1                         Bucks County Intelligencer  War Curiosities  June 25, 1861  Page 3  Col. 1                         1

 

War Curiosities.—James M. Carver, of the Doyles-

town Guards, who, to use his own language; is getting

along; “ bully “ as a soldier, has sent home to his friends

in Doylestown several curiosities in the way of war pro-

jectiles, such as are used by the Federal troops to disperse

and despatch the rebels, among which are a rifled cannon-

ball, a grape shot, and a Minie musket ball.  They have

been inspected by a number of people, to many of whom

they are great novelties.  The rifled cannon ball has a

conical shape, weighing about four pounds, with a cavity

in the centre, and consists of five pieces of cast iron; fitting

closely together.  The ball, when complete and ready for

service, has a belt of lead around it, which is forced out

into the grove of the cannon by the explosion of the

powder.  The cavity in the centre is filled with powder, and a

fuse ran through a small hole in the centre of the ball,

which is ignited by the powder when fired, the fuse being

but the length to suit the distance the ball has to travel,

and they can regulate it to a nicety.  The gunners become

so accustomed to it that they can make them explode in

any building they may direct their attention to.  It was

one of these balls, fired by the rebels that killed the brave

Lieutenant Greble at Great Bethel.  The grape shot is

about the size of a hulled walnut, round and smooth. 

They are put into tin cans, about half a gallon in each, and

then soldered up tightly.  The can fits the bore of the

cannon completely and when discharged, it explodes, and

the balls scatter, in all directions.  Mr. Carver says he

saw a lot of these cans at the Washington Navy Yard, a

few days ago, marked “ Preserved Grape for Jeff

Davis. “  A pretty good idea.  In a private letter to his

Family, Mrc. C says:

“ I also send you a piece of the steps on which Col. Ellis-

worth was killed ; also a piece of the flag-staff off of the

Marshall House, at Alexandria.  Also a pass from the Pro-

vost Marshall to go out to the encampments.  I will show

you a curiosity in the shape of a man at the end of our

three months, which, I doubt not, you will prize much

higher than any one that preceded it.  I have not shaved

since I left home, and my beard has become enormous—

almost equal to the count’s.  We have not got our pay

yet; for some reason unknown.  I am very well, except a

cold, which I have had for about a month, but it is grad-

ually working off.  I have just had dinner.  Ate heartily

of boiled beef, rice, bread, and molasses.  We get coffee

twice each day.  Don’t worry yourself about me.  I am

gaining flesh every day.  I weighed 193 pounds in the

Patent office and 187 in the Smithsonian institute a few

hours ago.”