PART I.—_Article 1.—Telling off the Detachments._
The men fall in two deep, and are told off on the same principle as for field guns. No. 1 always commands his detachment.
A gun detachment being drawn up in line, two deep, No. 1 is the right hand man of the front rank; No. 2 is the right hand man of the rear rank; and No. 3 his front rank man; and so on.
The men must go through every part of the exercise in turn. At the word “_Change round_” when there are seven men in a detachment,
No. 2 becomes 4 | No. 1 becomes 7 4 ” 6 | 7 ” 5 6 ” 1 | 5 ” 3 | 3 ” 2
No. 3 shifting in front of the muzzle.
When there are only six men in a detachment,
No. 4 becomes 1 1 ” 6 6 ” 5
the rest as above.
The detachments are told off on their private parades, and marched to the battery. Arrived there, they are halted a few paces in rear of the platforms, to the left of their respective guns, so as to be covered by the merlons, and facing the parapet.
The commander then gives the caution, “_Take post under cover of the merlon_;” and immediately afterwards the executive word, “_To the right face_,” No. 1 after facing takes an oblique pace to the rear, on the left of 3. At the word _quick march_, the detachments step off except No. 1, who at first marks time until the detachment has past him, and then follows in rear of 6. When the detachments are opposite to the left corner of the platforms, the ranks open out on each side of the guns, the rear ranks on the right, the front ranks on the left—the whole outside of the platforms. Nos. 2 and 3 halt next to the embrasure, as soon as they arrive at the parapet; 4, 6, and 1 halt in succession on the right of 2; 5 and 7 on the left of 3. When all the numbers have arrived at the parapet in the order here detailed, the commander gives the word, “_Right about face_.”
The detachments are now in the position, which they should always occupy in action, in a battery, unless actively employed in their duties at the guns.
When there is no parapet, the command is given to “_Take post at the guns_;” Nos. 2 and 3 halt in line with the muzzle of the piece; 4 and 5 in line with the trunnions; 6 and 7 with the vent; 1 the trail: the whole outside of the platform and in echellon. The numbers should never cover if they can avoid doing so.
The following general detail of duties for a detachment of seven men is applicable to all natures of guns, from 18-pounders and upwards, on any description of carriage whatever.
No. 1 commands, points, and primes.
3 loads, assists to ram home shot | 2 searches, spunges, rams home, and wad, runs up, and elevates. | runs up, and elevates. 5 supplies 3 with shot and wad, | 4 clears the vent, serves it, runs up, and traverses. | pricks the cartridge, runs up, | and traverses. 7 supplies 3 with cartridge, | 6 supplies 2 with side arms, double-man’s his handspike, | double-man’s his handspike, serves 1 with tubes, and fires. | replaces 1’s handspike, and | supplies 7 with cartridges, | (and 3 with shell when | required.)
The following general detail of duties for a detachment of six men, is applicable to all natures of guns below 18-pounder, on any description of carriage whatever.
No. 1 commands, supplies 2 with side arms, points, and primes.
3 loads, assists to ram home shot | 2 searches, spunges, rams home, and wad, runs up, and elevates. | runs up, and elevates. 5 supplies 3 with cartridge, shot, | 4 clears the vent, serves it, and wad, runs up, and traverses. | pricks the cartridge, runs up, 6 supplies 5 with cartridge, | and traverses. replaces 1’s handspike, serves | him with tubes, and fires. |
Besides the men told off to each gun, there must be some at the magazine, to fill and issue cartridges. When shells are fired, some men must be appointed to fill them, and to cut and fix fuzes; No. 6 brings up shells to 3, who uncaps the fuze.
Guns are always laid under metal, _i. e._, at an angle of depression, after exercise.
The following is a list of stores required for the service of heavy ordnance in batteries:—
_One spunge_ { to be placed on the right of the gun outside of 4, _One rammer_ { resting against the parapet; the spunge head, rammer _One wadhook_ { head, and the worm uppermost, and just below the { interior crest.
When there is no parapet the side arms must be laid on the ground in the order above detailed, about two paces from the gun, and parallel to it; the spunge and rammer heads to the front, and supported to keep them free from gravel.
_Five handspikes._—Two of these are placed on each side of the platform close to the edge of it, the points towards the parapet; the points of the front handspikes about two feet from the hurter, the points of the rear ones overlapping inside to about the middle of the front ones; the front handspikes for the use of 2 and 3, the rear ones for the use of 4 and 5. The fifth handspike is placed close to the rear of the middle of the platform, small end to the right, for the use of 1. All bevelled handspikes are to be laid bevelled side upwards.
_One set of priming irons_ { For the use of No. 4. The priming _One thumbstall_ { irons to be placed in the loop on { the right of the carriage.
_One leather pocket with tubes._—The tube pocket must be strapped on the left side of No. 7, who will keep it close shut.
_One lanyard with hook_ for friction tubes in charge of No. 7, who attaches it to the waist belt of the tube pocket; or, one hammer with lanyard likewise in charge of 7, who fixes it to the gun, assisted by 1.
_Shot_, piled on the left of the gun, close to the front of the platform.
_Wads_, (if necessary,) close to the shot.
_Broom, shovel_, one or two for each battery.
_Spade, pick_, one per battery if thought necessary.
Guns on dwarf and casemate traversing platforms require nearly the same stores.
_Two shod levers_, in place of three common handspikes, and in addition,
_Two truck levers. Two scotches. One preventive rope._
_Two luff tackles._ With 8-inch guns and all above that calibre, the tackles should consist of double blocks.
Guns on common traversing platforms require nearly the same stores as those on dwarf platforms. When the four trucks are on, two shod levers to be substituted for two truck levers.
_Article 3._
TO SHIFT A GUN FROM THE FIRING TO THE TRAVELLING, OR FROM THE TRAVELLING TO THE FIRING TRUNNION HOLES.
The wheels of the gun carriage and those of the limber should, if possible, always be on a level and scotched. In shifting the gun either way, it should only be lifted so high, as to keep the under side of the trunnions clear of the cheeks of the carriage.
When the gun is in the travelling holes, the screw must be taken out to prevent its being damaged; it is lodged in a place for it between the cheeks. The gun roller is strapped to the hind part of the centre transom.
Heavy guns on travelling carriages require the following number of men for their service in the field:—
24-pounder 18 men } besides non-commissioned 18 ” 14 ” } officers, 12 ” 12 ” }
being necessary on the march for extricating them out of difficulties, taking up positions, laying temporary platforms, placing planks under the wheels and trail, to facilitate the working of the gun, &c., &c.
PREPARE TO SHIFT THE GUN. BEAR DOWN. LOWER. LIFT, AND HEAVE. HALT, LOWER THE MUZZLE. BEAR DOWN. LOWER. STRAP ON THE SIDE ARMS AND HANDSPIKES.
_Article 4._
EXERCISE OF GUNS, ON SIEGE CARRIAGES.
The disposition, and duties of the detachments are the same as detailed for guns on standing carriages; with the exception of the application of the handspikes.
In addition to the stores, and side arms for the service of the gun, a heavy gun in the field requires men’s harness, and dragropes, a lifting jack, a set of intrenching tools, and three planks of a foot wide, and ten or twelve feet long. There should be a lever, and fulcrums, and prop, for every two guns; besides a gyn, rollers, tackles, and ropes for every four guns. The side arms, handspikes, and planks are strapped on the cheek; the gyn, rollers, tackles, &c., are carried on a platform waggon.
Planks for temporary platform. When the ground is not very hard, it will be found very necessary to lay planks under the wheels and trail for the carriage to recoil on.
_Article 5._
EXERCISE OF GUNS ON DWARF, AND CASEMATE TRAVERSING PLATFORMS.
The disposition, and duties of the detachments are the same as at page 174, with the following additions, viz., No. 1 guides the levers whilst the gun is running back; Nos. 1, and 7 hold on the preventer rope, and 4, and 5 guide the levers, whilst it is running up; Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 manage the truck levers, reeve the tackles, hook, and unhook them.
[26]PREPARE FOR ACTION. REEVE THE TACKLE, AND FIX THE PREVENTER ROPE. HOOK THE TACKLES. LOAD. RUN THE GUN UP. EASE OFF. HALT. _After Pointing, Laying, Priming, and Firing_——RUN THE GUN BACK. HEAVE. HALT. UNREEVE THE TACKLE, AND TAKE OFF THE PREVENTER ROPE.
_Article 6._
EXERCISE OF GUNS ON COMMON TRAVERSING PLATFORMS.
The disposition, and duties of the detachments, as at page 174.
LOAD. RUN THE GUN UP. HEAVE. Elevating, Traversing, Priming, Firing, and Running back, as detailed for guns on dwarf, and casemate traversing platforms.
_Article 7._
DISPOSITION, AND DUTIES OF FIRING HOT SHOT, WITH SEVEN MEN.
No. 1. commands, supplies 2 with side arms, points, and primes.
3 loads, puts a dry wad over the | 2 searches, spunges, rams home, cartridge, then a damp one, | assists to put in the shot, (and a dry wad over the shot | runs up, and elevates. if necessary,) assists No. 2 to | ram home the dry wads, runs | up, and elevates. | 4 clears the vent, serves it, 5 supplies 3 with cartridges and | pricks the cartridge, runs up, wads, runs up, and traverses. | and traverses. 7 brings shot from the furnace, | 6 assists 7 to bring shot from and assists to put them in, | the furnace, double-mans 2’s double-mans 3’s handspike, | handspike, and supplies 5 with supplies 1 with tubes, and | cartridge, and wads. fires. |
With all kinds of traversing platforms, No. 3 receives the bearer from 6 and 7, and assists 2 to put in the shot.
The gun is spunged in the ordinary manner, but the spunge must be wetted, and the gun frequently cooled with it.
The same stores are required as for the service of heavy guns with cold shot. Junk wads are indispensable, and those which are used wet should be made of a low gauge.
_Utensils required for the Shot._
_One furnace or grate._ _One moving tool._ _One scraper._ _One pair of tongs._ _One poker._ _One rake._ _One shovel._
_One stand_ on which to place the shot, in order to scrape them.
_One shot bearer_ per gun. _Two tubs_ full of water, to soak wads, cool tongs, &c. _Two or three water buckets._
_The furnace_ may be heated either with wood, or coals, or a mixture of coal and coke, according to circumstances.
There should never be less than three men to attend the furnace, even when the shot and wood are close at hand, and four will generally be required, viz., one non-commissioned officer, or steady man in charge to see that the reddest shot are served out and replaced by cold ones, and to keep up such a fire as he may judge necessary.
One man to light and attend the fire, and supply fresh fuel when required.
One to take out shot, lay them on the stand, scrape them, and afterwards place them on a bearer.
One to supply the furnace with cold shot, and to bring fuel.
_Loading._
The powder must be in a good flannel cartridge, which must undergo the strictest examination, to see that there are no holes in it, lest in setting it home any grains should fall out. The gun must be elevated, in order that the shot may roll freely along the bore.
LOAD. PREPARE TO LOAD. LOAD.
ADDISON’S SHOT FURNACE.
This furnace will contain in three rows, alongside of each other, fifteen 32-pounder, or eighteen 24-pounder, or twenty-one 18-pounder shot.
_To heat the furnace._
To heat the furnace, it takes of coals ½ a bushel, of coke 2½ bushels, and shavings for lighting it. It should be allowed twenty minutes to light properly.
_To heat the shot._
Fifteen 32-pounder shot being then put in, are heated in forty minutes.
_Order of using the shot._
The shot should be taken equally out of each row from the rear of the furnace, and replaced by cold ones from the front.
After the furnace has been thoroughly heated, it will supply a new batch of shot every twenty minutes.
The furnace should be placed to leeward, and as near the battery as may be convenient, carefully selecting an open space, with as great a draught as can be found. The draught-hole should be to windward, and the furnace perfectly horizontal.
_Article 8._
EXERCISE OF CARRONADES, 68-POUNDER, SEVEN MEN.
The disposition and duties are the same as detailed for the service of heavy guns with seven men, in Articles 1 and 2. But as the spunge stave is short, No. 2 receives it with his right hand at the rammer head, and left near the spunge head, pushes it up to the bottom of the chamber at once, spunges out, and proceeds as directed for guns.
The shot weighing above ½ cwt. No. 2 assists 3 to put it into the bore by means of a shot bearer, which they raise to the muzzle with their outward hands, backs down, and their inward hands, backs up.
_24 and 12-Pounders, Six men._
The disposition, and duties are the same as detailed for the service of heavy guns with six men. See Articles 1, and 2.
_Article 9._
EXERCISE OF GUNS, AND CARRONADES ON SHIP CARRIAGES, WITH SEVEN MEN.
The disposition, and duties are the same as in the gun and carronade exercises, but a few additional men are necessary for manning the tackles.
The same stores as for guns on common traversing platforms, with the exception of the four levers, and in addition, three handspikes, and a breeching.
FIX THE BREECHING. HOOK THE TACKLES. RUN THE GUN IN. HEAVE. HALT. Spunge, and load, _as detailed for guns on standing carriages_. RUN THE GUN OUT. HEAVE. HALT. Elevating, Traversing, Priming and Firing, _as directed in Article 2_.
_Article 10._
GUNS, AND CARRONADES ON DEPRESSING CARRIAGES.
When, after being fired, the piece is to be loaded, it must be brought to such a position that the spunge may be clear of the ground, or sill of the embrasure. Short pieces, such as carronades, and howitzers, are superior to guns for great depression, as they are easily managed and quickly loaded.
_Article 11._
EXERCISE OF 10 AND 8-INCH HOWITZERS, ON STANDING AND SIEGE CARRIAGES, WITH SEVEN MEN.
No. 1 commands, supplies 2 with side arms, points, and primes.
3 loads, runs up, and elevates. | 2 spunges, wipes the shell, uncaps | the fuze, puts the shell up, | runs up, and elevates. 5 supplies 3 with cartridge, | 4 clears the vent, serves it, runs up, and traverses. | pricks the cartridge, runs up, | and traverses. 7 prepares and brings up shells, | 6 prepares and brings up shells, assists to put them in, | assists to put them in, double-mans 3’s handspike, | double-mans 2’s handspike, supplies 1 with tubes, cuts | replaces 1’s handspike, supplies and fixes fuzes, and fires. | 5 with cartridges, cuts and | fixes fuzes.
The same stores are required for the service of howitzers as for that of guns, (substituting shells for shot,) and, in addition, a shell bearer, a sheepskin, and a pair of setting up pincers.
The detachments take post as directed for guns.
LOAD. SHELL. The howitzers are run up, elevated, traversed, primed, and fired, _as detailed for guns_.
_Article 12._
EXERCISE OF MORTARS.
The detachments are told off and numbered as detailed in Article 1. When they are to take post the commander gives the word, “_Take post at the mortars, to the right face_.” No. 1, after facing, takes an oblique pace to the rear on the left of No. 3. At the word “_Quick march_,” the ranks open out and march on each side of the mortars, as directed for guns. Nos. 2 and 3 halt in line with the muzzle; 4 and 5 with the trunnions; 6 and 7 with the rear of the bed; the whole outside of the platform, and in echellon, except No. 1, who takes post in rear of the platform.
_Disposition, and Duties of Detachments, for 13 and 10-inch Mortars, with Seven men._
No. 1 commands, hands the spunge to 2, points, and primes.
3 runs up, puts in the cartridge, | 2 runs up, spunges, wipes the assists to put in the shell, | bottom of the shell, uncaps and traverses. | the fuze, assists to put the | shell in, and traverses. 5 runs up, supplies 3 with | 4 runs up, clears the vent, serves cartridge, and traverses. | it, pricks the cartridge, and | traverses. 7 double-mans 3’s handspike, | 6 double-mans 2’s handspike, prepares and brings up shells, | prepares and brings up shells, assists to put them in, cuts | assists to put them in, supplies and fixes fuzes, supplies 1 | 5 with cartridges, cuts with tubes, and fires. | and fixes fuzes.
At 10-inch mortars, Nos. 2 and 3 are sufficient to put in the shell.
_Disposition, and Duties of Detachments, for 8, 5½, and 4⅖-inch Mortars, with Five men._
No. 1 commands, hands the spunge to 2, points, and primes.
3 runs up, puts in the cartridge, | 2 runs up, spunges, wipes the puts in shell, and traverses. | bottom of the shell, uncaps | the fuze, and traverses. 5 prepares and brings up shells, | 4 clears the vent, serves it, cuts and fixes fuzes, supplies | pricks the cartridge, supplies 1 with tubes, and fires. | 3 with cartridges, cuts and | fixes fuzes.
The shells ought always to be deposited behind traverses raised for the purpose, or in other sheltered places, and one or two men, according to circumstances, should be appointed to scrape and clean the inside of them, and prepare them for the powder and fuzes. There must also be men to weigh or measure out the charges of powder, according to the directions of No. 1.
The following stores are required for the service of mortars:—
_One spunge_ to be placed on the right of the mortar, the spunge head to the front, and supported to keep it free from gravel.
_One scraper_ for two mortars.
_One cartridge case_, for bringing up the cartridge; or a paper or leather case, for loading when the powder is loose.
_One beam hook_, for 13-inch; _One pair of hand hooks_, for 10-inch.
_One new pattern hand hook, or piece of cord_, for 8-inch.
_Four handspikes._ Two on each side of the platform, as directed for guns.
_Two pointing rods, or pickets._
_One plummet_ with line, in charge of No. 1.
_A piece of sheepskin, or an empty sand-bag_ for wiping the bottom of the shell; to be placed on the right of the spunge.
_One quadrant, One perpendicular, One fuze engine_, for every four or five mortars. _One tube pocket. One lanyard with hook_, for friction tubes. _One set of priming irons. One filling funnel. One cork screw. One mallet. Two setters. Tow, or flax. Shells. Pound shot, or stones. Bottoms_ for ditto. _Valenciennes composition. Fuzes. Carcasses. Light balls._
_At the Magazine._
_One budge barrel._ _One set of weights and scales._ _One set of powder measures._
PREPARE FOR ACTION. PLANT THE POINTING RODS. HALT. PLANT THE ROD. Pointing rods are sometimes fixed in two and a half or three inch planks, about seven or eight feet in length, prepared for this purpose.
Mortars are run up by the same numbers, and in the same manner, as guns on standing carriages, the handspikes being applied under the running up bolts. LOAD. PUT IN THE SHELL. TRAVERSE. MUZZLE RIGHT. HEAVE. HALT. MUZZLE LEFT. HEAVE. HALT. _If necessary_—CROSS LIFT THE MORTAR TO THE RIGHT, (or LEFT). HEAVE. DOWN. Priming, and Firing, as detailed for guns, except that No. 2, at the word “READY,” takes the sheepskin out of the mortar, and as well as No. 3 takes an oblique pace to the rear, to be clear of the explosion.
_Article 13._
FIRING BY NIGHT.
To insure as accurate a fire as possible during the night, the following expedients have been adopted:—
_For guns on standing carriages._—A directing bar, or piece of timber, about a foot or eighteen inches longer than the platform and four inches by six in thickness, is used. It has a hole at one end, through which a bolt is passed into the platform close to the hurter, and in the object line. On this bolt the bar traverses. At equal distances from the axis or middle line of the carriage, two cleats are bolted under each axletree, at a distance from each other equal to the breadth of the bar, and the bar is passed under the carriage and fitted between these cleats. Holes are bored at the tail of the platform, for the reception of bolts, at distances from each other to suit the size of the bar. The gun is laid for the object during the day, and should the bar fall exactly between two holes, the bolts are put in, and the bar remains fixed. When however the bar covers a hole, the bolts are put into the nearest holes on each side, and small wedges driven in between them and the bar, in order to keep it in its place. The gun now requires nothing more after each round than to be loaded, run up, and fired; operations which are as easily performed by night as by day.
_For guns on travelling carriages._—The gun having been properly laid during the day, a bead or piece of timber of a proper scantling is nailed or screwed to the platform, inside the felloe of each wheel, and parallel to the object line, and two shorter pieces are fastened in like manner outside of the cheeks of the carriage, at the trail.
By a proper application of scotches, the Madras and every description of traversing platform can be made available for night firing.
When the foregoing expedients cannot be resorted to, the platform and the carriage should be chalked in different places, and when the gun is run up, these chalk-marks should be made to correspond. A lantern, in this case, is always required.
_For Mortars._
After the mortar has been accurately laid, a plank, thin enough to go under the running-up bolts without touching them, is placed against the outside of one of the cheeks of the bed, and nailed or screwed to the platform, and the mortar after every round, run up to it. If a suitable piece of plank cannot be procured the platform must be chalked close to the mortar bed.
_Article 14._
FIRING AT MOVING OBJECTS.
For firing at moving objects a garrison carriage may be fitted with a directing bar, as for night firing, and traversed by means of tackles hooked to eye-bolts in the rear end of the bar. If the rear end be shaped for about ten inches like an axletree arm, and fitted with a truck, the operation of traversing will be greatly facilitated. This method is peculiarly applicable to coast batteries, where the guns are mounted _en barbette_ and where vessels under sail are the objects to be fired at. The gun is elevated and primed, and the proper tackle being then hauled upon, No. 1 gives the word “_Fire_,” without any caution to the traversing numbers.