Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/384

 374 Southern Historical Society Papers.

375,510 sets of infantry and cavalry accoutrements; 188,181 knap- sacks; 478,498 haversacks; 328,977 canteens and straps; 115,087 gun and carbine slings; 72,413,854 small arm cartridges; 146,901,250 percussion caps; 69,418 cavalry saddles; 85,139 cavalry bridles; 73,611 cavalry halters; 35,464 saddle-blankets; 59,624 pairs spurs; 42,285 horse-brushes; 56,903 curry-combs.

The enormous amount of "thirteen hundred field pieces of all descriptions," classed among the issues, does not signify that that number was manufactured at the arsenal, but that number includes all those obtained by manufacture, by purchase, or by capture, and afterwards issued therefrom. The writer in the Enquirer further says: "Assuming that the issues from the Richmond Arsenal have been half of all the issues to the Confederate armies, which may be approximately true, and that 100,000 of the enemy were killed, not regarding the wounded and those who died of disease, it will appear from the statement of issues that about 150 pounds of lead and 350 pounds of iron were fired for every man killed, and if the proportion of killed and wounded be as one to six, it would further appear that one man was disabled for every 200 rounds expended. In former wars, with the old smooth-bore musket, it was generally said, ' his weight in lead is required for every man who was killed.'

And from the issues of the arsenal it does not appear that the improved rifle requires a pound less.

It will appear to one fond of statistics, who may reduce the mov- ing force of the projectile to horse-power, that the force required to kill one man in battle will be represented by about one thousand horse-power.

Some general remarks in reference to the conclusion of the war and the destruction of the arsenal may not be out of place.

There was a large number of Federal prisoners in and about the city. Libby prison was filled with officers, and Belle Isle with many privates.

To release these was the object of cavalry raids against the city, when the main army was absent.

All the operators of the arsenal, and the Tredegar Works, and employees of the departments were organized in regiments, and were called to the field when a raid was expected.

So they literally worked with their muskets by their sides and so valuable were the lives of the skilled artisans, that it was said if three iron-workers in the regiment of the arsenal were killed, the manufacture of cannon would stop.