Part 15
All ordnance, after having undergone this proof, and the subsequent searching, are subject to the water proof: this is done by means of a forcing pump, having a pipe or hose fixed to the mouth of the piece: after two or three efforts to force the water through any honeycombs or flaws which may be in the bore, they are left to dry; and generally the next day examined by the reflected light from a mirror. If the bore contains any small holes or flaws which have not been discovered by the former proofs, they are very readily found by this; the water will continue to weep, or run from the holes, when the solid parts of the bore are perfectly dry. Ordnance suspected of being bad are often subject to a more severe proof: that of firing 30 rounds quick, with the service charge and 2 shot; and in doubtful cases, where the purity of the metal is suspected, recourse has been had to chemical trials and analysis. A quantity of clean filings taken from a part of an iron gun free from rust, are dissolved in the dilute sulphuric acid, and the quantity of gas disengaged during the solution accurately ascertained. The plumbago which remains after solution is also separated by filtration, and carefully weighed. Now it is well known that the purer the iron, the greater the quantify of inflammable gas obtained, and the less the proportion of plumbago which remains after the solution; from these two parts therefore a tolerable judgment may be formed of the quality of the metal. When the plumbago exceeds 4½ _per_ cent. the iron will always be found deficient in strength; and there has been no instance of a gun bursting where the plumbago did not exceed 3 _per_ cent; that is, where 100 grains of the metal did not leave more than 3 grains of plumbago. The colour of the plumbago is also to be attended to; when it is brown or reddish, it is an indication of hard metal, and when in quantities and mixed with coals, there can be no doubt but that the iron is too soft for cannon.
For the proof of _Gunpowder_, see that word.
_Proof of Iron Shells._—After the shells are guaged and examined as to their dimensions and weight, they must be well scraped out, and the iron pin at the bottom of the inside must be driven down or broken off. They are then to be hammered all over, to knock off the scales, and discover flaws, and no hole, in the large shells is allowed, of more than ¾ of an inch deep. An empty fuze is then driven into the fuze hole, and the shell is suspended in a tub of water, in such manner that the shell be covered by the water, but that it does not run into the fuze: in this situation the nose of a pair of bellows is put in at the fuze hole, and several strong puffs given with the bellows; and if no bubbles rise in the water, the shell is concluded to be serviceable.
Ordnance condemned as unserviceable for any of the foregoing reasons, are marked as follows: =X D=, or =X S=, or =X W=. The first signifies that they are found to be faulty in their dimensions, by Desagulier’s instrument; the second, by the searcher; and the third, by the water proof.
_RATION._—For an officer or soldier.
_Complete Ration of the Small Species._
Flour, or bread 1½ lbs. Beef 1 Or Pork ½ Peas ¼ pint. Butter, or cheese 1 oz. Rice 1 oz.
When the small species are not issued, 1½ lbs. of flour or bread, with 1½ lbs. of beef, or 10 oz. of pork, forms a complete ration: or 3 lbs. of beef; or 2 lbs. of cheese; or half a pound of rice, forms a complete ration.
At sea the ration is different. The following table contains the allowance for six soldiers, or four seamen on board of ship, for each day in the week. Women are provisioned at ½, and children at ¼ of a soldier’s allowance, but receive no rum.
(A) = Beer, Gallons, or half Pints of Spirits, or Pints of Wine. (B) = Pint of Oatmeal. (C) = lbs. of Butter. (D) = lbs. of Butter. +----------+------+---+----------+------+----+---+---+---+--------+ | | | | Beef, |Pork, |Pint| | | | | | Days of | | | Pieces |Pieces| of | | | | | | the Week.|Bread.|(A)| of | of |Peas|(B)|(C)|(D)|Vinegar.| | | lb. | | 8 lbs. |4 lb. | | | | | | +----------+------+---+----------+------+----+---+---+---+--------+ |Sunday, | 4 | 4 | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Monday, | 4 | 4 | | — | | 4 | ½ | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Tuesday, | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | | | | | | | | | |or 6 lbs. | | | | | | | |Wednesday,| 4 | 4 | of flour,| — | 2 | 4 | ½ | 1 |1 quart | | | | |or ½ lb | | | | | |a week. | |Thursday, | 4 | 4 |of suet, | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | |& 1 lb of | | | | | | | |Friday, | 4 | 4 |raisins | — | 2 | 4 | ½ | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Saturday, | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | | | | | | | | | | or as | | | | | | | | | | | above. | | | | | | | +----------+------+---+----------+------+----+---+---+---+--------+
The above are served out by full weights and measures.
When flour, suet and raisins are put on board, they are to be served out in equal proportions with beef, viz. half in beef; the other half in flour, suet, and raisins, on each beef day.
4 lbs. of flour, or 3 lbs. of flour with ½ lb. of raisins, (or ¼ lb. of currants) and ¼ lb. of suet, are equal to 4 lbs. of beef, or 2 lbs. of pork with peas, but are not to be issued in lieu of the latter, except unavoidable, and then the quantities must be certified.
½ lb. of rice is equal to a pint of oatmeal; ½ lb. of sugar is equal to ½ lb. of butter; and 1 lb. of rice is equal to 1 lb. of cheese; 1 pint of oil is equal to 1 lb. of butter, or 2 lbs. of cheese, that is, a pint of oil for the proportion of butter and cheese.
A pint of wine, or ½ pint of brandy, rum, or arrack, is equal to a gallon of beer; 1 lb. of fresh beef is equal to 1 lb. of salt beef; and 1½ lbs. of fresh beef is equal to 1 lb. of pork.
No wine or spirits are to be issued to the troops while in port, nor at sea, till after all the beer is expended.
The masters of transports are to produce a certificate from the commanding officer of the troops on board, of the quantity expended. If any doubt be entertained of the provisions being full weight, a cask must be weighed in the presence of the commanding officer, the master and the mate, and the master may upon the certificate of the commanding officer, and the oath of the mate, issue as much beef and pork as will make up the deficiency.
The weight of each must be as follows: 14 pieces of beef, cut for 8 pound pieces taken out of the cask as they rise, and the salt shaken off, are to weigh 112 lbs. avoirdupois. 28 pieces of pork cut for 4 lb. pieces, are also to weigh, under like circumstances, 112 lbs.
The deductions to betaken for provisions from the pay of officers, noncommissioned officers, or men, are the same for all ranks, and in all corps, under the like circumstances of service, when serving out of Great Britain, on stations where provisions are supplied by the public: also, when embarked in transports or other vessels, (except when serving as marines) also when prisoners of war, and maintained at the expense of Great Britain; also when in general hospitals, whether at home or abroad, a deduction of _Six-pence per day_.
A deduction of _three-pence half-penny_ from the pay of every noncommissioned officer and private in Jamaica, in New South Wales, or Gibraltar. Noncommissioned officers and soldiers serving as marines shall not be liable to any deduction from their full pay on account of provisions.
Ration for a horse on home service in 1796: 14 lbs. of hay, 10 lbs. of oats, 4 lbs. of straw; for which a stoppage is made of _six-pence_.
_Army Regulations, 1799._
_RANK._—_Between Land and Sea Officers._
_Navy._ | _Army._ 1. Admiral, or commander | of his Majesty’s fleet | Field Marshal. --------------------------------------+-------------------- 2. Admirals with their flags | at the main-top-mast head | Generals. --------------------------------------+-------------------- 3. Vice Admirals | Lieutenant Generals. 4. Rear Admirals | Major Generals. 5. Commodores, with broad pendants | Brigadiers. --------------------------------------+-------------------- 6. Captains commanding post | ships, after 3 years | Colonels. --------------------------------------+-------------------- 7. All Captains commanding post ships | Lieutenant Colonels. 8. Captains not taking post | Majors. 9. Lieutenants | Captains.
The rank and precedence of sea officers in the classes abovementioned, are to take place according to the seniority of their respective commissions in the sea service. Post captains commanding ships or vessels that do not give post, rank only as majors during the time they command those vessels.
Nothing in this shall give any pretence to land officers to command any of his Majesty’s squadrons; nor to any sea officer to command on shore; nor shall either have right to demand the military honours due to their respective ranks, unless upon actual service.
_RECOIL_—_Of Field Guns on Travelling Carriages, upon Elm Planks._
+-------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+ | | | 1 Shot, | 2 Shot |Case Shot,| | Nature. | Charge |at 1° 30′ |at 1° 30′ |at 3° 45′ | | | |Elevation |Elevation |Elevation | +-------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+ | |lbs. oz.| Feet. | Feet. | Feet. | | | | | | | |12 Pr. Medi. | 4 — | 12 | 25 | 8½ | | 6 Pr. Heavy | 2 — | 7 | 11 | 7½ | | 6 Pr. Light | 1 8 | 12 | 21 | 10 | | 3 Pr. Heavy | 1 — | 7 | 5 | 3½ | +-------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+
_Recoil of Sea Service, Iron Guns, on Ship Carriages, upon a Horizontal Platform._
+------------------------+----------+-------+-------+-------+ | Charges of Powder |Elevation.|32 Pr. |24 Pr. |18 Pr. | | and Shot. | | | | | +------------------------+----------+-------+-------+-------+ | | Deg. |Ft. In.|Ft. In.|Ft. In.| | | | | | | | ⅓ of Powder and 1 Shot | 2 |11 — |11 — |10 6 | | ⅓ of Powder and 2 Shot | 4 |19 6 |18 6 |18 — | | ¼ of Powder and 2 Shot | 7 |11 6 |12 — |12 — | +------------------------+----------+-------+-------+-------+
_Recoil of Land Service, Iron Mortars, on Iron Beds._
Ft. In. 13 Inch, with a charge of 6 lbs. 4 2½ 10 Inch, ” ” 3 lbs. 2 10 8 Inch, ” ” 1 lb. 9 oz. 3 10
_RECONNOITERING._—The following necessary observations to be made in examining a country in a military point of view, are principally translated from the _Aide Memoire_, but improved by some judicious remarks from Mr. Landman’s introduction to reconnoitering.
Before an officer sets out to reconnoiter a country, he should trace out from the best map he can procure, its principal features, which will serve him as a guide in his progress through the principal parts which are to be the subject of his observations, and enable him to connect the whole into one grand plan.
His observations should be expressed by written remarks, and by sketches. For this purpose he must be provided with a sketch book, on the right hand page of which, he may express the appearance of the country by sketches, and on the left, the remarks made on particular parts, with the names of the towns, their distances asunder, &c. with proper references to the sketches. The scale most proper for this purpose is two inches to a mile; if therefore, the sketch book be made six inches wide, and the leaves divided by lines into three equal parts, each division will be one mile, which will be a sufficient scale for the purpose.
1st. _Roads._—The principal points to be attended to in examining roads for military purposes, are, their direction; the villages, countries, and rivers, which they pass through; the roads which cross them; their names and the seasons in which they are in best condition; and if ever impassable, their breadth, whether variable or constant; their bottoms, of what principally formed; their ascents and descents, whether practicable for all kinds of carriages. The enclosures may be hedges, ditches, walls, or fences. If the roads require repair for the transport of artillery, and other heavy carriages, observe if the necessary materials are at hand. If they pass over rivers, remark whether by bridges or fords; if through marshes, whether by causeways or otherwise. If two or more roads pursuing the same route, and by which different columns may march, at any part join or cross each other, it will be necessary to observe, whether the march of the columns will be thereby impeded. If they only cross each other, it will be sometimes possible in hollow ways, to throw a temporary bridge across the deepest, by which one column may pass over and the other under the bridge, without interrupting each others march.
2. _Fords._—A ford for cavalry ought not to be deeper than 4 feet; for infantry not more than 3 feet. Observe the banks of the ford at each side; their form, steepness, and height; their situation as to the turnings of the river. Their bottom, whether passable for carriages. Observe marks by which the ford may be readily found; points from which it may be protected. Notice the rapidity of the water; whether its height be variable; its direction, its breadth, and the means by which the ford may be destroyed or rendered impassable.
3. _Inundations._—Learn the manner of working the sluices; the time in which the inundation may be effected; its extent and depth. Observe how the dam may be protected; its height and solidity; whether it can be easily raised, or easily destroyed; whether it is commanded by distant positions, and whether the inundation can be otherways drained. Notice the adjacent country.
4. _Springs and Wells._—Attend to the quality and quantity of the water; whether it will serve for the cavalry, as well as infantry, and the manner of its being drawn. Observe the situation of the spring, and of its source, whether it can be protected, and the enemy prevented from cutting it off.
5. _Lakes, Marshes, and Swamps._—Learn their cause; if arising from a moist soil, the overflowings of rivers or from springs. Observe their situation, and the appearance of the surrounding country; the best means of crossing them. If they are divided by causeways, notice their breadth and condition; if not, remark if causeways can be easily established, and whether the swamp can be drained, and whether it is passable at any season of the year. Observe the points from which the causeways can be defended against the passage of an enemy’s column. Learn whether or not the swamps are subject to fogs; and at what seasons they are most hurtful.
6. _Of Woods and Forests._—Remark their extent; their situation; their thickness; whether the trees are lofty or low; whether there is much underwood. Observe if the different clumps form openings or passes; and their extent; whether their sides are formed of thick wood or brush; whether their breadth is uniform, or widens at particular parts. Remark whether the ground of the forest be level or hilly, swampy or dry. Observe the nature and condition of the roads (for remarks to be made on these, see the article _Roads_;) observe also the means the forest affords of intrenching; of making fascines, abbatis, &c. Attend to the face of the country round the forest, whether cultivated fields or meadows: whether it affords positions; is intersected by rivulets, swamps or ravines.
Remark the castles, villages, towns, &c. in the neighbourhood; and their distance from the skirts of the wood.
Go round the wood and examine its principal débouchés; observe the ravines, rivulets, roads, &c. issuing from it, and learn their direction.
7. _Heaths._—Notice for what nature of troops they are best calculated. The nature of hedges and brush wood; some form a good breast work. Observe the directions of the rivulets, roads, and ravines. When the ground of a heath is of the common colour, the roads are usually good: but when it is blackish and mixed with white sand, the roads are generally impassable in winter seasons.
8. _Canals._—For this article see also the observations on _Rivers_. Observe their intention; the nature of the soil in which they are dug, their breadth and depth; their locks; the craft found upon them; the best means of protecting or destroying them: learn the countries they pass through.
9. _Rivers._—Learn in what country they arise, and where empty themselves; the nature of the countries they run through, and whether they belong to us or the enemy. Learn the extent to which they are navigable; and if they ever freeze over, whether strong enough to bear troops and carriages. Notice the quality of the water, its course, currents, depths, and breadths. The banks and the beds of the rivers. Observe the nature and number of the craft that navigate them; and the mills upon their banks, whether of wind or water. Visit the bridges and fords; and make the proper remarks on their nature and situation. Learn whether the rivers ever overflow their banks, and at what season; and whether or not this causes inundations. Observe the most favourable points for crossing, and the roads leading to these points. The turnings and windings of the rivers, the form of their peninsulas; and the most favourable situations for throwing over bridges. If there are any wharves on the banks, observe what craft can lay along side of them.
If there are islands in the rivers, note their size; their banks; whether inhabited, cultivated, woody, or barren; and whether they command the channel.
Observe the mountains and high grounds near the rivers; remark their distance from the banks, and the advantages, or disadvantages which they offer. Learn what branches or confluence of other rivers there are either above or below, the best situations for crossing. Examine the positions which the adjoining country affords an army to protect the passage of the river; and whether in a perpendicular or parallel direction; and the routes by which 3 or 4 columns may arrive at the place.
10. _Passes._—Observe their breadth, their length, their situation; the nature of the adjacent country: the best positions to occupy to cover a retreat; or to dispute the pass. How the troops would be best arranged; and the number that would be required for this purpose.
11. _Ravines, Vallies._—Observe the nature of the soil; whether rocky, or of loose flints. If the sides are rugged and steep, whether they can be easily scarped off. The points that command them: whether storms or floods are to be apprehended; and at what seasons most expected.
12. _Cultivated Lands._—Notice their state of cultivation: their productions; their time of harvest. Learn what quantity of wheat, rye, barley, oats, or other grain they produce, over and above the necessary subsistance of the inhabitants. How much hay they yield _per_ acre.
13. _Orchards._—Observe whether they are thick planted and afford a good cover: their enclosures, whether hedge, ditches, walls, &c.
14. _Bridges._—Remark their situation; their length and breadth; the materials of which they are built; their strength, whether sufficient to bear artillery: the roads leading to them: their situation, as to the turnings of the river: their purpose; if to connect towns or villages, the nature, direction, and breadth of the streets leading to them. Observe the country around, whether flat or commanding: study the best means of fortifying the bridge head; and observe the best and most expeditious mode by which the bridge may be destroyed, if necessary.
15. _Mountains, Hills._—Amongst high mountains, such as the Alps, roads are very rare; it is seldom more than the vallies that are inhabited and accessible for troops: observe their slopes, if steep or rugged. Examine the positions; means of gaining the summits; and note the state of cultivation and general appearance of the vallies; the pasturage, forage, cottages, villages, castles, roads, paths, and passes. Distinguish the principal chains of hills and their direction. Their relative heights; whether they are sufficiently extensive to form a line of defence; their communications; their strong points; positions proper for batteries, &c. Whether practicable for cavalry and artillery.
16. _Coasts._—Their nature; whether bordered by downs; surrounded by rocks, which render their approach dangerous; or by shoals, which make their access impracticable; note the points and headlands proper for forts and batteries to defend the anchorage, ports, harbours, or other accessible parts. If there are any adjacent isles, perhaps they will serve for the erection of advanced batteries, to form a barrier to the efforts of an enemy. Observe the nature of the shores, bays, roads for shipping, &c. with the winds required to go in and out the harbours; and whether they are of easy access: their advantages and disadvantages, their size and depth of water. If a river empties itself on the coast, observe the particular channel for shipping, and whether it can be defended by any of the batteries. If the coast is already fortified, observe all the batteries, forts, or intrenchments, established for its defence, and the protection of the anchorage, _&c._ Examine the camps and other military posts, which cover the principal points, and the interior of the country. Estimate all the dangers to be run, and all the obstacles to be overcome in a descent, and point out the means of augmenting them. Observe the time of the tide most favourable for approaching the coast. Ascertain the number of artillery and other troops constantly on the coast, and the force that can be collected at a short notice; and how soon they can be drawn to any particular point attacked. Examine the system of defence adopted, and endeavour to improve it.
17. _Forts, Redoubts._—Remark their form, whether ancient or modern; whether they are permanent or temporary; elevated or low; revetted or demi-revetted, with stone, brick, or turf. Whether the ditch is wet or dry; fraized or palissaded; natural or artificial. Observe their situation; the face of the adjacent country; whether they effectually command the passes, or protect the country intended. The defence they are capable of making in their present state, and the improvements of which they are susceptible.
18. _Castles, Citadels._—Their situation; their form; their extent; their object; the protection they give the city; their connection and communication with it. The present state of their defence, and the improvements of which they are susceptible. Their _Souterraines_.