h issue. Nevertheless, the Assistant Secretary of War
ordered the issue to be made to the Eleventh corps of the remaining
9,800 shells and cartridges, which order was obeyed.

In November, 1862, Mr. Gardiner offered to sell to the United States his
explosive musket shell and cartridge at $35 per thousand, calibre 58.
The Assistant Secretary of War at once ordered 100,000, of which 75,000
were calibre 58 for infantry, and 25,000 calibre 54 for cavalry service.

In June, 1863, the Second New Hampshire volunteers made a requisition
for 35,000 of these shells, and by order of the Assistant Secretary of
War, they received 24,000. Of this number, 10,060 were abandoned in
Virginia and 13,940 distributed to the regiment. The report of this
regiment, made subsequently, shows that in the third quarter of
1863--that is, from July 1st to October 1st--about 4,000 of these shells
were used in trials and target firing, and about 10,000 were used in
action. The Second New Hampshire regiment was in the battle of
Gettysburg, and 49 of its members lie buried in the cemetery there.

The above statement shows that the Assistant Secretary of War, against
what might be regarded as the protest of the Chief of Ordnance,
purchased 110,000 of the Gardiner explosive musket shells, and issued to
the troops in actual service 35,000, leaving 75,000 on hand at the close
of the war.

In 1866 the Russian Government issued a circular calling a convention of
the Nations for the purpose of declaring against the use of explosive
projectiles in war. To this circular the then Chief of Ordnance of the
United States, General A. B. Dyer, made the following reply, which I
have but little doubt expresses the sentiment which actuated General
Ripley in his disapproval of the purchase and issue of the Gardiner
musket shell:

ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, August 19, 1868.

HON. J. M. SCHOFIELD, _Secretary of War_:

Sir--I have read the communication from the Russian Minister in
relation to the abolishment of the use of explosive projectiles in
military warfare, with the attention and care it well deserves.

I concur heartily in the sentiments therein expressed, and I trust
that our Government will respond unhesitatingly to the proposition
in behalf of humanity and civilization. The use in warfare of
explosive balls, so sensitive as t