Chapter 11 of 18 · 3992 words · ~20 min read

Part 11

+---------------+-------------------+------------+ | Nature. | Length in | Weight. | +---------------+----------+--------+------------+ | |Calibers. |Ft. In. |Ct. Qr. lbs.| | | | | | | 36 Pounders | 16.18 | 9 8 | 74 3 — | +---------------+----------+--------+------------+ | 24 ” | 18.18 | 9 1½ | 51 — — | +---------------+----------+--------+------------+ | | 21.01 | 9 7 | 42 — — | | 16 ” | 18.45 | 8 4 | 43 2 — | | | 16.92 | 7 8½ | 35 — — | +---------------+----------+--------+------------+ | | 21.54 | 8 7 | 31 2 — | | 12 ” | 20.5 | 8 2 | 20 3 — | | | 17.14 | 6 10 | 28 — — | +---------------+----------+--------+------------+ | 8 ” | 24.64 | 8 7 | 24 1 — | | | 17.22 | 6 — | 16 — — | +---------------+----------+--------+------------+ | 4 ” | 17.19 | 4 9 | — — — | +---------------+----------+--------+------------+

_Ranges of Brass Guns, with one Shot. 1793._

+----------------------+--------+-------------------------------+ | | Charge |To the first graze of the Shot.| | Nature. | +-----+----+----+----+----+-----+ | | |P. B.| 1° | 2° | 3° | 4° | 5° | +----------------------+--------+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+ | | lb.oz. | Yds.|Yds.|Yds.|Yds.|Yds.|Yds. | +----------------------+--------+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+ | Heavy | 8 0 | 473| 781|1032|1405|1585|1710 | |24 Medium | 8 0 | 488| 757|1103|1425|1557|1745 | | Light | 3 0 | 162| 364| 606| 722| |1390 | +----------------------+--------+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+ | Heavy | | | | | | | | |12 Medium | 4 0 | | 705| 973|1189| | | | Light | 3 0 | | 601| 816|1063| | | +----------------------+--------+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+ | Desagulier’s | 2 0 | | 646| 966|1325| | | | 6 Feet | 2 0 | | 683| 948|1327| | | | 6 5 : 6 Medi. | 2 0 | | 775|1003|1444| | | | 5 : 6 Red’d. | 2 0 | | 642| 976|1150| | | | 5 Feet | 1 8 | | 587| 825| 950| | | | 4 : 6 Feet | 1 8 | | 628| 804| 991| | | +----------------------+--------+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+ | 3 Desagulier’s | 1 0 | | 679| 883| 918| | | | Ammuzette of 5 feet| 0 8 | | 604| 800| | | | | ” of 7 feet| 0 8 | | 656| 830|1000| | | +----------------------+--------+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+

_Ranges from Brass Guns, with Two Shot. 1793._

+-------------------+--------+----------+--------------------+ | Nature. |Charge. |Elevation.| Medium first Graze.| +-------------------+--------+----------+----------+---------+ | |lbs. oz.| 1° 30′ | 1st Shot.| 2d Shot.| | | | | | | |12 Pounder, Medium | 4 — | 1 30 | 607 | 706 | | 6 : Desagulier’s | 2 — | 1 30 | 621 | 739 | | 6 : of 5 feet | 1 8 | 1 30 | 586 | 732 | | 3 : Desagulier’s | 1 — | 1 30 | 523 | 638 | +-------------------+--------+----------+----------+---------+

_Ranges from Brass Field Guns, with small Charges. 1798._

+-------+------+----------------------------------+------------------+ | | | First Graze with | | |Nature.|Charge| different Elevations. | Extreme Range. | +-------+------+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+----+------------------+ | | | 1°| 2°| 3°| 4°| 5°| 6° | 7° | 8° | | +-------+------+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+----+------------------+ |12 Pr. |10 oz.|199|290|390|385|597| 716| 695| 788|From 800 to 1000.| | | 1 lb.|280|416|729|777|966|1090|1054|1295|From 1200 to 1500.| +-------+------+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+----+------------------+ | 6 Pr. | 5 oz.|111|222|376|432|618| 625| 650| 788|From 800 to 1000.| | | 8 oz.|277|401|754|826|925| 980|1103|1100|From 1000 to 1300.| +-------+------+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+----+------------------+

=N. B.= The above was a 12 Pr. Medium, and a 6 Pr. Desagulier’s. The Distances are given in Yards.

_Effects of Case Shot from a Battalion Gun.—Light 6 Pr. Length 5 feet—Weight 5 cwt. 3 qrs. 21 lbs. against a Target 8 feet high, and 90 feet long._

+--------+-----------------+----------+------------+------------+ |Distance| | |Nᵒ. put |Nᵒ. put | | of | | |into the |into the | | Target.|Nature of Charge.|Elevation.|height of 6 |height of 8 | | | | |feet, or the|feet, or the| | | | |height of |height of | | | | |_Infantry_. |_Cavalry_. | +--------+-----------------+----------+------------+------------+ | Yards. | | Deg. | | | | |12 Balls, 8 oz. | 1 | 3 | 3 | | 500 | each, 3 in a | 1½ | 3 | 4 | | | tier, 1¼ lb. | | | | | | powder. | 2 | 3 | 4 | +--------+-----------------+----------+------------+------------+ | | | 1 | 6 | 6 | | 400 |Same Charge. | 1½ | 4 | 5 | | | | 2 | 4 | 5 | +--------+-----------------+----------+------------+------------+ | | | ½ | 6 | 7 | | 300 |Same Charge. | 1 | 3 | 3 | | | | 1½ | 4 | 6 | +--------+-----------------+----------+------------+------------+ | |34 Balls, 3 oz. | P. B. | 10 | 12 | | 400 | each, 7 in a | ½ | 9 | 10 | | | tier, 1¼ lb. | 1 | 6 | 8 | | | powder. | | | | +--------+-----------------+----------+------------+------------+ | | | P. B. | 11 | 13 | | 300 |Same Charge. | ½ | 12 | 15 | | | | 1 | 7 | 9 | +--------+-----------------+----------+------------+------------+

=N. B.= There were three rounds fired at each change, but they were all so nearly alike that it has been thought necessary to put down only one of them.—1802.

_Ranges with Sea Service Iron Guns. 1796._

+------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Nature of Guns 32, 24, and 18 Pounders. | +----------+----------+------------------------------------+-------+ |Elevation.|Proportion| Nature of Shot. | Range.| | |of powder.| | | +----------+----------+------------------------------------+-------+ | Deg. | | |Yards. | | 2 | ⅓ |With single Shot to the first graze.| 1200 | | 2 | ¼ | Do. Do. | 1000 | | 2 | ¼ |2 Shot, ranged close together, to | 500 | | 4 | ⅓ |Single Shot | 1600 | | 4 | ¼ | Do. | 1500 | | 7 | ⅓ | Do. | 2150 | | 7 | ¼ | Do. | 2020 | +----------+----------+------------------------------------+-------+ | | |One round shot, and 1 round | | | 2 | ¼ | of grape, will range with | 600 | | | | effect together, to | | +----------+----------+------------------------------------+-------+ | 4 | ¼ |One round of grape shot, alone, to | 1000 | +----------+----------+------------------------------------+-------+ | | |One double headed, or bar shot, | | | 2 | ¼ | will range to the first graze | 800 | +----------+----------+------------------------------------+-------+

_Ranges with 5½ Inch Shells, from a 24 Pounder Iron Gun, Length of Gun 9½ Feet—Weight 49 ct. 26 lbs._

+----------+-----------------------++-----------------------+ | | 2 Pounds. || 2 lbs. 8 oz. | | +-------+---------------++-------+---------------+ | | | Range to || | Range to | |Elevation.|Flight.+------+--------+|Flight.+------+--------+ | | |First |Extreme.|| |First |Extreme.| | | |Graze.| || |Graze.| | +----------+-------+------+--------++-------+------+--------+ | Deg. | Sec. |Yards.| Yards. || Sec. |Yards.| Yards. | | 1 | 1 | 213 | 1139 || 2¾ | 562 | 1456 | | 2 | 1¾ | 384 | 1267 || 1½ | 442 | 1413 | | 3 | 2¾ | 565 | 1413 || 2½ | 647 | 1553 | | 4 | 2¼ | 750 | 1479 || 3¾ | 896 | 1639 | | 5 | 3¾ | 836 | 1670 || 4 | 915 | 1510 | | 6 | 4 | 896 | 1495 || 5 | 1140 | 1657 | | 7 | 6½ | 1180 | 1492 || 6 | 1205 | 1481 | | 8 | 6¾ | 1305 | 1526 || 6½ | 1259 | 1544 | | 9 | 7½ | 1329 | 1527 || 7 | 1341 | 1561 | | 9½ | 6¾ | 1229 | 1453 || — | —— | —— | +----------+-------+------+--------++-------+------+--------+ | | 3 Pounds. | | +-------+---------------+ | |Flight.| Range to | |Elevation.| +------+--------+ | | |First |Extreme.| | | |Graze.| | +----------+-------+------+--------+ | Deg. | Sec. |Yards.| Yards. | | 1 | 1 | 277 | 1424 | | 2 | 1¾ | 526 | 1464 | | 3 | 2¼ | 740 | 1600 | | 4 | 3½ | 880 | 1679 | | 5 | 5 | 1182 | 1733 | | 6 | 6¼ | 1384 | 1787 | | 7 | 6¼ | 1410 | 1749 | | 8 | 7 | 1520 | 1744 | | 9 | 7¾ | 1722 | 1938 | | 9½ | 8½ | 1748 | 1881 | +----------+-------+------+--------+

_Ranges with 4⅖ Shells from a 12 Pounder, Medium._

+----------+-----------------------++-----------------------+ | | 8 Ounces. || 12 Ounces. | | +-------+---------------++-------+---------------+ |Elevation.|Flight.|First |Extreme ||Flight.|First |Extreme | | | |Graze.| Range. || |Graze.| Range. | +----------+-------+------+--------++-------+------+--------+ | Deg. | Sec. |Yards.| Yards. || Sec. |Yards.| Yards. | | 1 | 1½ | 156 | || | | | | 2 | 2 | 293 | || 2½ | 350 | | | 3 | 2½ | 363 | From || 3½ | 355 | From | | 4 | 3½ | 462 | 800 || 4 | 679 | 1100 | | 5 | 4 | 587 | to || 3½ | 641 | to | | 6 | 4 | 621 | 1200 || 5 | 941 | 1300 | | 7 | 4½ | 898 | || 6 | 1020 | | | 8 | 5 | 781 | || | | | +----------+-------+------+--------++-------+------+--------+ | | 1 lb. 8 oz. | | +-------+---------------+ |Elevation.|Flight.|First |Extreme | | | |Graze.| Range. | +----------+-------+------+--------+ | Deg. | Sec. |Yards.| Yards. | | 1 | | | | | 2 | | 707 | | | 3 | | 758 | From | | 4 | | 849 | 1400 | | 5 | | 1075 | to | | 6 | | 1150 | 1600 | | 7 | | 1300 | | | 8 | | | | +----------+-------+------+--------+

_Ranges with French Brass Field Guns, with Round Shot._

+-------+----------+-----------------------+-------+ | | | Elevation. | | | | +-------------+---------+ Range | |Nature.| Charge. | Lines of | | in | | | |Tangt. Scale.|Deg. Min.|Toises.| +-------+----------+-------------+---------+-------+ | | | L. M. | — 58 | 300 | | | | 2 | 1 3 | 350 | | 12 Pr.| 4 lbs. | 10 | 1 39 | 400 | | | | 14 | 1 49 | 450 | | | | 16 | 1 56 | 480 | +-------+----------+-------------+---------+-------+ | | | L. M. | — 58 | 300 | | | | 6 | 1 24 | 350 | | 8 Pr. | 2½ lbs. | 12 | 1 51 | 400 | | | | 16 | 2 8 | 450 | | | | 20 | 2 24 | 480 | +-------+----------+-------------+---------+-------+ | | | L. M. | — 58 | 250 | | | | 4 | 1 20 | 300 | | | | 8 | 1 40 | 350 | | 4 Pr. | 1½ lbs. | 12 | 2 — | 400 | | | | 16 | 2 20 | 450 | | | | 18 | 2 40 | 480 | +-------+----------+-------------+---------+-------+

The above are in French weights and measures.

_GUNPOWDER.—Proportions of the different Ingredients for making Gunpowder, by different Powers in Europe_:

+---------+------+--------+------+--------+--------+--------+ | | Eng. | France.| Swed.| Poland.| Italy. | Russia.| +---------+------+--------+------+--------+--------+--------+ |Saltpetre| 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 | 76½ | 70 | |Sulphur | 10 | 9½ | 9 | 8 | 12½ | 11½ | |Charcoal | 15 | 15½ | 16 | 12 | 12½ | 18½ | +---------+------+--------+------+--------+--------+--------+ | Pounds | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | +---------+------+--------+------+--------+--------+--------+

_Proofs of Powder._—The first examination of powder in the king’s mills, is by rubbing it in the hands to find whether it contains any irregular hard lumps. The second is by blasting 2 drams of each sort on a copper plate, and in this comparing it with an approved powder; in this proof it should not emit any sparks, nor leave any beads or foulness on the copper. It is then compared with an approved powder, in projecting an iron ball of 64 lbs. from an 8 inch mortar, with a charge of 2 ounces. The best cylinder powder generally gives about 180 feet range, and pit 150; but the weakest powder, or powder that has been redried, &c. only from 107 to 117 feet.

The merchants’ powder, before it is received into the king’s service, is tried against powder of the same kind made at the king’s mills; and it is received if it gives a range of ¹/₂₀ less than the king’s powder with which it is compared. In this comparison both sorts are tried on the same day, and at the same time, and under exactly the same circumstances.

The proof of fine grained, or musquet powder, is with a charge of 4 drams from a musquet barrel, to perforate with a steel ball a certain number of ½ inch wet elm boards, placed ¾ inch asunder, and the first 39 feet 10 inches from the barrel: the king’s powder generally passes through 15 or 16, and restoved powder from 9 to 12. The last trial of powder is by exposing about 1 pound of each sort, accurately weighed, to the atmosphere for 17 or 18 days; during which time, if the materials are pure, it will not increase anything material in weight, by attracting moisture from the atmosphere.

In this exposure 100 lbs. of good gunpowder should not absorb more than 12 oz. or somewhat less than one per cent.

_Powder Marks._—The different sorts of powder are distinguished by the following marks on the heads of the barrels.

--------+-------------+----------------------- Nᵒ. ½ | | L G | Cylinder | --------+-------------+ Nᵒ. 2 | | S G | Cylinder | Marked in Red. --------+-------------+ Nᵒ. 3 | | F G | Cylinder | --------+-------------+----------------------- S A—The dust from Nᵒ. 3, and F G cylinder. R A—For rifle arms. ---------------------------------------------- ⁴/₇ Cylinder mixed—Marked white L G. ³/₇ Restoved

L G or F G in blue, is powder made of pitcoal.

RS Nᵒ. ½ L G Marked in yellow, Nᵒ. 3 F G is restoved.

The _red_ L G, F G, or S G, denotes powder entirely made of the cylinder charcoal, and is that which is now always used on service. The white L G being a mixed powder, is not so uniform as the other, and is therefore generally used in filling shells, or for such other purposes as do not require much accuracy. All powder for service is mixed in proportions according to its strength, so as to bring it as much as possible to a mean and uniform force.

_French Gunpower._—The French proof ball is of brass, and weighs 60 lbs. French: the diameter of the mortar 7 inches 9 points, or ¾ of a line, and has one line of windage. The chamber holds exactly 3 ounces; and their best powder must give a range of 90 toises, and their restoved powder a range of 80 toises, to be received into the service. But the powder they now make, when new, will give a range of 100 and 120 toises; and Mr. Lombard calculates all his tables from experiments made with powder giving 125 toises with the eprovette.—The above dimensions and weights are all of French standard.

_GUN METAL_—is composed of 8 or 10 lbs. of tin to 100 lbs of copper.—The largest proportion of tin is used for mortars.

_HAIRCLOTH._—Weight 30 lbs.—length 15 feet—breadth 11 feet.

_HAND BARROW._—Weight 13 lbs.—length 5 feet 4 inches.

_HANDSPIKES._—Common, weight 11 lbs. length 6 feet.

_HARNESS._—For men, one set, 26 lbs. length, 12 feet.—Wheel harness for a pair of horses, such as is used in the service of artillery, about 1 cwt.

_HORSES._—An allowance of 3 feet is generally made for the breadth of each horse standing at picket; and about 9 feet for the length of a horse.

A light dragoon horse, mounted and accoutered complete, carries about 2 cwt. 1 qr. and 14 lbs. without forage.

Horses in the service of artillery should not be made to draw above 3 cwt. each, besides the weight of the carriage.

Horses for this service should never be lower than 14¾ hands. The contractor is obliged to furnish them of this height for government.—A horse is generally supposed equal to five men.

Military horses _walk_ about 400 yards in 4½ minutes.

_Trot_ the same distance in 2 minutes 3 seconds, and _gallop_ it in about 1 minute.

With great burthens, less weight must be allowed for each horse to draw, than with medium burthens; as it cannot be supposed that, of a team of 8 horses, the leaders can draw so much as the horses nearer the carriage; and this disadvantage must increase as the team lengthens. A team of

4 horses may draw 6 cwt. each—Total 24 cwt. } including 6 ” ” ” 5 ” ” ” 30 ” } the 8 ” ” ” 4½ ” ” ” 36 ” } carriages. 12 ” ” ” 4 ” ” ” 48 ” } See also the word _Load_.

It is usual in heavy carriages to reckon all their weight exceeding 12 cwt. as part of the load.

_Horses allowed for drawing Field Artillery Carriages._

All the horse artillery carriages are drawn by 4 horses each, except 12 prs. which have 6 each. _Park Carriages_—12 pr. medium, and 6 pr. heavy, 6 horses each—6 pr. light, and 5½ howitzer, upon the new construction, are allowed each 4 horses, but upon the old only 3 each.

Ammunition waggon, common pattern, 3 horses. ” ” Flanders pattern, 4 ” Forge cart, 2 ” Ammunition cart, 2 ”

_HOWITZERS._—_Dimensions and Weight of Brass Howitzers._

---------+-------+-----------+------+------------------------------- | | | | Chamber. | | |Length+------+-------------+--------- Nature. |Length.| Weight. | of | | Diameter. | Powder | | | Bore.|Length+------+------+contained | | | | |at top|bottom| in ---------+-------+-----------+------|------+------+------+--------- Inch. |Ft Inch|cwt qrs lbs|Inches|Inches|Inches|Inches|lbs oz diam. | | | | | | | 10 |3 11½ | 25 3 14 | 29.9 | 12.6 | 5.776| 4.12 | 7 0 8 |3 1 | 12 3 12 | 24.7 | 8.61| 4.6 | 3.40 | 3 8 5½ Heavy| | 10 0 0 | | | | | 3 0 5½ Light|2 2¾ | 4 0 2 | 18.47| 6.02| 3.2 | 2.45 | 1 0 4⅖ |1 10 | 3 0 13 | 15.21| 4.52| 2.73 | 2.24 | 0 8 ---------+-------+-----------+------+------+------+------+---------

_French Howitzers, in their own Weights and Measures._

_Table containing the Natures of Howitzers used by different Powers in Europe._

+----------+------------+--------+ | Nations. | Natures. | Shells.| +----------+------------+--------+ | | | Wt. | | | | (lbs.) | | | 25 Pr.[9] | 62 | | Prussian | 10 — | 27 | | | 7 — | 14 | +----------+------------+--------+ | Danish | 18 — | 36 | | | 10 — | 20 | +----------+------------+--------+ | Saxon | 16 — | 32 | | | 8 — | 16 | +----------+------------+--------+ | Hanover | 30 — | 61 | | | 16 — | 33 | +----------+------------+--------+ | | 4⅖ Inch | 8 | | | or 4 Pr. | | | +------------+--------+ | English | 5½ Inch | 16 | | | or 8 Pr. | | | +------------+--------+ | | 8 Inch | 46 | | | or 23 Pr. | | +----------+------------+--------+ | | 6 Inch | 23 | | | or 12 Pr. | | | French +------------+--------+ | | 8 Inch | 43 | | | or 22 Pr. | | +----------+------------+--------+

[9] See the word _Shell_ for the principle on which the Germans class them in pounders.

_Ranges with a light 5½ inch Howitzer. 1798._

+----------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | | 4 Ounces. | 8 Ounces. | | +--------+------+-------+--------+------+-------+ |Elevation.| Flight.|Range |Extreme| Flight.|Range |Extreme| | | | to |Range. | | to |Range. | | | |first | | |first | | | | |graze.| | |graze.| | +----------+--------+------+-------+--------+------+-------+ | Deg. | Sec. |Yards.| | Sec. |Yards.| | | P. B. | | | | 1 | 96 | | | 1 | 1 | 66 | | 1½ | 143 | | | 2 | 1 | 85 | From | 1½ | 184 | From | | 3 | 1½ | 100 | 400 | 2 | 258 | 700 | | 4 | 1½ | 110 | to | 2½ | 307 | to | | 5 | 2 | 115 | 600 | 2½ | 376 | 1000 | | 6 | 2 | 168 | yards.| 3 | 408 | yards.| | 7 | 2 | 194 | | 3½ | 529 | | | 8 | 2½ | 226 | | 4½ | 630 | | | 9 | 2½ | 282 | | 5 | 645 | | | 10 | 2½ | 279 | | 5 | 642 | | | 11 | 2½ | 260 | | 5½ | 697 | | | 12 | 3 | 315 | | 5½ | 715 | | +----------+--------+------+-------+--------+------+-------+ | | 12 Ounces. | 1 Pound. | | +--------+------+-------+--------+------+-------+ |Elevation.| Flight.|Range |Extreme| Flight.|Range |Extreme| | | | to |Range. | | to |Range. | | | |first | | |first | | | | |graze.| | |graze.| | +----------+--------+------+-------+--------+------+-------+ | Deg. | Sec. |Yards.| | Sec. |Yards.| | | P. B. | 1½ | 140 | | 1 | 159 | | | 1 | 2 | 334 | | 1½ | 325 | | | 2 | 2 | 351 | From | 2 | 490 | From | | 3 | 2½ | 506 | 1000 | 3 | 668 | 1100 | | 4 | 3 | 500 | to | 4 | 728 | to | | 5 | 3 | 509 | 1350 | 5½ | 918 | 1400 | | 6 | 3½ | 581 | yards.| 5 | 823 | yards.| | 7 | 5 | 872 | | 6 | 975 | | | 8 | 6½ | 975 | | 7 | 1044 | | | 9 | 7 | 911 | | 8 | 1049 | | | 10 | 7 | 1021 | | 8 | 1104 | | | 11 | 7½ | 1177 | | 8 | 1173 | | +----------+--------+------+-------+--------+------+-------+

_Ranges with a heavy 5½ inch Howitzer. 1793._

+----------+----------------------+----------------------+ | | 2 Pounds. | 3 Pounds. | | +-------+------+-------+-------+------+-------+ |Elevation.|Flight.|First |Extreme|Flight.|First |Extreme| | | |Graze.|Range. | |Graze.|Range. | +----------+-------+------+-------+-------+------+-------+ | Deg. | Sec. |Yards.|Yards. | Sec. |Yards.|Yards. | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 453 | | 3 | 479 | | | 2 | 4 | 595 | | 5 | 722 | | | 3 | 4 | 666 | | 5 | 921 | | | 4 | 5 | 847 | | 5 | 1000 | | | 5 | 5 | 957 | From | 7 | 1325 | From | | 6 | 7 | 1173 | 1400 | 8 | 1530 | 1400 | | 7 | 9 | 1449 | to | 9 | 1577 | to | | 8 | 8 | 1355 | 1900 | 9 | 1721 | 2000 | | 9 | 8 | 1585 | | 9 | 1801 | | | 10 | 10 | 1853 | | 9 | 1791 | | | 11 | 9 | 1793 | | 12 | 1013 | | | 12 | 10 | 1686 | | | | | +----------+-------+------+-------+-------+------+-------+