PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 461 



of this instrument for his own use; and the cost thiis far is nearly ten thou- 

 sand dollars ! Instruments somewhat similar to this belong to several of 

 the crowned heads of Europe, but they are all of inferior size. It is a mat- 

 ter of especial gratification to every American that the largest automatic 

 musical instrument ever constructed has been planned and completed by a 

 single enterprising fellow-citizen, who, in following the bent of his genius, 

 has^'demonstrated how far machinery, which arleady has the credit of doing 

 the drudgery of the Avorld, can be made to minister to our more refined 



tastes. Respectfully submitted. 



John B. Rich, (Jhairman. 



The regular subject of the evening, " Improvements in Modern Warfare," 

 was then taken up. 



Marine Artillery. 



Mr. Norman Wiard. — In preparing the expedition of General Burnside 

 for service in North Carolina, it was decided to organize a new branch of 

 the service, to be called marine artillery. As superintendent of ordnance 

 stores, I was directed to consult with Col. Wm. A. Howard, and supply the 

 necessary guns, carriages and implements for the purpose, and, accord- 

 ingly, twelve steel 12-pounder rifled boat howitzers were provided, of my 

 fabrication, each with a sliding and field carriage, implements and ammu- 

 nition, and four 6-pounder "Wiard" field guns, equipped so as to adapt 

 them to be used in the same manner. Colonel Howard enlisted the men, 

 caused the launches to be made, and secured two light-draught steamboats, 

 as suitable for the purpose as possible. On one of these steamboats four 

 guns were placed, and on the other one two, and each of the gunboats of 

 the fleet was prepared to receive one or more of them, if exigencies should 

 make it proper to use them in that manner. Notwithstanding the prepara- 

 tion was in a measure inperfectly made, from the fact that proper steam- 

 boats could not be procured in the limited time allowed for fitting out the 

 expedition, these guns have borne an important part in every battle in that 

 State, and have been spoken of by General Foster, as forming " an essential 

 part of all coastwise expeditions to be fitted out in future." It has fre- 

 quently been reported to me by oflScers in the army of North Carolina, that 

 light-draught steamboats were necessary to the complete success of marine 

 artillery, and Gen. Foster reported to the ordnance department that, " with 

 the addition of a light-limber, the use of these guns need not be confined 

 to the seacoast." Having been successful in constructing light-draught 

 and fast steamboats for western rivers, I conceived the idea of designing 

 a boat for the marine artillery, and when the Picket, which drew five feet 

 of water, and was the best boat for the purpose in the Burnside expedition, 

 was blown up by the explosion of her magazine, I exhibited the drawings 

 of a boat that I had designed to Colonel Howard, and he expressed himself 

 delighted with it. I had previously, at his request, designed a light-limber 

 and harness, with which he was also so much pleased that he procured a 

 requisition from Gen. Foster for twelve of them. I exhibited my plans for 

 marine artillery equipment to Gen. Banks, and he so far approved of them 

 that he directed me to provide for his expedition twelve guns, with car- 



