of Connaught. It formed part of the kingdom of Connaught previously to
the arrival of the English, in the reign of Henry II. Subsequently it
came into the possession of one of the family of the O’Connors, kings of
Connaught, who was called O’Connor Sligo. After a protracted struggle
between the natives and the English, it fell into the hands of the De
Burgos, who either by force or treaties had made themselves masters of
the greater part of the ancient kingdom of Connaught. It became the
theatre of several conflicts in the war against O’Neil, chieftain of
Tyrone, in the latter part of Elizabeth’s reign. The most remarkable of
these was that with Sir Conyers Clifford, who in attempting to pass into
the country from Roscommon with a body of from 1500 to 2000 men, in
order to relieve Belleek, was attacked in a defile of the Curlew
Mountains by O’Roark, chieftain of Breffney, was himself killed and his
troops were driven back with considerable loss. During the civil wars of
1641, the Irish kept possession of the open country until nearly its
close, when they were reduced to submission by the Parliamentary forces
under Ireton. In the subsequent war of 1688 this country was held by the
forces of King James for some time, but ultimately yielded to the
victorious arms of William III. The French force which landed at
Killalla under Gen. Humbert in 1798, had a severe skirmish at Coloony
with the Limerick militia, commanded by Col. Vereker, afterwards
Viscount Gort, which ended in the retreat of the latter.
=Sligo.= The chief town of the above county, and a seaport, situated on
the mouth of the river Garrogue. In 1641, it was taken without
opposition, by the Parliamentarians, under Sir Charles Coote, who was
afterwards attacked by a force collected by the Roman Catholic
archbishop of Tuam, which retreated in consequence of an alarm being
spread that a large force was approaching to relieve the town. When
retiring they were attacked by the Parliamentarian forces, the
archbishop killed, and on his person was found the important document
exposing the secret communications which took place between Charles I.
and the Irish Catholics. Coote subsequently evacuated the town, which
thence continued in possession of the royalists till the termination of
the war. In 1688 it was taken for King William by the Enniskilleners,
who, in turn, were driven out by Gen. Sarsfield; but the place
ultimately surrendered to the Earl of Granard.
=Sling.= A weapon much in use before the introduction of fire-arms,
consisted of a piece of leather, with a round hole in the middle, and
two cords of about a yard in length. A round pebble being hung in the
leather by cords, the latter were held firmly in the right hand, and
swung rapidly round. When the stone had attained great speed, one string
was disengaged, on which the stone flew off at a tangent, its initial
velocity being the same as it had at the last moment of revolution. This
velocity gives far greater range and force than could be imparted in
mere throwing. The men who used this weapon were called _slingers_.
=Sling.= A leather strap attached to a musket, serving to support it
across the soldier’s back, as occasion may require.
=Sling-cart.= See HAND SLING-CART.
=Slingers.= See SLING.
=Slope Arms.= A word of command in the British service, for placing the
musket upon the shoulder with the butt advanced. In marches, soldiers
are almost invariably permitted to slope arms.
=Slope, Interior.= See INTERIOR SLOPE.
=Slopes.= The approaches to the crest of heights are by slopes, which
may be either gentle or steep. When these slopes are gentle, the fire
from the crest can be made an effective one by reason of its “grazing
action.” Especially will it be so with artillery fire when properly
directed. When slopes are quite steep, the fire will be a plunging one,
and will be apt to pass over the heads of the attacking troops.
Especially will this be the case with the fire of artillery.
=Sloping Swords.= In the British service, is a position of the sword
among cavalry, when the back of the blade rests on the hollow of the
right shoulder, the hilt advanced.
=Slow Time.= The same as common time, by which troops on foot march at
the rate of ninety steps per minute.
=Slow-match.= See LABORATORY STORES.
=Slugs.= Cylindrical or cubical pieces of metal, discharged from a gun.
=Slur-bow.= A species of cross-bow formerly used for discharging fire
and arrows.
=Smalcald.= See SCHMALKALD, LEAGUE OF.
=Small-arms.= Are portable fire-arms known as muskets, rifles, carbines,
pistols, etc., and were first invented about the middle of the 14th
century. At first they consisted simply of a tube of iron or copper,
fired from a stand or support. They were loaded with leaden balls, and
were touched off by a lighted match held in the hand. They weighed from
25 to 75 pounds, and consequently two men were required to serve them.
The difficulty of loading these weapons, and the uncertainty of their
effects, as regards range and accuracy, prevented them from coming
rapidly into use, and the cross-bow was for a long time retained as the
principal projectile weapon for infantry. The difficulty of aiming
hand-cannon, arising from their great weight, was in a measure overcome
by making them shorter, and supporting them on a tripod, by means of
trunnions which rested on forks. This arm was called an _arquebuse_
(which see). The next improvement in the arquebuse was to make it
lighter, and inclose it in a piece of wood called the _stock_, the butt
of which was pressed against the left shoulder, while the right hand
applied the match to the vent. It was still very heavy, and in aiming,
the muzzle rested in the crotch of a fork placed in the ground. To give
steadiness to the aim while applying the match to the priming, a species
of lock was next devised, which consisted of a lever holding at its
extremity a lighted match. In firing, the lever was pressed down with
the finger until the lighted end of the match touched the priming. This
apparatus, known as the _serpentine_, continued in use until it was
replaced by the _wheel-lock_, which was invented in Nuremburg, in 1517.
(See WHEEL-LOCK.) The _petronel_ was a wheel-lock arquebuse of larger
caliber and lighter weight than its predecessors. See PETRONEL.
_Musket._--The musket was first introduced by the Spaniards, under
Charles V. The original caliber of the musket was such that 8 round
bullets weighed a pound; the piece was, consequently, so heavy that it
was necessary to fire it from a forked rest inserted in the ground. The
size of the bore was finally reduced to 18 bullets to the pound; and
from this arm was derived the late smooth-bored rifle.
_Rifle._--It is generally stated that the rifle was invented by Gaspard
Zoller, of Vienna, and that it first made its appearance at a
target-practice at Leipsic, in 1498. The first rifle-grooves were made
parallel to the axis of the bore, for the purpose of diminishing the
friction of loading forced or tightly-fitting bullets. It was
accidentally discovered, however, that spiral grooves gave greater
accuracy to the flight of the projectile, but the science of the day was
unable to assign a reason for this superiority, and the form, number,
and twist of the grooves depended on the caprice of individual
gunmakers. About 1600, the rifle began to be used as a military weapon
for firing spherical bullets. In 1729, it was found that good results
could be attained by using oblong projectiles of elliptical form. The
great difficulty, however, of loading the rifle, which was ordinarily
accomplished by the blows of a mallet on a stout iron ramrod, prevented
it from being generally used in regular warfare. The improvements which
have been made of late years have entirely overcome this difficulty, and
rifles have now superseded the smooth-bored arms.
_Muzzle-loading Guns._--The following are among the most prominent
muzzle-loading guns in use prior to 1860:
_The Lancaster Elliptic Rifle._--So called, although the elliptical
rifle is very old. The bore in this rifle is slightly oblate; the twist
found, by experience, to be most advantageous is one turn in 52 inches,
the approved diameter of the bore .498 inch, the length of the barrel
being 32 inches. An eccentricity of .01 inch in half an inch is found
sufficient to make the bullet spin on its axis to the extreme verge of
its flight. The length of the bullet found to answer best with these
rifles is 2¹⁄₄ diameters in length, with a windage of four- or
five-thousandths of an inch.
_Nuthall’s Rifle._--In the ordinary mode of grooving rifles, sharp
angles are left between the groove and “land” (those parts of the
smooth-bore left in their original state after the process of grooving
has been completed). These create great friction with the projectile,
both in loading and discharging. Maj. Nuthall removes these objections
by rounding off the “lands” into the grooves, that is, making them a
series of convex and concave curves, the bore assuming a beautiful
appearance to the eye, for the smoothness and evenness with which the
lands and grooves blend into each other.
_Enfield Rifle._--This rifle has three grooves, taking one complete turn
in 78 inches, firing a bullet resembling the Minié, except that a wooden
cup was substituted for one of iron. Its diameter is .577 of an inch,
its bullet weighs 530 grains, and ranges with great accuracy for 800
yards, and fairly up to 1100. There are also Gen. Boileau’s rifle, and
some others which our space will not admit of our noticing. The
extraordinary efficacy of the breech-loading principles, especially in
combination, have, however, only been very prominent during the wars of
the last few years, and notably in the Prussian campaign of 1864 against
Denmark, and of 1866 against Austria. The successes of the Prussian arms
were attributed in no small degree to the rapidity with which their
troops could fire as compared with the enemy. They had in greater or
less numbers borne these same rifles since 1835, but these were the
first opportunities of using them in warfare. To all other powers, whose
men still carried muzzle-loading rifles, and who had debated, without
practical result, for years past the question of armament with
breech-loaders, soldiers thus armed appeared irresistible. From July,
1866, to the present moment, the hammer and the anvil have been busy
throughout the civilized world in making the weapons of death yet more
deadly. Scarcely two countries seem to have adopted the same plan: each
nation has elaborated a system from among its own inventors. Those
possessing no great reserve of rifles have prepared new arms, but the
majority of governments have been content, in the first instance, to
convert their existing stock into needle-firing breech-loaders of as
good a construction as circumstances would permit. The advantage of
breech-loading is obvious: to be able to insert the charge at the head
of the barrel instead of at its mouth, is to save time and avoid
exposure to hostile fire during the operation of loading and ramming
home, which of necessity involves considerable outstretching of the
limbs. The great condition of success is, that the bullet shall be
propelled with equal force and with equal safety to the rifleman, as
from the muzzle-loader. When a charge is ignited the constituents of the
gunpowder, assuming a gaseous condition under the heat engendered,
expand into a volume of light gas many times greater in bulk than the
powder before occupied. On the amount of this expansion, and its sudden
action on the projectile, the force of the shot depends. Any joint in
the breech-piece through which a portion of this gas can escape, without
having imparted its thrust to the ball, tends, therefore, to lessen the
range and penetration; while the shock of the explosion falling more
severely on this than on any other part of the barrel, tends yet more to
dislocate the breech-piece and diminish the closeness of the joint’s
fit. In weapons which do not call for a long range, as revolvers and
pistols, a perceptible interval is left between the chamber and barrel,
through which much gas escapes; but in rifles, which have range and
penetration as principal objects, there is _prima facie_ ground for
preferring a muzzle-loader. The gas, however, is far from pure as
generated in the barrel, for much water is produced and held in
suspension, while there is also a solid residuum consisting of unburned
materials of the powder. In the muzzle-loader, these clog (or,
technically, foul) the barrel, filling the grooves and rendering the
ramming home of succeeding charges more and more difficult. The effect
is, that a solid mass of unburned matter is gradually forced by ramming
into the head of the barrel, destroying the accuracy and usefulness of
the weapon. In the breech-loader, this solid deposit must be provided
against both ways. The backward throw on firing (for, of course, the
charge explodes with equal power in every direction) tends to force it
into the mechanism of the joints, preventing their proper fit, and
continually augmenting the escape of gas. On the other hand, the deposit
is prevented from accumulating in the barrel by the fact that succeeding
charges are inserted behind it, and, by their explosion, force the solid
matters out at the muzzle. Thus, in the matter of fouling, if the gases
can be prevented from blocking up the breech-apparatus, the
breech-loader has a great advantage over the muzzle-loader. This
protection of the breech-apparatus is the problem which inventors have
had to solve. The following are the most notable among breech-loading
arms:
The American _Springfield_, model of 1873. The barrel is of “low steel,”
caliber .45 inch, rifled with three concentric grooves of equal widths
with the lands, and of the uniform depth of .005 of an inch, and uniform
twist of one complete turn in 22 inches. The _lock-plate_ is 0.175 inch
thick, and let in flush. The exterior metal-work is browned. An open
swivel is attached to the upper band, for stacking arms, instead of
locking bayonets, us heretofore; also a “trowel bayonet” and
“intrenching tool.” Length of rifle-barrel including receiver, 36
inches; carbine, 25.4 inches. Length of rifle-bayonet, 18 inches; crook
of stock, 2¹⁄₂ inches, and distance from butt to trigger, 13¹⁄₂ inches.
Total length of rifle, without bayonet, 51.9; of carbine, 41.3 inches;
weight of rifle without bayonet, 8.38 pounds; of carbine, 6.87 pounds.
Trigger adjusted to pull at 6 to 8 pounds.
_Remington._--This is a magazine-gun, and belongs to that system in
which a fixed chamber is closed by a bolt, by direct action, and in
which the lock is concealed. The magazine is in the tip-stock, and
carries 8 cartridges, which are brought into the chamber by the action
of the trigger; the mechanism is so arranged that no more than one
cartridge can enter the chamber at the same time. The magazine is loaded
from below, and in any position of the bolt.
_Sharps._--See SHARPS RIFLE.
_Spencer._--A magazine-gun, holding 7 cartridges which are brought one
by one into the chamber by a movement of the trigger-guard as a lever,
which at the same time throws out the shell of the exploded cartridge. A
new magazine can be inserted whenever the cartridges have been
exhausted, or the magazine may be shut off and the rifle used as a
single breech-loader.
_Winchester._--Same pattern as the Spencer.
_Snider Rifle._--So called from its inventor, the essential features of
which are that the breech-block revolves around an axis on the right of
and parallel to the axis of the bore, and the firing-pin passes
obliquely from the nose of the hammer, through the breech-block, to the
centre of the base of the cartridge. This was the first form of
breech-loaders adopted by the British government, which in 1866 directed
that the old Enfield muzzle-loaders should be altered to breech-loaders
upon this system.
_Martini-Henry._--Adopted by the British government, has a
breech-loading apparatus on the Martini system united to a barrel rifled
on the system of Henry, a gunmaker of Scotland. Martini, a Swiss,
derived his system of breech-loading from the Peabody system of the
United States by dispensing with the independent outside lock and
substituting therefor a spiral-spring firing-bolt or striker, inclosed
in the breech-block; the number of grooves is seven; in shape they are
flat at the bottom; the lands are narrow, having the appearance of sharp
ribs, which are designed to take a firm hold of the bullet. It is
understood that these grooves are made somewhat deeper at the breech
than at the muzzle. The twist is one turn in 22 inches. There is a brass
collar around the head of the ramrod to prevent injury to the bore in
wiping out. The weight of the rifle is 8¹⁄₂ pounds; of bayonet 14¹⁄₂
ounces. The weight of rifle with bayonet attached 9 pounds 11 ounces.
_Mauser Rifle._--This rifle is used in Prussia, and is a modification
of the Chassépot system, by which it is adapted to the use of the
metallic gas-check cartridge. It was invented in 1871. The mechanism of
this gun is much simpler than the needle-gun, and has a longer range.
_Chassépot Rifle._--The Chassépot rifle is used in France, and was
introduced shortly after the Austro-Prussian war of 1866. In its
principal features it resembled the Prussian needle-gun, inasmuch as the
breech was closed with a sliding-bolt, and it fired a self-primed
paper-case cartridge, which was ignited by a needle impelled by a spiral
spring. Unlike the needle-gun, however, it was provided with a
gas-check, which was of the form of a thick india-rubber disk or
packing, attached to the end of the breech-bolt, and it possessed the
modern improvements of reduced caliber and rapid twist of the
rifle-grooves for obtaining great range and accuracy of fire. The
Chassépot was the principal arm used by the French army during the
German war. Since that time efforts have been made to adapt it to fire
the modern metallic-case cartridge. The plan of alteration to this end
adopted by the French authorities is that submitted by Capt. Gras of the
French artillery committee. The length of the bore, including the
chamber, is 32.28 inches; the length of the complete arm, without
sabre-bayonet, is 50.8 inches; and with the bayonet it is about 72.0
inches. The weight with the bayonet is 10.3 pounds; without the bayonet,
8.9 pounds. The grooves are four in number, and of a width equal to that
of the lands; the depth of the grooves is 0.0118 inch; the twist is one
turn in 21.6 inches, and is from right to left instead of from left to
right, according to the usual practice. The pull on the trigger is
thought to disturb the aim by carrying the muzzle of the arm slightly to
the right; the object of grooving the barrel to the left is to correct
this disturbance by the drift which follows the direction of the twist.
The initial velocity is stated to be 420 metres (about 1377 feet), and
the effective range extends to 1700 yards, about one mile. The rapidity
of fire is 15 times per minute. The Russian army is armed with two
patterns of _Berdan_ breech-loaders. One lot of 30,000, in which the
breech-block swings upward and forward, was manufactured by the Colt’s
Patent Fire-Arms Company, Hartford, Conn., and a second lot of 30,000 on
a sliding breech-bolt system made in Birmingham, England. The
latter-named arm was adopted for the entire Russian army. The following
are the principal dimensions: Diameter of bore (caliber), 0.42 inch;
length of barrel, 30.43 inches; total length of arm without bayonet,
50.38 inches; length of arm with bayonet, 70.38 inches; number of
grooves, 6; twist, one turn in 20 inches; weight of arm with bayonet,
9.75 pounds.
_Vetterlin Rifle._--Is a repeating rifle used in the Swiss service, and
is a Swiss invention, the peculiarity of which is the union of a
cartridge magazine with a sliding-bolt-breech system. The following are
the principal dimensions: Caliber, 0.41 inch; number of grooves, 4;
depth of grooves, 0.0086 inch; width of grooves, 0.0177 inch; twist of
grooves, 26 inches; length of barrel, 33.14 inches; length of arm
without bayonet, 51.18 inches; length of arm with bayonet, 70.08 inches;
weight of arm without bayonet, 10.14 pounds; with bayonet, 11.02; weight
of rifle with magazine filled, 12.12 pounds; initial velocity, 1341
feet.
_Werndl Rifle._--Adopted in the Austrian service in place of the
alteration of Wanzl, is the invention of Joseph Werndl, a gun
manufacturer of Styria, and is applied to muskets, carbines, and
pistols. The breech-block in this system vibrates around an axis
parallel to and below the axis of the bore prolonged to the rear of the
chamber. The barrel of the musket is made of cast steel. Its length is
33.14 inches, including the chamber, which is 2.07 inches. Its weight is
3.83 pounds. The rifle-grooves are six in number, and their depth is
0.007 inch. The lands are 0.07 inch wide, and the grooves 0.15 inch. The
twist is one turn in 28.5 inches. The total length of arm, including
sabre-bayonet, 73.0 inches, while its weight, including the bayonet, is
about 11.5 pounds; without the bayonet the length is 50.5 inches, and
the weight 9.85 pounds. The barrel, bands, and sights are browned.
_Werder Rifle._--Adopted in 1869 for the Bavarian army, is the invention
of J. L. Werder of Nuremberg, and is known as the Werder system. It
belongs to the class of falling breech-blocks, of which the Peabody may
be considered the exponent in this country. It differs, however, from
this and most other guns of this class, as the breech-block is opened
and closed by the hammer instead of the lever-guard, giving, as claimed,
greater safety and ease of manipulation, especially when the soldier
loads lying on the ground. The rifle-grooves are four in number, their
depth is 0.0075, and twist is one turn in 22 inches. The diameter of the
bore is 0.435; the length of the barrel, including chamber, but
exclusive of breech-frame, is 35.0; the weight of the arm without
bayonet, 9.75 pounds. The breech-loaders with and without the
needle-arrangement are too numerous to mention, but the most notable are
given above. See MAGAZINE GUNS, and LYMAN’S MULTI-CHARGE GUN.