Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-10
RHEUMATISM .|,;;!,l|, {

and the lead converted into bullets as fast
as received.
The old regulation shrapnel shells were
filed with leaden balls and sulphur. The
Confedefacy had neither lead nor sulphur
to spare and used instead small lion
balls and filed with asphalt.
We had no private manufactures es-
tablished. which could furnish the app
planes reeded, and frequently every
thing had TO be done from the very De-
ginning by the ordnance department
and the army in the field. For instance,
10 run the FORCES to make the irons toi
che artillery carriages we needed char-
coal. To obtain this / purchased the tim
Der Of a number Of acres OF woodland on
the south side of the James river, and
secured a detail OF men 60 burn the char
coal for the use Of our forge department
During the winter men from General
Lees army cut the timber and shipped II
10 Richmond, with which artillery car
riages were made on which 70 mount me
guns to fight the battles In the spins.
Men appointed for that purpose followed
the army and collected the hides OF the
slaughtered animals that were USED 10
cover the saddle-trees made OF timber'
cut by temporary details Of men from the
army I'm the field
AS the war continued efforts were maze
10 build permanent and well appointed
arsenals, as at Macon and Augusta, Ga.
The large arsenal at Augusta, under the
management of Colonel Rains, was espe-
cially devoted TO the manufacture OF
powder. Toward the close Of the war II
was making an abundant supply OF very
supprior character. equal and in some
respects superior TO that imported from
foreign countries.
Under the demands Of necessity, In
many instances. cotton converted INTO
rubber cloth was used in the manulac-
ture Of infantry accoutrements. ana was
found especially useful in making belts
for machinery. Models OF inventions
were frequently sent to the arsenal OF
which large numbers were valueless, ana
thosef good in theory could not be tried
for want Of skilled machinsts and ord
nance supplies. remember on one
occasion-the last year OF the war-that
a large number Of Spencer breech-loading
rifles. the result of capture, were turned
over to the arsenal. and though greatly
desired by the troops could not be reIs-
sued for want of ammunition. In the
effort to make the cartridges for the Spen-
Ger rifles, in the first place tools had 10
be devised, with which 10 make the tools
used for making the cartridges. Hence the
surrender Of Richmond came before the
cartridges were made.
4 plan was proposed at the arsenal 10
increase the accuracy and range and thus
render available and more efficient the
smooth-bore muskets in possession Of tho
COnfederacy.
The plan proposed was theoretically
correct. and Is worth mentioning, mas
much as very late in the war the Identical
plan was sent 10 President Davis from
Canada. as a scientific gift Of great
value.
This was sent by him TO the War Depart
ment. and hence found its way TO the
arsenal where the drawings were re-
garded with interest, since they CORE
sponded exactly with those made at the
arsenal years previously.
The idea was 70 fire an elongated com
pound projectile, made OF lead and hard
wood, or papier mache.