Daily Republican., 1880-09-09
Attorney g en- sral Grhy's state
Rfsht Gun ExpiSdeS I'm the
Breecb Mt tho First Fire nud Sest-
0u, ~ wounds Many Of hts Ar
gillery men


0u, ~ wounds Many Of hts Ar
tiilerJ Rsn.
For ths Republican.
Attorney General Gray, at The Demo.
cratic mass meeting held in this city on
the evsnipg before our city election
boldly proclaimed tbs doctrine Of State
rights, and advised his hearers to fire
Of their first gun at the city election,
which injuncture his democratic hearers
promptly obsyed, bat with fsarfnlly
alarming results.
It was the old Calhoun gun which
was fred In honor Of the States rights
doctrine in the days Of Andrew Jackson
which was spiked by old Hickory after
its 6rst shot prevented II from killing
Calhoun by q second fire. II was used
to celebrate the ordinance of secession in
South Carolina In 1861, and Afterwards
in the Shareholders rebellion to destroy
the Union from 81 to S., but it finally
blew cut At the breech at Appomattox,
and destroyed the hopes Of JEFF. Davis
and General Lee Of organising South
ern Confsdsracy (at that time) and il
almos: annihilatsd their sympsthisers,
called the Democratic party, in the
Northern States.
The old gun was laid aside until the
summer OF 1880. When Gen. Hancock
examined 1t at the special request Of
its owners, he advised them that If the
brsech was patched up with the new
amend msnts to the Federal Constitu-
tion he would be willing TO take com.
naad of the old gun in the Campaign in
1880. The Generals 3 advice was taken
and the old States rights had the new
amendment breech put In, and 3 free
trade touch hole bored therein which
hs examined, and pronounced 1t good,
very good, and it was placed at the
dIsposal Of the Delaware Democrats
headed by Attorney General Gray, to
ire In the first battle in the Delaware
Campaign in Wilmington. General
Gray csllel his guDrers together on
tie evening of the 9th of September,
and gave them their instructions as to
firing upon the enemy the next day.
The old gun was promptly brought out
early on the day OF the battle, its first
discharge ruined the old gun, it would
not stand. The new breech piece Of
ths constitutional amendments had not
welded with the States rights barrel,
the old secession touch hole tube blew
out and crippled number Of the gan
1ers.
One of the fragments seriously woun-
ded Lieut.. Daley Ufths 9Th Ward, an
other laid horse de combat, Captain
Mousley of the 9th, General Bckel Of
the 9Th was dangerously wou Aded and
conveyed 10 his residence by his many
sympathizing (business msn) friends I;
Capt. B4ugh OF the 3rd, Capt. Moore
of the 5th and Col. Pierce Of the 7th
we're also carried Of the tsld danger
Hsly wounded, whilst the enemy es.
capped entirely unharmed. The old gun
was at once deserted, and all the gun
ners hastily retired to th-ir quarters
without even 80 much as calling to give
word of sympathy or encouragement
to the wounded officers. No new orders
have as yet been given by the Attorney
Gene raj, but it is rumored that Coun-
oil of war will be held in few days,
when an attempt will bemade to put the
Old State rights gun again in service
able condition for the Hancock Cam
paign in November, 1t ia presumed
that in he future the old guu will be
placed under the. charge of a person
who has had more military experience
All General Gray. The enemy now
holds the fort against General Gray
and will continue to strengthen his
works until tho battle in November
next. Pro BONO PVBLIco.