When was it published?

February 18, 1768 in The Virginia Gazette

Foreign News February 18, 1768

The Virginia Gazette

Q: What sub-type of article is it?

Military Innovations, Engineering Experiments

Q: What keywords are associated?

Gunpowder Traps, Moving Battery, Woolwich Experiments, Mr Cross, Warlike Inventions, Horse Drawn Battery, Remote Demolition

Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia

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What is this article about?

On September 26, reports describe ingenious but unadopted warlike experiments by Mr. Cross at Woolwich, including gunpowder traps triggered by pressure or lifting, remote demolition of a major London building, and a perfected horse-drawn moving battery allowing 50 men to resist 1,000 with various armaments.

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Full Text

Sept. 26. We hear that part of the ingenious warlike experiments made by Mr. Cross at Woolwich, and found to answer, but not adopted, for particular reasons is, 1. To fix gunpowder under the earth, and when trod upon to be blown up. 2. To fix gunpowder under a gate, and when opened will be blown up. 3. To fix gunpowder under the earth, and by lifting up any thing that he may lay thereon will be blown up. 4. To fix gunpowder under the greatest building on London side of the Thames, Mr. Cross will stand on the opposite side and blow it up, without using match or train. Besides several other useful things in the engineer way. He has brought to perfection also a moving battery, which is to be drawn by horses, and is to be made use of in time of battle, when fifty men can withstand one thousand firing cannon, small arms, hand grenades, &c. &c.

What sub-type of article is it?

Military Innovations Engineering Experiments

What keywords are associated?

Gunpowder Traps Moving Battery Woolwich Experiments Mr Cross Warlike Inventions Horse Drawn Battery Remote Demolition

What entities or persons were involved?

Mr. Cross

Where did it happen?

Woolwich

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Woolwich

Event Date

Sept. 26.

Key Persons

Mr. Cross

Outcome

experiments found to answer but not adopted for particular reasons; moving battery brought to perfection.

Event Details

Part of the ingenious warlike experiments made by Mr. Cross at Woolwich: 1. To fix gunpowder under the earth, and when trod upon to be blown up. 2. To fix gunpowder under a gate, and when opened will be blown up. 3. To fix gunpowder under the earth, and by lifting up any thing that he may lay thereon will be blown up. 4. To fix gunpowder under the greatest building on London side of the Thames, Mr. Cross will stand on the opposite side and blow it up, without using match or train. Besides several other useful things in the engineer way. He has brought to perfection also a moving battery, which is to be drawn by horses, and is to be made use of in time of battle, when fifty men can withstand one thousand firing cannon, small arms, hand grenades, &c. &c.