Part 1

Transcriber’s Notes:

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected.

THE BOMBARDIER, AND _Pocket Gunner._

By _RALPH WILLETT ADYE_, CAPTAIN, ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.

First _American_, from the Second _London_ Edition.

PRINTED FOR E. LARKIN, No. 47, CORNHILL, _BOSTON_, _BY WILLIAM GREENOUGH_, CHARLESTOWN. 1804.

TO THE _Junior Officers_ OF THE _Royal Regiment of Artillery_: WITH A HOPE OF ALSO MEETING THE APPROBATION OF THE _SENIOR OFFICERS OF THAT CORPS_. R. W. ADYE.

INDEX.

Page. _PREFACE_, i _AMMUNITION_—For _Small Arms_—How carried, 7 — For Artillery, see _Artillery_. _AMMUZETTE_—Its Length, Weight, &c. 8 _APRONS_ of Lead—Weight and Dimensions of, 8 _ARMS, Small_—Their Weight and Dimensions, Balls for their Proof, Service, &c. _ARTILLERY_—1st. _For the Field._ — Divided into Battalion Guns, Park and Horse Artillery, 10 — Ammunition and Stores for one Field Piece of each Nature, 11 — Manner of carrying the Ammunition and Stores, 15 — Load for a common Artillery Ammunition Waggon, 16 — Load for a Horse Artillery Ammunition Waggon, 17 — Proportion of Artillery, Ammunition, and Carriages for four French Armies, 18 — Proportion of Ammunition carried with French Artillery, and with that of other Powers, 20 — Movements and Positions of Battalion Guns, 21 — Movements and Positions of Artillery of the Park, 24 — Line of March for Three Brigades of Field Artillery, 28 — 2d. _Artillery and Ammunition for a Siege_— Considerations in estimating them, 29 — Proportion demanded for the Siege of Lisle, 31 — Arrangement and Position at a Siege, 33 — 3d. _Artillery and Ammunition for the Defence_ _of a Fortified Place_—Manner of estimating them, 37 — Arrangement of the Artillery, 39 — Expenditure of Ammunition, 42 _AXLETREES_— Dimensions of, in Wood or Iron, 44 _BALLS_—of Lead—Manner of Packing them, 45 — Manner of finding their Diameters and Weights _BARRELS_ for Gunpowder; their Dimensions and Content — Budge do. 46 _BASKETS_, _Ballast_—Dimensions of 46 _BATTERIES_—Dimensions of, for Guns, Mortars, and Howitzers 46 — For Ricochet firing, 48 — For the Defence of a Coast, 49 — Manner of estimating the Quantity of Materials for, 50 — Tools required for the Construction of 52 — Estimate of the Quantity of Earth which may be removed in a given time, 53 _BEDS_—Dimensions and Weight of, for Mortars and Guns, 54 _BOXES_, for Ammunition—Dimensions and Weight of, when filled and empty; and the Number of Rounds contained by 55 _BOMB KETCH_—Instruction for the Management of a, in Action, 56 — Proportion of Stores for, 58 _BREACH_—Manner of forming one; and Time required to make it practicable, 60 _BRIDGE_—Manner of laying one, of Pontoons; Weight it will bear; and Precautions required in passing over it, 62 _CAMPS_—Manner of laying out the front of, for Infantry and Cavalry, 65 — Distribution of the Depth of, 66 — In a confined Situation, 69 _CARCASSES_—Composition for, 70 — Valencienne’s Composition, for making Shells answer the Purpose of — Dimensions and Weight of, 71 — Manner of preventing their being destroyed by the Explosion _CARRONADES_—Dimensions and Weight of, 72 — Ranges with Shot and Shells from _CARRIAGES_—Weight of, for Field Service, 73 — Dimensions of Axletrees for, 75 — Diameters of Wheels for, 76 —Dimensions and Weight of standing 77 _CARTRIDGES_—Weight and Dimensions of, for Guns, Mortars, and Howitzers 78 — For Small Arms 79 — For Musquets by different Nations 79 _CHAMBERS_—Experiments upon the best Form of, for Mortars 80 _CHARGES_—For different Natures of Guns and Carronades 81 — Lessened when Cylinder Powder is used 81 — of French Guns 82 _CHEVAUX DE FRIZE_—Dimensions and Weight of 82 _COMPOSITIONS_—For Kitt; Fire, Smoke, and Light Balls; suffocating Pots; Fire Hoops, Arrows, and Lances; Cases for burning Fascine Batteries 84 — General Precautions in mixing 84 _CONVOYS_—Length of Line of March of 84 — Rate of travelling with, and Manner of escorting 85 _DISPART_—Of Guns 86 _DISTANCES_—Practical Methods of measuring without mathematical Instruments 87 — Cavallo’s Micrometer for measuring 92 — Table of Angles subtended by one Foot at different 95 _DRAG ROPES_—Weight and Dimensions of 95 _EMBARKATION_—Of Ordnance and Stores 96 — Of Troops 99 _EXERCISE_—Of Artillery — Duties of the Men attached to Field Guns or Howitzers, with the full Complement, and with reduced Numbers 100 — Methods of advancing and retiring Field Artillery _without Drag Ropes_ 104 — Duties of the Men in advancing and retiring Field Artillery _with Drag Ropes_ 109 — Of Heavy Ordnance on a Battery with different Complements of Men 112 — Of the Triangle Gin 115 — Of the Sling Cart 117 _FASCINES_—Dimensions and Uses of the different Natures of, with the necessary Attentions in making them 119 _FIRE SHIP_—Proportion of combustible Stores for 120 — Method of fitting out 122 — New Method of fitting out, to produce more external Fire 124 _FLINTS_—Number of, packed in a half Barrel; with the Weight of, &c. 126 _FORTIFICATION_—Practical Maxims in building Field Works with their Dimensions — Permanent; Observations upon the different Parts of, with their principal Dimensions 131 — Observations upon the Means of adding to the Defence of Places by Outworks, &c. and on defilading a Place from Heights 133 — Principal Dimensions of, according to Vauban 140 — Dimensions of Walls from 10 to 50 Feet high 142 _FUZES_—Composition for—Dimensions of 143 —Manner of finding the Length of, for any Range 144 _GABIONS_—Dimensions of, and Attentions in making them 145 _GIN TRIANGLE_—Dimensions and Weight of 146 _GRAVITY_—Table of specific Gravities 146 — Rules, to find the Magnitude of any Body from its Weight, and the contrary 147 _GRAPE SHOT_—See _Shot_. _GRENADES_—Distance to which they may be thrown 147 _GUNNERY_—In a nonresisting Medium — How far it may be applied to Practice with the Help of good Tables of Experiments 147 — Upon a horizontal Plane 148 — Upon inclined Planes 149 — Table of Amplitudes 151 — Table of Natural Sines, Tangents, and Secants 152 _GUNS_—Calibers of English and Foreign 153 — Length and Weight of English Brass 154 — Ditto French Brass 155 — Ditto English and French Iron 155 — Ranges with One Shot from Brass 156 — Ditto Two Shot 157 — Ditto small Charges from 157 — Effects of Case Shot from Battalion 158 — Ranges from Iron 159 — Ditto of 5½ Inch Shells from 24 Pr. 160 — Ditto 4⅖ Inch Ditto 12 Pr. 161 — Ranges from French 162 _GUNPOWDER_—Proportion of Ingredients for, by different Powers in Europe 162 — Manner of Proving it at Pursleet 163 — Marks on the Barrels, by which the different Qualities are distinguished 164 — French Proof of 165 _HAIR CLOTH_—Dimensions and Weight of 166 _HAND BARROW_—Ditto 166 _HANDSPIKES_—Ditto 166 _HARNESS_—Ditto for Horses and Men 166 _HORSES_—Military Gait, and other Particulars respecting them 166 — Manner of Regulating the Weight they ought to Draw 166 — Number of, allowed to Artillery Carriages 167 _HOWITZERS_—Dimensions and Weight of English and French 168 — Natures of and by different Powers 169 — Ranges from 170 _LEVELLING_—Table shewing the Difference between the true and apparent Level 172 — Manner of applying this Table to finding Heights and Distances 172 _LOAD_—How regulated for Artillery Carriages 174 _MAGAZINES_—For Powder—Dimensions of _Temporary_ ones for Batteries 175 — _Permanent_, for fortified Places 175 _MATCH, Slow_—Composition for, and manner of making — Time it will burn 177 — _Quick_—of Cotton or Worsted 178 _MARCHING_—Rate of, for Cavalry and Infantry 178 — Rates paid for pressed Carriages on a March 179 — Rates paid to Publicans for Troops on a March 179 _MEASURES_—Tables of English Weights and 180 — Old French, Do. 181 — New System of, by the French, with their proportion to the old, and to the English 182 — Rules for converting French Weights and Measures into English 184 — German, and Weights 184 — Proportion between the English Foot, and Pound Avoir, and those of the principal Places in Europe 185 — For Powder; their Dimensions 185 _MECHANICS_—The different Powers of, and the advantage gained by each 186 _MILE_—Comparison between the Miles of different Countries 189 _MINE_—Rules for finding the proper Charge to produce any required Excavation or Effect 190 — Remarks upon the Dimensions and Construction of Mines, and their Galleries 193 — Usual System of Countermines, when prepared before hand 197 — Temporary Mines 198 _MORTARS_—Dimensions and Weight of English Brass and Iron Mortars, with their extreme Ranges 200 — Ranges from 10 Inch Sea Service, at 21° 201 — Ditto 13 and 10 Inch Sea Service, at 45° 201 — Ditto French, at 45° 202 — Ditto English Land Service, at 45° 203 — Ditto of Iron 203 — Ditto English Land Service, at 45° of Brass 205 — Ditto Land Service, 5½ Inch Brass, at 15° 205 — Ditto Land Service, 10 and 8 Inch, at 10° 206 — Ditto Land Service, 10 and 8 Inch, at 15° 206 _NAVY_—Number and Nature of Ordnance for each Ship in his Majesty’s 207 — Principal Dimensions of Ships Of War, Complements of Men, and Draught of Water 208 _ORDNANCE_—Value of Brass and Iron 209 _PACE_—The Length of the Common and Geometrical 210 _PARALLELS_—See _Trenches_, and _Sap_ _PAY_—Table of, for the Officers, non Commissioned Officers, and Privates of the Army 211 _PARK_—Its Situation and Distribution 213 _PENDULUMS_—How made for Artillery Purposes 215 — Proper Length of, for Seconds, ½ Seconds, and Quarters 215 — Rules for Finding the proper Length to make any number of Vibrations in a Minute, and the Contrary 215 _PETARDS_—Dimensions of, and Stores for 216 _PLATFORMS_—Dimensions of, and Materials for Gun and Mortar 216 _POINT BLANK_—What 217 _PONTOONS_—Dimensions and Weight of, and Equipage for one 217 _PORTFIRES_—Composition for—Time they will Burn —Manner of making them at Gibraltar 218 _PROVISIONS_—Regulations respecting Rations of, for Sea and Land Service 219 _PROOF_ of Iron Guns, with the Limits of their Reception 219 — Of Brass do. 220 — Howitzers, Mortars, and Carronades 221 — By Water 222 — By assaying the Metal 223 — Marks of condemned Ordnance 224 _RATIONS_—Of Provisions for Land and Sea Service 225 — Regulations respecting their Issue 226 — Deductions to be made from the Pay of Soldiers for 227 _RANK_—Between Sea and Land Officers 228 _RECOIL_—Of Brass Guns on Field Carriages, of Iron Guns on Standing Carriages, and Mortars on their Beds 229 _RECONNOITERING_—Preparations for 230 Objects to be attended to in Reconnoitering— 1 Roads—2 Fords—3 Inundations—4 Springs and Wells—5 Lakes and Marshes—6 Woods and Forests—7 Heaths—8 Canals—9 Rivers— 10 Passes—11 Ravins—12 Cultivated Lands— 13 Orchards—14 Bridges—15 Mountains and Hills—16 Coasts—17 Redoubts—18 Castles and Citadels—19 Villages—20 Cities not fortified— 21 Fortified Towns—22 Positions _RICOCHET_—Rules for firing 243 _ROCKETS_—Composition for Sky Rockets 245 —Table of General Dimensions of, with their Sticks 245 —Height to which they will ascend 246 _ROPE_—How distinguished—Rule for finding the Weight of 247 _SAND BAGS_—Dimensions of—Number required 248 _SAP_—Manner of carrying it on 248 _SECANTS_—Table of Natural Secants 248 _SHELLS_—Dimensions and Weight of, for Mortars and Howitzers 249 — For Guns and Carronades 250 — Manner of throwing Shells from Guns though they do not fit the Bore 251 — French and German 251 — Rules to find the Weight of, and the Quantity of Powder they will contain 252 _SHOT_—Rules to find the Number in any Pile of 252 — Rules for finding the Weight and Dimensions of Iron and Lead Shot 253 — Table of Diameters of English and French Iron round Shot 255 — Table of English Case Shot for different Services 256 — Tables of Grape Shot for Sea and Land Service 257 — Manner of Quilting small Shells in Grape 257 — Precautions in firing Hot Shot 258 _SINES_—Table of Natural Sines 259 _SOUND_—Velocity of—Rules for computing Distances by 259 _STOPPAGES_—From the Pay of an Artillery Soldier, weekly 260 _TANGENTS_—Table of Natural Tangents 261 — Manner of making a Tangent Scale to any Piece of Ordnance 262 — Table of Tangents to 1° for English Field Artillery 262 — Ditto French 262 _TENTS_—Weight and Dimensions of Tents of different Descriptions 262 _TONNAGE_—Manner of finding the Tonnage of any Ship 263 — Table of Tonnage of Ordnance Stores 264 — Tonnage allowed for Officers Baggage on board Transports 266 _TRANSPORTS_—Regulations on board of 266 _TRENCHES_—Dimensions of Trenches of Approach at a Siege 266 — Manner of opening, and conducting the Trenches and Parallels 267 _TROU DE LOUP_—Dimensions of 269 _TUBES_—Dimensions of, and Composition for Tin Tubes 269 _UNIFORMS_—Principal Colours of the Military Uniforms of different Powers in Europe 271 _VELOCITY_—Principal Points ascertained respecting the initial Velocities of Shot from Guns of different Lengths, and with different Charges, by the Experiments at Woolwich 272 — Initial Velocities of English and French Artillery 273 _VENTS_—Diameter of 275 _WEIGHTS_—Table of English and French 276 _WINDAGE_—Of English and French Artillery 276 _WOOD_—Employed in making Artillery Carriages 277

PREFACE.

A man must appear somewhat vain, who declares that he has been obliged to reject much useful information, for fear of increasing too much the size of his work: and yet manages to find room for a few pages of his own, by way of Preface: but lest the objects which the compiler of this little work has had in view should be mistaken, he finds it absolutely necessary to say a few words in explanation of them. This small collection of military memorandums was originally intended only for the compiler’s own pocket; to assist him in the execution of his duty: but it occurred to him, that many of his military friends stood in equal need of such an aid, and would willingly give a few shillings for what they would not be at the trouble of collecting. The compiler has seen young men, on their first entry into the regiment of artillery, give a guinea for manuscripts, which contained a very small part of the information offered in this little book. From a persuasion that a very principal part of its merit is derived from its portability, every endeavor has been used to press much into a little compass; and it is hoped, that this power has not been so far exerted, as to make the whole unintelligible: but, it must be understood, that the compiler does not propose to convey instruction to the untaught, but only to make a few memorandums of reference to facts; which those already versed in the military profession are supposed to have the knowledge to apply. The totally ignorant of these matters, he has, therefore, nothing to say to; they must consult more voluminous works. An alphabetical arrangement is merely adopted as the best calculated for this purpose; and as nothing like a military dictionary is intended, all terms are omitted, not within the compiler’s plan. All reference to plates has, likewise been avoided; as they not only very much increase the cost, but the bulk of a book. The principal difficulty which the compiler has had in making this little collection, has been to confine it within the limits of his original plan. The quantity of useful information which has pressed for admittance, has been with reluctance rejected. Such authors only have been quoted, as are generally esteemed the best; and every advantage has been taken of such information, as the compiler has been able to collect from experienced friends; but he has ventured to offer nothing whatever of his own. The French military authors have been principally consulted, on all subjects not immediately confined to our own system; and such notes as are given respecting their ordnance, may be of use in drawing a comparison with our own; and may serve as references to those in the habit of reading their military works. The compiler has not, in any instance, attempted to offer changes which he may have been led to imagine improvements; or to point out what he thinks deserve the title of defects in our own system; but he has given every information according to the present practice in our service. He cannot, however, help expressing a hope, that he will one day see his little book laid by as totally obsolete, and a better built upon a system less complicated, and more applicable to that particular nature of service which this country has in every war the greatest reason to expect.

Our armies will never, it is to be hoped, find a field of battle but on the other side of the water: they must therefore always be subject to the inconveniencies attendant upon the embarkation, and the confusion, too often the companion of a disembarkation of a quantity of ordnance and other military stores upon an enemy’s coast: how peculiarly necessary is it, therefore, that our military system should be the simplest and the best arranged. The French system of artillery was established as far back as the year 1765, and has been rigidly adhered to, through a convulsion in the country, which has overturned every thing else like order; and which even the government itself has not been able to withstand. We should therefore conclude that it has merit, and, though in an enemy, ought to avail ourselves of its advantages. At the formation of their system, they saw the necessity of the most exact correspondence in the most minute particulars; and so rigidly have they adhered to this principle, that though they have several arsenals, where carriages and other military machines are constructed; the different parts of a carriage may be collected from these several arsenals in the opposite extremities of the country, and will as well unite and form a carriage, as if they were all made and fitted in the same workshop. As long as every man who fancies that he has made an improvement is permitted to introduce it into our service, this cannot be the case with us.

Gunpowder has been so much improved of late years, under the direction of Col. Congreve, that the experiments made with the old powder are now of little service: only such tables of ranges with different natures of ordnance have therefore been inserted, as have been ascertained since the improved powder has been in use. As experiments are daily making at Woolwich and elsewhere, a blank leaf may be bound up after each nature of ordnance, in order to insert an abstract of them.

The compiler thinks it necessary to address himself to two classes of persons in particular; perhaps they may comprise the whole of his readers. First, those who think his little book might have been made much more complete. Second, those who think it improper that any information upon such matters should be offered to the public. To the first, he acknowledges the justice of the remark, but has to remind them, of the very great difficulties which they may themselves have experienced, in collecting information at Woolwich. To the second, he has but to remark, that he is well aware of the objections urged against publications which may give information as well to our enemies as our friends; but he does not imagine his little book to contain matter of sufficient consequence to do such mischief: and he is supported in an opinion by the most powerful and best organized military nations in Europe, that such secresy is the surest mark of ignorance.

The first edition being out of print, the compiler has endeavored to improve this, by _every_ correction, and by _some_ of the additions which his friends have been kind enough to suggest to him as necessary: but if he has neglected much of the valuable information offered him, it has not been from an insensibility of its merit, but from its entering more into the detail of matters than his little book would afford room to profit by; for it still professes not to instruct, but only to remind.

The compiler has added to this edition a short alphabetical index to the contents. This may appear to some superfluous, considering the alphabetical arrangement of the subjects: but it has been impossible to avoid a great deal of reference from one part of the work to another: beside, the compiler has observed in several of the copies in the possession of his friends, notes in manuscript, (entered on sheets bound up for the purpose) which are also to be found in the body of the work. This the compiler attributes to a cause which the index may probably remedy, by enabling the reader to know, at one view, the whole contents.

_AMMUNITION_—For small arms, in the British service, is generally packed in half barrels, each containing 1000 musquet, or 1500 carbine cartridges. An ammunition waggon will carry 20 of these barrels, and an ammunition cart 12 of them: their weight nearly 1 cwt. each.

The cartouch boxes of the infantry are made of so many different shapes and sizes, that it is impossible to say exactly what ammunition they will contain; but most of them can carry 60 rounds. See the word _Cartridges_; and for Artillery Ammunition, see the word _Artillery_, for the field, for the siege, and the defence of a fortified place.

The French pack all their ammunition in wagons without either boxes or barrels, by means of partitions of wood. Their 12 Pr. and 8 Pr. waggons will contain each 14,000 musquet cartridges, but their 4 Pr. waggons will contain only 12,000 each.

_AMMUZETTE_—See the word _Guns_.

_APRONS_—of lead for guns—

_lbs._ _oz._ Large—1 foot long—10 inches wide 8 4 weight. Small—6 inches ” —4½ ” ” 1 12 ”

_ARMS_—Small

+---------------+---------+-------+---------------------------+ | | Length | Diam. | Balls weight for | | Nature. | of | of +-------------+-------------+ | | Barrel. | Bore. | Proof. | Service. | +---------------+---------+-------+-------------+-------------+ | | Ft. In.|Inches.| oz. dr. gr. | oz. dr. gr. | |Wall pieces | 4 6 | .98 | 2 8 8 | 2 5 7 | |Musquet | 3 6 | .76 | 1 6 11½ | 1 1 12 | |Carbine | 3 0 | .61 | 0 14 13 | 0 12 11 | |Pistol, common | 1 2 | .58 | 0 8 15 | 0 7 4½ | | ” carbine | 1 0 | .66 | 0 14 13 | 0 12 11 | +---------------+---------+-------+-------------+-------------+

_ARTILLERY._—The proportion of artillery and ammunition necessary to accompany an army in the field, to lay siege to a fortified place, or to defend one, must depend upon so many circumstances, that it is almost impossible, in a small work of this kind, to lay down any satisfactory rules as guides on the subject: the following principles are, however, drawn from the best authorities:

1st. _ARTILLERY for the Field._

FIELD Artillery is divided into _Battalion Guns, Artillery of the Park_, and _Horse Artillery_.

The _Battalion Guns_ include all the light pieces attached to regiments of the line, which they accompany in all manœuvres, to cover and support them.

The following natures of field ordnance are attached to battalions of infantry, by different powers in Europe:

French two 4 Prs. per battalion. English two 6 ” ” ” Danes two 3 ” ” ” Austrians three 6 ” ” ” Prussians two 6 Prs. to a battalion in the first line. ” two 3 Prs. to a battalion in the second line. Hanoverians two 3 Prs. per battalion.