NEW YORK, November 19, 1864. I understood you to state when I saw you last that you would forward me a list of the implements and stores for boat howitzers that you would accept from me under my proposition, with the prices you would pay me attached or added. I have received a list of stores without the prices named. Will you oblige me by communicating the prices you will pay me for such of the stores named as pass inspection I have one field-carriage and about 200 vent and fuse pouches, with belts to add to the number. Respectfully, Captain H. A. WISE, NORMAN WIARD. Chief of Ordnance, Washington. BUREAU OF ORDNANCE, NAVY DEPARTMENT, SIR: The bureau desires to be informed where and in whose keeping the pattern rifled howitzer now is which was lent to Mr. Norman Wiard, through your agency, in August, 1861. Mr. Norman Wiard has repeatedly promised verbally to return this gun, but has failed to do so yet, and the bureau desires the above information in order that steps may be taken now for its recovery and return to the New York navy yard. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Mr. H. L. STUART, No. 23 Gramercy Place, New York. R. AULICK, Assistant Chief of Bureau. 113 EAST SIXTIETH STREET, NEW YORK, March 17, 1865. SIR I never procured a howitzer in 1861, and therefore, of course, know nothing about : any howitzer procured for anybody during that year. Yours, &c., Captain R. AULICK, Ass't Chief Bureau Ordnance. H. L. STUART. FARMERS AND CITIZENS' BANK OF LONG ISLAND, DEAR SIR: I enclose herewith bill of Norman Wiard, with inspector's receipts, $1,193 49, which bill is assigned to me. Please forward the vouchers to me as soon as convenient; also, acknowledge receipt of this letter, and much oblige, Yours, very respectfully, O. M. BEACH, President. Brooklyn, June 15, 1865. SIR: Your favor of the 13th instant, with approved triplicate bills for $1,068 99 in favor of Norman Wiard, is received, for which please accept our thanks. Confidential letter to Commander Hitchcock relative to the necessity of immediately providing guns of 11-inch and 74-inch calibre.. Letter from Commander Hitchcock informing the bureau that Norman Wiard will finish the 7-inch rifle blocks delivered by Mr. Parrott, and requests instructions by telegraph.......... Telegram; bureau accepts the proposition of Mr. Wiard. Page. 13 Bureau incloses sketch showing manner of bouching 73-inch rifles.. Letter to Commander Hitchcock relative to manner of opening vent in 74-inch riflesweight of shell in future proof of 74-inch rifles to be 125 pounds.. Letter from Commander Hitchcock relative to trouble with parties in New York, as to finishing 74-inch rifles. In regard to trouble in finishing 7-inch rifles in New York-"Exercise your own discretion in the matter, under the sanction of bureau". Bureau to Commander Hitchcock. 14 Trunnion straps for 74-inch are being forwarded to Bureau to Commander Hitchcock. 7-inch rifles are to be turned down in conformity with the modified drawings of the guns... West Point-Wiard and Alger. Hitchcock to bureau. "I called at Mr. Plass's; three of the 74-inch guns in their hands are turned and bored, &c.; difficulty in removing guns from lathes". "I understand it is your wish to have all the 7-inch guns which are being finished by Mr. Wiard turned down to the modified drawing". 15. 15 16 16 Hitchcock to bureau, calling attention to the condition of the guns being finished and rifled by Mr. Wiard.. 16 Bills for $5,270 paid Wiard for finishing seven 7-inch rifles. Bills dated May 24, 1862. (See letter from Commodore Hitchcock, May 17, 1862, in folio; 50-pounder semi-steel guns).. 16 Wiard to Secretary of Navy. Relates to certain experiments by which he proposes to determine the correctness of his theories in relation to the cause of the failure of large guns; requests that 74-inch and 50-pounder guns be tested.. Bureau to Wiard. By authority of Secretary of the Navy two 73-inch rifles are placed at his disposal. Wiard requests that the sum of $2,000 be placed at his disposal for experimenting. Letter from William L. Miller to bureau. You will confer a favor by designating the disposition to be made of the large rifled guns now at this shop". 17 17 18 18 Letter from bureau to Mr. Miller. "Two of the guns referred to in your letter of the 29th ultimo were recently placed at the disposal of Mr. Wiard; if in your way, may be sent to navy yard, Brooklyn. The remaining guns may be shipped, through navy agent, to Washington 18 (Copy of above letter sent to Norman Wiard.) Letter from bureau to Mr. Miller. "What disposition, if any, has been made of the guns referred to in your letter of the 29th ultimo 18 compel Mr. Wiard to deliver these guns". Letter from bureau to Mr. Wiard. 66 Conformably to contract, the bureau desires you to deliver the remaining 74-inch guns at New York yard, for finishing which you were paid ". (No answer from Mr. Wiard.) Letter from bureau to Secretary of the Navy relative to recovery of four 74-inch guns from Mr. Miller. Bureau recommends prompt measures for their transfer from the party who has them in possession.... Letter from Secretary of the Navy to bureau. "You are directed to take such measures as you deem necessary for the transfer of the four guns from the party who has them in possession Letter from bureau to E. D. Smith, United States district attorney of New York, relative to recovery of guns from Mr. Miller.. ment" Letter from bureau to Admiral Paulding. "Send a proper officer to confer with the district attorney in reference to removal of four 74-inch cannon, property of the governWilliam L. Miller to Commander Nicholson. "I respectfully protest against the removal by the United States government, from my possession, of four 74-inch rifles Letter from Commander Nicholson to bureau, relative to removal of guns.. Letter from bureau to Admiral Paulding. Bureau has received a letter from Commander Nicholson, stating that Mr. Miller will give up the guns, but under protest; bureau requests that you will cause the guns to be removed to the yard-removal to be entirely in accordance with advice and instruction of district attorney. Letter to Commander Nicholson from District Attorney Smith. "Notwithstanding the protest of Mr. William L. Miller, I still advise the taking of the guns". Commander Nicholson to Jacob Straut, teamster. "You will remove the four guns belonging to the government, now in possession of W. L. Miller". Letter from Commander Nicholson to bureau. 66 By instructions from Admiral Paulding, I directed Lieutenant Commander Meade to consult with district attorney relative to removal of guns; sent teamster to remove guns; Mr. Miller objects have reported circumstances to district attorney". Letter from Commander Nicholson to bureau. "I have consulted twice, through Lieutenant Commander Meade, with district attorney; district attorney thinks the guns may be obtained without suit". Letter from bureau to district attorney. "Instructions have been forwarded Commander Nicholson to consult you as to further proceedings in the matter, and as to the propriety of removing the guns by force". 66 Letter from bureau to Commander Nicholson. The bureau desires you to again consult with United States district attorney". Bureau to district attorney. "After the lapse of nearly a year, the bureau desires to call District attorney to bureau. Have pursued the same course in regard to the guns as if they had been my own; still adhere to the views expressed in my letters of February 7 and March 28. I have to-day personally advised Commander J. Young to send and take the guns," &c.... Letter from district attorney to Admiral Paulding.. Letter from Lieutenant Buckner to Captain E. M. Yard.. Letter from Captain Yard to bureau. Four 7-inch rifles were brought to the yard from Mr. Miller's... Letter from Captain Yard to bureau. "In answer to your telegram, I have to state that the guns referred to-four 74-inch rifles-were brought from the workshop of Mr. W. L. Miller, in the city of New York, to the navy yard, on the 29th of January last. Three of the guns are rifled and one is not". with two pair of flasks, the blocks for 74-inch rifles, which, after having the surplus metal turned off, are to be forwarded to this yard for boring and finishing. 5. Commander Taylor has also been instructed to ascertain what can be effected at the Alger's works by the incentive of one cent more than contract price per pound, or other guarantee, as you will remark by the copy of the inclosed letter to that officer. 6. Whenever the work can be executed in part or whole, the bureau will use its utmost exertions to carry it out, with the sanction of the Navy Department for raising the contract price, in case it should be demanded in the present pressing emergency of the naval service. 7. With the foregoing facts in view, to which your prompt co-operation is required, the bureau cannot consent to any further extraordinary proof being conducted with the Wiard guns, and in consequence, after you have convinced yourself of the probable endurance or the reverse of the gun now under trial, you will please devote your attention to the subject above referred to, and likewise to the 16,000-pound masses at the Cold Spring foundry. SIR: Mr. N. Wiard will furnish the 74-inch rifled guns, delivered by Mr. Parrott or others, at the wharf foot of Twenty-ninth street, East river, New York, furnishing the bronze breeching strap and sights, taking them to the proving ground and delivering them at the navy yard, New York, for $750 each. If the breeching strap is furnished by the United States government, he will deduct from the price 35 cents per pound for the strap. Please inform me by telegraph if this offer is accepted. Very respectfully, Captain A. A. HARWOOD, Chief of Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography, Washington. R. B. HITCHCOCK. [Telegram for Captain Hitchcock, Albemarle Hotel, New York, October 30, 9.30 a. m.] The bureau accepts Mr. Wiard's offer in reference to the 74-inch rifles. The bronze straps will probably be forwarded from here. Do the best you can about the lathe and send it on as soon as practicable. A. A. HARWOOD. BUREAU OF ORDNANCE AND HYDROGRAPHY, NAVY DEPARTMENT, SIR 1. The bureau herewith incloses a sketch showing the dimensions and manner of bouching 74-inch Dahlgren rifles. 2. You will please have the vents of the guns you finish bouched according to this plan. Very respectfully, NORMAN WIARD, Esq., New York. A. A. HARWOOD, Chief of Bureau. Commander R. B. HITCHCOCK, U. S. N., Assistant inance. GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL, NEW YORK, SIR: Your order of the 28th received. I am sorry not to have your opinion of Wiard's guns; I am going on with the proof. I made further examination of No. 15.1-inch trial gun -Wiard's-and find that it will require a bouche or plug of 1 1-16-inch at the interior vent to obtain sound iron; I have no doubt of a plug being fitted so as to secure the vent; the question, I think, is, what will be the effect upon the gun of so large a hole cut through it. The army quartermaster here dislikes very much sending large articles for us; he thinks we might look out for our own transportation; I would suggest that an order from the Quartermaster General be sent here for any article you may wish forwarded. The 7-inch block can only be sent by some large vessel or by rail. There is trouble here in relation to the finishing of the 7-inch block; some of the owners of lathes which Mr. Wiard engaged are disposed to take advantage of what they think a necessity, and now ask more than he contracted to do the work for. I think it will not be best to send any more blocks here from Pittsburg at present. Respectfully, Captain A. A. HARWOOD, R. B. HITCHCOCK, Inspector of Ordnance, United States Navy. Chief of Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography. BUREAU OF ORDNANCE AND HYDROGRAPHY, NAVY DEPARTMENT, SIR: 1. Your communication of the 29th is this day received. 2. With reference to the enlarged vent of the 5.1-inch semi-steel gun, the bureau would suggest that the same plan be adopted as that prescribed for the 7-inch at Cold Spring, viz: to plug up the original vent, open the one on the opposite side, bouche and fire it. 3. In regard to the trouble about finishing the 74-inch rifles in New York, you will please exercise your own discretion in the matter, under the sanction of the bureau. By order of Chief of Bureau. Very respectfully, Commander R. B. HITCHCOCK, H. A. WISE, United States Navy. Inspector of Ordnance, New York. BUREAU OF ORDNANCE AND HYDROGRAPHY, NAVY DEPARTMENT, SIR: 1. Your communication of the 6th instant is this day received. With reference to the prolonged proof of the 7-inch rifle, by referring to the bureau's letter of 28th November, you will find it specifically stated that the weight of the shell is to be about 125 pounds; and in the letter inclosing the sketch for cartridge-formers, of 7th instant, the charge is laid down of 10 pounds cannon powder. |