The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-13

sack OF bad cloin leather which our volunteers
were compelled 10 drag along has been discarded In
stead OF ths unshapey bag neat haversack made OF
cotton duck containing several pockets stands re,dy
To be siuns over the sodicrs shoulder, ana what -
more, eacn have rsack now contn kniic. fork and
spoon, aud meat pzn--uxuries indeed entirely IN
known to our boys III blue at that time. The havor-
SACKS s as wen "a NE meat pans are MADE mere "
and, while the supply 10 constantly kept up iof
tho uso OF our small army, an smsrgency thai
might arise ut any moment Will dad this ma
chinery ready to supply those goods Tor any mum.
Der Of men. New cartridge boxos are also quite
different IRON those used during the war, when tha
Infantry especially often found their ammunition
spoiled Nov the boxes contain separated spaces Tor
the cartridges, each box being made TO hold twenty
rounds. In ADDITION this q Cartridge belt been
invented which does away entirely with the box, and
which ueeds only 10 DO siung around the waist 1t 10
preferred to the box owing TO tho large number OF
cartridges It can hold The indian wars, IN which
cavalry most employees have naturally led TO many
improvements IN the equipment Tor that arm OF the
service New picket pms and side lines OF an ingeni
on, pattern have been adopted Tor The horses, but
whether they wall prevent tho Indians from stealing
them remains yet to be seen. THIS, however, does
not lessen the MERIT OF the article, winch Is being
manufactured now IN large quantities IN ono OF the
shops attached TO the arsenal. me ssddiery Ia
busy place as have visited, and the very best
water power stand al command OF all the shops con-
nected with tho arsenal, aud repairing as well as the
making of new equipments keeps over one hundred
men constantly employed here. IL VIII DO Iemem.
pered that ever since the adoption OF our improved
nrearms which enable the soldier TO ire rapidly, Il
has been a matter oil constant Cellberaton NJ army
headquarters 10 dispense altogether with tho bayonct
Military boards have been hoidipg sessions discussing
this subject, and General Hagner showed me trowel
payoaet WHICH II is thought win ultimately lake tie
place OF the odashioucd bayoas II does not strike
as improving tho appearance OF the soldier or even
tho gun; but as good deal Of digging had to DO done
during me late war probably the absencc OF the
rowel bayonc at the time was ousy ioii By those
VINO favored that mode OF warfare. far more ac-
cepiabo addition 10 the modern soldiers equipment
Is The inirenchiIg tool, an excellent weapon At the
Same time which ne can either sing over his shout
der or faslon in his belt Over hiteen thousand OF
these trowel bayones tools have boon
sent IRON tho Watcrvict Arsenal since their
= adoption by the War Department. Improved gun
carriages. necessatcd by improved artillery, wore
being sent TO Savannah tor tho use OF the garrison
there while was visitng the arscntl. and the
commanding officer forms that not day passes
but dozen or acquisitions have be Tiled Tor
the verious army posts Most oil Tho work
being done tnerc, however. Is for the
cavalry, which just now requires most Of
Unclo Sans attention Tho immense storerooms
crowded with everythi pertaining TO The use oil
the army, among which IS large quantity Of mate.
rial taken from The Couicderatos. Tue Medical DO.
partmen Of tho has also made rapid strdes tor
ward tho war in the cons,r uction OF am.
balances and strctchers, and ever the blood OF
young men must How again in the defence OF their
country their relations homo Will at least have the
consolation Of knowing that tue wounded when taken
from the field, Will DC moro tendery cared Tor thsu
the seventeen years ago. when our best OIL
inexperienced all that belongs TO the arr
OF war asked the General II the small lumber OF
armed men under his command--about thirty IN
allwas sufficient TO guard those vast grounds, with
their immense amount OF stores ana ammunition.
Ho thought they were quito sufficient; should ever
emergency arise he could The operatives In the
various shops every one or whom would stand
by the arsenal Last year. during tho railroad trou
bles, n number OF marines wero sent on from the
Navy YARD, but there for them He had
taken Inc precaaton OF placing two GatIin guns IN
conspicuous positions, 50 that ~ any moment he
could sweep tho whole OF tho grounds With their aid
he feared not tho approach Of any mob however