Whig Against Tory | Page 5

which signifies great noise; because, when they burst, they make a great noise. They consist of a large shell of cast iron, which is round and hollow. A hole is made through the shell to receive a fusee, as it is called; this is a small pipe, or hollow piece of wood, which is filled with some combustible matter. When a bomb is about to be fired, it is filled with powder, after which the fusee is driven into the vent, or hole of the shell."
William. "How are bombs fired, father?"
Gen. P. "They are thrown from a kind of cannon called a mortar. It has its name from its resemblance to a common mortar. The lower part of the mortar is called the chamber, which contains the powder. When fired, the powder in the chamber not only sends the bomb, but at the same time, sets fire to the fusee, which continues to burn slowly, as it passes through the air, and the calculation always is, to have the fire from the fusee reach the powder in the shell, at the moment the latter reaches the ground. It then bursts, and the scattering fragments of iron often do horrible execution."
William. "Did you say, father, that mortars Were short guns?"
Gen. P. "Land mortars are quite short; sea mortars, or such as are used on board vessels, are longer and heavier, because they are usually fired at greater distances. A land mortar, which will throw a shell thirteen inches in diameter, weighs thirteen hundred weight; the weight of the shell is about one hundred and seventy-five pounds; it contains between nine and ten pounds of powder; and is fired by means of about the same quantity of powder."
William. "Pray, father, who invented bombs?"
Gen. P. "The inventor is not known; they have been in use since the year 1634.
"Some years after the above affair, Crosby himself related the manner in which the soldiers contrived to escape unhurt. When a shell rose in the air, every one would stop working, and watch its course, to ascertain whether it would fall near him. If it appeared to approach so near, as to endanger any one, he would dodge behind something, till it had burst, or passed by."
John. "Father, could a soldier dodge a cannon ball?"
Henry. "Why, John! I should think you knew enough, not to ask so foolish a question."
Gen. P. "Not so bad a question neither, master Henry; under some circumstances, a cannon ball might he avoided."
William. "Not when it is first fired, father."
Gen. P. "True; but when it has nearly spent its force, a person might easily get out of its way. But even when a ball only rolls along the ground, apparently slow, it would be dangerous to attempt to stop it: especially if large. I recollect to have read of a soldier, who saw a ball rolling towards him, which he thought to stop with his foot; but, poor fellow! it broke his leg in an instant.
"Some of the American soldiers at St. Johns, were too intent upon their labour, to pay much attention to the shells. Crosby was one. All on a sudden, a fellow-soldier near by called out in a tone of thunder, 'Crosby! look out! take care! take care!' Crosby looked up, and directly over him, a shell was descending."
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"He had but a minute to think--he dropped flat upon the ground, and the shell just passed over him. 'A miss,' thought he, 'is as good as a mile;' but he said, after such a warning, he kept one eye upon the enemy.
"The rude fortification was soon completed, and served as a shelter till night, when the American troops silently departed. Taking to their boats, the next day they reached the Isle Aux Noix?"
William. "Is not that a French name?"
Gen. P. "Yes; my son--a name given to the Island, while the French had possession of it. Do you know where it lies?"
William. "It is a small island, near the northern extremity of Lake Champlain."
Gen. P. "Right. It is pronounced Eel-o-nwar; and signifies the island of nuts."
John, "Did the people find walnuts there, father?"
Gen. P. "Some kind of nuts doubtless, my son; but whether walnuts, or hazel nuts, or some other kind, I am unable to say."
Henry. "Pray, John, don't ask so many foolish questions, I want to hear the story."
Gen. P. "But you would wish your brother to know the reason of things, would you not, master Henry? It was quite a proper question, and one it seems none of us can answer. We must examine the point some time, and let master John know.
"The American troops had not been long a this island, before many of them were taken sick and sent to the hospital. Crosby was of the number. But he had no idea of confinement. In