The Gun Club

           DuringtheWaroftheRebellion,anewandinfluentialclubwasestablishedinthecityofBaltimoreintheStateofMaryland.Itiswellknownwithwhatenergythetasteformilitarymattersbecamedevelopedamongthatnationofship-owners,shopkeepers,andmechanics.Simpletradesmenjumpedtheircounterstobecomeextemporizedcaptains,colonels,andgenerals,withouthavingeverpassedtheSchoolofInstructionatWestPoint;nevertheless;theyquicklyrivaledtheircompeersoftheoldcontinent,and,likethem,carriedoffvictoriesbydintoflavishexpenditureinammunition,money,andmen.

           ButthepointinwhichtheAmericanssingularlydistancedtheEuropeanswasinthescienceofgunnery.Not,indeed,thattheirweaponsretainedahigherdegreeofperfectionthantheirs,butthattheyexhibitedunheard-ofdimensions,andconsequentlyattainedhithertounheard-ofranges.Inpointofgrazing,plunging,oblique,orenfilading,orpoint-blankfiring,theEnglish,French,andPrussianshavenothingtolearn;buttheircannon,howitzers,andmortarsaremerepocket-pistolscomparedwiththeformidableenginesoftheAmericanartillery.

           Thisfactneedsurprisenoone.TheYankees,thefirstmechaniciansintheworld,areengineers—justastheItaliansaremusiciansandtheGermansmetaphysicians—byrightofbirth.Nothingismorenatural,therefore,thantoperceivethemapplyingtheiraudaciousingenuitytothescienceofgunnery.WitnessthemarvelsofParrott,Dahlgren,andRodman.