The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-21
ARTILLERY CAMPS PITCHED.
TENTS FACE THE SEA CLOSE BY
THE FORTIFIC ATIONs.

tries and These We're NOT Allowed
Near the FOrt-The Soldiers HaV-
ing Their First Battle With sand
flies.
Many people went down to Tybee yes
terday. For some it was only their usual
outing but the greater number wanted
TO see the artillery in camp. few of
these were successful in getting inside the
lines that had been established around
the camps, but the majority had to be
content with a distant view.
The Tybee railroad did a big business,
the biggest since the close of the last
season Two trains were run each way
and were loaded. The largest crowd went
down on the afternoon train. The train
leaving at o'clock was far ahead of any
other in the number of people aboard.
Many of those who had gone down on
the morning train remained over to take
the last train home. The afternoon train
down had three cars that had just been
turned out of the repair shops.
The sight-seers wanted TO get among the
tents but they had 10 elude the vigilance
of the sentries to do this. In this some
were successful for time, but as soon as
they were seen they were politely inform
ed by the arullerymen that they were
within the lines and could not remain. No
regular line of sentries had been estab-
lished, as the camps had not been fully
formed. and the discipline that win rule
in a day or two was relaxed somewhat
while the men are engaged in getting
everything in readiness.
Among the visitors to the camps were
several officers of the volunteer troops
of the city. AS soon as these made them
selves known to those who stood guard
they were passed 10 the tents of the COM
manding officers of the batteries Col
Peter Reilly. Capt George P. Walker.
Lieut. w. G. Cam and several others
were among the visitors.
The batteries are encamped at the north
end of the island, about 200 yards from
the sea. The Notifications are some 800 or
400 yards distant The camps are located
in place clear with the exception of a
dead growth Of rank grass and a few
trees.
AAC ASelNg BdNANtS II iGatEI the railroad.
II has a few less men than the other bat
terry. These men camp in A tents opened
toward the sea. They are in a line, some
dozen or so being necessary for the ac-
commodauon Of the battery. The tents of
Capt. Davis and Lieut.. Hayden are In front
of the line, and some 100 feet nearer the
sea.
The light battery is camped a few yards
further north than the heavy, its men US
ing the Sibley tents with conical roofs
There are five of these, each being large
enough to hold eighteen men. 1t will be
necessary for only thirteen or fourteen men
TO sleep in each tent, however as the num-
Der of men in the battery when divided up
Will put about that many in each
In the light battery there are seventy
nVe men, but nine of these will be sent on
in day or two to New York AT Fort Slo-
cum, David's Island, near that city, a new
company Is to be organized, and the nine
men, seven privates and two non-commis-
stoned officers, will be used as a nucleus
The officers desire TO have number of
experienced men in each of the compan-
les of the two new artillery regiments ii Is
proposed to organize, as the recruits will
be greatly aided in learning the duties of
a soldier and the gun drills by the help
of the old members transferred. Seven
men will also be sent from the heavy bat
terry
The horses, fifty-three I'm number, of the
light battery are tied on a picket line es-
tahlished at the rear of the camp. Near
them is the place in which the field pieces
of the command are parked. There are
four guns. One of the lieutenants of the
battery, said they throw a solid shot
weighing 1879 pounds. The diameter of the
bore IS 80 inches The guns are rifled and
are built up, that is, made of successive
bands of STEEL
If brought to bear on a war vessel seek
ing to enter the Savannah river, the pro-
Jectiles could not penetrate the armor of
a cruiser, but the guns could keep the
decks of the vessel cleared. Three or four
different kinds of shot and shell may be
used. Among these are solid shot, canister,
grape and shrapnel This last works deadly
havoc when directed upon an enemy The
shell is so constructed as to burst into
forty pieces when the time limit of a short
fuse has expired BY nice calculations it
can be determined just where the shell
should burst, and this bursting is attended
by the scattering of its forty pieces and the
100 bullets it contains.
The fire of the guns is not rapid, being
only one discharge, including the time
spent in loading and aiming. a minute.
The four in action could thus keep up .
abombardment with only fifteen seconds
1ntermission between each shot. With the
full battery of six guns, which are always
used in war, shot would be fired every
ten seconds. 1t is estimated that the four
guns can keep a space of 400 yards wide
in front of them so alive with shot and
shell as to make existence within il d
difficult matter. The range of the guns
is never considered. They carry farther
than the human eye can see to direct the
aim. The human vision, when IL comes t.
firing on bodies of men, is limited to 4,OO
yards. When the object is a house oil
fort or anything Of that kind, the rang,
might be considered, but such work fall.
TO siege artillery.
The battery Of heavy artillery is at Ty
bee TO mount the big S-inch guns on tn,
fortihcaiions. The men of the command
and those at work on the fortifcationi
will b. the only ones admitted TO them
Some months ago an order was received
by those In charge 20 keep all persons
out OF the fortiiications who had no bust
ness there. This order has been enforced
and no visitors are allowed 10 examine tht
fort Many Of those who went down [,
the island yesterday received intimatior
of this for the first time. Some starte,
for the fortincations, intending TO maxi
an inspection Of the uncompleted defenses
Guards had been set, however and the
were turned hack