Year: 1861

been adopted consists Of an iron p,ungor set into The


fuse hole on the end Of the SHE'LL with shoulder pre-
vent us beng forced into the cavity and nipple charged
whan ordinary percussion cap. This pungor the shell
striking any point object which 10 is aimed IA thrown
forward win great violence against brass head that


y secured INTO the head or emu Of the shell exploding
te cap ana ignitng the charge time fuse may used
py inserting 1t into the point Of the she'll with few
improvements AS portion Of the proece touches the
cannon but tho canvass strip is utterly impossible for
the gun to receive any injury by friction of two metals
thus rendering the grooves uneven The Military Board
reerred TO- in their report Of the trial Watch Hill
H. l., last year. say of the proecle" that 1t is ad,
maby adapted to the various caibres of guns In
use requiring only that they be red which be done
at any fort OF place, and supplied with proper
nlon," and that in making new rilcd cannon for
win James procce, the weight Of the gun TO throw
rhu ia same weh. OF metal may Is believed be mate
rialy decreased" Aud they further recommend that
hy per cent OF the serviceabe at forts and
arsenas DO rled at once and supplied with the neces
sary ammunition. The consequence is that General
James has as much as lie do to supply the demand
made upon him all sides. Tho projecte patented
February 70, 1856, and ressued December IL 1860


THE sPoT SELECTED FOR FIRING.


The place on which General James battery mounted
is piece Of open ground the Shore that rises It
approaches the water, giving NATURALIZATION to gun
when it is lying at the carriage. completely
commands the ship channel and offers terrible obstacle
to the entrance OF hostile fleet should such thing
attempted. Immediately in front Of IL lies Cedar Island
at distance Of four miles, with its lighthouse looking
hke comfortable farmhouse. On the right Of II Is
situated dense woods into which shot and sol may be
thrown with the greatest safety, and the sand banks
along the shore afford splendid targets Stretched behind
this cmnence TO the right and loft lies tho quiet and
beautiful little town Of Sag Harbor with handsome
dwellings and asefully arranged gardens. tho cotton
mill towering above all like watchful guardian OF
It's smaller and less pretentous neighbors. The
boat wharf lies about quarter Of mile to the left of
ahe hill, and commands splendid view Of the firing
when the General happens to try his favortcs 1t Is also
so situated as 10 command every point Of the horizon
and from ne view OF the harbor is obtained Should
we have trouble with any foreign Power, the peace
full residents Of Sag arbor need fear intrusive visi
tors while they have good battery of rled cannon
properly mounted upon that HILL and strong and brave
hearts to them.


THE TIRING-FIRsT DAY.


Owing to the exposed situation Of the battery and the
heavy wind that was blowing it found impossible
try the with any degree of dependence Tuesday
morning. and it accordingly deferred until the gale
should have somewhat lessened. the afternoon the
guns were loaded and prepared for action under per-
sona supervision of Colonel Hudson and General James,
Thc rst two shots fired were from the forty FOUNDER
with the intention OF showing straight shot and
chet shot water The distance selected the first
being six and one-haf degrees Tho word given
re and away sped the iron messenger errand and
well 1t performed 1t, striking point the bank within
Few feet OF the spot aimed at The ricochc next and
splendid shot was, skimming the water making
three or four graceful in its course which was
straight as an arrow notwithstanding the wind blow
ing very hard


The thirty two FOUNDER next tried with she'll at
an elevation Of three and half degrees The charge
range ono mle Inree OF tneSe shots
were fired two Of hom bursting in the bank aimed at
sinking themselves several feet before exploding The
other fell little short, although perfectly in line Two
or three more shots were fred but they had on
account Of the high wind that prevailed, preventing
accuracy at long range Although but small begin
ming of the firing. Colonel Hudson expressed his plea
sure at the result.


THE SECOND DAYS FIRING.


Very little Improvement visible in tho weather on
Wednesday morning when the party arrived tho hill to
commence the days work. There was perfect gale
blowing. and the air btngy cold as to laugh at
gloves and overccats and render hasy retreat adyi
sable to all but those intimately concerned The conse
quence that the audience very small until the
blowing abated little, and the hill more endurable
The firing on the second day vastly superior to
that Of the ilrst and continued both morning and
afternoon Several splendid shots were made and some
Of very long range. The firing commenced at about
eleven O'clock two fine ric0chet shots being fired from
The forty two FOUNDER both solid shot, weighing eighty
four pounds each The effect of these ricochct shots on
the water is fine and tho spray they throw as they
rise from the surface Of the water is astonishing in its
effect AT one timc the ball Will strike the water but
once. dashing the spray in all directions then it will
take an upward fight, and with graceful curve bury
Itself In the woods miles away At another time
when fred at lower elevation IL will after rst touch.
ng the water take six and ten bounds before dis
appearing in the bank The shots were timed the
,annon being loaded with shell instead Of ball. The fol-
owing Is table Of these Shots showing the length OF
vpo tol