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Book - "R e p o r t of Experiments on Gunpowder, Made at Washington Arsenal, in 1843 and 1844. By Captain Alfred Mordecai, Of the Ordnance Department. Washington: Printed by J. And G. S. Gideon, 1845. First edition, contains 6 plates and numerous charts (one of the charts is folding). See Plates below for descriptions. BIOGRAPHY: Alfred Mordecai (1804-1887), Jewish North Carolina engineer, writer, Mexican War Army major, ordnance expert, instituted scientific testing of new weapons systems, sat out the Civil War, taught mathematics. He built & tested the cannon pendulum, to which was; added a musket pendulum, for the determination of similar principals in; reference to small arms. 1st edition, he wrote the 1st USA book on ordnance in 1841; Works include Digest of Military Laws, Report and Second Report of Experiments on Gunpowder, Ordnance Manual for Officers of the U. S. Army, Artillery for the U. S. Land Service, and Field Manual for the use of the Officers on Ordnance Duty of the Confederate States of America. PLATES: 1. Plan of Washington Arsenal 2. Cannon pendulum* 3. Ballistic pendulum* 4. Apparatus for closing the vent 5. Ballistic pendulum 6. Musket pendulum * Shown in listing pictures CONTENTS: Letter from G. Talcott, Lt. Col. Ordin., to Secretary of War, William Wilkins, and approval for publication Letter of Wilkins, Feb. 1845 Contents Errata Introduction Part First 1. Programme of the experiments 2. Experiments with the cannon pendulum and its ballistic pendulum Journal of Experiments with the 32-pounder gun pendulum Journal of Experiments with the 24-pounder gun pendulum 3. Journal of the experiments with the musket pendulum and its ballistic pendulum 4. Journal of the experiments with the 1-pounder gun pendulum 5. Journal of the experiments with an 8 inch mortar 6. Journal of the experiments with the U. S. mortar eprouvette 7. Journal of the experiments with the French mortar eprouvette 8. Journal of the experiments with the English pendulum eprouvette 9. Journal of the experiments with Alger’s eprouvette 10. Experiments on the relative densities of various kinds of gunpowder Gravimetric densities Specific gravities 11. Comparative sizes of grain of various kinds of gunpowder 12. Experiments on the relative quickness of various kinds of gunpowder 13. Comparative hygrometric test of various kinds of gunpowder 14. Meteorological Register Part Second Summary of the experiments on gunpowder 1. On the density of gunpowder 2. On the relative size of grain 3. On the relative quickness of burning 4. On the hygrometric text of gunpowder 5. Analysis of the experiments with the cannon pendulums 6. Summary of the experiments with the musket pendulum 7. Summary of experiments with an 8-inch mortar 8. Proof of gunpowder with the U. S. mortar eprouvette 9. Proof of gunpowder with the French mortar eprouvette 10. Proof of gunpowder with the English pendulum eprouvette 11. Summary of the experiments with the 1-pounder gun pendulum 12. General view of the results of the experiments 13. Conclusions Major Alfred Mordecai was born in Warrentown, North Carolina, in 1804 and died in 1887. He entered West Point at age 15 and he graduated first in his class in 1823. Upon graduation, Mordecai became an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy in New York. Later, he was commissioned in the engineers and was involved in the construction of two forts in Virginia. Eventually, he became commander of the Washington Arsenal. Mordecai was recognized for his meritorious service in the line of duty during the Mexican War (1845-1847) with his promotion to Major. When the war was over, he was sent to Mexico to adjust claims for losses suffered by Mexicans during the conflict. The military sent him and Captain George B. McClellan, who became one of the top generals in the Civil War, to observe the Crimean War in 1854. They were granted a private conference with Czar Nicholas I and Mordecai's observations were published by Congress. Mordecai made important contributions to the military technology with his introduction of scientific research and development to the military art. He wrote several notable books on the military, which included Second Report of Experiments in Gun Powder (1849) and Ordinance Manual for the Use of Officers of the United States Army (1841, revised in 1850). When the Civil War between the states broke out in 1861, it created a dilemma for him. He was tom with his love for the South, his distaste for secession and his loyalty to the army and country. Mordecai made a decision to retire from the U.S. Army at age 57, so he wouldn't have to fight against either side. His devotion to his conscience probably cost him a higher place in American history. When he resigned, he was one of the best military professionals in the country. He was on a par with all the well-known generals of the Civil War. His son, Alfred Mordecai, Jr., whose feelings were less sensitive to his Southern heritage, joined the North in the Civil War in 1861. He died with the rank of General in 1920.

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