HAHB-^OOK ^jfrv/i li *14 X'i VV. I.{ \ COL. GEORGE WASHINGTON FLOWERS MEMORIAL COLLECTION DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY DURHAM. N. C. PRESENTED BY W. W. FLOWERS ^iincL)3c&^ jjei-jetf^- intCjje cr^ % i><» ^ „v ^" V.T \ *^ THE HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. BY CAPT. JOSEPH ROBERTS, Fourth Regiment Artillery United States Army. J. W. RANDOLPH : 121 MAIN-STREET, RICHMOND, 7 A 1861. # - 60 error's ilA. PR^tlEEDINGS. The following Report was made by the Committee appointed at a meeting of the staff of the Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Va., to whom the commanding officer of the School had referred this work : Your Committee to which hae been referred the consideration of the work of Captain Roberts, proposed as a text-book for the Ar- tillery School, beg leave to submit the following Report, viz : The work submitted by Captain Roberts and entitled "Hand- book of Artillery," embraces sections on the following subjects. [For subjects see Table of Contents, page 7.] Under each of these heads, except the last, the work contains a number of questions and answers. Your Committee have careful- ly examined each of these questions and their corresponding an- swers, and find that the answers have been principally drawn from the following sources, viz : Gibbon's Artillerist's Manual, Light and Heavy Artillery Tactics, and the Ordnance Manual, all of which works have been authorized by the War Department. — Wherever the prescribed authorities furnish the means of answer- ing the questions, they appear to have been followed as closely as possible. The idea of the arrangement, and a few of the questions and an- swers, appear to have been taken from "Burns' Questions and An- swers on Artillery ;" but that work has been so far deviated from, as fairly to entitle the present work to be considered as an original compilation: a2 2 8 P ■^- ^^ ^^ 4 PROCEEDINGS. Ill the opiuiou of your Committee, the arrangement of the iuL- jects and the selection of the several questions and answers have been judicious. The work is one which may be advaniageouslj used for reference by the oflRcers, and is admirably adapted to the instruction of non-commissioned officers and privates of Artillery. Your committee do therefore recommend that it be substituted as a text-book in place of "Burns' Questions and Answers on Ar- tillery." (Signed) I. VOGDES, Capt. l8T Arty. (Signed) E. O.C.ORD, Capt. 3d Art't. (Signed) J. A. HASKIN, BvT. Maj. and Capt. 1st Art'y. The preceding Report was adopted, and the Staff recommended this work as a book of instruction at the Artillery School^ in lieu of "Burns' Questions and Answers on Artillery." THE FLOWERS COLLECTION PREFACE. The following compilation originated in an attempt to adapt Lieut. Col. Burns' "Questions and Answers on Artillery" to the United States service. The British Artillery being very different fro& ours, it was found necessary to omit many of Burns' ques- tions, and to introduce others. The compiler is under great obligations to several of his brother oflBcers at Fort Monroe (especially to Major Haskin, 1st Artillery), for their kindness in assisting him in the compilation of this little volume, and for important suggestions in the revision of many of the *■ answers." Fort Monroe^ Fa., 1860. 289935 CONTENTS. Page. Preface, - - - - - - - 5 General Table of Contents, _..---'}• Parti., Section 1. On Artillery in General, _ - _ o " " 2. On Guns, 24 ** " 3. On Howitzers, - - - - 26 •* " 4. On Columbiads, - - - - 2t " '* 5. On Mortars, ... - - 28 " " 6. On Sea-coast Artillery, - - - 32 «' '' n. Siege Artillery, - - - - 33 ■ " " 8. Field Guns and Field Batteries, - - 36 Part II. *' 1. Pointing Guns and Howitzers, - - 46 " " 2. Pointing Mortars, - - - - 51 Part III. Charges, 54 IV. Ranges, 56 The pages of remainder of contents refer to the figures in the margin of the text. V. Ricochet, [73 VI. Recoil, .TV VIT. Windage 80 VIIT. Gunpowder, 83 IX. Projectiles, . - - .. ^ - 90 X. Laboratory Stores, - ~ - _ _ _ 100 XI. Platforms, 118 XII. Artillery Carriages and Machines - - 123 XIII. Practical Gunnery, - - - , _ - 147 XIV. Miscellaneous, - - - ... 351 App.^ndix — Rifle Canuoa, - - - - _ . 103 Index, -- -,,_,, 16Q a4 THE HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. PAj^T I^ SECTION I. . ARTJiraERY m GENERAL. 1. What is underllood by the terra Artillery 1 HeavJ firetiarms of every description. 2. How many kind-s of Artillery are employed ift the land service of the United States? Four, viz. : Guns, Howitzers, Columbiad's, and Mor- tars. ^ 3. How are'these pieces distinguished? According to their use as Sea-coast, Garrison, Siege, and Field Artillery. 4. What metals are used in the construction of Artil- lery ? All heavy artillery, such as that for sea-coast, siege, ai'id garrison equipment, is made .of iron ; and that for ^Q-| field service of bronze. -■ 5. What is bronze for cannon ? An ALLOY consisting of 90 parts of copper and 10 of tin, allowing a variation of one part of tin more ot less. It is commonlv called brass. a5 10 nAKD-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 6. Why is bronze used in preference to iron, for field pieces ? This metal, havin"; i^reater tenacity and strength than iron, the pieces can be made lighter, 7. In what respect does iron merit a preference ? Iron is less expensive than bronze, and is more ca- pable of sustaining long-continued firing with larger charges; such pieces are, therefore, better calculated for the constant heavy firing of sieges. Note. — In the sieges in Spain, bronze gnns could never support a lieavier fire than 120 rounds in JjventyAur hours, ami were never used to hatier lA distances exceeding 3U0 yards , whereas, with iron guns, tlircc times that number of #bunds were fired with effect, from three times the distai^e, for several *'onsecutive*days, without an}' other injury than the cnlaM|wiient of their vents./"-. The comparative power of conducting nRit m iron and copper being respectively as 3,743 to 8,9.3^*taking j^ld at 10,000, it^jjfc evident that in jjracticing with iron and bronze pieces of tlfe sa^BT calibre, it would soon .become necessary lb reduce the charges, m the bronze pieces, and. also to increase the time ketwcdri tJtie d charges, to prevent their softening an^ droopiBg j/v^ile wi iron, full charges and rapid firing may be kept u^. * 8. What additional crbjection has been urge^ to bronze for cannon ? ' j JT ' The difficulty of formin* a perfect giffoy, i'nr conse- quence of the difference of fusibility- of tin and copper. 9. What iron pieces are used in the land service,? one or more of each. Battery Wagons, ) Spare spokes, 50 to each battery, ^ Spare fe/lies, 20 to each battery, Spare harness, ) in Horse-shoes and nails, ^ boxes. Gunpowder, saltpetre, sulphur, charcoal, laboratory pa- per, cannon-primers, (percussion and friction,) fuzes and plugs for field-service, slufFfor cartridge bags, wool- len yarn, cotton yarn, glue. 13. Are any other pieces ever used for field ser- vice ? Yes; sometimes the 12 and 18-pdr. siege guns, and 8-in. siege howitzer. 14. For what particular service are these different pieces most suitable ? The siege pieces for batteries of position ; the 12^-pdr. battery, for following the movements of infantry, and the 6-pdr. battery for those of cavalry. Note. — These siege pieces should be placed on the weakest points of a line, and on heights which either for.m a key to the position, or from whence the greatest and longest continued effect may be produced. 15. What are the peculiar advantages of Horse Artil- lery ? Possessing from their lighter construction and mounted detachments, much greater locomotive powers than other field batteries, they are especially adapted for following the rapid evolutions of cavalry, for sudden attacks upon particular points, and for suppoiting the advance or covering the retreat of an army. b2 40 HAND-BOOK OF ARTJLLERY. . «-| 16. How is a field gun mounted r -' Upon a four-wheel caniaoje, which answers for its transportation as well as, for its service, similar to a •>iege cariiage, but lighter, and the limber carrying an ammunition chest. 17. Where should a battery be placed before the com- mencement of an action ? As much as possible under cover, by taking advan- tage of banks, hollow-ways, buildings, woods, 8cc. 18. Is it advisible to move a battery at once into po- sition in the field ? * No , but if unavoidable, it should be masked as much as possible until ordered to open its fire. 19. How should a battery be masked ? If practicable, by covering it with cavalry, in prefer- ence to infantry, as the former does it more effectually, and is sooner moved out of the way. 20. In commencing an action, how should the fire of a battery be directed ? When the enemy is in line, the fire should be direct- ed over the whole line, and not upon the real points of attack ; but when in column, ready to advance, it should be concentrated upon the real points of attack. 21. How should batteries be placed in relation to the troops with which they are acting? Upon the flanks of a line, but at such a distance as not to impede its movements, and at the same time to be unfettered in their own ; the artillery may thus rep- resent the faces of a bastion, and the line of troops the curtain. 22. Is the front of a line of troops an advantageous position for a field battery ? On the contrary, it is the worst possible, as offering a double object to the enemy's fire, and greatly obstruct- FIELD-GUNS AND BATTERIES. 41 .;--, ing the movements of the troops while a position -• in rear is nearly as bad, as the fire might seriously injure, or at least, greatly disquiet them. 23. In supporting ati attack, what precautions are necessary ? The battery should be carefully kept clear of the in- tended' line of march of our own troops, and such points occupied as may afford the greatest annoyance to the enemy. 24. How should batteries be disposed with regard to the enemy's troops? Generally so as to secure a cross fire on his position, and on all the ground over which he moves to the at- tack, endeavoring to take him at all times in the direc- tion of his greatest dimensions ; that is, obliquely or in fiank when in line, and in front when formed in col- umns. Moderate heights, commanding as much as pos- sible the surrounding country, should always be taken advantage of, but not such as may prevent operajlions in advance if required. 25. Is it imperatively necessary to confine positions for field batteries to the flanks of a line? When, from particular circumstances, the front of the army is too extended, and unavoidabh' divided into two lines, it may become necessary to place one or more batteries in the centre, if those on the flanks are unable to sweep the whole front; but great care must be taken not to impede the advance -or retreat of the troops when required. 26. Should the fire of the field batteries be carried on at the same uniform rate ? .p-| Certainly not ; the destruction of the enemy be- -' ing the object, it follows that at distant ranges a greater degree of care is required in pointing the guns ; the fire is slow and steady, and increasing in rapiditv as b3 42 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. the enemy advances, Avithout, however, impairing its precision. 27. Should the fire of field batteries be carried on in salvoes or otherwise? Never in salvoes; but in a regular manner, well sus- tained, and with distinct intervals between every round, commencing slowly, and increasing in rapidity as the range diminishes. 28. Is the fire of batteries more efficacious when dis- persed than when concentrated.? The effects of the fire will be in proportion to the number of guns brought together, and therefore, in order to strike a decisive blow, this should at once be done. 29. What projectiles are used with field guns ? Solid shot, spherical case, and canister. 30. At what distance from the enemy should the sev- eral kinds of projectiles be employed with field battery pieces ? Solid shot from 3.50 yards and upwards ; spherical case from 600 up to 1,000 yards, although it may be used within the first range ; and canister within 350 yards or up to 400 against extended formations. 31. What number of rounds can be fired from a field gun in one minute '' Two solid shot or spherical case, or three of canis- ter. 32. Why are more rounds of canister fired in a min- ute than of solid shot or spherical case ? .„-, Because the latter are fired at greater distances -■ than canister, and require the piece to be carefully aimed, thus requiring more time. 33. What is the smallest number of guns that may with safety be employed in the face of an enemy ? FIELD-GUNS AND BATTERIES. . 43 Never less than two, in order to secure a continuous file and mutual support. 34. Is the practice of employing field batteries against those of the enemy recommended ? Only under peculiar circumstances ; as for instance, when his troops are well covered and his guns exposed, or their fire very destructive. Their fiie should be directed principally against col- umns of attack and masses, or upon positions which are intended to be carried. 35. In what time could a battery come into action in the field ? It could come into action and fire one round in 25 seconds, timing from the order " action front " to the discbarge of one piece. 36. Suppose cavalry to be advancing to attack infan- try, and first observed at the distance of a mile, jiassing over the first half mile at a trot ; and next quaiter of a mile at the manoeuvring gallop ; and the remaining dis- tance at an increased gallop, terminating with the charge; occupying altogether about six minutes; during the last 1^00 yards of their advance, how many rounds per piece might a battery fire in that time ? Eleven rounds with effect, thus : From 1,500 to 650 yards, - - 3^ 32^^ — spherical case, - - T " 650 to 350" " - - 0^ 48^^— solid shot, - - -2 " 350 to close quarters, - 0^ 34''^ — canister, - - - - 2 37. What number of rounds could a battery fire ^.q against infantiy supposing thein to pass o.ver 1,500 L yards in about 16^ minutes ? Thirty-six rounds with effect, viz: From 1,500 to 650, quick step, 9^ 45^^ — spher. case, - - - 19 650 to 350, " 3^ .50^^— solid shot, ■• - - 1 " 350 to 100, " 2^ 30^^— canister, - - - - 8 100 to closer double quick \n/ wz—can - 2 quarters. \ and the charge. }^ "^^ can, - ^ 44 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 38. Should the enemy attempt to force the passngeof" a river, what is the best position for artillery to oppose it ? Wherever the best cross fire can be obtained in order to obstruct and harrass him as much as ])ossible, and if he has succeeded in passing over any portion of his troops it should be directed against their formation. 39. When the enemy is making tlie passage of a river in reti'eat, where should your guns be posted ? In '^uch a position as to beai- upon the batteries that cover the retreat, and also upon his biidges. 40. In forcing the passage of a river, what is the most advantageous position for artillery .'' The bridge being generally laid in a . re-entering an- gle, batteries should be posted on each side of the bridge, and far enough from it to secure a cross-lire on the opposite bank. 41. Should the indiscriminate expenditure of ammu- nition be permitted in the field during action } U[)on no account; ammunition should at all times be carefully husbanded, particularly at the commence- ment of an action, as the want of it at the close may decide the fate of the day; it should also be sparingly used in skirmishes and miner affairs, especially when .Q-n at a distance from supplies, or in anticipation of a -' general action. 42. When should the reserve be employ(Hl ? When a particular point of the line requires addi- tional support, a favorable position is to be seized, au impression has been made on the line by the enemy, a forward or reti-ograde movement is in contemplation, or when a determined attack is to be made on him, then the reserve should come up and take part in the action ; and it is of the utmost importance that this FIELD-GUNS AND BATTERIES. 45 should be done as expeditiously as circumstances will permit. 43. Where should the reserve be placed previous to an engagement ? In rear with the second line, out of the range of shot, and as little exposed as circumstances will admit, but always in such a position as to have ready access to the front or rear. 44. Should guns be lightly abandoned before an en- emy ? Never until the very last extremity. An artille- ryman must never forget that his gun is his proper ARat ; that here lies his strength ; that here is his post of honor and of duty ; also, that the last discharges are always the most destructive, and may possibly insure the safety of the whole army, or turn the tide of victory in their favor. 15. What is the position for cavalry when placed in support of a battery ? On its flank, about the distance of 100 yards, and as much concealed as possible. 46. What is the proper position of field batteries when infantry squares are attacked by cavalry .'* When infantry are formed in squares to resist '^^r. the charge of cavalry, the guns should be placed ^ outside at the angles of the squares, the limbers, horses, &c., inside. Should the detachments be driven fronn their guns, they will retire into the square, after dis- charging their pieces, and taking with them the sponges and other equipments; the moment the enemy has re- tired, they recommence their fire. Supposing the in- fantry formed in echelon of regimental squares, and that the time or small extent of the squares would not admit of the limbers, &c., being placed inside, then the wagons and limbers should be brought up with their b5 46 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. / broadsides to the front, so as to occupy, if possible, the space between the guns, leaving no irdervals for the cavah-y to cut through : the prolonge or drag ropes might also offer an effectual nnomentary impediment to them, if properly stretched and secured. [51 PART II. SECTION I. Pointing guns and howitzers. 1. What is meant by the term pointing a piece } To point a piece, is to give it such a direction and el- evation, or depression, that the shot may strike the ob-. ject ; and the rule (except in case of mortars) is : First give the direction and then the elevation, or depression. 2. When a shot is fired from a piece, by how many forces is it acted on ? By three. — 1st. The impulsive force of the powder, whicli urges it forward. 2d. The resistance of the air, which tends to stop it. 3d. The force of gravity which causes it to descend. 3. Why is it necessary to give a certain degree of elevation to a piece ? Because a shot describes, under the action of the above forces a curve called a trajectory, which is sit- uated below the prolongation of the axis of the piece, the extent of its departure from this line increasing with the time of flisrht. Therefore the more distant the POINTING GUNS AND HOWITZERS. 47 object, the greater must be the elevation to enable the shot to reach it. 4. How is the direction given to a gun or howitzer ? By directing the line of metal upon the object. ;-o-] 5. How is the elevation or depression given? ^ The elevation or depiession, which depends up- on the charge, the distance, and the position of the ob- ject above or below the battery, must be ascertained from tables or by experiment, and tlie proper degree given by means of instruments. 6. When will the object be struck by merely direct- ing the line of metal upon it? But in one case, — when it is at point blank distance. 7. How must the line of metal be directed for all ranges less than the point-blank range, in order to strike it? So as to pass below the object. 8. Give a simple rule for .firing at objects within point-blank. Add to the point-blank range the difference between it and the lequired range, set the scale to the elevation corresponding to this sum, as shown by tables of firing. Then aim the gun directly at the object ; now apply the scale, and observe where the visual ray of the scale strikes the ground, and having- noted this point, aiin the gun directly at it. 9. How must the line of metal be diiected for ranges greater than the point-blank range, in order to strike it ? Above it*. 10. When the line of metal passes over the object, what instruments must be employed for giving the proper elevation ? The "gunner's quadrant, or the breech-sight. 11. How is the quadrant used ? After the direction has been given, the quadrant is b6 48 HAXD-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. ^r>-. applied, either by its longer branch to the face of "^^ the piece, or this branch is run into the bore par- allel with tlie axis, or it may be applied to the upper sui fare of the lock-piece, making the allowance due to its inclination with the axis of the piece, which ought to he pieviously determined, and the elevating screw tiiiiKHl or the quoin adjusted, until the required degree is indicated. 12 How is 4he breech-sight used ? It is first set to the elevation corresponding to the dis- tance ; it is then applied to the highest point of metal on the base-ring, and by the elevating screw, or quoin, the notch of the breech-sight, the highest point on the swell of the muzzle, and the object, are brought in the same line. 13. Wl]at is a line thus determined called ^ jt\n aitificial line of sight. 14 In the absence of 'instruments, how may the ele- vation be given .? By placing one or more fingers of the left hand upon the base-ring, perpendicularly to the axis, and using tliem as a breech-sight. Xoiic. — III i)ractice it is well to fire two or three shot to deter- niinc the ran^e experimentally^ as it is affected hy divers causes. 15. Should the line of metal be always directed in the vertical plane passing through the object.? No ; as in practice there are circumstances (as, for in>tance, a strong wind blowing across the field of fire) whirh will cause a ball to deviate from this plane, it iollows that to strike the object, in such a case, the line of metal must be directed to its right or left ; the. gunner judging of the distance by observing the strikin": of the shot. POINTING GUNS AND HOWITZERS. 49 16. Is the line of metal a permanent line under j-^, all circums^tances .'' L* No , in batteries for garrtsou and sea-coast defense, where the platforms are fixed, the line of metal may be con>idered as nearly permanent ; but wiiii siege guns, which are mounted on traveling carriages, the wheels of which are liable to vai-y in position from un- evenne.ss of ground, or unequal settling in newly con- structed platforms, this line is constantly changing. It approximates the higher wheel in proportion to the dif- ference of level between the wheels ; and hence, to secure the greatest accuracy of fire, it must be fre- quently verified ; the old marks, if not found correct, should be erased and new ones substituted. 17. When the notches or sights, which are sometimes made upon the ba>'f, - For Shells, J ^arge charV, lbs. 2.5 1.5 11.... 1.95 I. lbs. 2.5 2.5 3.25 lbs. 1.75 2. 2.50 lbs. 0.75 l.OO 1.00 lbs. 0.5 0.5 0.5 CHARGES FOR HEAVY GUNS, COLUMBIADS AND HOWITZERS GDNS. COLUMBIADS. HOWITZERS. c'i 00 i c o sz V c oo 00 o .1° « Sea-Coast. 10-in. Sin. lbs. 10.5 lbs. 8. lbs. 8. lbs. 6. ... lbs. 14. lbs. 8. lbs. 4. lbs. 2. lbs. 12. lbs. 8. GREATEST CHARGES OF SEA-COAST SIEGE AND COEHORN MORTARS. SEA COAST. SIEGE. COEHORN. STONE MORTAR. C 00 c 5 ii i! if to 2 lbs. 20. lbs. 10. lbs. 4. lbs. 2. Ib^. 0.5 lbs: 1.5 lbs. 1. RANGES. 57 PART IV. RANGES. 1. What is meant by the range of a piece of artil- lery ? The distance from the muzzle to the first graze. 2. How may the range of a projectile be extended ? Either by raising the piece to a higher level, or by giving its axis greater elevation within certain limits. 3. Define point-blank range ? The distance from the muzzle of the piece to that point in a shot's trajectory where it cuts the prolonga- tion of the natural line of sight, a second time. 4. In what does the French definition for point-blank range differ from ours ? It requires that the natural line of sight should be horizontal. 5. What is the British definition for point-blank range ? The distance from the muzzle to the first graze when the axis of the piece is parallel to the plane upon which the carriage ^tands. 6. Explain by a figure the position of, and relations existing between the line of sight, the line of fire or avis of the piece, and the trajectory, and also what the point-blank range is. HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. ABcF, the line passslng through the highest points of the base ring and swell of the muzzle, or the muzzle band, is called, the natural line of sight. EPcG, is the axis of the piece oi line of fire ; the curve line, PgD, described by the projectile, is called the trajectory, and is entirely below the line of fire, in consequence of the action of the force of gravity giving the projectile a downward tendency. The point D is called the point- blank; and its distance from the mouth of the piece, the point-blank range. 7. Mention some of the causes which var\' the point- blank range. The form of the cannon ; the weight or force of the charge ; the diameter and weight of the projectile ; and the inclination of the line of sight to the horizon. 8. Why has the form of the cannon an influence on the point-blank range .'' Because as the difference between the diameter of the breech and muzzle become greater, the angle of sight, BcP= GcF (see fig.) increases, and the point- blank D is removed farther off; on the contrary, as the diameters approach to an equality, the point-blank ap- proaches the piece. Within a certain angle, or when there is no angle of sight, as is the case with some old howitzers in which the line of sight is parallel to the RANGES. 59 axis of the bore, there will be no point-blank, as r^r the trajectory will be constantly below the line of l sight. 9. What influence has the charge on the point-blank range .'' An increase of the charge determines a more distant point-blank ; its diminution produces a contrary eifect : but beyond a charge equal to one-third the weight of the ball, the increase of range is inconsiderable, and the force of the recoil becomes very great. 10. How do the diameter and weight of the projec- tile affect the range ? As the ball increases in size and density, it will over- come with more ease the resistance of the air. 11. Does the inclination of the line of sight to the horizon have much effect on the point-blank range ? Only when this inclination is very considerable. For the ordinary inclination, from 0° to 15°, above or below the horizon, the difference may be wholly neglected. 12. What is the effect on the point-blank #ange of firing upwards under a large angle ? The action of the weight being nearly directly op- posed to the impulsive force, the trajectory becomes compressed and the point-blank distance diminishes. The contrary efl'ect obtains in firing downwards under a similar angle, as the weight and the force then act in nearly the same direction. 13. Why may the point-blank be considered constant for the same calabre r The dimensions, charges, and weights of projectiles, being constant, and the inclination of the natural line ^^-| of sight, except in a very few cases, being com- -' piised between 0° and 15°, it follows that for the same calibre, the point-blank may be considered con- GO IIAND-BOOK OF AIlTILLEllY. slant, and may serve as a point of reference in firing; at tUfferent di.-tances. 14. What is the extreme range of a piece of artil- lery ? The distance from the piece to where tne projectile finally rests. 15. For a given velocity what effect has an increase of the angle of fire on the range ? It increases with the angle of fire up to a certain limit, beyond which it diminishes. 16. What angle gives the greatest range in vacuo? Forty-five degrees. 17. When will this angle give the maximum range in practice ? Only for feeble charges, and very" heavy projectiles. 18. How is the angle of greatest range in practice af- fected by a change in the velocity and size of the pro- jectile } It seems to diminish as the velocity is increased, and as the b#ll is reduced. For the mu>ket the angle of maximum range varies iVom 28*^ to 30° ; and is nearly 42° for mortars. 19. Under what angle is a mortar usually fired ? Under the constant angle of 45°, and the charge is varied according to the range required. 20. What are the advantages of this practice ? Economy of ammunition ; the recoil bemg inconsid- erable, the mortar and its bed receive but little strain; the ranges are more uniform, and th-e effect of a slight error in the angle of fire is less than with any other. P^ , 21. Is the mortar ever fired at any other angle ^'-J than 45°.? Yes ; sometimes at 60°. 22. W^hen is the mortar fired under an angle of 60° } RANGES. 61 When the battery is situated very near the object as- sailed, and it is desired that the shells may fall upon the magazines of the besieged. It is evident that pro- jectiles the higher they are thrown up acquire more velocity in falling, besides striking the object more di- rectly and with increased violence. 23. Under what angle are stone-mortars usually fired ? Under an angle of 60°, and sometimes of 75°, that in falling from a great height, the stones may have the max- imum force of percussion. 24. Under what angle should grenades be thrown from stone mortars ? About 33° ; otherwise they will be buried in the earth, and their fragments will not be sufficientl}' de- structive. 25. When a gun or howitzer is aimed with the line of metal horizontal, what is the elevation equal to? The natural angle of sight or dispart. 26.' How is the time of flight for siege mortars at an elevation of 45° determined ?» It is nearly equal to the square root of the range in feet divided by four. 62] RANGES OF FIELD GUNS AND HOWITZERS. [68^ KIND OF PIECE. Pow- der. Ball. Eleva- tion. Range Remarks. lbs. deg. inin yds. 6-Pounder Field Gun. 1.25 Sliot. 1 2 3 4 318 647 867 1138 1256 P. B. Range. (( 5 1523 1. Sph. ca.se. 2 650 Time of flight 2" " 2 30 840 do. 3" " 3 1050 (io. 4" 12-Pounder Field Gun. 2.5 Shot 347 1 1 30 2 3 4 662 785 909 1269 14.55 P. B. Range. c.- 5 1663 1.5 Sph. case. 1 670 Time 2 seconds. u 1 45 950 " 3 " " 2 30 1250 u 4 u 12-Ponndf;r Field 1. Shell. 195 Howitzer. 1 2 3 4 539 640 847 975 " 5 1072 0.75 Sph. case. 2 15 485 Time 2 seconds. a 3 15 715 u 3 " 3 45 1050 " 4 « 24 Pounder Field 2. Shell. ■ •29.-) Howitzer. a 'I a 1 o 3 4 516 793 976 1272 a 5 1322 1.75 Sph. case. 2 600 Time 2 seconds. u 3 800 " 3 " " 5 30 1050 u 4 a 2. " 3 30 880 u 3 a 32-PoundtT Field 2.5 Shell. 290 Howitzer. iC 1 .531 779 c: 3 4 5 1029 1203 1,504 2.5 Sph. case. 3 800 Time2,\' sec'ds. RANGES, 63 RANGES OF FIELD GUNS AND HOWITZERS Cojltd. [69. KIND OF PIECE. Mountain Howitzer. Pow- der. 0.5 0.5 Ball. Eleva- tion. Range! Shell. cleg, min >f^ 1 300 2 392 2 30 500 3 637 4 78.5 5 1005 Sph. case. 2 30 150 4.50 3 500 4 700 4 30 800 250 Canister. 4 to 5° Remarks. Time 2 seconds. Time 3 seconds. Time 2 seconds. Time 2>4 sec'ds. Time 3 seconds. RANGES OF HEAVY ARTILLERY. • KIND OF PIECE. Pow- der. Ball. Eleva- tion. Range Remarks. lbs deg. min yds. 18-Pdr. Siege and Garri- 4.5 Shot. 1 641 son Gun on Barbette if 1 30 800 Point Blank. Carriage. a 2 3 950 1256 4 5 1450 1.592 24 Pdr. Siege and Garri- 6. Shot. 412 son Gun on Siege Car- u 1 842 nage. (< (( 1 30 2 3 953 1147 1417 Point Blank. 4 5 1666 1901 8. a 1 2 3 4 5 1 45 883 1170 1454 1639 1834 32-Pdr Sea-Coa.^tGun on 6. Shot. 900 Barbette Carriage. 8. a 1 1 30 1 35 2 3 4 5 713 800 900 1100 1433 1684 1922 10.67 i' 1 780 2 3 1155 1517 64 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY, 70] RANGES OF HEAVY ARTILLERY COntiiUied. KIND OK PIECE. Pow- der. Ball. Eleva- tion. Range Remarks. lbs. de^. min Vd.s. 42-rdr. Soa-Coast Gun 10..5 Shot. 1 775 on Barbette Carriage. a 1 30 860 2 1010 3 4 1300 1600 (( 5 19.55 14. u 1 2 3 770 1128 1380 cc 4 1687 i( 5 1915 8-ii). Sief^c; Howitzer on 4. 451b Shell 251 Time % sec'da. Siege Carriage. iC 1 435 " ly^ " a 2 618 u 2 « a 3 720 " 3 « <^ 4 a (( 4 992 (I 5 1241 u 5 ic u 12 30 2280 24-Pdr. Iron Howitzer on '2. 17-lbSlicll IJ 2y5 a Plank Casemate Car- 1 516 riage. a 5 l;>22 1>4 Snh. case. 2 600 Time 2 seconda ^ a 5 30 1050 (c 4 a 2. a 3 30 1 880 cc 3 cc 8-in. Sea Coast Howitzer 4. 45 lb Shell 4U5 on aBarb(;tte Carriage. « 2 652 3 4 5 875 1110 1300 6. a 1 572 2 3 4 5 828 917 1168 1463 8. 1 2 3 646 909 1190 <( 4 1.532 a 5 1800 10-in. Sea Coa>t Howit- 1-2. 90-lb Shell 1 580 zer on Barbette Car- .t 2 891 Time 3 seconds. nage. a 3 1185 cc 4 cc a 3 30 1300 i( 4 1426 " 5j< " cc 5 1650 c 6 cc RANGES. 65 RANGES OF HEAVY ARTILLERY — Continued. [71 KIND OF PIECE. Pow- der. Ball. Eleva- tion. deg. inin Range Remarks. yds. 8-in Coluriibiad on Bar- 10. 65-Ib. Shot 1 932 Axis of gun 16 bette Carriage. 2 1116 feet fove the u 3 4 5 6 1402 1608 1847 2010 water. " 8 2397 Shot ceased to 10 2834 ricochet on the 15 3583 water. 20 4322 > 25 4875 a 27 4481 % la. 27 30 4812 10. 50-lb. shell 1 2 919 1209 3 4 5 6 8 10 1409 1607 1813 198.5 2203 2657 15 20 25 27 3556 3716 4387 4171 1.0. 128-lb.sht. 27 30 4468 10 in. Colunibiad on Bar- 1«. U 394 Axis ot gun 16 bette Carriage. 1 752 feet above the 2 3 4 1002 1230 1570 water. 5 1814 f 6 2037 Shot ceased to 8 2519 ricochet on the 10 2777 water. 15 3525 20 402Q 25 4304 30 4761 35 5433 20. 39 15 5654 1-2. lOoTbTh^n 1 o 3 4 5 800 1012 1184 1443 1604 18. 448 66 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 72] RANGES OF HEAVY ARTILLERY — Continued. KIND OF PIKCE. Pow- der. Ball. Eleva- tion. Range Remarks. lbs. deg. niin yds. 10-in Colunibiad on Bar- 18. 100 Ibshll. 1 747 bette Carriage— Cont'd 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 15 20 1100 1239 1611 1865 2209 2489 2ri48 3200 3885 . " 25 41.50 " 30 4651 " 35 4«28 Time 35 sec'da. 13-in. Sea Coast Mortar yo. 200 Ibslill. 45 4325 lime 40 sec'ds. 10-in. Sea-Coast Mortar. 10. 98-lb. shil. 90 lb. slill, 45 4250 Time 36 sec'ds. 10-in. Siege Mortar. i. 45 300 Time 6.5 sec'ds 1.5 " 700 " 12. " 2. «< 1000 a 14. u 2.5 a a 1300 « 16. 'i 3. ic u 1600 <' 18. " . 3.5 "• u 1800 " 19. « 4. a 2100 " 21. " Ibsoz. 8-in. Siege Mortar. 8 45-lb. shll. 45 209 Time 6.75 sec'ds 12 " 376 u 9. « . 1 'i •i 650 " 11.5 " 1 4 (C 943 u 14. u 1 8 a a 1318 " 16.5 " 1 12 a 1.522 " 18.5 " 2 " a 1837 " 20.5 " 24-Pounder Coeliorn 0.5 17-Ib. .shll. 45 25 . Mortar. 1. '•■ a 68 1.5 a '( 104 1.75 " a 143 o a a 165 2.75 a a 260 4. u " 422 6. u " 900 8. ~Tb~ "■ " 1200 Stones. Stone Mortar. 1.5 120 Ib.-i. 60 C 150 I to ( 250 1. ( 15 6 jxir. I shells. 33 50 Fuze 15 seconds to 150 Note. — Fire-balls, according to their size, are fired from mortars of cor" responding calibres. With a charge of one twenty-fifth its, weight the ball is thrown 600 or 700 yards. ' RICOCHET. 67 [73 PART y. RICOCHET. 1. What is understood by ricochet firing 1 That obtained by firing a piece at very small angles of elevation, by which means the projectile which falls on ground of ordinary firmness at an angle not greater than 10°, or upon water at 4° or °5, will make one or more bounds. In this case the projectile is said to ricochet. 2. What is the object of ricochet firing? To enfilade a face of the enemy's work, which is ef- fected by causing a projectile to bound along the terre- plein of the face with the view of annoying his canno- neers, and dismounting his pieces, [t is employed also in harassing an enemy, when formed or in the act of forming behind a rising ground or other obstacle, taking post in a wood, &.c.; and in enfilading a line of troops. 3. What are the peculiar advantages.of this fire. In being able to reach objects which cannot be reached by direct fire, on account of intervening ob- stacles. 4. In enfilading a face of an enemy's work, what is the object to be fired at? Usually some point of the interioi- crest of the parapet which covers a flank of the terreplein to be reached. 5. What is the point of fed H The point of the terreplein which is first struck .«-. by the projectile, after having grazed the interior ^ crest. 68 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 6. What is the angle of fall 1 It is the angle made at the point of fall by the tangent to the trajectory with a horizontal line in the plane ot fire. 7. How does the angle of fall compare with that of elevation ? It is greater. 8. Upon what do the charge and elevation depend ? Upon the distance of the object from the battery ; upon the difference of level between these points ; the distance of the desired point of fall from the parapet; the height of the parapet, &c. 9. If the embrasure be such that the object is masked, how is the piece pointed ? The direction must be given, as with the mortar, by the plummet; this is held by the person who points, in such a manner as to cover both the line of metal and the object. The elevation is theR given by the quadrant. 10. What is the maximum angle of elevation in rico- chet firing ? Against troops it should seldom exceed 3° above the surface of the ground occupied by them. Against for- tresses, forts and fortified lines, it varies from 3° to 9° above the hofizomtal. 11. At what distance from the object should the, ricochet battery be placed? Never at a gieater distance than 600 yards. 12. In enfihiding a work, how should the ricochet firing be conducted } The projectile should be made to graze the parapet ^--| whih'. in the descending branch of the trajectory; -^ and th(s must be effected by regulating the charges and elevating or depressing the piece until the shot is seen to fall just over the interior crest of the parapet. RICOCHET. 69 Li<2;bt charges are generally used, varying from iwo- Viirds to one-eighth of the ordinary charge. 13. What pieces are best adapted for ricochet fire } Those which throw heavy shells, for,, if used to enfi- lade a work, the shells lodge and explode in the tra- verses, and render the guns more liable to be dis- mounted, and their detachments put hors de combat. 14. What determines the nature of the ricochet ? The angle of fall : it h flattened when this angle does not exceed 6°, and cvrvated when it is between 10° ana r2°. In the fiist of these tires, the velocities are great, and in the second small. 15. .What are the charges for a flattened ricochet for siege guns at an angle of about 3°.'' See Table, page 70. 16. What are the charges for a flattened ricochet for siege howitzers at an iangle of about 3°.'' See table, page. 70. 17. What are the charges for a curvated ricochet for a siege howitzer at an angle of about 10° ? See table, page 70. 70 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. [76 CHARGES FOR A FLATTENED RICOCHET FOR SIEGE GUNS. •ISTANCK. CHARGE. 660 varil.s. 440 " 330 " 2° 45' 3° 15' 3' 15' 3° 35 1 12 weight of ball. 1-15 " 1-20 " 1-30 " " CHARGES FOR A FLATTENED RICOCHET FOR SIEGE HOWITZERS. DISTANCE. FXKVATIOM. CHARGE. 550 yards. 440 «' 3.30 " 220 " r 45' 2° 15' 2° IS' 2° 4.>' 3 lbs. 2 lbs. 3 oz. I lb. 12 oz. 1 lb. 2 oz. CHARGES FOR A CURVATED RICOCHET FOR SIEGE HOWITZERS. I( 5.')0 yards. 440 " 330 " ELEVATION. REMARKS. 1 lb. 4 oz. The lieiglit of tlio object above th< 1 lb. 1 oz.llevel of tiie battery being supposed t 14 oz.:be20 feel. 10 oz.l RECOIL. 71 [77 PART VI. RECOIL. 1. What is meant by the recoil of a piece of artillery ? The retrograde motion impressed upon cannon by the discharge is termed the recoil. 2. What causes the recoil of a piece ? The gas produced by the ignition of the charge in the bore, expanding with equal force in every direction, finds only two ways of escape (the muzzle and vent) ; the pressure upon these points will therefore cease, while t will be proportionally increased upon the parts directly opposite, that is, the breech and the lower part of the first reinforce, producing in the first case the recoil, and in the other, indirectly, the dipping of the muzzle. 3. How far does a gun usually recoil? This depends entirely upon the nature and inclina- tion of the ground upon which the carriage stands, the situation of the trunnions, angle of elevation, compara- tive weight of the gun and carriage, and upon the strength of the charge. 4. What proportion does the velocity of the recoil of a piece bear to that of a ball ? The proportion is inversely as their w^eights, or their masses. 5. What proportion exists between the pressure act- ing upon the part of the bore of a piece directly oppo- site the vent, and that which occasions the recoil r As the square of the diameter of the vent is 78] to the square of that of the shot. 72 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 6. Hns the recoil any efiect upon the flight of the projectile ? No appreciable efH^ct, the shot being expelled from the a:un before it has recoiled a fraction of an inch. 7. What are the principil inconveniences arising from the recoil of guns ? The necessity of running up the gun after every dis- charge, and consequent fatigue to the men and loss of time ; it also necessitates that a greater bieadth should be given to the terreplein of a work. 8. What cau>es the muzzle of a piece of artillery to dip when fired ? The suvlden pressure of the gas acting upon the por- tion of the fir>t reinforce opposite to the vent, causes the piece to strike dcjwnwards up-ju the elevating screw or quoin, and the reaction to make the muzzle dip. 9. What influence has the po'^ition of the axis of the trunnions in respect to that of the bore upon the recoil? If the axis of the trunnions be below that of the piece, the pressure of the breech upon the carriage will in- crease as the- distance between the axes increases: and from this pressure there will arise a friction upon the ground which will diminish the recoil. On the con- trary, if the axis of the trunnions be above that of the piece, the breech will have an upward tendency, the recoil will be in<:reast'd, but the carriage, and particu- larly the axletree, will be subjected to less strain. Hrnce. the recoil will be transmitted directly to the j-^-q trunnions, if their axis (as in our service) be situated •- in the same plane with the axi-- of the piece. The size of the trufjnions is made proportional to the force of the recoil. 10. Does the position of the trunnions with reference to the centre of gravity of the piece influence the recoil ? Yes; in cannon fired horizontally, or under very WINDAGE. TS small angles, the portion in rear of the trunnions is heavier than that in front ; an arrangement which in- creases the pressure of the trail on the ground so as to diminish the recoil. But in pieces fired under large angles, the trunnions are placed in rear of the center of gravity, for the purpose of increasing the ease of pointing. [80 PAKT VII. WINDAGE. 1. What is meant by windage? The difference between the diameter of the projectile and that of the bore. 2. Is it absolutely necessary to allow windage ? Yes, in order to make an allowance for a piece be- coming foul, the expansion of shot by heat, the incrus- tation of rust, and for the tin straps of fixed am- munition. 3. What advantages are derived from reducing the windage ? An increase in the accuracy of fire; a more exten- sive range, or an equal range with a smaller charge, as there is less loss of gas; and less injury to the surface of the bore. 4. Why should the bore suffer less injury by a dimi- nution of the windage ? Because in proportion to the decrease of windage C 74 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. there will be less space for the reflections of the shot along the bore, and consequently less injurious power exercised upon it. 5. What is the loss of velocity by a given 'windage proportional to? It is directly as the windage, and inversely as the diameter of the bore very nearly. [81 6. What is the loss of velocity by the windage of the ball? WINDAGE. 75 o O Initial velocity of ball. KIND OF GDK. 13 i So > 0) 33-pdr. Sea-Coast, lbs. 4 feet.. 1444 feet. 1271 feet. 173 percent. 12 24-pdr. Siege, - - j 4 6 1600 1890 1433 1723 167 167 10 9 12-pdr. 25 calibres, - J 2 3 4 1617 1915 2124 1444 1742 1951 173 173 173 11 9 8 12-pdr. Field, 16 calibres, 5 o 3 4 1528 1793 1992 1370 1635 1834 ' 158 158 158 10 9 8 6-pdr. Field, 1.5 1734 1560 174 10 7. What windage is allowed to guns IRON. BRASS. Sea-Coast. Siege and Garrison. Field. 42 32 24 18 12 12 6 inchts. 0.16 inches. 0.15 inches. 0.14 inches. 0.13 inches. 10 inches. 0.10 inches. 0.9 c2 . 76 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 82] 8. What windage is allowed to columbiads and howitzers : COLUMBIADS. HOWITZERfl. Iron. Brass. Iron. Sea-Coast. Siege and Garrison. Field. Moun- tain. a 6 a 00 s c 5 c 00 i i i -a P. in. 0.12 in. 0.12 in. 0.12 in. 0.13 in. 0.13 in. 0.14 in. 0.15 in. 0.14 in. 0.10 in. 0.10 9. What annount of windagre is allowed to nnortars .'* IRON. BRASS. IRON. Heavy. Light. Stone Mortar. Coehorn 24 pdr. Eprouvette. inches. 0.13 Indies. 0.13 inches. 0.13 inches. 0.12 inclics. inches. 0.14 inches. 0.025 GUNPOWDER. T7 [83 PAET YIII. GUNPOWDER. 1. What are the ingredients in gunpowder!' Saltpetre, charcoal and sulpliur. 2. What are the proportions ? In theUnited States, 75 to 76 saltpetre, 14 to 15 charcoal, and 10 sulphur. England, 75 Saltpetre, 15 Charcoal, 10 Sulphur. France, t5 " 12^ '♦ Vl\ Prussia, 75 " 13| " 11^ " 3. What is the combustible ingrediient.^ Charcoal. 4. What is the use of the saltpetre.^ It furnishes the oxygen necessary to support a rapid combustion, and to change the whole mass into gas. 5. What is the use of sulphur ? It adds consistency to the mixture and intensity to the flame, besides rendering the powder less liable to absorb moisture. 6. On what does the quality of gunpowder depend? On the intimate mixture and proper proportions and purity of the ingredients. 7. In what does the manufacture of gunpowder con- sist ? In pulverizing the ingredients, incorporation, com- pression, granulation, drying, glazing and dusting. 8. Explain the method of making gunpowder by ro . the pounding mill. l The charcoal in small pieces is first placed in the c3 78 IIAXD-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. mortars, with a quantlt}^ of water, and pounded for half an hour ; after which the saltpetre and then the sul- phur, previously pulverized and sifted, are put in, and the whole well mixed with the hand ; it is then pound- ed in the mortars, and at the end of each hour, the composition is passed from each mortar into the next. At the sixth or eighth change, add half a pint of water; it is tlien pounded two hours without changing the mor- tars, in order that it may form into cake. It is then partially dried, and grained in a graining sieve, or passed between wooden rollers. The grains are then sifted to separate those which are too coar-^e and too fine, and al>o to separate from each other the different kinds of grains for cannon, musket and rifle powder. It is then glazed in lar^^e glazing barrels, which make 15 or 20 revolutions in a minute. A charge of 500 lbs. is thus treated for about twenty-four hours. It is then dried either in the open air, or in a drying house. If in the open air, when the sun is too hot, the powder should be covered to prevent the loss of sulphur. It is then dusied, by being sifted in fine sieves, or through bolting cloths. 9. What other machines besides the pounding mill are used in pulverizing and incorporating the ingredients of gunpowder ? Rolling barrels, and the cylinder or rolling mill. 10. What advantage is gained by the use of the roll- ing barrels 1 It lessens the duration and danger of pounding in the n^i mortars. After the ingredients are pulverized and -I mixed in the rolling barrels, the mixture is placed under the pestles of the povnding mill, 10 per cent, of water is added, and it is beaten for three hours only. 11. Which mill is now generally used ? GUNPOWDER. 79 The CYLINDER MILL, vvhich forms 50 lbs. of compo- sition into cake in from one to three hours. 12. Does powder inflame instantaneously ? No ; its inflammation is gradual, and progressive, and in a gun the projectile commences to move before the whole charge is ignited. 13. Wh}^ should gunpowder be grained ? In order to facilitate the transmission of the flame ? When the powder is very fine, and in large and com- pact charges, the flame Cannot penetrate it, and it burns slowly and in successive layers. 14. Which burns quicker, the small or large grained powder ? Before coming tD the limit of dust, the smaller the grain, the inore rapid the combustion, and the greater the bursting force of the powder. 15. What is the difference between the ignition and combustion of large and small grained powder? With the large grained the ignition is more rapid, but the combustion slower; with small grains the contrary is the case. 16. Why should (he grains be angular.'' Because they present a greater surface to the action of the flame, and therefore burn quicker. 17. Why should powder be free from dust ? Because the dust fills up the intervals between the grains, and forming a compact mass, retards con^.bus- tion. 18. To what special purpose are large and small .Q^r. grained powders applied ? ^ The large for cannon, and the small for small arms. 19. How is the size of the grain for each kind of powder tested 7 By means of sieves or gauges. c4 80 HAND-BOOK OP ARTILLERY. 20. How many grains of powder are in 10 grs. Troy weight ? 6n2no7i, 150; Musket, 2,000 to 2-,o00 ; and Rifle, 12.000 to 15,000. 21. What is the object in glazing powder? Glazed powder does not absorb moi?iture, or break up in transportation, so much as unglazed. 22. What is the established mode of proving the strength of powder in the U. S. ? A sample is taken from each barrel, and the strength determined by the eprouvette mortar. 23. What is the least range allowed? The general mean-range of new powder must not be less than 250 yards ; but no powder ranging below 225 yards is received. 24. When is powder in magazines considered unser- viceable ? When it does not range over 180 yards. 25. What is the range of good powder ? Cannon from 280 to 300 yards. Small grained from 300 to 320 yards. 26. What other means is there for determining the strength of powder? The Gun and Ballistic pendulum, and Navez' Electro-ballistic Machine. The latter is consid- ered the best for determining the initial velocit}'. Q^-j 27. What is the hygrometric proof of pow- ^^■i der? Samples are placed in shallow tin-pans, set in a tub, the bottom of which is covered \\'ith water ; the pans should be about an inch abovethe water, and the tub cov- ered. Good powder will not absorb more than 2^ per cent, in 24 hours. 28. How can the relative quickness of two kinds of powder be determined ? GUNPOWDER. 8 1 By burnrng a train laid in a circular or other groove, which returns into itself, made in a piece of hard wood ; one-half of the groove being filled with each kind of powder, and fire communicated at the junction of the two trains, the relative quickness is readily deduced from observation of the point at which the flames meet. 29. What are the qualities of good powder ? It should be perfectly free from dust, uniform in strength and size of grains, angular and irregular in form; in color, brownish black, or shte color; so hard as not to be easily crushed by pressure with the finger; and should leave no beads or foulness when flashed in quantities of 10 grs. on a copper plate. 30. What is the expansive velocity and pressure of ignited powder.? The expansive velocity is about 5,000 feet per second, and pressure about 2,000 atmospheres. 31. What is the weight of a cubic inch of powder? About half an ounce ; a cubic foot will therefore weigh about 54 pounds, and 32 cubic inches, one pound. 32. How is government powder packed } In barrels of 100 lbs. each* the barrels being large r^^l enough to allow sufficient .sing through two holes in the sabot, and fastened by knots on the inside. 20. How are projectiles for field service fastened to the sabot? -* By straps of sheet-tin, or of strong canvas, when tin or sheet iron cannot be |)rocured. q.-n 21. How many straips are employed, and how ^ are t[>ey fastened ? For shot, there are two straps crossing at right angles, one passing through a slit in the middle of the other. For shells, there are four straps soldered to a ring of tin, or fastened to it by cutting four slits in the ring, into which the upper ends of the stap are hooked, and turn- ed down on the inside of the ring. The sabots for 32 and 24-pdr. field howitzers having no groove, each strap is fastened by one nail on the side, and two under the bottom of the sabot. 22. What is a canister for field-service? It consists of a tin cylinder attached to a sabot and filled with cast-iron shot. 23. How is it made.? The cylinder is fastened to the sabot by six or eight nails, and a plate of rolled iron is placed at the bottom on the sabot. It is closed with a sheet-iron cover after being filled, the top of the cylinder being cut into strips ^ an inch long, and turned down over the cover. 24. In case of heavy guns are the shot attached to the sabot ? They are generally without a sabot. 25. How is it with shells .? They are strapped to sabots made of thick plank, with strips of tin, as in case of strapping shot for field-service. 88 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 26. How is it with canister for siege and sea-coast guns ? They have no sabot; the tin is turned over the iron bottotT). 27. How i.s it with canisters for the 8-in. siege and sea-coast howitzers > They are attached to sabots in the same way as p^;- the fi('ld-howitzer canisters. The sabot for the ' siege howitzer has a IieiTiispherical bottom and the sea- coast a conical one, to suit tlie connecting surface be- tween the cylinder of the bore and the chamber in these pieces. 28. Are sabots used with grape shot ? Yes, in the 8-inch sea-coast howitzer. 29. What is its form, and how fastened.? It is conical ; and may be fastened to the low^er plate with screws, or the pin may be made long enough to pass through it; or else the sabot may be inserted into the piece separately from the stand of grape. 30. What is the object of fixing shot or shells to wooden bottoms ? To prevent injury to brass cannon ; and to insure the fuze of a shell being retained in the axis of the piece. 31. What proportion does the weight of one shot bear to that of another? The proportion is as the cubes of their diameters. 32. How is the weight of a cast-iron shot or shell determined r Multiply the cube of the diameter of the shot in inches, or the difference of the cubes of the exterior and interior diameters of the shell by 0.134 for the weight in pounds. Ip case of lead balls, the multiplier is 0.214. 33. How is the diameter of a cast-iron shot of a given weight found } PROJECTILES. 89 Drvide the weight in pounds by 0.134, and extract the cube root of the quotient, which will be the diame- ter in inches, qrji 34. How is the quantity of powder which a shell J will contain found ? Multiply the cube of the interior diameter of the shell in inches, by 0.01744 for the weight of powder in pounds. Note. — The above multipliers are found as follows : Suppose Wio represent the weight of a body, D its densi- ty, V its volume, and g the weight of the unit of mass, then W=^D Vg. Now, if a cubic inch be taken as the unit of volume, then g will be numerically f-f y-J pounds. — jt Hence PT^DF-J f.^ 1=0.03620 1 ; DF=0.03620D— q?^ 6 (supposing d to be the diameter, and the body to be spherical) =0.036201x0.5236i)-:/3 =0.0189552)^3. if we now substitute for D. the specific gravity of cast-iron shot or shells=7.000, we have, fr=7x0. 018955^/3 = 0.134c/ ^ ; and if for D we substitute the specific gravi- ty of lead, ^=:0.2142g?3 ; and in case of powder, W^= 0.01744of3. For diameters, weights and charges, see Tables, pages 98-101. 35. When shot are heated to a white heat, what ex- pansion takes place .^ Calibre. 8-in. 4. ^ 24 18 12 ft Expansion, inches, 0.149 0.11 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.04 36. Do heated shot retain a permanent enlargement .^ Yes ; in ca&e of the 8-in. shot, for example, after the 90 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. first coolincr the enlargement is 0.054 in. ; and, after the second, 0.099 in. 37. Are the ij^nitins: powers of a hot shot destoyed bv ricochotting upon the water? No; a shot, properly heated, will ignite wood after having struck the water several times. 38. What is the peculiarity of cartridges for hot j-^^ shot? _ _ I- ^ There are two cartridge bags, one being inserted, choke foremost in another of the next higher calibre, and the end of the latter folded under. 39. Explain the process of loading with hot shot. The piece should be sponged with great care, and the worm frequently passed into the bore. As a precau- tion, it is well to insert a wet sponge just before putting in the ball. The muzzle is sufficiently eleveted to allow the ball to roll down tlie bore, the cartridge is inserted, the mouth of the outer bag foremost, the fold down, and carefully pushed home without breaking it ; a dry hay-wad is placed upon it, and rammed once; then a clay or wet hay-wad, and rammed twice ; and finally, if firing at angles of depression, a wad of clay a half- calibre in length, or a wet hay-wad is put on the ball. 40. May the ball cool in the gun without igniting the charge ? Yes, with propor precaution in loading. The piece, however, should be fifed with as little delay as possible, as the vapor, which arises from the action of the hot Ijall on the water contained in the wad, diminishes the strength of the powder. 41. What means are afforded at the sea-board forts for heating shot ? . Furnaces for this purpose are erected, which hold 60 or more shot. PROJECTILES. 91 42. What length of time is required to heat them to a red heat ? The shot beino; placed and the furnace cold, it re- quires one hour and fifteen minutes; but after the ^q^ furnace is once heated, a 24-pdr. shot is brought to ' a red heat in twenty-five minutes ; the 3'2-pdr. and 42- pdr. shot require a few minutes longer. 43. Describe o^rates for heatino; ^^hot. In siege and other batteries, where there are no fur- naces, a grate is used. It consists of four bars 1.75 inches square, three feet long, placed four inches apart on three iron stands, one foot in height. It is placed in an excavation one foot in depth, of the width of the grate, perpendicular at the back and side, open in front, the leo;s restinp; on bricks or stones rising about four or five inches from the bottom. A rooi is made over it with hoops of flat iron, covered w'ith sods and eighteen incijes of earth, having in the back part a chimney six inches square. The shot are placed on the back part of the grate, leaving one-fourth of the front part free; and under and on the front part the wood is put, cut in pieces about fourteen inches long and two inches thick. A thick sod is used as a regis- ter, to regulate the draught of the chimney, so that no flame can issue from the front. This grate, which will contain about fifteen 24-pdr. balls, heats them to* a red heat in an hour, and will supply three guns. 44. How are wads for firing hot shot made } Of hay ; by twisting from the hay a rope of an inch or an inch and a half in diameter, and then commencing at one end, and doubling it up about one calibre in length, twisting it all the time until it becomes nearly large enough, v^'hen the rope is wound around the wad popendicular to its axis, and fastened with a hitch. — Or the hay may be rammed in afor?n of proper calibre, 92 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. QQ-, and then bound with spun yarn, and afterwards -J rammed a second time. 45. Have not shot been almost entirely superseded? Yes, since the adoption of the method of throwing laro-e hollow shot from long pieces. These require but little preparation, can be used at once, and are more terrible in their effects. 46. What are rij^g or grommet wads, and their use ? They consist of" a ring of rope yarn, about 0.7 in. thick, with two pieces of strong twine tied across at right angles to each other. The size of the ring is the full diameter of the bore, in order that it may fit tight, and stop the windage. They increase the accuracy of fire, and are to be preferred when the object of the wad is to retain the ball in its place, as in firing at a depres- sion. They stop the windage best when placed behind the ball. They may be attached to the straps, or to the ball by twine, or may be inserted like other wads after the ball. 47. How diiejunk-ivads made ; and for what are they used ? Wad-moulds for each calibre, — consisting of two cast- iron cylinders of different diameters set in oak, or of two strong pieces of oak, strapped with iron and joined by a hinge, — are employed in their manufacture. The junk, after having been picked, is compressed by being beaten in the smaller mould with a mavl^nd cylindrical drift — the latter nearly of the size of the mould — until it assumes the requisite dimensions; it is then taken out by raising the upper part of the inould, and closely wr9,pped with rope yarn, passed over it in the direction of the axis of the cylinder, and fastened by a few r-jfjA turns around the middle of the wad. It is then '- placed in the large mould, and again beaten with the maul and drift, until its diameter is increased to that of PROJECTILES. 93 the mould, when it is taken out and its diameter verified by a wooden gauge corresponding to the large shot- gauge of the calibre. These wads are used for proving cannon. 48. Describe the process of loading field shells. They are set up on their sabots, the charges measured out in the proper powder measure, and poured in through a copper funnel. The fuze-plugs are then driven in with a mallet, allowing the tops to project above 0.1 in., care being taken not to split them. The holes in the plugs are then carefully reamed out, and stopped with tow- wads, which are pressed in firmly with a round stick. 49. Describe the process of loading spherical case shot. The shot having been cleaned, the balls are put in. A stick with a less diameter than the fuze-hole, and having a groove on each side of it, is inserted and pushed to the bottom of the chamber by working the balls inside. The shot is then placed in a sand-bath or oven, and brought to a proper temperature to leceive the sulphur, which in a melted state is poured in to fill up the interstices between the balls ; the shot is allowed to cool, and the sulphur to harden, when the slick is withdrawn, and the sulphur adhering to the sides of the eye and the surface of the shot is removed. If a fuze- plug and paper-fuze are to be used, the charge is poured in and the plug inserted exactly as incase of a shell ; but, if the Bormann fuze is to be used the charge ^^^^ is inserted and the stopper and fuze screwed into L their places, care being taken betore placing the fuze in position to puncture the covering of the magazine, so that the fire can communicate with the charge. Spherical case are now usually loaded by putting in the bullets, and pouring melted sulphur in until the case is full. After the sulphur has cooled, the space for the 94 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. powder is bored out by a cutter, which removes both the sulphur and portions of the bullets from the space. This is a quicker method, and gives a more compact projectile. 50. What advantages does this mode of loading pos- sess over the old one ? In the old mode there was a liability to accidents, and if the powder remained in for any length of time before being used, it was ground up and became impaired. By the new mode the powder can be placed in the small chamber, and allowed to remain without fear of damage or danger, and be ready for use when required. Being, besides, in a compact mass, instead of scattered among the bullets, its power is much greater, and it acts more effectively in throwing the bullets outward from the centre. 51. Describe the process of filling Mortar-shells. j Having been inspected to see that they are clean, dry, and in good order, place them on a block made for the purpose, or on rings of rope, or in indentations in the floor of the rragazlne, or on the ground, with the e3'es up. The charge measured out in a powder-measure is poured in through a funnel., and any incendiary compo- sition, such as pieces of port-fire, rock-fire, &.C., is in- serted. In the mean time the fuze is cut to the proper ^QQ-ilength according to the range, by resting it in a -'groove made in the block, or inserting it in a hole made in a block, or in a post, and sawing it across with the fuze-saw ; or the fuze may be bored through wi(h a gimlet perpendicularly to the axis, at- the proper point. The fuze is then tried in the eye, and should enter | of its length. If it does not, it may be reduced by rasp- ing. The head of it is covered with tow to prevent the breaking of the composition, the fuze-setter placed on, PROJECTILES. 95 and the fuze driven with the mallet until the head pro- jects not more than 0.2 in. to 0.4 in. above the surface of the shell. These shells are generally filled and the fuzes driven in the battery magazines, as they are re- quired. 52. How are shells for columbiads and heavy guns loaded? In the same way as mortar-shells ; but as paper fuzes interted in wooden or bronze fuze-plugs are used instead of wooden fuzes, the plug only is driven into its place, and stopped with tow after the bursting charge has been poured through it into the shell. 53. How are condemned^ shot and shell marked.? With an X made with the cold-chisel. 54. How should balls be preserved ? They should be carefully lacquered as soon as possible after they are received. When it becomes necessary to renew the lacquer, the old lacquer should be removed by rolling or scraping the balls, which should never be heated for that purpose. 55. How should grape and canister shot be. preser- ved ? They should be oiled or lacquered, put in piles, p^^o or in strong boxes on the ground floor, or in dry^ cellars; each parcel marked with its kind, calibre, and number? 56. How are balls piled ? Balls are piled according to kind and calibre, under cover if practicable, in a place where there is a free circulation of air, to facilitate which the piles should be made narrow, if the locality permits ; the width of the bottom tier may be from 12 to 14 balls according to cal- ibre. Prepare the ground for the base of the pile by raising it above the surroundinor ground so as to throw off the 96 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. water; level it, ram it well, and cover it with a layer of screened sand. Make the bottom of the pile with a tier of iin?>erviceable balls buried about two-thirds of their diameter in the sand , this base may be made per- manent ; clean the base well and form the pile, putting {he fuze holes oi' shells downwards \n ihe intervals, and not resting on the shells below. Each ])ile is marked with the number of serviceable balls it contains. The base may be made of bricks, concrete, stone, wood, or with borders and braces of iron. 57. How should fixed ammunition for cannon be stor- ed ? Either in boxes or placed in piles, formed of two par- allel rows of cartridges, witli the sabots together: in 4 tiers for 12-pdr. and 5 for 6-pdr.; chock the lower tier with stiips of wood fastened' with small nails; put a layer of tow 2 in. thick between the shot ; let the piles rest on the planks if there is no floor, and cover them with tarpaulins; have the place swept, and the cart- ridge-bags brushed off. Leave a passage of 18 in. be- tween the double rows, and keep them 2 feet from he walls. Fixed ammunition should not be put into powder magazines if it can be avoided; it should be kept in a dry place above the ground floor if practi- cable ; the store-rooms should be always aired in fine weather, the piles should be taken down, and made up again every siz months at most, the bags examined and repaired, and the damaged cartridges broken up. A ticket on each pile should show the number and kind of cartridges, the additions to the pile and the is- sues. 58. How should canister be piled? Like fixed ammunition, in 4 tiers for 24's and 18's ; und 5 for I'i's and ij'». Empty canisters in 10 or 12 tiers , the bottoms and covers separately. 104][| PROJECTILES. 97 59. How should cartridge bags filled be piled ? Like fixed ammunition, or packed in boxes or bar- rels. 60. How should loaded shells be piled? On the ground floor of a secure building on planks, if the floor is not boarded ; in six tiers at most; the fuzes of the lower tier in the vacant spaces between the shells; those of the other tiers turn downwards, like the fuze-holes of empty shells ; the piles should be covered with a tarpaulin. Loaded shells should never be put into magazmes, except from absolute necessity. 61. How should fire-balls be preserved? In a cool place, separated from each other by sha- vings or straw, if they are piled up. 62. How is the nutTjJ^er of shots or shells in a pile computed, of whatever form the pile may be ? By multiplying the sum of the three parallel edges, 1051 '^^ one-third of the number of balls in a triangular -•face. 63. What is meant by the three parallel edges of the pile ? Of the rectangular or long pile, they consist of the two largest bottom rows and top-row ; of the square pile, of two bottom rows and top-shot ; and of the tri- angular pile, of one bottom row, the shot at the opposite angle, and that at the top. 64. How is the number of shot in a triangular face computed ? Multiply the number in the bottom row, plus one, by half the number in the bottom row, for the number re- quired. 65. How is the shot contained in the top row of a rec- tangular pile calculated ? One added to the difference between the long and short bottom rows will be the number required. 98 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY 66. How is the shot in an incomplete pile calcu- lated ? By first computing the number in the pile considered as complete, then the number of what the upper part ought to consist ; and the_ difference of these piles will be the number contained in the frustum or incomplete portion. DIAMETERS OP SHOT, SHELLS AND SPHERICAL CASE, 13-in 10-in. 8-in. 42 32 24 18 12 6 in. 1>2.87 in. 9.87 in. 7.88 in. 6.84 in. 6.25 in. 5.68 in. 5.17 in. 4.52 in. 3.58 [106 WEIGHTS OF SHOT, SHELLS AND SPHERICAL CASE. iiJ ■OTu'^S OlSi Mortars. Guns and Howitssers. r « B B a c s 42 32 24 18 12 R o 3 n e^ lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. Shot, 128 65 _ _ _ 42.7 32.6 24.4 18.5 12.3 6.1 Sliells, 101 50.5 197 87.5 44.5 31 22.5 17 13.4 8.4 Splier. case. - 30 - - - 20.3 16 11.86 ) 8.7 6.1 3.06 The 8-inch Mortar Shell is used for the Siege Howitzer* PROJECTILES. WEIGHT OF CANISTER SHOT. 42 32 24-pdr. Gun and 8 in. Siege HowitzPr 18 1^^ 6 12 pd r. Howitzer. Field. Mountain. lbs. 1.5 lbs. 1.14 lbs. 0.86 lbs. 0.64 lbs. 0.43 lbs. 0.32 lbs. 0.21 lbs. 0.16 Musket ball. WEIGHTS OF FINISHED CANISTERS AND NUMBER OF SHOT Siege and Garrison Guns. 8-in. Howitzer. 42 lbs. 48 27 . 32 24 18 12 Siege. Sea-Coast. Weights, No. of shot. - lbs. 37 27 lbs. 29 27 lbs. 23 27 lbs. 15 27 lbs. 53.5 48 lbs. 54.5 46 107] WEIGHT OF GRAPE-SHOT AND GRAPE-SHOT STANDS. 8-in. 42 32 24 18 12 Grape shot, Stands, lbs. 6.1 74.5 lbs. 4.2 51.2 lbs. 3;15 39.7 lbs. 2.4 30.6 lbs. 1.8 22.1 lbs. 1.14 14.8 100 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. WEIGHTS OF FIXED AMMUNITION. For Guns. For Howitzers. Weights. 12 6 32 24 12 lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. CartridRj', including Cart- ^ large charge, 2.56 1.30 3.88 2.70 ridg<' block, I sniuU " 2.06 1.05 3.10 2.34 1.05 Phot strapped, _ - . - - 12.75 6.28 Shell !^tra|)pod and charged, - - _ _ 24.60 18.80 9.35 Spherical case, strapped and charged. 11.43 5.75 31.00 23.00 11.30 Canister, with Sabot, - - - - 14.80 7.32 28.50 21.25 10.80 fShot, - - 15.40 7.60 Round of Ammunition ^»;*;|l,7„f '""^" complete, 1 g,,,,;rical case, 27.70 21.15 10.50 13.50 6.82 34.10 25.34 12 50 L Canister, 16.91 8.40 31.60 23.60 11.85 CHARGES FOR MORTAR SHELLS. I of the shell filled with powder, Charge < to burst the shell, •( to blow out the fuze, ' o ' ( other composition. 13-in. 10-in. 8-in. lbs. oz. lbs. oz. lbs. oz. 11.0 5.0 2.9 6.0 2.0 1.0 0.6 0.5 0.4 7.0 3.0 1.12 0.8 0.6 0.6 Coehorn. lbs. oz. 1.0 0.8 0.2 CHARGES FOR FIELD SHELLS. [108 rto fill the shell, - Powder | to burst do. - required.,' to blow out the fuze plug. (for service charge, - ■a a. n s CJ lbs. oz. lbs. oz. lbs. oz. 1.5 1.0 0.8 0.11 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 1.0 012 0.7 Remarks. Rifle or mus- ket powder is used in pre- ference! to can- LABORATORY STORES. 101 CHARGES FOR SPERTCAL CASE SHOT. Charge. No. of musket balls, Bursting cliarge of powder, oz., Weight of shot loaded, lbs',, 8-ln. 42 32 24 18 12 486 306 225 175 120 78 15 9 8 6 5 45 59 5 .39 30 13 22 75 16 3 11 CHARGES FOR SHELLS FOR COLUMBIADS AND HEAVY GUNS. Charge of Columbiads. -■ — — — — -m For Gdns. Powder. 10-in. 8-in. 42 32 24 18 12 To fill the shell. To burst " To blow out the fuze plug. For ordinary ser- vice, - 1 Ibs.oz. 3 4 1 6 10 3 lbs. oz. 1 12 I 8 1 8 Ibs.oz. 1 8 12 6 1 4 Ibs.oz. 1 5 11 2 1 Ibs.oz. 1 8 2X 12 Ibs.oz. 11 7 10 lbs. oz. 8 5 1 7 109] PART X. LABORATORY STORES. 1. What is Q.fuze? The contrivance by which fire is communicated to the charge in a shell. It consists, essentially, of a highly inflammable composition inclosed in a wood, metal or paper case. 102 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 2. What fuzes are used in the United Stales ser- vice r Wooden, paper, the Borman, and the United States sea-coast fuzes. 3. Describe the wooden fuze. It consists of a conical plug of wood, of the proper size for the fuze-hole of the shell with which it is to be fired. The axis of this plug is bored out cylindrical!}', from the laige down to within a short distance of the small end, wli^h is left solid. At the large end a cup is hollowed out, and the outside of the plug is divided into inches and parts, generally tenths, commencing at the bottom of the cup. The cylindrical space is filled with composition, pounded hard, and as regularly as possible, and the cup filled with inealed powder, moist- ened with whisky or alcohol. The rate of burning is determined by experiment, and marked on a water-proof cap which is tied over the cup. Knowing the time any shell is to occupy in its flight, the fuze is cut off with a saw at the proper division, and firmly set in the fuze hole with a fuze-set and mallet. Say the fuze burns 5" to the inch. If a shell be 10" in reaching the mark two inches of fuze will burst ii as it strikes. If it takes 8" to reach the mark, 1 6-10 in. Will be cut ofF,^--^ &C. L^^" 4. What is the disadvantage of this fuze ? Its irregularity, it being very difficult to pound the composition so that equal lengtlis will burn in equal times. The shell may either burst too soon, and a great part of its effect be lost } or it may burst after bury- ing itself in the ground, or it may burst after passing the proper point. This irregularity of burning is com- mon to all fuzes where the composition is driven in successive layers in a column which burns in the same direction. LABORATORY STORES. 103 5. What is the composition for mortar-fuzes ? No. Nitre. Sulphur. Mealed Powder. Time of burning 1 in. Remarks. 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 3 2A,' 1 3.8 sec. 5 " 2.2 '< For Siege Mortars. '• Sea-Coast " " 8 ill Howitzers.^ 6. Is the wooden fuze used ? Yes ; for mortars. 7. Are these fuzes always cut before being inserted in the shell .? Generally they are ; but they are sometimes bored through at the proper position instead of being sawed. 8. Are they ever cut obliquely.? Yes, when the fuze is so long as to render it likely that it will reach the bottom of the shell ; for by cutting it perpendicular to the axis, the whole base of the wood might be driven in contact with the bottom of the shell, and prevent the lighted composition from set- ting fire to the bursting charge. 9. Describe i[\Q. jJcpei' fuze. It consists of a conical paper case, containing the composition, whose rate of burning is shown by the color of the case, as follows : 111 Black, Red, Green, Yellow, burns -y^ to the inch. O// II 4// il 5// Each fuze is made two inches long, and the yellow consequently burns 10", For any shorter time the fuze is cut with a sharp knife. With this fuze is used a fuze plug, having a conical opening, which is reamed out to fit the paper case when the shell is loaded, and the fuze is then pressed in with the thumb. 104 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 10. AVhal is the great advantage of this fuze ? Its sinij)lirity and the little trouble required to place it in the shell, which renders unnecessary the numerous and complicated instruments, such as saws, fuze-setter, and extractor, iiles, &.C., which were formerly used in field artillery. . 11. What is the composition of paper-fuzes made of? Mealed Powder. Sulphur. Black, Red, - Green, Yellow, - 1 8 8 8 3 3.5 4.0 12. Describe the Belgian or Bormann-fuze. LABORATORY STORES. 105 no. 2. TOP VIEW. SECTION Fig. 3. The fuze-case is made of metal (a composi-p^ ^^ tion of lead and tin,)L and coasiists, Fig. 2, first of a short cylinder, hav- ing at one end a horse- shoe-shaped indentation; one end only of which communicates with the magazine of the fuze placed in the centre. This horse-shoe inden- tation extends nearly to the other end of the cyl- inder, a thin layer of the metal only intervening. This is graduated on the outside into equal parts representing seconds and quarter seconds (see Fig. 4.) In the bottom of this channel a smooth layer of the composition is placed, with a piece of wick or yarn underneath it. On this is placed a piece of metal, the cross section of which is wedge shaped (see Fig. 3 ;) and this, by machinery, is pressed down upon the compositionsealing it her- metically. The cylindri- cal opening represented at a, Fig. 2, is filled with 106 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY FIGA. nas ^ - o-|fi^^ powder and cov- -■eicd with a sheet of tin, which is soldered, closino; the from the external air Before using the fuze, several holes are punch^' ed through this sheet of tin, to allow the flame to enter the shell. On the side of the fuze the thread of a screw is cut which fits into one cut on the inside of the fuze- hole, and the fuze is screwed into the shell with a wrench. The thin layer of met- al over the composition is cut through with a gouge or chisel or even a pen-knife, at the inter- val marked with the number of seconds which we wish the fuze to burn. To prevent the metal of this fuze, which is soft, from being driven into the shell by the explosive force of the charge, a circular piece of iron, witii a hole through its centre, and the thread of a screw on the outside. Fig. 5, is screwed into the fuze- hole before the fuze is inserted. 13. To what kind of artillery has this fuze been con- fined .? Principally to light artillery, in firing shells, and par- LABORATORY STORES. 107 ticularly spherical case, where regularity and certainty are essential requisites. ^^A-^ 14. Mention one important advantage of this ^^^-Jfuze. The shells can be loaded, all ready for use, and re- nnain so any length of time, perfectly safe from explo- sion, as the fuze can be screwed into its place, and the composition never exposed to external fire until the metal is cut through. 15. What is the only operation under fire required ? To gouge through the metal at the proper point with any kind of chisel., knife, or other instrument. 16. Describe the United States sea-coast fuze. In the United States a bronze fuze-plug has been adopted for heavy shells instead of the wooden one. It fits the eye in the same way, and is retained by fric* tion. It having been found that ricochets, especially over water, were apt to extinguish these fuzes, a safety cap and primer combined have been adopted in the navy. A recess in the top is filled with priming composition and cov- ered until the fuze is required for use with a leaden disk which fits accurately the opening. A crooked passage filled with priming conveys the fire to the fuze compo- sition beneath, and prevents water from being forced in in suflicient quantity to extinguish the fuze. 17. When are paper fuzes for field-shells and spher- ical case inserted ? At the moment of loading the gun, and into wooden fuze-plugs previously driven into the shell. 18. What is a port-fire ? It consists of a small paper case filled with a highly inflammable but slow-burning composition, the flame of which is very intense and penetrating, and cannot be extinguished by water. 108 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLEHY. 19. What is it used for? [115 Principally a'S an incendiary material in loading: shells, and for communicating fire to the priming of guns when proving thorn. 20. What does port-fire composilion consist of? Of nitre, sulphur, and mealed powder, in different pro- portions. One kind is composed of — Nitre, - - - - - - 65 parts. Sulphur, ------ 22.5 " Mealed powder, ----- 12.5 " A port-fire case, 18 inches in length, filled with thi3 comj)osition. burns ten minutes. 21. What ^re priming-tubes, and their use? Small pipes having a cap at one end, and filled with a composition for firing cannon. 22. What tube is in general use in our service ? The friction primer. 23. Describe it. It consists of a short tube of metal inserted into a hole near the top of a longer tube, and soldered in that posi- tion. The short tube is lined with a composition made by mixing together two parts of chloride of potassa and one of sulphurate of antimony, moistened with gunn water. A serrated wire passes thi'ough the short tube and a hole opposite to it in the side of the long one, the open end of the short tube being compressed with nip- pers, and the wire at the end of the serrated part doub- led under te prevent any displacement. The other end of the wire is doubled and twisted by machinery. The long tube is filled w'^i musket powder, its upper end being closed with shellac-varnish, and its lower with shoemakers' wax, l^r.T 24. What advantage does the fjiction-tube pos- LABORATORY STORES. 109 [t gives an enemy at night no clue to the position of your piece, as does the lighted port-fire, or slow- nnatch. 25. What is a slow-match? A slow burning match prepared from hemp or flax, slightly twisted, soaked in a strong-lye, or in water hold- ing in solution sugar of lead. Cotton rope well twisted fo.rms a good match without any preparation. 26. How long does slow-match prepared from hemp or flax burn ? Four to five inches to the hour. 27. What is the use of slow-match ? It is used principally for the purpose of retaining fire in the shape of a hard-pointed coal, to be used in firing cannon, fire- works, S^c. It wis formerly used in field batteries for lighting the port-fires with which the pieces were discharged ; but both are now entirely superseded b}' the friction-tube. 28. What is quick-match ? It is a match made of threads of cotton, or cotton- wick, steeped in gummed brandy or whisky, then soak- ed in a paste of mealed powder and gummed spirits, and afterwards strewed over with mealed powder. 29. How long does it burn ? One yard burns in the open air 13 seconds. 30. What is the use of quick-match ? To fire stone and heavy mortars, and some times in proving pieces. It is extensively used in priming all kinds of fire-works, such as fire and light-balls, carcas- ses, rockets, priming-tubes, &c., and in conveying fire very rapidly from one portion of a piece of fire-work tb " another. ..ri^ 31. When used for discharging cannon, how is -"the quick-match set fire to.^ D 110 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. By a slow-match, port-fire, or any other convenient material. 32. When used to prime carcasses, Sec, how is it set on fire? By the flame from the piece. 33. What is Valenciennes composition ? A compound of 50 parts of nitre, 28 of sulphur, 18 of antimony, and j-ix of rosin. 34. VVhat is its use ? As an incendiary composition, in charging shells for the purpose of increasing their destructive property, by setting five to buildings, ^^^hipping, &.c. [118 PART XT. PLATFORMS. 1. W^ hat is d. platform 1 A strong flooring upon which a piece of ordnance, mounted on its carriage, is manoeuvred when in bat- tery. 2. What is the object of a platform ? To facilitate the service of heavy guns and mortars, and to insure accuracy of fire. 3. Mention the kinds of platforms in general use in the service. Fixed platforms for casemate and barbette batteries in fortifications, which are constructed with the works ; the siege-platform for guns and howitzers ; ana the PLATFORMS. Ill siege platform for mortars ; the rail-platform, and the :icochet-platform. 4. What properties should wooden platforms pos- sess ? Strength and portability. 5. Are the pieces composing siege-platforms of the same or different dimensions ? All of the same dimensions, viz : 9 feet long, 5 inches wide, and Scinches thick; except the sleepersj-. .g which in the mortar-platform are one foot less in^ length. 6. What is the weight of each piece ? About fifty pounds. 7. What is the number of pieces in the siege-platform for guns and howitzers ? Forty-nine in all, one being used as a kurter on the front part of the platform to prevent the carriage from running too far forward ; and twelve for sleepers. 8. Describe the method of laying a platform for a siege-gun or howitzer. First establish the centre line of the embrasure, and stretch a cord on this line from the middle of the em- brasure to the rear. This is the directrix of the plat- form. Lay the two outside sleepers parallel to ih'i^ directrix, their outside edges being fifty-four inches distant from it. The four other sleepers are laid parallel to these, the edge of each fifteen and a half inches from the edge of the next. The upper surface of the front ends of these sleepers to be fifty inches on a vertical line below the sole of the embrasure. They are laid with an elevation to the rear, of one and a half inches to the yard, or four and a half inches in their whole length. This elevation may be deter- mined by placing a block four and a half inches high d2 112 UAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. on the front end of the sleeper, and laying a straight- edge., with a gunner's level' on it from this block to the rear end, then so arrange the earth as to bring the level true in this position. The next set of sleepers are laid against and inside of the first, overlapping them three lOA-i f^^t> having the rear ends inclined outwards, so -• that the outer edges of the exterior ones shall be each fifty-four inches fiom the directrix, and the spaces between the edges of the others the same as in the first set, viz : fifteen and a half inches from the edge of one to the edge of the next, all having the elevation to the rear of one and a half inches to the yard, and perfectly level across. The earth is then rammed firmly around these sleepers, and made even with their upper surface. The first deck- plank, with a hole through each end for the eye-bolts, is laid in place perpendicular to the di- rectrix, its holes corresponding with those in the sleep- ers. The hurter is placed on it, and the bolts driven through the corresponding holes in these pieces. The hurter should be so placed as to prevent the wheels from striking against the epaulment Avhen the piece is in battery. If the interior slope has a base of two- sevenths of its height, the inner* edge of the hurter should be two and a half inches from the foot of the slope. The other planks are then laid, each one forced against the preceding, the last plank having holes for the rear eye-bolts. By drawing out or driving in the outside sleepers the holes through their rear ends are made to correspond with those in the last deck-plank, and the bolts are put in. Drive stakes in the rear of each sleeper, leaving their tops level with the upper surface of the platform. Raise, ram, and level the earth in rear of the platform, so as to have a plain, haid surface to support the trail when the recoil is great. The earth at the sides should be PLATFORMS. 113 raised nearly as high as the platform, and wellj-.j^^ rammed, giving it a slight inclination outwards to ' allow the water to run off. 9. What are the dimensions of this platform ? Fifteen feet by nine feet. 10. Why is the elevation to the rear given to this platform ? To diminish the recoil and to permit the water to run off. 11. Describe the platform for a mortar. The mortar-platform is composed of onl}' half the number of sleepers and deck-planks required for the gun or howitzer platform. It is laid level, and the front and rear deck-planks are connected by eye-bolts to every sleeper. Its depth is one-half that of the pre- vious platform. 12. Describe the method of laying the rail-platform. The rail platform for siege-mortars consists of three sleepers and two rails for the cheeks of the mortar-bed to slide on,, instead of the deck-plank, and is very Strong, and easily constructed and laid. The pieces being notched to fit, are driven together at the battery, the distance between the centre lines of the rails being equal to that between the centre lines of the cheeks._ The earth is excavated eight end a half inches, the df'pth of the sleepers, and the bottom made perfectly level. The directrix being exactly marked by stakes, the platform is placed in position, its centre line coinciding with a cord stretched between the stakes marking the line of fire. The earth is filled in as high as the upper surface of the sleepers, and firmly rammed ; 1221 ^"^ stakes are driven in the rear angles form.ed by -^ the sleepers and rails, and one at the rear end of each rail. 13. Mention the parts of the ricochet platform. 114 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 1 Hurter, 8 ft. long, 8 in. wide, ar id 8 in. th'k 3 Sleepers, 9 ft. •' 5^ " " 5i " 2 planks, 10 ft. SinM'g, 13 " " " n " 1 plank, 7 ft. long, 13 " " ' H - 1 piece plank 2^ ft. long, 13 " " 2i " And some stakes. 14. Describe the method of laying this platform. To lay this platform, place the hurter perpendicular to the line of fire, and secure it by four stakes, one at each end and two in IVont, 31^ inches from the middle towards each end ; lay the three sleepers parallel to the hurter, the first 16 inches from the rear edge of the hurter, the second 43^} inches from the rear edge of the first, and the third 43^ inches from the rear enge of the second. Lay the plank 31^ inches from the directrix of the platform to the centre of the plank. Place the piece of plank 60 inches from the rear edge of the last sleeper, and bed it in the ground. Place on the last sleeper and this piece of plank, the plank (7 feet long,), its front edge 106 inches from the rear edge of the hurter. ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 115 123] PART XII. ARTILLERY GARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 1. What is meant by artillery carriages ? Carriages of every description employed in the artil- lery service. 2. How are such carriages classified ? ^ Into two general divisions ; first, those carriages on which artillery are mounted, either for firing or travel- ling ; and secondly, such as are especially used for the transportation of artillery ammunition and stores. 3. What is a gun-carriage ? It is a machine on which apiece is mounted for ma- ncEUvring and firing. 4. Into what classes may gun-carriages be divided ? Into movable and stationarij carriages 1 5. What is the use of movable carriages ? They are used for the transportation of the pieces as well as for firing them, and are mounted on large wheels. They are furnished with limbers. 6. Describe the movable carriage. It consists of two cheeks, connected together and with a stock by assembling bolts. The front part supports the piece, and rests upon an axle-tree furnished with wheels, the rear end of the stock or trail resting on the ground. 7. What are the cheeks ? The parts of the carriage between which the r-iQA piece is placed, and upon which the trunnions are ^ supported. 8. What is the wheel composed of? d4 116 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. or a nave into which the axle-tree enters ; of a cer- tain number of spokes fastened in the nave ; and a circumference which is composed of a number of fellies equal to half the number of spokes. 9. What is the dish of a wheel ? The inclination outward of the spokes when fastened in the nave. 10. What is the advantage of this obliquity of the spokes ? It gives elasticity to the wheel, and protects it from the effects of shocks, which would de^troy it, if the spokes were in the same plane. 11. What is the object of giving; dish to a wheel ? For the purpose of making the body of the carriage wider ; to diminish the length of the axle-tree, thus in- creasing its strength ; to throw the mud and water out- side the wheels; and to keep the wheel close against the carriage, and prevent any tendency to run off the axle. 12. How are movable gun-carriages distinguished.? As field, mountain and siege-carriages. 13. What are the principal considerations to be kept in view in the construction of movable carriages ? Tn firing, the carriage should yield to the recoil. — Were it fixed immovably, it would soon be destro^^ed, no matter how great its solidity. Its weight should be proportional to that of the piece. If too heavy it would ^^^/r-i soon be destroyed by the shocks of the piece. If * ^ too light, the recoil would be immoderate. Its weight should always be less than that of the piece. A heavy piece upon too light a carriage will perform bet- ter service than the reverse arrangement, since the effort exerted by a piece depends upon its mass multi- plied into the square of the velocity. ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 117 14. What are the principal considerations to be kept in view in the construction of field-carriages ? Lightness and strength combined, great mobility and flexibility, and a low centre of gravity, in order to sur- mount all difficulties in the field which must frequently arise while artillery is acting with other troops — to resist the concussion in firing, and the severe jolting produced when moving rapidly over uneven ground. 15. How many kinds of field-gun carriages have we? Three, viz : One for the 6-pdr. gun and r2-pdr- howit- zer; another for the 24-pdr. howitzer; and the third for the 12-pdr. gun and 32-pdr. howitzer. 16". In what respect are these carriages similar ^ In all having the same kind of limber and the same sized wheels, so that any limber or wheel may be used "with any carriage ; though, if possible, the heaviest wheel (No. 2) should be used on the carriage of the three heaviest pieces, 12-pdr. gun and 24 and 32-pdr. howitzers. 17. Describe these gun-carriages. They consist' of two short cheeks of wood, bolted upon a stock and wooden axle-body, in a recess of which fits the iron axle on which the wheels are placed. The stock terminates in a trail and trail-plate which rests on the ground, and has" on the end a strong ring 19fi1 ^^^^^^ ^^^ lunette, which is placed on the pintle- -' hook when the piece is limbered. In the stock is placed an elevating screw-box of bronze in which the elevating screw fits. 18. Mention other parts of a field-carriage. Cap-squares, ear-plates, trunnion-plates, under-strap, elevating-screw, wheel-guard plate, axle-tree, trail- plate, trail-handles, prolong-hooks, pointing-rings, washer-hooks, lock-chain, sponge-chain, sponge and 118 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. rammer-stop, bolts, rings, bands, hooks, keys, straps, nuts, and nails. 19. What is the limber? It consists of a .similar axle-body, axle, and two wheels, and on these rests a frame-work to receive the tongue. On the top of the whole is an ammunition box, the top of which forms a seat for three cannoneers. In rear of the axle-tree is 2. phiile-hook to receive the lunette of the trail. Connected with the frame work in front, is a fixed splinter-bar with four hooks, to which are attached the traces of the wheel-horses. At the extremity of the tongue are placed two pole-chains, by which the tonjj^ue or pole is held up, and a pole-yoke with two movable branches, to prevent, as much as possible, the pole from oscillating and striking the horses. 20. What is the use of the limber? To facilitate the movements of the carriage. By means of it a considerable portion of ammunition and stores may be conveyed for the immediate use of the piece, some of the cannoneers may be seated on the boxes, and by the simple manner in which it is attach- ed to the carriage, the greatest facility is afforded for coming: into action, or in retirins:. 21. Are there any other advantages from the r^nn manner in whidi the gun-carriage and limber are L connected ? These two parts thus possess all the advantages of a four-wheel carriage, and the freedom of motion peculiar to each admits of their passing over ground uninjured, or without being overturned or strained, where any other four-wheel carriage would invariably fail. 22. Describe the mountain artillery gun-carriage. It is formed like the field-gun! carriage, but much smaller, the cheeks not being formed of pieces distinct from the stock, but all three made of two pieces bolted ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 119 together, The axle-tree is of wood, which lessens the recoil, and gives an elasticity to the whole carriage, better adapted to resist the shocks of firing. The wheels are but thirty-eight inches high. Ordinarily, over rough ground, the carriage is transported on the backs of mules ; but where it is possible, a pair of shafts is at- tached to the trail to keep it from the ground, and the piece is drawn on its carriage by harnessing one of the pack mules to it. The ammunition is carried in ammu- nition-boxes on the backs of nuiles. 23. Describe Xhe prnirie- carriage. The necessity for a small carriage for the mountain- howitzer when used on our western piairies, has led to the adoption of a special carriage for that service, with a limber attached as in a field-carriage. This renders the carriage less liable to overturn, and preferable in every respect to the two-wheeled one. The limber is furnished with two ammunition-boxes, placed over :he axle-tree, and parellel to it, and just wide enough for one row of shells and their catridges. 24. How many kinds o^ siege- gun carriages arc used in our service ? Three ; one for the 12-pound gun ; another for the 18-pdr. ; and the third for the 24-pound gun and 8-in. howitzer. 25. In what respect are they similar? They are all constructed in the same manner, differ- ing only in their dimensions. AH the limbers and wheels are the same, so that they can be used in common. 26. Describe this o:un-carriafre. It is similar in its construction to the field-carriage, but is joined to the limber in a different way. Project- ing upwards from the limber and in rear of the axle- tree, is placed a pintle, which enters a hole made in the trail from the underside, and a lashing-chain and hook 128] ;; 120 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. keep the two parts together when once in position. The weight of the trail resting on the rear end of the tongue keeps this nearly horizontal, and relieves the horses of the w'eight of it, which, as it must be both long and heavy, is too much for the horses to carry. • The splinter-bar is, as in field-carriages, stationary, but the traces of the next team are attached to a mova- ble bar which is connected with the end of the tongue. The tongue is furnished WMlh pole-chains, but no yoke, and the rest of the teams are harnessed as in field- artiller3^ The axle-trees are of iron, with axle-bodies of wood ; which last, by its elasticity, renders the shock from the piece less direct and violent. lOQ] ^^ ^^^ upper surface of the cheeks, near the ' -' rear ends, are placed two projecting bolts which, with the curve of the cheeks, form resting places for the trunnions, when the piece is in position for trans- portation. They are called travelling trunnion-beds. — When the piece is in this position, its breech rests upon the bolster, which is a curved block of wood, bolted to the upper side of the stock. On each side of the trail, and perpendicular to it, a strong mancp.uvring bolt is placed to serve as places to apply the hand-spikes in manoeuvring the carriage, 27. What is the object of the traveling trunnion-beds? For the purpose of distributing the load more equally over the carriage. 28. Mention the parts composing the limber. The fork, the splinter-bar, the hounds, the sweep-bar, the tongue, the pintle, the lashing-chain, the axle-tree (iron). The sweep-bar is of iron, and on it rests the trail, which by its weight keeps up the tongue. 29. Why is it unnecessary for siege-carriages to have the same degree of mobility and flexibility as field- carriages ? ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 121 Because siege-carriages are, properly speaking, trans- portation wagons for use on roads, and never intended for manoeuvring with troops. 30. How many horses does the transportation of siege-guns require ? . A 24-pdr. requires ten horses (five drivers) ; a 12 or 18-pdr., eight horses (four drivers.) 31. What are stationary gun-carriages used for? To fire the piece from, and not to transport it except for short distances. 32. For what service are these carriages used ? |--„^ For garrison and sea-coast pieces ; although the L siege gun-carriages just described may also be used in a fortification or garrison. Mortar-beds, to be described hereafter, are used either for siege or garrison service. 33. What are the chief requisites for garrison and sea-coast carriages ? Strength, durability, and facility in serving the guns, as they are intended only for the works of a place, coast-batteries, and situations where they are perma- nently fixed. 34. Why should these carriages be required to pos- sess great strength and durability ? Unless made strong they would soon be shaken by the continued and rapid fire which the defence of a work may demand ; and from their constant exposure to the weather they would soon decay if made of a very perishable material. 35. Is the weight of garrison carriages a matter of great importance ? It is of less importance in this class of carriages than in any other, as they are seldom removed from their situations ; their weight adds but little to the labor of running them up. 36. Mention the different stuiionary carriages. 122 HAND-BOOK OF AFxTILLERY. The carriage from which a mortar is fired, called its bed; the barbettee-carriage ; the coluinbiad-carriage ; the casemate-carriage ; and that for the 24-pdr. iron howitzer, called the flank casemate-carriage. 37. How many kinds of siege-morfar beds have .we ? Four; the 8-in., 10-in., the stone, the cochorn. jgj. 38. Which of these are alike ? J The first three, differing only in dimensions. Tliey are made of cast iron, which has verj' little elas-' ticity. 39. Describe these beds. They consist of two cheeks, joined by two transoms, all cast together in the same piece. The manoeuvring bolts, placed on each side, one near each end of the cheeks, are made of wrought iron, and set in the mould when the bed is cast. On the front transom is fastened a wooden bolster, grooved to receive the elevating quoin. Notches, on the underside of the front and rear of the cheeks, give hold to the hand -spikes in throwing the carriage to the righ-t or left. 40. Describe the coehorn mortar-bed. It is made of a block of oak wood, in one piece, or two pieces joined together with bolts. A recess, for the trun!iions and part of the breech Is made in the top of. the bed; and the trunnions are kept in their places by plates of iron bolted down over thein. Two iron handles are bolted to the bed on each side, by which four men can carry the bed with the mortar in its place. 41. Describe the eprouvette mortar-bed It consists of a block of wood, on the top of which is countersunk and bolted the bed-plnte, which is a heavy circular plate of cast iron having a rectangular recess ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 123 with sloping sides, so as to make it longest at the bot- toni. Into this recess the sole of the nnortar slides. The wooden block is bolted to a stone block of the same size, which is firmly placed in the ground on a masonry foun- dation. 42. Describe the heavy sea-coast mortar-bed.- |oo-| The bed for the heavy ten-inch mortar is the '^-'only one which has yet been adopted. The cheeks are of cast iron, and somewhat similar in form to those in the beds of siege-mortars ; but in the front the cheeks turn up to receive between them the front transom, which has countersunk in and bolted to it, an elevating screw-bed, through which works an inclined elevating screw, which rises or fa!ls by turning the nut fitted on it by means of a lever inserted into mortises cut in the direction of the radii of the circular nut. Both the transoms are made of wood, connected with the cheeks by mortises and tenons, and secured by bolts running through, and nuts on the outside. One of these bolts at each end is longer than the others, and the projecting ends are made use of as manoeuvring bolts. Directly behind and underneath the position for the trunnions, a bronze bed-piece is placed to receive the shock of the piece. It consists of a large beam of bronze, with each end well let in to the face of the cheek. The use of the elevating screw instead of the quoin is rendered necessary by -the great mass of metal to be raised or lowered in sighting the piece. 43. What is a barbeite carriage .'' It is a carriage belonging to the class denominated immovable, on which a gun is mounted to fire over a paiapet ; and a barbette gun is any gun mounted on a barbette carriage. 44. How many forms of the barbette-carriage are in use in the service ? r 3 24 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. Two , one for iron guns and sea-coast howitzers, (12, 18, 24. 32, 42-pdrs., and 8 and lOin.;) and one for the columbiads. 45. Of how many parts aie barbette-carriages^^ qo composed ? I- Of a gun-carriage and a chassis 46. Describe the gun-carriage. It is formed of two upright pieces of timber, nearly vertical, behind which arc placed two inclined braces, mortised into the uprights, and designed to receive the force of the recoil, the whole forming the cheeks, which are firmly connected and braced by transoms and as- sembling bolts, thus forming a iriangular framework, which is less liable than any other form to become de- formed from the shocks of the gun. A horizontal piece (the transom and axle-tie) runs from front to rear be- tw^een the cheeks, connecting the axle-body and rear transom. The trunnion-bed is at the top of the upright, where it is joined to the brace; and the breech of the gun is supported on an elevating-screw, working into a screw-box placed in the rear end of the transom and axle-tie. The front transom is just under the gun : the middle transom is between the braces, and the rear transom is at the lower end- of the braces, and under the transom and axle-tie, into which it is notched ; the lower part of this -transom is notched to receive the tongue of the chasis on which it slides. Between this transom and the transom and axle-tie, the end of a lunette is placed projecting to the rear, and fastened by a bolt for the purpose of attaching a limber to the car- riage. The feet of the uprights and front end of the tran- som and axle-tie are joined to an axle-body, in W'hich an iron axle is placed. On the ends of the axle are fit- ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 125 ted cast-iron rollers, which rest on the rails of the ^^ 04^ chasis, and support the front of the carriage. On^ the outside of the roller is placed an octagonal projec- tion, on which the cast-iron nave of the wheel fits, se- cured by a washer and linch-pin. The spokes of the wheels are wood, inclosed within heavy iron ties. Ma- noeuvring bolts are inserted in front of the feet of the upiights, and in the carriages, for pieces heavier than a 24-pdr., in rear of these feet also. These bolts and the spokes of the wheels form the points of application for the hand-spikes in manoeuvring the piece. Manoeu vring staples are placed in front of the feet of the braces, for the puipose of using hand-spikes to raise the rear of the carriao;e from the tongue of the chasis in running to and from battery. 47. What pieces go on the same carriage ? The 32-pound gun and 8-in. howitzer. All other pieces have separate carriages. 48. How many sizes of rollers are used ? Two ; one for the carriages of the 12, 18, and 24- pdrs ; the other for the remaining carriages. 49. Are cap-squares used with these carriages? No. 50. What other purposes do the wheels subserve be- sides assisting in manoeuvring the gun-carriage ? In transporting the piece on its carriage for short dis- tances, as from one front of a fort to another. 51. Describe the chasis. It consists of two rails and a tongue, joined by three .transom's. The tongue is in the middle, and projects considerably deyond the rails to the rear. At each end of the rails on top, a hard piece of wood is notched in and bolted. They are called hurters and counter-,-^ 05 hurters, and their use is to prevent the gun-carriage^ from running off the chassis. Rail plates of iron to pro- 12f) HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. tect the wooden rails are let in to the outside of the rails. At the rear end of the tongue a swinging prop' i> placed to su]>port the end of the tongue when the piece is run back. The lower side of the end of the tongue is notched out, and a manoeuvring loop fixed there, with a bold and screws, to assist in handling the chasis. On the under side of each rail, opposite the rear transom, a mortise is formed for the reception of a socket of iron, which receives the handle o{ the traverse- , wheel fork. Each of these forks receives a traverse- wheel, joined to it by an axle-bolt, and these support the rear end of the chassis. The front end is supported , on a pintle-plate of iron ; through which, and up into ' the middle of the front transom, passes a pintle or bolt,) which serves os a pivot around which the whole S3'stem ' moves. 52. In permanent batteries, how are the pintle and traverse circle fixed ? ' The pintle is fixed in a block of stone, and the tra- verse circle is an 'won plate set also in stone. 53. In temporary batteries, how is the pintle attach- ed ? To a wooden bolster which is covered by a circular cast-iron plate, and attached by bolts to a w^ooden cross, picketed firmly into the ground. 54. How may a temporary traverse circle be made ? Of plank, pinned. to sleepers, and fastened to pickets, or secured to string-pieces, which connect the traverse circle with the pintle-cross. 55. What retains the traverse-wheel and their^^op forks in their places ? L The weight of the carriage and gun, and the form of the socket and handle of the fork. 5Q. Where are the hand-spikes applied to traversing the carriage ? ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 12? To the pivot-bolts of the traverse-wheels, which pro- ject to the rear; or under the traverse wheels. 57. Why does the chat^sis slope towards the front? In order to diminish the recoil, and aid in running the piece into battery. 58. Describe the columbind gun-cdrriage. It is a triangular frame-work, consisting on each side of an upright, a horizontal rail or tie, and a brace, firm- ly mortised and bolted together, forming the cheeks, which are joined by a transom at each end. These pro- ject below the lower surfaces of the ties, and fit in between the rails of the chassis, serving, like the flanges on the rollers in the other barbette-carriages, to prevent the gun-carriage from slipping sidewa3's off the chassis. Through the front transom, and near^the front ends of the ties, an iron axle-tree is passed, working in iron boxes fitting in the ties. On the projecting ends of this axle-tree the lollers or manoeuvring wheels are fixed (the axes of which are eccentric with the axis of the axle- tree) the extreme ends of the axle, being octagonal in shape, to fit the wrench of the iron handspike. These eccentrics are so arranged that when the cen- tres of the wheels are at their lowest points, the sur- faces of the wheels bear on the rails of the chassis and raise the gun-carriage tie from it ; and when the cen- tres are at the highest points, the surfaces of the wheels '-07-1 do not touch the rails, and the ties are in contact ^ with them.* A similar arrangement is made for the rear part of the carriage, except that the axle does not extend all the way through, but the wheel on each * A couple of notches or indentatiotis are made on the ends of the eccentric axles. When these notcfies are in a vertical line, the wheels rest on the rails; bnt when they are in a horizontal or in- clined line, the ties rest on them. IZ^ HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. side has a projecting piece of axle which works into a hox placed near the end of the tie. The wlieel is thrown into or out of gear, that is, made to bear on the rail of the chassis or relieved from it, by turning the axle with a wrench placed on the oc- ta'j-onul end. In the direction of the radii of the wheels, *but inclined outwards, mortises are placed for the recep- tion of the end of the iron handspikes, by acting on which while inserted the wheels are turned, and the carriage moved back and forth on the chassis. Ordi- narily, when the wheels are thrown into gear, the car- ria^ts of two rails and a tongue, joined b}- two transoms, and supported on traverse-wheels in front and rear. The track on each rail is curved up at each end, and provided with hurters to prevent the carriage from running off* the chassis. A prop fastened under the rear end of the tongue prevents the chassis from upset- ting backwards in firing.heavy charges, and may be used as a point of support in raising the chassis. An iron fork is bolted to the under side of the front end of the tongue, to which is bolted an iron tongue. An opening in the masoni'y below the embrasure, is left for - .«-] this tongue, and it is secured in its place by -• dropping the pintle from the embrasure down through the eye of the tongue. 63. Where is iho flank casemate carriage employed .? It is especially adapted to the mounting of the 24-pdr. iron howitzer in the flanks of casemate batteries, for defending the ditch ; and both the gun-carriage and chassis are nanower and lighter than the other case- mate carriages. 64. Describe the gun-carriage. The cheeks are made of white oak, and connected by two iron tiansoms, the front one projecting below the cheeks, and resting on the chassis with a projection on the bottom of it, fitting in between the rails. The bot- tom of the tiail has the same slope as the upper surface of the chas.-:is on wh.ich it rests; so that when its ec- centric-roller is out of gear ,the rear parts of the cheeks fit the rails. The remaining portion of the bottom of the cheek makes an angle with the rail, and has in ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 131 front a fork, and a roller which runs on the rail of the chassis when the eccentric is in gear. Each cheek has on the side a tr^iil-handle and a manoeuvring ling. — In rear of the rear transom is placed an eccentric-roller, having a projection in tiie middle of it, just large enough to fit in between the rails of the chassis, and guide the trail of the carriage. When this roUei' is in gear, the weight of the trail rests upon it, while that of the front part of the carriage is thrown upon the front rollers, and the piece is then easily run'^in and out of battery; but the roller being out of gear, as when the piece is about to be fired, the weight rests upon the rear part of the cheeks and the h'oni transom, and friction is brought into play to diminish the recoil. Cap- p^ .^ squar.es are used with this carriage. L 65. Describe the chassis. It consists simply of two rails 3 in. apart, and joined by four transoms and assembling-bolts. Hurters on the rear ends of the rails only are used, as the bottom pro- jection of the front transom prevents the carriage run- ning too far into battery, The front end of the chassis rests on the sole of the embrasure. The end is piovided with a pintle-plate and a strap of half-in. iron through which the pintle passes to the masonry beneath. The rear of the chassis is supported by an iron prop the lower end of which is attached to two traverse-wheels. QQ. What kind of carriages have been recommended for use in garrisons, instead of wooden ones ? Wrought-iron carriages, for ail except the flank case- mate ; all made in a similar manner, differing otily in weight and dimensions. 67. What is the objection to cast iron ? Its weight, and its great liability to splinter when struck by shot. lo2 HAXD-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 6S. or how many parts is this wrought-iroii carriDge composed ? Like the wooden ones, of a gun-carriage and chassis. 69. Describe the gun-carriage. It consists of two cheeks of thick sheet-iron, each one of which is strengthened by three flanged iron- plates bolted to the cheeks. Along the bottom of each cheek, an iron shoe is fixed with the end bent upwards. .. io-j 1" front this bent end is bolted to the flange of -^the front strengthening plate. In rear the bent por- tion is longer, and terminated at top by another bend, which serves as a point of application for a lever on a ■wheel, when running to and from battery. The trun- nion-plates fit over the top ends of the strengthening- plates, which meet around the bed, and are fast- ened to the flanges of the latter by movable bolts and nuts. The cheeks are joined together by transoms made of bar iron. They are parallel to each other, and in order that the base-ring on the gun may not interfeie with giv- ' ing it the full elevation by striking against them, it is pro- posed to dispense with the base-ring in sea-coast and garrison pieces, and to retain the preponderance by re- ducing the swell of the muzzle. The front of the carriage is mounted on an axle-tree, with truck wheels similar to the wooden casemate car- 70. Describe the chassis. It consists of two rails of wrought iron, the cross sec- tion of each being in form of a T, the flat surface on top being for the reception of the shoe-rail of the gun- carriage. The rails are parallel to each other, and con- nected by iron transoms and braces. The chassis is supported on traverse wheels. ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 133 A prop is placed under the middle transom of the chassis to provide against sagging. 71. What carriage is used for conveying ammunition for a field battery ? The Caisson. 72. Describe it. A four-wheel carriage, consisting of two parts, one of which is a limber similar to that of the gun-carriage, ^j^q-iand connected in a similar way by a wooden stock -"and lunette. On the axle-body of the rear part, ^d parallel to the stock, are placed three rails, upon which are fastened two ammunition boxes, one behind the other, and simi- lar to the one on the limber, so that the caisson has three ammunition boxes which will seat nine cannon- eers. The interior compartments of the ammunition boxes vary according to the nature of the ammunition with which they are loaded. In rear of the last box is placed a spare wheel, axle of iron, with a chain and toggle at the end of it. On the rear end of the middle rail is placed a carriage hook, similar to a pintle hook, to which the lunette of a gun carriage, who?e limber has become disabled, may be attached, and the gun carried off the field. The caisson has the same turning capacity and mobil- ity as the gun carriage, so that it can follow the piece in all its manoeuvres, if necessary. It also carries a spare wheel, spare pole, &,c. 73. What provision is made for repairing the carriages of a field battery when required : Every field battery is provided with a Forge. 74. Describe this wagon. It consists, besides the limber, of a frame work on which is fixed the bellows, fire-place, &c. Behind the bellows is placed a coal-box, which has to be removed 134 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. before the bellows can be put in position. In the limber box are placed the smiths' tools, horse-shoes, nails, and spare parts (iron) of carriages, harness, ^*c. 75. Describe the battery wagon. It consists, besides the limber, of a long-bodied cart with a lound top, which is connected with the limber in the same way as all other field carriages. The lid - . .nopenson hinges placed at the side ; and in rear is -^fixed a movable forage rack for carrying long for- age. One of these wagons accompanies each field bat- tery, for the purpose of transporting carriage-makers', and saddlers' tools, spare parts of carriages, harness, and equipments, and rough materials for replacing different parts. Both this and the forge are made of equal mobility with the other field carriages, in order to accompany them wherever they may be required to go. 76. How many kinds of wheels are employed for field carriages ? Two: No. 1 for the 6-pdr. gun carriage, the caisson, the forge, the battery-Wi^gon, and for the limbers of all field carriages. No. 2 for the 24-pdr. howitzer and the 12-pdr. gun carriages. 77. In what respects are these wheels similar.? They are of the same form and height, and they fit on tfie same axle-tree arm. The height is 57 in- ches, and each wheel is composed of 14 spokes and 7 fellies. 78. How do theydifl'er? In the dimensions of their parts, and in strength and weight. 79 What is the weight of these wheels.^ No. 1, 180 lbs.; No 2, 196 lbs. 80. What are the weight and height of a wheel of sie^e jjun-carriasres and limbers ? ARTILLERY CARRIAGES AND MACHINES. 135 Weight 404 lbs., and height 60 inches. 81. What is the portable forge designed for? Service in a mountainous country, where wheeled vehicles cannot travel, lor the purpose of making re- pairs, not only for the artillery, but for all other arms of service taken on tfuch expeditions. ^.;^-i 82. What is the 77io/-/ar w;rt^o?i designed for ? -' The transportation of siege mortars and their beds or of guns or large shot and shells. 83. Describe this wagon. The limber and wheels are the same as those of the siege gun-casriage. The body consists of a platform of rails and transoms, resting on an axle-tree, the two mid- dle rails being prolonged to form the stock ; six stakes or standards are inserted in sockets on the side of this platform and used to secure the load The side-rails are prolonged to the rear, and furnish pivots for a roller placed immediately in rear of the plat- form. This roller has holes for the insertion of hand- spikes, and is u^ed in loading the wagon; the' guns, mortars, &c., being drawn up on the stock. A muzzle bolster on the stock near the limber, and a breech-hurter near the hind part of the wagon, are provided and used when long ordnance is transported on it. Mortars are usually carried mounted on their beds. 84. What is the use of the hand-cart ? For the transportation of light stores in siege and gar- rison service. ^5. Describe it. It consists of a light body with shafts, mounted on two wheels. The shafts are joined together at the ends, and supported immediately in front of the body by iron legs. 86. What is the use of the hand sling-cart ? 136 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. ^ .rji It is used in siege and garrison service for trans- -•porting artillery short distances. 87. Describe it. ' It is a two-wheeled carriage made entirely of iron, except the pole, which is of oak. The axle-tree is arched to make it stronger, and connected with the pole by strong wrought iron straps and braces. In the rear of the axle a projection is welded to receive the end of a strong hook. The end of the pole terminates in a ferrule and an eye. The eye is for the purpose of attaching to the cart when necessary, a limber or a horse. 88. How great weights can be transported by this cart ? It should not be used with heavier weights than about 4,000 lbs., but in case of necessity a 24 or 32-pdr. gun may be transported on it. For heavier guns or mate- rial the large sling-cart drawn by horses or oxen should be us^d. ^ 89. What is the field and siege gin, and its use ? It consists, like all gins, of two legs and a pry-pole, a windlass, sheaves, pulleys, and a fall or rope, and is used for mounting or handling guns, or other heavy bodies, in the field or in the trenches of a siege. The legs are about 14^ feet long and the height of the gin about 12 feet. 90. How does the garrison gin differ from the field and sieo:e gin } It is heavier and stronger, as it is used for mounting heavier guns, and has not to be transported like the other with an army in the field. The legs are longer and the gin higher than the other. 91. Describe the casemate gin. It does not differ from the garrison gin except in its height (which is about that of the field and siege gin) and the thickness and strength of the parts. ,147] PRACTICAL GUNNERY. ^ 137 PART XIII. PRACTICAL GUNNERY. 1. How may the velocity of a shot or shell be ascer- tained ? Approximately by the empirical formula. \ac F=1600V- Where T==initial velocity. a=a co-efficient, whose value depends on the windage. w=weight of ball. / The values of (? are : Windage. Values of a. 0.175 3.6 0.125 4.4 0.090 5.0 2. Does a shot oi- shell continue at the same uniform, velocity during its flight.^ The velocity decreases as the distance increases, in a proportion a little higher than the squares of the ve- locities throughout. 3. What causes a decrease in the velocity of a shot .^ The resistance of the air, which varies as the square of the velocity of the shot. -tAcy-i 4. With balls of different diameters and equal ve- -■locities, to what is the resistance of the air propor- tional .'* • Their surfaces or the squares of their diameters. 138 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 5. Would the velocity of the shot be increased by lengthening the gun? Only up to a certain point; in a proportion which is nearly the mean ratio between the square and cube roots of the length of the bore. It is found that the ve- locity given by long guns is reduced to an equality with that of short guns within a short distance from the muz- zle when fired with similar charges. 6. Would the velocity of a shot be increased by entirely preventing the recoif, or by adding greatly to the weight of the gun ? In neither case would an}'' sensible effect be produced, on the velocity. 7. Would the velocity of the shot be increased by using a larger charge of powder? Only to a certain point, peculiar to each gun ; by further increasing the charge the velocity would be gradually diminished ; yet the recoil is always increased by an increase of charge. 8. What is the ratio of the velocities of shot, when of different weights, but fired with similar charges.? The velocities are inversely as the square roots of their weights. 9. What is the ratio of the velocities of shot of equal weights when fired with different charges of pow- der ? The velocities arc directly as the square roots of the charges. 10. How may the velocity be increased without aug- menting the charge of powder ? By decreasing the windage ; the loss of velocity i/iqi^y a given windage being directly as the windage. ^^^■JFrom 1-8 to 1-12 is lost by a windage of 1-40 diameter. * PRACTICAL GUNNERY. 139 11. What is meant by the time of flight of a shot or shell ? The time during which it "is passing through the air from the piece to the first graze. 12. When firing with common shells at 45° elevation, how is the time of flight found ? Extract the square root of the range in feet and divide by 4, or divide the range in feet by 16, and extract the square root of this quotient. Note — Range in feet=l(/ftx cotangent ele^vation. = 16/2, \ cotangent elevation. =16^ where the elevation is 45°, Or ^==4\/range in feet for elevation 45°, 13. Having the time of flight, how is the range as- certained } Multiply the square of the time of flight by 16 for the range in feet (the elevation being 45°.) 14. What is meant by tiie penetration of projectiles t Tiie depth to which they are forced when fired into any resisting medium. 15. What depth do shot penetrate ? The penetration of balls of the same size, with differ- ent velocities or charges, is nearly as the squares of the velocities; where the balls are of difl?erent sizes, the penetration will be proportionate to their diameters, multiplied by the density, and inversely as the tenacity of the medium. 16. Mention the deplh of penetration in case of the 24-pdr. siege gun. ^^Q-| At 100 yards a 24-pdr. ball with a charge of -■ one-third of its weight will penetrate as follows : 140 HAXD-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. Feet. Inches, In earth of old parapets, - ' - 8 6 *' " recently thrown up, - - 15 " Oak wood, sound and hard, - 4 6 " Rubble stone masonry, - 1 10 " Brick, - - - - 3 0, 17. What, is the depth of penetration of field pieces? Fired at the distance of 500 or 600 yards, the pene- tration will be from 4^ to 6 feet in parapets recently constructed, and will traverse walls of ordinary con- struction ; but a 12- pounder is necessary to make a breach in walls ofgoo^l masonry and of 4 feet in thick- ness, and in this case the position of the battery must be favorable, and the operation a slow one. 18. In attacking a post, or fortified position, in what manner should the fire from artillery be carried on ? Previous to an assault, the artillery ought to support the other troops by a combined fire of guns, howitzers, and small mortars, so that, if possible, the fire may be simultaneous, as such a diversity of projectiles would tend to distract the defenders and prevent them from extinguishing any fire among buildings, besides throw- ing them into confusion at the moment of assault. In cases of surprise, when immediate action is required, the above method cannot, of couise, be practicable. 19. When firing guns of different calibres at long ranges, what are the probabilities of hitting the object? As the squares of the diameters of their respective shot, when of equal density, and fired with proportional charges. MISCELLANEOUS. 141 [151 PART XIV. MISCELLANEOUS. 1. What is the velocity of sound in the air ? At the temperature of 33° the mean velocity' of sound is 1100 feet in a second. It is increased or diminished half afoot for each degree of temperature above or be- low 33°. 2. How can the distance of an object he ascertained by the report of fire-arms? By observing the number of seconds that elapse be- tween the flash and the report of a gun, and multiply- ing the number by the velocity of sound in the air. 3. What is momentum } The iorce possessed by a body in motion ; and is measured by the product of the mass of the body into its velocity. 4. When equal masses are in motion, what propor- tion do their momenta bear to their velocities ? They are proportional to their velocities. 5. When velocities are equal, what proportion do their momenta bear to tlieir masses ? They are proportional to their masses. 6. What proportion do the momenta bear to each other ' when neither the masses nor velocities are equal ? They are to each other as the products of their masses into their velocities respectively; 7. What is the average weight of a horse ? 142 HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. About 1000 pounds. n^^^ 8. What space does a horse occupy in the L ranks ; in a stall ; and at a ))ickot ? In the r%nks a front of 40 in., a depth of 10 feet ; in a stall, from 3^ to 4^ feet front ; at picket 3 feet by 9. 9. What are the comparative effects of the labor of a man, and that of a horse or mule ? Taking the useful effect of a man's daily labor as unity, a horse can carry a load on a horizontal plane, 4.8 to 6.1 times ; and a mule, 7.6 times greater than a man. Taking a man with a wheel-barrow as unity, a horse in a four-wheel wagon can draw 17.5, and in a cart 24.3; and a mule in a cart, 23.3 times greater burden. 10. What weight is an artillery horse required to draw } Not more than 700 lbs., the weight of the carriage included. 11. What weight can a team of four horses or more, draw with u^^eful effect .? Including the weight of carriage, 4 horses can drawj 24 cwt., or 6 each ; 6 horses, 30 cwt., 5 each; 8 horses, 36 cwt., 4^ each ; aud 12 horses, 48 cwt., or 4 each. It is usual to estimate the weight of a carriage exceed- ing 12 cwt. as part of the load. 12. What weights arc carried by the riding, pack, and draught horses respectively ? A horse carrying a soldier and his equipments, (say 225 lbs.) travels 2.5 miles in a day (8 hours) ; a pack- horse can carry 250 to 300 lbs., 20 miles a day; and a draught-horse, 1600 lbs. 23 miles a day, weight of car- riage included. 13. What are the usual paces for horses in the artil- lery ? 15S1 ^^2ilk, trot and gallop; the last is seldom neces- -' sary? MISCELLANEOUS. 143 14. What is considered an ordinary day's march for field artillery, and rate of motion ? • An ordinary march is about 15 miles at 2^- miles per hour for 6 hours; this must depend upon the condition of the horses, state of the roads, and various other cir- cumstances. Horses starting fresh, and rcstinj^ after their work, may, on tolerable roads, perform 2 miles in half an hour; 4 miles in 1^ hours; 8 in 4, and 16 in 10 hours. 15. What is the rate of m;irch of horse artillery and 'cavalry ? Walk, 3f miles per hour, or 1 mile in 16 minutes; trot, 7^ per hour, or 1 mile in 8 minutes; manoeuvring gallop, at the rate of 11 miles per hour, or 1 mile in 3 minutes ; cavalry charge, 24 miles an hour, or at the rate of 1 mile in 2^ minutes. 16. At what rate does infantry march? In common time, 90 steps=70 yards in 1 minute, or 2 miles 680 yards in an hour; in quick time, 110 steps =:86 yards in a minute, or 2 miles 1613 yards in an hour; in double quick, 140 steps=i09 yards in 1 mi- nute, or 3 miles 1253 yards in an hour. 17. What space does a foot soldier occupy in the ranks, and what is his average weight ? A front of 20 in., and a depth of 13 in., without the knapsack; the interval between the ranks is 13 in.; 5 men can stand in a space of 1 square yard. Average weight of men, 150 lbs. each. 18. What is the daily allowance of water for a r.^-. man r One gallon, for all purposes. 19. What is it for a horse? Four gallons. 20. What is the weight of a bushel of oats ; or of wheat; and the weight of hay? 144 .. HAND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. 40 lbs., or 32.14 lbs. to the cubic foot, in case of oats ; 60, lbs. to the bushel, or 48.21 lbs. to the cubic foot, in case of wheat; hay presssd in bunviies, weighs 11 lbs. per cubic foot. 21. VV'iiat weight does an infantry soldier carry when in marching order ? About 45 lbs. in all. His knapsack when packed weighs 24 lbs. ; canteen when filled, and one day's pro- visions in haversack, 5 lbs. ; rifle, musket, sling, and bayonet, 10^ lbs. ; belts, complete, including 20 rounds of ammunition, 6 lbs. 22. How is the area of a circle found : Square the diameter, and multiply by .78.54 for the area; or square the circumference, and multiply by .07958 for the same result. 23. How is the content of a conical frustum found ? Add into one sum, the areas of the two ends and the mean proportional between them ; take one-third of that sum for the mean area, and multiply it by the per- pendicular hfight of the frustum, for its content. 24. How is the mean proportional found for the above ? By multiplying the areas of the two ends together and extracting the square-root of their product, r-iprp- A more simple rule is the following: As the di- ^ amctcr of the large end is to that of the small end, so is area of base to mean proportional required. 25. How is the content of a spherical segment found? From three times the diameter of the sphere, take double the height of the segment, then multiply the remainder by the square of the height, and this product by .5236 ; or, to three times the square of the radius of the segment's base, add the square of its height, then multiply the sum by the height, and this product by .5236, for the content. MISGELLA NEOlTt? . 145 26. .How is the capacity or content of a (corner cham- ber computed ? This chamber being the frustum of a cone with a hemispherical bottom, its capacity will be found by ap plying the foregoing rules, viz : first find the conteni of the frustum, then that of the spherical segment or bottom, and add their contents? into one sum for the ca- pacity. 27. How is the content of a rectangular box ascer- tained ? Multiply the length by the breadth, and this product by the "depth. 28. How is the capacity of a cylinder calculated r Multiply the area of the base by the height. 29. How is the content of a barrel found / Multiply half the sum of the areas of the two interior circles, taken at the head and bung, by the interior length/ or, to the area of the head, add twice the area at the bung, multiply that sum by the length, and take one-third of the product for the content. .^^-, 30. What is meant by the term, enfilade? -• Sweeping the whole extent of a work, line of troops, deck of a ship, &c., with shot or shells. 31. What does defilade mean ? The art of disposing gun^, troops, or works in such a manner that they shall be prctedted from a plunging- iire from adjoining heights;' 32. What are the dimensions required for an earthen parapet to resist the fire of field or siege^gutis ? 6 feet for 6-pdrs.; 14 feet for 12-pdrs.; 18 fdet for 24 or 18-pdrs.: foui- feet of oak or brick will resist cannon shot? 33. What thickness of ice will admit the passage of infantry, cavalry, and artillery? Ice three inches thick will bear infantry marching in E 140 AND-BOOK OF ARTILLERY file ; from 4^ to 6^ inches, cavalry and light artillery ; and beyond that the heaviest gun carriages may pass in safety. Ice 8 inches thick will bear nearly 10 cwt. upon a square foot without danger. 34. How is the size of a rope designated ? By its circumference ; thus a two-inch rope rs a rope two inches in circumference. 35. How is the strength of a hemp rope, or the weicjht it will support, ascertained ? Square the circumference in inches, and divide by 0, for the weight in tons that it will bear suspended from it. - 36. How can the breadth of a river be ascertained without instruments? As follows: [157 1st. The line JIB (the distance to be determined) is extended upon the bank to D, from which j)uint, after MISCELLANEOUS. 147 having marked it, lay off equal distances DC and Cd; produce BC to b, making Cdz=CB; then extend the line db until it intersects the prolongation of the line CjJ at a. The distance ab is equal to ^B or the width of the river. 2d. Lay off any convenient distance BC, perpendic- ular to JIB, erect a perpendicular DC to .^C, note the point D where it intersects .^^ produced ; measure BD; then ^B= .* BD 37. How can the breadth of a river be ascertained by the means of the peak of a cap, or cocked hat ? ^-gj-. Place yourself at the edge of one bank, and low- -^er the peak of the cap, or point of the hat till the edge cut the other bank, then steady your head by pla- cing your hand under your chin, and tui-n gently around to some level spot of ground on your own side of the river, and observe where your peak or pouU of your hat again meets the ground; measure this distance, which will be nearly the breadth of the river. 38. How do you ascertain the distance of an object by means of the tangent scale of a gun, the height of the object at the required distance being known ? Direct the line of metal d[ the gun on the top of the object :• then r;iise the tangent slide till the top of it and notch on the muzzle are in line with the foot of the object, and note what length of scale is required, then, by similar triangles, as the length of the raised part of the tangent scale is to the length of the gun, so is ■•■•■Tbe second method w;is siic-o-ested to me mv Capt. "^'og-des, 1st Irtillerv U. 8. A. 148 HAXD-BOOK OF ARTILLERY. the height of the distant object to the distance re- quired. 39. What composition may be used for greasing the axle-trees of artiU'ery carriages? Hog's lard softened by working it. If this cannot be procured, tallow or other grease may be used ; If hard, it .-honld be melted with fish oil. 40. What is the simplest method of bursting open strong gates ? Suspend a bag of gunpowder containing 50 or 60 lbs., near the middle of the gate, upon a nail or gim- let, h-aving a ^mall piece of poi t-fire inserted at the bot- ^fm. and well secured with twine. 41. What is the hngth of a pendulum to vibrate sec- i,t:s. hulf and quarter seconds respectively.? Seconds, 39,1 inc[)es ; half seconds, 9.8 inches; and quarter seconds, 2"45 inches. ,^q-] 42. Give a formula for determining the length -■of the seconds pendulum in any latitude. 1 /-= [32.1803 feet— 0.0821 cos. 2 lat.] 9.8696044 43. how are th"e times of a single oscillation of two pendulums to each other.? As the square roots of their length. 44. Repeat the table of measuies. 10 teotb?, - - . - _ - 1 inch. 4 inches, - . - - - - - l hand. 12 inches, _ . - . . _ i foot. 28 inches, . _ _ . _ _ i pj^ee. 3 feet, - . . _ „ - 1 yard. 2 yards, - . _ . . _ i hithom. 220 yards,, . . _ _ . . 1 furlong. 17()0 yai'ds, * _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 mile. 45. Repent the table of avoirdupois weisrbt. MISCELLANEOUS. 14^ 47.34*735 grains, - - - - ~ 1 dram. . 16 drams, - - - - - 1 ounce. 16 ounces, . - - - - - 1 pound. 28 pounds, - - - - - 1 quarter. 4 qrs. or 112 lbs., - - - - 1 cwt. 20 cwt,, - - - - - 1 ton. In some of our States the ton is estimated at 2,000 lbs. 46. What is the force of gravit}^ ? It is that force of attraction exerted by the earth upon all particles of matter which tends to urge them towards its centre. 47. What is the specific gravity of a body ^ The ratio of the weight of a body to that of an equal volume of some other body assumed as a standard, usually pure distilled water at a certain tempera- ture. ^ 48. What is the law of descent of falling bodies ? The spaces fallen through from the commencement of the descent are proportional to the squares of the times elapsed. ♦ 49. What compositions are made use of for P^'^-r-taQ servijig iron cannon .'* ^ 1. Black lead, pulverized, - - - 12 Red lead, - - . . - 12 Litharge, - - , - - -- Lam])biack, - - - - - 5 ' Linseed Oil. - - - - 6o Boil it gently about 20 minute-, during which tiine it must be constantly stirrred. 2. Umber, ground, - - - - - 3.75 Gum Shellac, pulverized. • - - :'.*I5 Tvory Black, - - - - -.75 Litharge. - - . % . - 3.75 Linseed Oil, - - - - 73 Spirits of Turpentine, - - - - 1.2'> 15U HA^D-BuOK OF ARTILLERY. The oil must be first boiled half an hour ; the mix- ture is then boiled 24 hours, poured off from the sedi- ment, and put in jugs, corked. 3. Coal tar (of good quality), - - 2 gals. Spirits of turpentine, - - - 1 pint. In applying lacker, the surface of the iron must be first cleaned with a scraper and a wire brush, if neces- sary, and the lacker applied hot, in two thin coats, with a paint brush. It is better to do it in summer. Old lacker should be removed with a scraper, or by scouring, and not by heating the guns or balls, by which the me- tal is injured. About 5 gallons of lacker aie required for 100 field- guns and 1000 shot : about 1 quart for a sea-coast gun. JBetbre the lacker is applied, every particle of rust is removed from the gun, J^ the vent cleared out. 50. How many gallons does a cubic foot contam ? 7.48 gallons. 51. What is the weight of a gallon of distilled water/ ..... At the ma'ximum density (39°. 83 Fahr.), the -■ baiometer being at 30 inches, it weighs 8.33888 avoirdupois pounds, or 58373 Troy grains. 52. What are the different lengths of plummets for regulating the march of infantry ? Common time, - 99 steps in a minute, 17.37 inches Quick time, - 110 " - 11.6 •♦ Double quick, - - 140 " - 7.18 " 53. How is a plummet made.^ By means of a musket ball, suspended by a silk string, upon which the required- lengths are marked , the length is measured fronj the point of suspension to the centre of the ball,, 54. Explain how to embark and disembark artillery and it? stores. MISCELLANEOUS. 151 1. Divide the total quantity to be transported among the vessels, and place in each vessel every thing neces- sary for the service i-equired at the moment of" disem- barkation, so that there will be no inconvenience should other vessels be delayed. 2. If a siege is to be undertaken, place in each ves- sel with each piece of artillery its implements, ammu- nition, and the carriages necessary to transport the whole or a part; the platforms, tools, instruments, and materials for constructing batteries ; skids, rollers, scantling, and plank. 3. If a particular calibre of gun is necessary for any operation, do not place all of one kind in one vessel, to avoid being entirely deprived of them by any accident. 4. Dismount the carriages, wagons, and limbers, by taking off the wheels and bd^s, and, if absolutely ne- cessary, (he axle-trees. Place in the boxes the linch- pins, washers, ^c, with the tools required for put- r-j^n ting the carriage together again. Number each car- ' riage, and mark each detached article with the number of the carriage to which it belongs, 5. The contents of each box, barrel, or bundle, should be marked distinctly upon it. The boxes should be made small for tne convenience of hendling, and have rope handles to lift them by. 6. Place the heaviest articles below, beii^inning with ilie shot and shells (empty), then the gun-, platforms, .irriages, wagons, limbers, ammunition boxes, &,c. ; boxes of small arms and ammunitien in the dryest and least exposed part of the vessel. Articles required to be disembarked first should be put in last, or so placed that they can be readily got at. If the disembarkation is to be performed in front ( f the enemy, some ot the field-pieces should be so nhc^d that thev can be disembarked immediatelv, wit.j their id2 MANU-BUUK Ui" AKTlLLLKi. carriages, implements and ammunition ; also the tools and materials for throwing up temporary intrenchments on landing. 7. Some vessels should be laden solely with such pow- der and ammunition as may not be required for the im- mediate service of the pieces. 8. On a smooth, sandy beach, heavy pieces, &c., maybe landed by rolling them overboard as soon as the boats ground, and hauling them up with sling-carts. 103] APPENDIX. RIFLE CANNON. A Rifle is a firearni whi'jli has sjirfil gTOoves cut into the surface of its bore, for the puri^ose otcomumniealinr!: a rotary motion to a projectile around an axis coinciding with the direction of ite flight. The object of this rotation is to increase the range of a projectile, by causing it to move through the air in tli» dkection of its leaat resistance, and to correct the cause of deviation by distributing it uniformly around the line of flight. Various plans have been tried .to secure tl|e safest and surest means of causing the projectile to follow the spiral grooves as it passes along ihe bore of a rifled piece. Those projectiles, Avhich promise to be the most successful for heavy guus, may be ranged under two heads, viz : 1st. Those which have flanges or projections on them to fit into the grooves of the gun in loading. The flanges are made of softer metal than the body of the pro- jectile. 3d, Those which are constructed on an expanding principle. The body is generally made of cast iron ; and the expanding portion is a band or cup of some softer metal, as pewter, copper, or 1641 ^''^'^''^^^ ;>07i, which enters the bore of the piece freely when -J it is loaded, but which is forced into the grooves by the dis- charge. The grooves are of different forms, determined by the angle made by the tangent line at any point with the corresponding ele- ment of the bore. If the angles be equal at all points, the groove is said to be uniform. If they increase from the breech to the muzzle, the grooves are caUeA increasing ; if the reverse, decreas- ing grooves The practical method of cutting grooves consists in moving ;i rod armed with a cutter, back and forth in the bore, and at the same time revolving it around its axis. If the velocities of translation and rotation be boih uijiform, the grooves will have a uniform twist : if one of the velocities be variable, the grooves .l54 APPENDIX. . will be either increasinjj or decreasinjj, depending on the relative velocities in the two directions. Twist is the term employed by gunmakers to e.\:})ress the incli- nation of a ^'■roove at any point, and is measured by the tangent of the angle which the groove makes with the axis of the bore ; and this is always equal to the circiiinference of the bore divided by the leiKjth of a single revolution of the spiral measured in the direc- tion of the axis. The most suitable inclination of grooves for rifle cannon has not yet been determined experimentally ; and consequently a wide diversity of twists is employed by different experimenters. The following table* i)resents a synopsis of the results in case of some rifle cannon tested at Fort Monroe, Va., in 1859, by a Board composed of ordinance and artillery officers. The following is extracted from the report of the Board : " The method of obtaining rifle motion in iJiese differentp. ,__ guns is of two kinds ; L '^ " 1. Flanged projectiles entering into the grooves of the gun. "2. Expanding projectiles, which are forced into the grooves by the action of the charge. Although the flanged projectile, when made with great precision, has given good results, as shown by the tables of firing, the extreme nicety in its fabrication, and the care and trouble to load the gun, particularly when it becomes foul by firing, seems to render it not as suitable for service as the expanding projectile, " From the results obtained, the conclusion is inevitable that the era of smooth-bore field artillery has passed away, and that the period of the adoption of rifle-cannon for siege and garrison service cannot be remote. The superiority of elongated j)iojec- tiles, whether solid or hollow, with the rifle rotation, as regards economy of ammunition, extent of range, and uniformity and ac- curacy of elFcct, over the present system, is decided and unques- tionable." The Armstrong gu.v, of which so much h;is been said, i)elongs to the class of breech-loading rifle-cannon. Us projectile is made pf cast iron, .surrounded l)y two leaden rings, jilaced at the ex- tremities of the cylindrical part, for the puii)ose of engaging the grooves, when it is forcmj through the bore. The great range and accuracy claimed for this projectile, are probably derived from its great length corai)ared with its diameter; butq, gun of great strength would be required to project it. •* See Table, pages 156, 157. 15G AITEXDIX. 166] TARGET 40' BY 20'. Bore. • Grooves. ■ Name. Calibre. ~~ Twist. J3 Width Di'pth. a 1" 6 S h3 IS iti. in. in. in. Sawyer - 24-pdr. 5.862 no 6 1.5 0.25 Uniform, one turn in 34 >^ fenl. Dimick - 3-3-pdr. G.4 101 6 2.0 0.2 rectau. Increasing from to()neturninC2i/o feet at muzzle ;' twist to the right Dr. Head l2-pdr Siege 4.854 109 7 l-14th circum .03 to .08 Increasing from at commenccm-t to one turn in 50 feet at muzzle. Do. - 12-pdr Field 4.636 74 do. do. Do. do. Do. - 32pdr. 6.435 110 3 l-6tli circuui .085 to .12 circular. Uniform, one turn in 40 feet. Do. - G pdr. 3.69 103.4 3 do. To to 77.111 circular. Uniform, to the right, one turn in 25 feet. Capt. Dyer 3-pdr. 2.y 44.5 8 0.4 .05 Uniform, one turn in 16 feet. Do. - 6 pdr bronze 3.67 .57.5 16 0.5 .025 Uniform, one turn in 19 feel. The following is a description of the several projectiles, viz : Sawyer's.— Flanged projectile ; elongated ; entire shell coated vvltli an alloy cliiefly of lead, and has a percussion cap on small end. DiiMiCK's. — E.xpanding e-hell; elongated; cup of soft metal cast on rear end of jtrojectile. APPENUIX. 157 167 TARGET 40' BY 20'. COnfiHUet/.' Wis. 8^22 9300 J 900 8500 1200 250 lbs. ' I 1000 IabKIb. 2000 Yards. 22 13 6 i u c o ■- 5. « 1 o t r - o 2 1^ / // o , II 15 13 2 9 119 32 17 4 30 6 7 n 1 2 15 21 6 5 6>i^ S6 14 9 2 15 30 5 8 4 30 48 16 3 2 3 10 8 2 2 15 3 84 19 8 5 63^ 28 18 4 2 10 52 9 5 4 45 28 . 5 2 25 18 4 .2 5>^. 7 22 11 4 2 15 4359 3665 3270 = 2 o s 3.33 J. > i3m 11 30 13 30 1 Reed's. — The body is of cast lion and the expabding portion is a cup df wrought iron, which is fastened to tlie body by in.serting it in the mould and pouring tlie melted metal around it. Dyer's. — Uescription nearly the same as that of DimicR's, IlJirDEX, j^" The pages refer to the figures in brackets [] in the margin of the text. AIR: Resistance of, 14S. AMMUNITION : For fielfi battery, 41 ; for siege train, 37-8 ; sto- raiie, 103-4; preparation, 93—4, 100-1-2; weights of fixed, 107. ANGLE: Of greatest range. 66 ; of fall, 74; of least elevation for mortars, 67; of elevation for stone mortars, 67 — Natural angle of sight, 12 ; of guns, 26; of howitzers, 29 ; of columbiads, 30. ANIMAL POWER, 152. ARC, elevating, 18. AREA of a circle, 154. ARMSTRONG GUN, 165. ARTIFICIAL LINK OF SIGHT, 53. ARTILLERV : Definition, 9— Method of embarking and disem- barking, 161-2 — Carriages (see carriages) — Kinds of, 9 ; how distinguished, 9 — Proportion of, to Infantry, 40 — Proportion of different kinds in a field train, 40: in siege train, 36 ; for moun- tain service, 42 ; for armament of forts^ 35 — How rendered un- serviceable. 20-1 . ASTRAGAL AND FILLETS: Definition, 13. ATTACK of a post. 150. AVOIRDUPOIS WEIGHT, 159. AXIS OF A PIECE : Definition, 12. BALLS; Diameters and weights, 105-G; computation of weight and diameter, 95; piling, 103; number in a pile, 104-5; fire, 92 ; light, 92 : smoke, 93 ; penetration, 149-50. BARBETTE CARRIAGE: Kinds, 132— Parts composing, 133— Description, 133-4. BARRELS: For gunpowder, marking, 88 ; piling, 88 ; trans])or- tation, 89. BATTERY: Definition of, 11— Of field artillery, composition, 41 ; tactics, 44-5-6-7-8-9-50 — Mountain artillery, 42 — Ammunition for field batterv. 41. 160 INDEX. BATTERY-WAGON, 143-4. BEDS, mortar : Weifjhts, 33— Truunion beds, 129 — Siege mortar, 130-1— Coehorn, 131— Eprouvette, 131— Ileavv sen-coast, 131-2. BASE-RING: Definition, 13. BASE OF THE BREECH : Definition of. 13. BOARD, Pointing, 58. ^ BORE: Definition, 14; bottom of, 15. BORMANN FUZE, 112-13. BRASS CANNON : External injury, 23. BREADTH of a river ascertained, 157-8. BREACHING: Battery, best position for, 38; manner of, 38-9 ; time required, 39. BREECH; Definition, 13 — Sights, liI; how used,, 53 ; construc- tion, 17 ; i)ieces supplied with, 17. BRONZE : Objections to, for cannon, 10 ; Avhy used for field pieces. 10; kinds of bronze pieces used, 11. BURNING gunpowder : quickness of, 87. BURSTING' OPEN gates, 158. BUSHING a piece, 20 , metal used for, in bronze pieces. 20 ; ob- ject of, 20 ; all new artillery not bushed. 20. CAISSON : Description of, 142-3 ; number with a field battery, 41. CAKING of powder prevented, 89. CALIBRE: Definition, 12 ; number in a piece ascertained, 12. CANISTERS, 91 : For field service, how made, 94 ; for siege and sea-coast service, how made, 95 — How piled, 104. CANNON; bore, 12 — Brass, external and internal injuries, 23 — Dimensions, how regulated, 11 — For siege train, 36 — Iron, inju- ries, 24 — preservation of, 25 ; service of, how judged, 24 — How marked, 21-2 — Condemned cannon, how marked, 22 — Proof of, 22— Kinds, 9— Length of, 27-8, 30, 33— Rifle cannon, 163-7. CARCASSES, 92. CARRIAGES : Classification, 123— Movable, 123; field gun, 125- 6; Mountain artillery, 127; i)rairie, 127; limbers, 126-9; siege gun, 128 — Stationary, 129-30; liarbette, 132-.3-4; case- mate, 138-9; columbiad, 130-7; flank-casemate, 140 — Mortar beds. 131 — Wrought iron, 141-2 — Number in a field battery, 41. CARTRIDGE-BAGS : Where filled, 89. CARTRIDGES : For hot shot, 97. CASCABLE, 13. CASEMATE: Carriage, 138-9— Gin, 140. CHAMBER : Definition, 14 ; object of, 32 : form for mortars, 32 ; for howitzers, 28 ; for epronvclle; 32 : goiner, 32. INUEX. Itji CHARGES : Definition, 60— For breeching, 60— For double shot, 60 — For field guns and howitzers, 62 — For fire-balls, 61 — For heavy guns, columbiads and howitzers, 62 — Service charge for heavy guns, 60 — For hot shot, 60 — Greatest charges for mortars, 62 — For mortars, how regulated, 61 — For ricochet firing, 60— For shells fired from columbiads aiulheavy guns, 108 — For field shells, 108 — For mortar shells. 107— -For spherical case shot, 108. CHASE, Definition, 13. CHASSIS: For barbette carriage, 134-:i — For casemate, carriage, 139-40 — For columbiad, 138 — For flank-casemate, 141 —For ■wrought iron carriage, 142. CHEEKS, 124. COEHORX MORTAR: Diameter, ;-J3— Weight of bed, 33- Length of, 33 ; Length of bore, 33 — Length of chamber, 33 — Use, 34 — Greatest charge for, 62 — -Bed, description of, 131. COLUMBIADS: Definition, 30— Windage, 82— Charges, 62— Chamber, 30— Peculiarities, 30— Weights, 30 — Length, 30 — Na- tural angle of sight, 30 — Gun carriage, 136-7 ; chassis, 137-8 — Shells, charges for, 108 ; method of loading. 102. COMPOSITION for preserving iron pieces, 160 ; application, 160 ; for axle-trees of carriaofes, 158. CONDEMNED CANNON, how marked, 22 : shot, bow marked, 102. CONTENT: Of a barrel, 155; box, 155; «:oni.' trustum, 154: gomer chamber, 155; spherical .segment. 155 ; cvlinder, 155. DAYS MARCH: Of field artillery, 153. DEFILADE : Definition, 156. DEPTH OF PENETRATION of balls, I49-5». DESCENT of [ailing bodies : Law of, 159. DIAMETER : Of coehorn mortar, 33 ; of eiirouvette. iJ3 : of stone mortar, 33 ; of cast iron shot, liow found, 05 ; of shot, shells, and spherical cMse, 105; of vent, 16. DIMEMSIONS : Of cannon, how regulated, 11; of a parapet to resist field artillerv, 1^6. DIPPING OF THE" MUZZLE, 77-8. DIS'lIARGES: Number an iron c^un r.;n tti-Iain, 39. DISH of a wheel, 124. DIRECTION, how given : To guns and howitzers, 51-2 ; to mor- tars, 56-8 — At night, 55, 59 — When wheels are not on same level. 54 DISTANCE : For firing field pieces. 46 — Ascertained by sound, 151 — Determined by a tangent scale, 158 — Of recoil, 77 — Of ricochet battery from object, 74. J (>2 iM)i!.X. DLSPART : Dcnnitiou, 13. DOI.PHIXS: Definition, 19; pieces furnished wiib, 19. DRIVING OUT shot wedged in the bore, 21. ELEVATION : Necessity for, 51 — How given to guns and howit- zers, 52 ; to mortars, 66 ; instruments for, 52 — Angle of, for mortars, 67 : greatest angle in vacuo, 66 : angle of for ricochet fire, 74. ELEVATING ARC, 18. E.MBARKING Artillery and its stores, 161-2. ENFILADE: Definition, 156. ENFILADING a work, 73-4-5— Object to be fired at, 73. EPRUUVETTE. 11; form of chamber, :52— Calibre, 33— Use of, 34— Bed, .33, 131— Length of bore, 33. EXPANSION of hot shot, 96. EXTERNAL injury to cannon, 23-4. FACE of the piece : Definition of, 14. FALL : Point of, 73— Anirle of, 74. FALLING BODIES, law of descent, 159. FIELD ARTILLERY : Charges for, 62— Kinds, 40— Tactics, 44-9, 50. FIELD BATTERY : Number of pieces, 40— Battery of horse ar- tillery, 41 — Compositibh of, on a war establishment, 41 — Com- position of mountain howitzer l:iattery, 42 — Ammunition, 41 — Draught horses, 42. FIELD GUN, how mounted, -M— Charges for, 62. FIELD CARRIAGES: Kinds of, 125— Description, 125-«. FIELD AND SIEGE GIN, 146. FIELD SHELLS : Loading, 100— Charges, 108. FIELD-PARK, 42 ; quantity of supplies for, 42 : carriages, 43. FILLING: Mortar shells, 101; columbiad shells, &c., 102. FIRE-BALLS: Definition, 92— Charges, 61—lIow preserved, 104. FIRING : Field pieces, 46-7-8— Rapidity of, for mortars, 34 ; for field pieces. 46 — Within point l)lank range, rule for, 52 — At night with guns and howitzers, 55 ; with mortars, 59 — Mode of facili- tating firing for any given distance, 54 ; use of remarkable points on the ground, 55 — Ricochet firing, 73 — Effect of firing upwards under a large angle. 65. FIXED AMMUNITION : Storing 103-4— Weights of, 107. FLIGHT OF PROJECTILES : Time of, 149. FLANK-CASEMATE carriage, 140-41. ' FOOT, number of gallons in a cubic, 160. FOOT SOLDIER, space occupied by, in raukf-, 153. INDEX. . lOo FORGE, 143— Portable, 144— Xumber with a field battery, 41 ; with field-park, 43. FORCES acting on a projectile, 51, FORCE of gravity, 159. FRICTION PRIMER: Description, 115; advantages of, 116. FURNACES for hot shot, 97. FUZES: Definition, 109— Wooden, 109-10— Paper, 111— Bor- mann, 112-13 — U. S. sea-coast, 114 — Composition for mortar fuzes, 110 ; for paper fuzes. 111. GINS: Field and siege, 146 ; garrison, 146 : casemate, 146. GO.MER CHAMBER, 32. GRAPE SHOT, 91 ; weight of, lOY. GRATES for heating shot, 98 GRAVITY: Specific, ir)9— Force of, 159. GREASE for Avheels, 158. GROOVES for rifle cannon, 163-4. GRENADES, 91 — Angle of elevation for, when thrown from stone-mortars, 67. GROMMETTS, 09. GUNS : Definition, 26— Lengths, 27— Weights, 27— Proof, 22— Ranges, 68-9, 70-1-2 — Nomenclature, 13, 14, 15 — Principal parts of, 26 — Projectiles used with. 27 — How mounted, 26 — Natural angle of sight of, 26. GUN METAL : Bronze, 9, lO— Cast Iron, 9, 10. GUNNERS' IMPLEMENTS : Level, 18— Quadrant, 18— How used, 52-3. GUN-CARRIAGES: Field, 125-6; seige, 128; barbettes, 132-4; casemate, 138-9; flank casemate, 140; mountain howitzer, 127; wrought iron. 141: prairie, 127-8 — Columbaid, 136-7. gunpowder': Materials, 83— Proportions, 83— Manufacture, 84 — Qualities of, 87 — Packing, 87-8 — Proving, 86 — Expansive velocity and pressure, 87 — Ilygrometric proof, 87 — Relative quickness, 87 — Preservation and storage, 88-9 — Transportation, 89. HAND-CART, 145. HAND SLING-CART, 145-6. HAUSSE: Pendulum, 17. HAY: Weight of, 154. HORSES: Number required for a field battery, 42: for seige train, 37 — Power of, 152 — Space occupied by, 152 — Number required for seige sun. 129— Weight 152. HORSE ARTILLERY: Peculiar advantages of 43. HOT PHOT, 97-8- Loading with, 97— Eypansion of. 96. i\A INDEX. HOWITZERS : Definition, 28— Kinds of, and weigrhts, 29— Lenj^-lhs, 28-9 — Number in field battery, 41 ; in siege train, 36 — Cliauiber, lorm of, 28 — Advantages of, 28 — Projectiles used with, 28 — Natural angle of sight of, 29 — Charges for, 62 — Pointing, 61. ICE : Strength of, 156. IMPLEMENTS: Quadrant, 18; breech sight, 16, pendulum hansse, 17 ; gunner's perpendicular, 18; pointing stakes, 57—8; pointing wires, 56; pluiinnet, 18, 58; pointing cord, 57. INCENDIARY COMPOSITION, 117. INJURIES to cannon, 23. IRON ])referred to bronze, 10. IRON CANNON used in land service, 10, IL JUNK- WADS, 99. KNOB of cascable, 13 ; use of. 19. LACQUER, for iron guns, 160. LENGTH of cannon : Definition of, 11 — Extreme length, 12. LINE, Of fire, 64— Of metal, 12 ; how directed, 52--3 ; not perma- nent, 54 — Artificial line of sight, 53. LKiHT BALLS, 92. LIMBERS: For field carriages, 126 ; for siege carriages, 129. LOADING : With hot shot, 97 — Field shells, 100 — Spherical case, 101-2 — Mortar shells, 101-2 — Shells for columbiads and other heavy guns, 102. MAGAZINES: Moisture of, how absorbed, 89; powder stored in, 88; precautions to be observed when open, 89. MARKING : Cannon, 21—2; condemned shot and shell, 102; pow- der barrels, 88. -MARCHES: Ilorse-artillerv, field-artillcrv, cavalrv, and infantry, 153. MATCH: Quick, 116; slow, 116. METALS for artillerv, 9. MOMENTUM, 151. " MORTAR-WAGON, 145 MORTARS, 31— Advantages of, 31— Lengths and weights, 33— Kinds, II — Beds, weigh t.s of, 33 — Platform, 121 — Form of cham- ber, 32 — Length of chamber and of bore, 33 — Kinds of projectiles used with, 34— Rapidity of fire of siege mortars, 34— Pointing, 56. 58; Greatest charges for, 62 — Angles of elevation for, 66-7— Siege mortar beds, 130-1- —Coehorn mortar beds, 131---E[>rou- ^•ett.e bed, 131 — Sen -coast nidtar bod, 132. INDEX. 165 MOUNTAIN artfllerj' : Dimension and Vi'eights of, 29 — Composi- tion of a battery, 42— Ranges, 69, MULES: Strength of, 152. MUZZLE: Definition, 15— Sight, 11. NATURAL ANGLE of sight, 12. NECK: Definition, 14. NOMENCLATURE of a piece, 13, 14, 15. NIGHT firing: With guns and howitzers, 55; Avith mortars, 59. OATS; Weight of, 154. PACK horses, 15-2. PENDULUM-IIAUSSE, 17. PENDULUMS: Length of, 158. PENr:TRATION of balls; In Masonrv, 15p; in earth, 150. PERPENDICULAR, gupners, 18. PILING: Balls, 103— Canisters, 104— Loaded shells, 104— Pow- der-barrels, 88 — Number of shot in a pile, 104-5. PLATFORMS, 118— Siege, 119-20— Mortar, 121— Rail, 121— Ri- cochet, 122. PLUMMET : For mortar service, 18, 58 — For regulating march of infantrv, 161. POINT-liLANK RANGE, 63-4— Causes which vary it, 64— Etfect on it of firing upwards under a large angle, 65 POINTING : Guns and howitzers, 51 — Mortars, 50 — Stakes, 5T-8 — Wires, 56— Cord, 57— Board, 58. PORT FIRES, 114— Composition for, 115. POINT of fall. 73-4. PRAIRIE CARRIAGE, 127-8. PREPONDERANCE : Definition, 19— Why given, 19. PRIMERS: Friction, 115. PRIMING TUBES, 115. PRESERVATION : Of cannon, 25— Fixed ammunition, 103-4. Balls, 102— Grape and canister, 103 — Fire imlls, 104. PROJECTILES : Solid shot, 90— Shell, 90— Spherical case, 90— Canister, 91 — Grape, 91 — Grenades, 91 — Carcasses, 92 — Fire- balls, 92 — Light-balls, 92 — Smoke-balls, 93 — Hot shot, 97-8 — Forces acting on, when fired from a piece, 51 — Kind used with field pieces, and distance at which they should be employed, 46. QUADRANT GUNNERS : How used, 52-3. QUARTER SIGHTS, 16. QUICK MATCH, 116— How set fire to, 117. 166 INDEX. RANGES : Definition, 63— Point-blank, 63— British point-blank, 63 — Causes which vary point-l)lank, 64 — Extreme ranjre, 66— Angle of greatest range in vacuo, QQ — Tables of, 68-9, TO-1-2 — How ascertained, 149. RATE OF MARCH of horse-artillery, cavalry and infantry, 153. REICOIL : Definition, 77 — Cause of, 77 — Amount, 77 — Has no appreciable eflect on flight of projectile, 78 — Influence of position of axis of trunnions on, 78-9. RE-INFORCE, 13— Band, 13. ^ RE8ISTA.\XE OF AIR to projectiles, 147-8. RICOCHET : Definition, 73— Object of, 73— How conducted, 74- 5 — Advantages of, 73 — Nature of, 75 — Charges for a flattened ricochet, 7G ; for curvated, 76 — Tables of ricochet firing, 76 — Pieces best adapted for, 75— Distance from object of ricochet battery, 74 — Greatest angle of elevation for ricochet firing, 74. .RIFLE-CANNON: Experiments at Fort Monroe, 166-7— Arm- strong gun, 165. RIM BASSES, 14. RING WADS. 94. RIVERS : Breadth, 156-7. ROPES : size and strength of, 156. SABOTS: Difference in, foi field. service, 93 — Arrangements for field guns and 12-pdr. field howitzers, 93 ; in 24 and 32-pdr. field howitzers, 93 — Mode of fastening sabots to projectiles for field-service, 93-4 ; for heavy shells, 94 ; for canisters, 94-5 ; for grape-shot, 95. SEA-COAST PIECES, how mounted, 35— Number and kind re- c^uired for sea-board forts, 35 — Heavy sea-coast mortar-bed, 131-2. SCALING a piece, 21. SHOT : Solid, 90— Hollow, 90— Rule for finding weights and dia- meters of cast-iron shot, 95 — Condemned shot, how rnarked, 102 — Piling, 103-4 — Preservation, 102-3 — Forces acting on a shot, 51 — Penetration, 149-50 — Time required to heat, 97-8— Expan- sion of by heat, 96 — Ranges of, 68-72— Method of driving out shot wedged in the bore, 21 — Velocity of, 147. 3HELLS, 90 ; Dimensions and weights, 106-7--Modc of computing weight of, 95 — Quantity of powder to fill, 96— Strapping, 93--- Loading, 100-1-2 — Ranges, 68-72— Condemned, how marked, 102— Velocity, 147. SIGHTS of a piece: Definition 12— How determined, 12 — Quar- ter, in. IJNDEX. 167 SIEGK ARTILLERY: Kinds, 36 — Proportions in a siege train, 3G ; of carriages, SG-T ; draught horses, 37 ; projectiles and am- munition, 37-8 — Siege mortar-beds, 130-1. SLING-CART: Hand, 146. SLOW MATCH, 116.' SMOKE BALLS, 93, SOUND : Velocitv, 151— Distance determined by, 151. SPECIFIC GRAVITY, 159. SPHERICAL CASE, 90— Loading, 100—1. SPIKING cannon, 20. STAKES, pointing : How planted, 57-8. STONE MORTAR: Length, 33— Weight. 33— Calibre, 33— Length of bore, 33 — Length of chamber, 33 — Use of, 34 — Stones, how disposed, 34. STORING of fixed ammunition, 103-4. STRAPPING SHOT and shells, 93-4. STRENGTH: Of ice, 156— Of rope, 15G. SWELL of the muzzle, 14. TABLES : Of charges, 62— Of ranges, 68-9, 70-1-2— Of windage, 81-2— Of weights of- projectiles, 106-7— Of measures, 159™Of averdupois weight, 150. TACTICS of field artillery, 44-5-6-7-8-0-50. TANGENT SCALE, 16. TIME OF FLIGHT for siege mortars, 67— How found, 149. TRAJECTORY, 64. TRANSPORTATION : Of artillery by sea, 161-2— Of siege-gun^, 129. TRAVERSE circles, 135. TRUNNIONS: Definition, 14— Use, 19— Position in mortars, Si- Beds, 129. TRUE WINDAGE: Definition, 15. UNSPIKING cannon, 21. VALENCIENNES composition, 117. VELOCITY : Of balls, 147— Loss of, by resistance of^ air, 147— Of sound, 151 — Loss of, by windage, 81. VENT : Definition, 15— Position and diameter of, 16. VERTICAL FIRE, 31. WADS : Grommet, 00— Junk, 99— Hay, for firing hot shot, 08. "WATER : Weight of, 161 — Allowance for a man and a horse, 154. WEIGHTS : Guns. 27— Columbiads, SO-'-IIowilzers, 20— Mortars, l(^-« INDEX. ;;3— Projectiles, 106-'7 — Of wheels for field carriages, 144; and for siepre carriagrcs, 144 — Pro])ortions between weights of shot, 95 — Of cast-iron shot or shell, how determined, 95 — Quantity of powder to fill a shell, how found, 96 — Carried by horses, 152-j- Carried by an. infantry soldier, 154. WHEELS : Field carriage, size and Aveight, 144 — Siege carriage, size and weight, 144 — Parts of, 124. WINDAGE : Definition, 80— Amount, 81-2---Loss Of velocity by, 81 — Advantage of a reduction of, 81. WIRES, pointing, 56. SOUTHERN BOOK PUBLISHING HOUSE, Established 1833. J. W. RANDOLPH, Bookseller, Publisher, Stationer AND MUSIC DEALER, Offers on the best terms for cash or approved credit, the largest assort- ment of goods in his line to be found south of Philadelphia. THE STOCK EMBEACES LAW, MEDICINE, THEOLOGY, HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, POLI- TICS, SCHOOL, CLASSICS, JUVENILE, NOVELS, POETRY, and MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS, in English and other languages. Particular attention given to the collection of Rare Works. Books im- ported to order. AMERICAN, ENGLISH and FRENCH STATIONERY Of the best quality. A large stock of STANDARD MUSIC, and all the New Popular Pieces are for sale soon as published. BLANK BOOKS made to order, and all kinds of BOOK-BINDING ex- ecuted in good style. Catalogues will be mB'l*d to all who send a stamp to pay the postage. OLD BOOKS Taken in Exchange for New Works. J. W. RANDOLPH, 121 MAIN STREET, Richmond, Va. NEW MILITARY WORK 05 INFANTRY CAMP DUTY, FIELD FORTIFICATION, AND COAST DEFENSE. Prepared and arranged by Capt. L. v. Buckholtz, with plates, 16ino. muslin. Price 50 cts. by mail, post paid. RECOMMENDATIONS. " This is a mere pocket-book in size, but it is crowded with instruc- tion for military men — instruction gathered and condensed from the great bulk of works on military science. It encloses grains of wheat, threshed, as it were, out of the great stack — is simple, convenient and comprehensive. It is from the pen of Cai)tain BuckLoltz, of this city, a gentleman who has seen service on the continent of Europe, and who is an accomplished officer." — Richmond Dispatch. " We are always pleased to meet with a Southern book, one written, printed and bound in our own section by our own people, and we there- fore greet with pleasure two military works now before us, by Captain Buckholtz, and published by J. W. Kandoli>h, Richmond. The first is " On Ivfantry Camp Duty, Field Fortification, and Coast Defense.''^ Under the head of Infantry Camp Duty we are in- structed in out guards, patrols, vanguard, side-guard, rear guard, am- buscade, surprise, and transports. In Field Fortification we have in- structions on fortifications, regularly constructed forts, attack and defense, fortresses, and a description of the principal parts of fortified works. The chapter on Coast Defense is most excellent. .As an elementary work on the subjects treated, this book has no su- perior, and we commend it to our military. The second book is, " Tactics for Officers of Ivfantry, Cavalry and Artillery.'''' This is a most comi)lete military work, comprising in- struction in the three departments of the army, and contains much information which we have never met with in the popular military works of the day." — ^"orfolk Southern Argus. Published and for sale by Also for sale by Booksellera generally. PLANTATION BOOK. PLANTATION and FARM INSTRUCTION, REGULATION, RECORD, INVENTORY and ACCOUNT BOOK. For the use of Managers of Estates, and for the better ordering and management of plantation and farm business in many particulars. By a Southern Planter. "Order is Heaven's first law." New and improved edition, cap folio, half calf, price $1.50. Also a larger edition, for Cotton Plantations, price $2.00. Either sent by mail, post paid. The author of this book is one of the most successful farmers in the Southern States, and the systematic use of it has added tens of thou- sands of dollars to his estate. "We consider it as indispensable to the farmer as the ledger to the merchant."— iV. C. Planter. "This book supplies a real want on every plantation." — Southern Planter. "This is a most admirable work, and one which every farmer should possess." — American Farmer. " Every farmer who will get one of these books, and regulate all his movements by its suggestions, cannot fail to realize great benefits from it. We cannot too highly commend it to the consideration of agricul- turists." — Richmond Whig. " It will prove a most valuable assistant to the planter, manager or overseer, and a work that will facilitate them' greatly in the transaction of business." — Richmond Dispatch. " We hope many farmers will buy the work and make an effort to keep things stra.ight.'^— Southern Planter. "The form is concise and methodical, while it embraces everything appropriate to such records." — Plough, Loom and Anvil. " It is the result of mature experience and observation" — Methodist Quarterly Review. " It is full of useful information." — Richmond Enquirer. " A friend, in whose judgment we have great confidence, and who is one of the best farmers in Virginia, assures us that this publication is one of real value lo Southern agriculturalists." — Southern Literary Messenger. Published and for sale by J. W. RANDOLPH, Richmond, Va. Also for sale by Booksellers generally. '^ If this he Treason, make the most of it.'' ANTICIPATIONS~OF THE FUTURE, TO 81BVK AS LESSONS FOR THE PRESENT TIME. In the form of Exteacts of Lkttkes from and English Resident in the United States, to the London times, from 1864 to 1870. With an Appendix on the Causes and Consequences of the Indei>end- ence of the South. By EDMUND RUFFIN. 12mo. muslin, 426 pages. Price $1.00 by mail, post paid. " A book entitled 'Anticipations of the Future,' published recently in this city, and eminently disunion in character, is in great demand here and throughout the South. The book is made up of letters to the London Times, dated at Washington, the dates commencing with No- vember 11, 1864, and ending with May 27, 1868. The correspondence then opens at Richmond, commencing with May 29 of that year, and running down to September 20 of the same year. It is resumed again at Charleston, October 10, 1868, and closes with the 27th of January, 1870. These correspondences embody, as it were, the passing events of the periods at which they are written, and are nothing more than pre- dictions of what the writer supposes will then be the political condition of the country. The correspondence of November 11, 18C4, opens with the announcement that California, Oregon, Washington, and also Sonora. (the new Pacific free State, formed of territory last purchased from Mexico), all have voted the ticket of the Republican parly, as called by its members, or the Black Republican or Abolition party, as designated by its opponents. Wm. H. Seward, of New York, is elected by a much greater majority than his predecessor. President Lincoln, obtained in 1860. The corresjiondence then treats successively upon the course of Lincoln's administration; sectional parties and their necessary efifects; army land grants; protective duty system; fishing and navigation bounties; Southern aspirants to the Presidency suited to the Northern market, and their injurious influence on Southern rights and interests ; direction and policy of the government patronage ; operation of Black Republican measures on slaves in the South ; the Supreme Court sec- tionalized; negro citizens and negro officers of government ; negro am- bassadors and negro diplomatic relations. This book bids fair to create a furor in the South, similar to that caused at the North by the notori- ous Helper book. The work displays considerable ability, and its pre- dictiops are not at all inconsistent with the principles of the Black RepuBlican party." — Richmond Correspondent of the N. T. Herald. Published and for sale by J. W. RANDOLPH, Richmond, Va. Also for sale by Booksellers generally. N^WKJRW^^ '1 A.ti' J -i r ^ . V Jt ,->*-l ' , *'»^ Kr -^ ^ % + '