Virginia Argus

From the New York Mercantile Advertiser.

To the Editor.

SIR,

As our Government is procuring arms, the following extract of a note in Col. Macdonald's translation of the French Tactics, is worthy of attention.

"To avoid the inconvenience of running the Ramrod in loading such as striking it against the faces, heads or arms of the men in the other ranks, or letting it fall: the Prussians do not turn it, and therefore would in less time than they would by turning it. The Ramrod is made cylindrical and to prevent increase of weight, is made thick at both ends, and smaller along the rest of its length.

The Touch hole or vent of the Prussian musket, which is shaped inwards like a truncation; renders the motion of priming unnecessary, as the piece primes itself, from the conical construction of the vent, the external orifice of which is not wider than it generally is, in ramming, the powder passes in sufficient quantity into the pan; no powder is spilt in priming, the whole charge enters into the barrel; time is saved, and the effect of the shot is more powerful. The Austrians at first ridiculed this improvement, and afterwards imitated it."

"In the Prussian service, a piece of leather is sewed round the barrel, where the hand holds it in loading, to enable the hand to hold it heated as it will become after ten or twelve quick discharges."