plans tor the alteration OF the Springfield mus
kets be tried in the hands OF troops. On the
receipt OF the report General Grant indOrsed
the following on it,
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES,
June 28, lS66.-Respectfully forwarded The
recommendations contained in the Endorsement
of the Chief OF Ordnance are approved except
the proposition 10 place new patent arms in the
hands of troops for trial.
There being such large number of arms on
hand capable of economical alteration il seems
a n rirlnAT Ugifl