The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-04-22
Dahlgren Gun May be Used.

NtW oTltiiIis 4 ih IN
1t is probable that the famous Dahl
gren guns, which figured 50 promi-
ncntly in the battles OF the civil war,
again will be put in use by the United
States war department. A large
number of these shell guns are already
manufactured, and Uncle Sam will be
enabled to make purchases outright.
The gun is the inyentiOn of the late
United States Admiral John A. Dahl
grcn. an uncle Of Hon. A. M. Dahl
grcn, collector Of customs, district of
Pearl river, Miss, and special. dis
bursting officer of the United States
marine hospital service,
General Z. q. Dahlgren, Il brother
of the inventor, lived al Natcllcz,i
Miss, and commanded the troops at
Pass Christian and Bay ST. Louis, and
subsequently fought under General
liWd IN the late war.
The celebrated Monitor Mcrrimac
battle was decided by the use of the
Dalligren gun. with which the former
| vessel was equipped. The Molitor
was constructed by John Ericsson, II
cousin OF Admiral Dahlgrcn. The
Alabama was also destroyed 10y shots
from the Dahlgrcn guns.
The proposition to return to the
use pf this wcll-kn0wn armament has
been under consideration by the army
| and navy officials for some time, aud
since the trouble with Spain has
arisen it has been practically deter
mined 10 utilize the guns in manning
several of the old battle ships. Ord
nance men say that the shell gun is
the best for river work anu for at.
lacking shore and beach cartlen bat.
tcrles. The high velocity projcctile
OF the modern hlgh-p0wcrcd ordnance
gun has demonstrated its inability to
materially damage earthen batteries,
4 point OF excellence In which the
Dahlgrcn gun Is still supreme.
High velocity projectilcs will cut
through an earthen parapet or bury
themselves much after the fashion OF
a rocket. The Dahlgren shell, on the
other hand, with its comparatively
low velocity, high trajectory and
heavy-bursting charge, strikes the
top or side of Il parapet like a batter.
Ing ram, and the shell by its own i'm
pact obtains sufficient depth to insure
good tamping. and then explodes with
all the destructivencss OF a mine
charge. For service against modern
shils the vessels Of the navy demand
the modern high-p0wercd ordnance
rifle, but for river work and all opera.
tions demanding attack on eartllcu
batteries the Datllgrcn guns now ~
ing in parks at the various naval sta
tiOns are the proper guns to impress
into play.
Admiral Dahlgren was one of the
best known men In the navy, and was
the hero Of several union victories.
His father, whose original name was
Ericsson, was the first Swcdish-N Nor
wegian consul sent to the United
States.
The widow Of the admiral lives in
Washington. She Is said to be one Of
the w%ealthiest women in America.
and one OF the most successful and
brilliant writers In the country.
Hon. A.. M. Dahlgren. the distin.
guisl,ed nephew OF this famous admi-
raj, was adopted when quite young by,
and lived with his uncle in the navy
yard In Washington city, till the
admiral's death in 1870. om
Collector D%ahlgren, who resiS,s in
Biloxi, Miss, Is well known through
out the country, not only for the SER
vices rendered in the yellow fever
camps last year, but as the untiriDg
advocate OF the sound money cause.
lie planned and personally conducted
the special train through Alabama
and Mississippi, and introduced Palm.
er and Buckner along the route. He
enjoyed the confidence OF the Clevc-
land administration, and so success
fully performed his duties that he has
been retained by President Mckinley,
and will continue to serve the govern
ment as collector OF customs. One Of
the finest new monitors just built is
named Dahlvren.