National Republican., 1883-09-24
WEAPONS OF WAR.
An Hour Among the Curious Things in tho War
Department Museum.
Old and New Contrivnnces with which
Soldiers Slaughter Each Other.

instruments OIL war, noun ancient ana modern.
At one end of tho hall stands two figures
representing ancient Japanese soldiers. They
are clad in tho original suits of armor, of
steel, brass, and gutta pcrcha, which were
worn hundreds of years ago, and are
accompanied by long and desperate
looking spears. The face of the
soldier is half concealed by hideous looking
mask, while the whole effect is horrible in tho
extreme. Tho japanese believed in those
days that the moro hidoous they could make
themselves appear the less fighting they
would have to do that frightening the enemy
was better than fighting him. There wero
other Japanese curiosities on exhibition, con-
sisting of heavy copper hats, terrible looking
masks, decorated spears, swords, &c. In the
same portion Of the room was q curiosity Of
moro modern use, but of no less interest IL
was one of the mule battery guns used during
the late rebellion in this country, and which
provoked an American poet to write the song
beginning:
Bring on your jacIass battery.
Tho gun is about four feet long and is at
tached to n queer looking saddle. Tho mulo
battery gun mover did any serious damage to
the enemy. IL was fired from tho backs of
those high kicking animals, and many ludi-
crous scenes are reported TO have occurred
shortly after the command to begin firing was
given. The battlefield of Petersburg, Va,
contributes two bullets, union and confedor-
ate, which met and fused in midair. In tho
same case with the war-wedded bullets is
q box of beautifully carved dominoos made
by a French prisoner of war, who was incar-
cerated during tho wars of Napoleon /, in the
PennyCuck prison in Scotland from tho
beef bones of his rations, with no tools save
n blade made by himself from small piece of
iron. The other articles are "gorget," or
queer shaped silver decoration, supposed to
have been worn by British officer at tho
battle of Bloody Run, in 1863 1t was found
by Gen. Poe, in Michigan, several years ago.
A steel cuirass and heavy brass helmet worn
by French curiasseurs at the battle of Sedan,
during the Franco German war, are also kept
here. These articles were considered proof
against bullet and sabor but they were evil
IDENTIFY no match for the penetrating prussian
needle gun or the strong arm of the
German cavalryman. The curass was
pierced by bullet from tho former
killing its wearer, and the helmet shows q
deep saber cut diagonally across it, which
fractured the dashing cuirasseurs skull.
Since France has become republic the above
articles arc no longer used. During her
monarchical days they were worn by tho
flower of the French cavalry. Another armor
of more ancient origin reposcs quietly against
the wall near the above. 1t is complete, and
is composed Of u series of steel scales. 1t was
worn by some stern old knight carly in tho
seventeenth century, and bears date of 1910
engraved upon the bre ast in queer looking
hieroglyphics.
There is also d collection of old cannon.
Some of them were presented to the young re-
public by Gen. Lafayette and Others of brass
finish, which were captured from the English
works at Yorktown and Saratoga Then there
are several experimental breech loading cam
non made by the contederates at jackson
Miss and q pair of confederate Williams
or long Tom" cannon used upon
small boats during expeditions up the
bayous and through the marshes
of the gulf states. JEFF Davis's rifle is
another item OF interest. 1t was carried by
him during the closing days of the war; and
finally captured with him and his petticoats.
There is also an old English mortar how
itzer, made during the reign OF George H.
and captured at tho battle Saratoga by the
provincials, and u musket from the British
man-of-war Somerset. The Somerset was
wrecked OIL Point Race Cape Cod, during the
war of 1912. Tho crew were taken prisoners
by the inhabitants Of the cape, and the mus.
ket was found in the water not many years
ago by a fisherman. 1t has rusted through and
through, and has growth Of shells and stone
upon its long, grim barrel Here is an ancient
form of matchbox gun, captured by Jap
anese troops in 1874, and supposed to be
hundreds of years old. This piece was pre-
sented to the United States government by
Col, JAMES X. Wasson, the defaulting pay
MASTER who was at the time of its capture
second lieutenant 4th United States cavalry
and in Japan on visit. A small Arab mus.
ket of antique origin, which was fired by
means of slow match and powder pan.
large bombshell from the battle of New Or.
leans in 1915, and steel cross bows and arrows
used in Spain, many years ago. are alsC
objects of interest. A section of an oak
tree, three feet in circumference, cut down
by mimic balls at the battle OF
Spottsylvania Court House, during the late
war, always attracts the attention of every
body. Tho oak stood behind carthwork,
. which had been captured by the union troops
The confederates made desperate attempt tC
recapture their works, during which tho treC
was cut down by their bullets. The powder
horn used by Capt. Jack, the Modoc chief
during the lava bed war; rusty bayonet anc
large English horse pistol, from the battle
field of Waterloo; the bullet which destroyed
Col r.. l.. Fitzpatrick S right arm at tho battle
of Charlottesville; samples of cOntederat,
explosive bullets, which were calculated t.
blow a man into smitherens Il smoking pip,
made in the trenches before Sebastopol during
the siege by an English soldier and section
of confederate whistling shot which shroiket
through the air at GettysbuTgh like aeria
demons, arc also objects OF interest.
Apropos to the visit of the COrGan cmbass'
to this country there is on exhibition in tht
ordnance museum the spear by which Lieut.
Mckee, U. y. n, lost his life during.thc CureaI
rdlu. III is n long ana desperate looking Wea
pom, with soiled piece of white rag attached
to tho staff, just below the spear head. Tho
rag was displayed by the COreans rs u nag o
truce, and when Lieut.. Mckee responded L
it by approaching tho party he was stabbed
repeatedly by its bearer. The razor like spea
still bears the stains Of tho gallant lieuten
ants life blood
Another article of equal interest is tn
battle flag Of q South Carolina confederate
regiment, captured by a Pennsylvania bri
was found standing upright in q brcastworl
composed of the dead bodies OF South Caro-
lima soldiers. The regiment, in its duspora
tion to hold the position, aud having dwmdlet
down to mere handful of mon under tn
effects of q severe enhlading fire OF ,artilorl
and muskotry, piled their dead in long row
and delivered their fire from behind tn,
ghastly works.
Indian ingenuity is shown by q carbin,
shell reloaded by an Apache brave in Arizona
1t is supposed that the Indian possessed
carbine, and his ammunition having given out
he reloaded several empty shells. The bulle
was evidently chipped out with u knife aut
the cap was ingeuiously placed in position.
Among the shots arc sections OF chilled rol
conical shaped projeCtiles Weighing 75
pounds each. They were manufactured TO
the English government by u Boston firm
and aftcrward split open 20 exhibit the grain
of the metal and their general quality, Thes
shots, ii Is said, were intended to penetrate
20-inch steel armor.
Anassortment Of mitraileuses and Gatlini
guns attract much attention; also two larg
round shot which were fired at an iron targe
by this government during experiments