The Daily Dispatch: October 1, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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The "Regulator."

In noticing the merits of the various weapons used in our late engagements in Western Virginia, it must be conceded that the artillery is the most effective arm of the service in that mountainous country. With a view to making that arm still more efficient, a correspondent suggests that instead of arming reinforcements for that locality with the country which is but a dead latter the rifle of the backwoodsman, we should give our troops something in the way of very light cannon. Now a 12-pound cannon answers pretty well, well except for the of carrying it over the steep roads of that rough region. The same objection is raise of the howitzer. Besides, that being a very short gun it scatters the charge too much at long range. As a substitute, it is proposed that we try the "Regulator"--a gun costing two or three hundred dollars, weighing about two pounds, resembling the Columbiad in shape, six feet long, 2-inch calibre, mounted on light wheels, drawn by a single horse, manned by three gunners, point-blank range of ten yards, with the accuracy of a hunting rifle at the cartridge of the powder and musket balls.

A single company would manage ten of these guns, and well-directed, would be yards as that of a whole regiment or infantry at one-half that distance.

Will not some patriotic gentlemen test the experiment?