When was it published?

March 15, 1765 in The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Foreign News March 15, 1765

The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Q: What keywords are associated?

Scotch Shoemaker, War Instrument, Bayonets, Military Invention, Portable Machine

Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire

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What is this article about?

A Scottish shoemaker and military man invents a portable war instrument operated by six persons, equivalent to a regiment's firepower, discharging 4400 balls in two minutes, easily disassembled, with deployable bayonets and a simple discipline system.

Clipping

OCR Quality

95% Excellent

Full Text

A Scotch shoemaker has contrived an instrument of war, by means of which six persons are to do as much execution as a whole regiment. This instrument, if we may believe the projector, will discharge 4400 balls in the space of two minutes; is quite portable and easy of carriage; in case of surprize may be knocked to pieces & rendered entirely useless to the enemy; and if recovered again by any change in the field, may be set together in less than a minute and an half, so as to be as fit for use as before. In case also of any sudden charge either by horse or foot during the intervals of loading, at the touch of a spring a harvest of bayonets are to raise with their points directed towards the foe. To this the inventor, who though a shoemaker, is likewise a military man, has added a system of discipline, relative to the use of his machine, perfectly easy and speedily to be learnt.

What sub-type of article is it?

Military Invention

What keywords are associated?

Scotch Shoemaker War Instrument Bayonets Military Invention Portable Machine

Where did it happen?

Scotland

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Scotland

Event Details

A Scotch shoemaker, who is also a military man, has invented an instrument of war that allows six persons to perform the execution of a whole regiment. The instrument discharges 4400 balls in two minutes, is portable and easy to carry, can be knocked to pieces in case of surprise to render it useless to the enemy, and can be reassembled in less than a minute and a half if recovered. It features a spring mechanism to raise bayonets against sudden charges by horse or foot during loading intervals. The inventor has also added a system of discipline for its use that is easy and quick to learn.