Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-27


ined yesterday a Springfield rife adapted
to the use of the breech- loading principle,
invented by Capt. Jo. V. Meigs, a Nash
vile boy. 1t seemed to US to be the per-
lection of a breech-loading gun, and en-
titled to great consideration on the part Of
the government.
The mechanical construction and process
of operation of Capt. Meigs' patent may be
thus stated A Springfield musket is al
tered by cutting q vertical mortice about
two inches in length through it at the
breech, into which rectangular block is
fitted A plate is put on the under side Of
the stock, taking the same curve as the
stock. To this plate the old guard-plate
with trigger and bow is so attached that 1t
can slide to the rear, almost horizontally.
To the front end of the guard-plate an ell
bowed connecting-piece is pigoted, which
has a pin on one side at or near the elbow,
working in horizontal slot in the side of
the rectangular block; upon the other side
pin working in a guide slot. Drawing
the guard backward, this connecting piece,
at its pivoted end moves with il, and by
means of the pin on the side next, 'snd
working in the slot in the block, pulls the
block down to the rest, at the same time
the disengaeed end of the elbow hooks
over the rim of the shell in the end of the
barrel. and then slides, following the slots
in the block and guide, horizontally to the
rear Withdrawing the shell and throwing
| L out of the cavity coming into place
| ready TO perform the Office of an inserter.
| The operation of loading is performed by
| placing a cartridge in the mortice and
! pushing the guard forward; the connecting
piece inserts the cartridge in the barrel. of
| The gun and raises the block up in rear Of
| il ready for firing. Cooking the piece,
/ during these motions, it is raised to the
shoulder; pulling the trigger, which is
| now moved forward so as to have effect up
on the rear, releases the hammer, so that
it strikes upon firing-pin in the block,
thus communicating the exploding force to
/ the illuminate in the rim or the centre Of
| the shell. The motions to load and fire
seem TO be but two, viz: those of bringing
the gun 10 and taking it from the shoulder,
sonaturally andinhmately are the required
| motions allied.
The reader will of course understand
that fixed ammunition, or the ordinary
ball-cartridge, is used with this gun. The
great points gained in Capt. Meigs' patent
are the rspidity with which the musket is
discharged, the impossibility Of its becom-
ing so foul that it cannot be used, Its sim
plicity of construction, the strength and
durability of every part, and its cheapness.
Experiments were recently made with
this fre-arm at Lowell, Massachusetts,, the
result of which is thus stated by the golTie5
of that place: ~ .ra
Three trials were made in rapid hiring.
| In the first instance the musket was hred
tyenty-seveH ia one minute in the second,
twenty-six in the third, twenty-six-
making in three minutes seyenty-nine dis
charges, an instance of expeditions firing
we have never known to be excelled with
any sort Of arm. 1t is believed by those
who were present that still greater proh-
cheney NAV be obtained, and that the mus
lSet can be fired as many as thirty times in
aminute. But allowing that in the hands
of soldiers il can be fred but nineteen o.
twenty times a minute, il will be seen thai
a regiment would be, with guns like these
most formidably armed.
The simplicity Of its construction IL an
other great advantage. After the first ex
pertinent in firing, water was Turned int
The breech, which, being open on both the
1 upper anu lONeIe SiucSf " Nphi0N 20
through, though wetting every part OF ih'
works. Then handful of sand was droppe'
, in, and this in minutes time was with !
glass Of water washed out, aud the gun
, | though still wet, was ready to operate
! Again, when all parts were dry, handful
) of fine sand was dropped into the moItice
! striking all paris of the breech; and after
7 moments shaking and working back aus
forward, il was again fred, the sand oni
serving 10 polish it, This proved that il cal
! not be very readily made foul, even by il
, usage.
The State Of Tennessee ought to adop
? this breeoh-loader both for its intrinsic eE
cellence and as compliment TO Cap
Meigs, her accomplished son.
s p. s.-A trial Of Capt Meigs' gun w
1 had Yesterday before number 81 deePl
r interested spectators at the capitol and Al
we're satisfied Of its excellence. 1t ca
p scarcely be improved.