612 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



object in view that seemed to be more perfectly, if not successfully 

 attained by. General James' shot. There were three curved 

 wings at the rear of the projectile somewhat like propellers, 

 which produced a spiral motion. The shots were charged with 

 powder, which was intended to explode by concussion. One of 

 these was fished up in the bay and brought into the city some 15 

 years ago, and, while the man was examining into it, it exploded. 

 Mr. D. was not able to state whether that kind of shot operated 

 with anything like the exactness now obtained by rifling the 

 cannon. The difficulty with lead as a packing was that, after 

 using it for 30 or 40 hours constant firing, it adhered to the 

 inside and obstructed the loading. There was also danger from 

 increased friction causing heat, and a consequent strain of the 

 metal. Relying upon the reports and statement that he had just 

 heard, he believed that General James' shot was a more efficient 

 projectile with our present ordnance, as mounted on the forts 

 and ships, than anything yet known. There never were and 

 never would be Iwo guns of large caliber bored exactly alike, 

 because of the different and varying density of the metal. Our 

 ordinary cannon could be rifled, and would then be as good as if 

 they were originally so constructed. With regard to the opinion 

 expressed by Captain Bartlett that, with these projectiles, the 

 floating battery could have been destroyed in ten mindtes, he 

 must differ. A five or six inch plate, at an angle of perhaps 25° 

 or SO'*, would effectually resist all known projectiles. The best 

 form of projectile to be used against an iron shield, he believed 

 to be in the shape of an engineer's punch — flat at the forward 

 end if it could be always sent directly forward ; if not, slightly 

 parabolic. 



Captain Bartlett said that it was conceded that an 8-inch plate 

 of iron was impenetrable to any shot in present use. At Fort 

 Sumter, the iron embrasures of 8-inch iron were not penetrated. 



Mr. Stevens inquired at what distance General James' shot 

 would do execution. 



Captain Bartlett said they had been used only for horizontal 

 firing, but they could certainly be thrown further than any bomb. 



Mr. Butler. — Would they not strike sideways at great range ? 



Captain Bartlett. — That is not my observation ; at a distance 

 of 2,400 yards I could not detect any change. 



Mr. Butler. — It is said that, in the Crimea, the wounds caused 



