Lot 1351

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Description:

(1826-1906) American sailor and engineer who was instrumental in the creation of the transatlantic cables, telegraph lines that ran on the seafloor from Europe to North America. Resigned from the U.S. Navy to join the Confederate Navy where he played a role in converting the USS Merrimac into the ironclad CSS Virginia, as well as developing a new rifled naval gun known as the Brooke Rifle. Good content A.L.S., 3pp. 4to., Lexington, May 5, 1869 to Union brigadier general and engineer Henry L. Abbot (1831-1927) who was at the time conducting experiments for the U.S. Army, regarding his thoughts on a new explosive agent. In part: '...In glancing over the 'Annual Scientific Discovery for 1868' I notice a description for the Palliser projectile prepared for the nine in. rifle from which description it may be inferred that the Rachet Sabot has been adopted...by the English...have you any information on recent experiments with it? I wish to call to your attention an idea which occurred to me during the war which may not be new for you...the employment of gun cotton in rifle shells, particularly against armor. You are aware of the great power developed by gun cotton of pressure when fired...such application could be made with great effect. I was prevented from making the experiments by failure to procure gun cotton during the war. What do you think of it?...' Minor ink show-through, else fine condition. Nitrocellulose, or 'gun cotton', is a highly flammable agent made by exposing the compound cellulose to various acids. The result is a potent explosive that was stronger than contemporary gunpowder as a propellant for projectiles. Both sides during the Civil War were likely aware of the advantage gun cotton had over regular powder, yet its instability was not fully understood at the time. Because of this it was never widely adopted by the North or South, but it would be developed further into the twentieth century.

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August 25, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000