Part 6
Ranges with 8 inch shells, from 68 Pr. carronades.
+---------+-------+-------+----------+------+-------+ | Shells | | | |First |Extreme| | Weight |Charge.|Flight.|Elevation.|graze.|range. | +---------+-------+-------+----------+------+-------+ | | 3 lbs.| 1½ | P. B. | 302 | 1365 | |lbs. oz. | 3 ” | — | 5 Deg. | 1140 | | | 43 11 | 4 ” | 1½ | 1 ” | 358 | 1843 | | | ” ” | 5 | 5 ” | 1137 | 1250 | | | ” ” | ” | 11½ ” | 1767 | | +---------+-------+-------+----------+------+-------+
_CARRIAGE._—Weight of Field Carriages at present in use.
_Horse Artillery Carriages._ cwts. qrs. lbs.|cwts. qrs. lbs. -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 12 Prs. gun and carriage complete for | | service, with two men, and their | | 45 0 14 their appointments on the limber, | | and 16 rounds of ammunition. | | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Ammunition waggon for do. | | complete, with two men on the limber | | 33 3 0 and 1 spare wheel, 2 spare shafts, | | 78 rounds of ammunition | | -----------------------------------------+-------------+=----------- 6 Prs. equipped as above, with 42 rounds | | 34 1 21 Ammunition waggon as above, 108 rounds | | 39 0 21 -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 5½ Inch howitzer, equipped as above, | | with 20 rounds | | 35 3 0 -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Ammunition waggon for do. | | as above, with 52 rounds | | 39 2 0 -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Forge waggon, complete for travelling | | 19 2 14 Large tilted baggage waggon, empty | | 18 3 0 Equipage to be carried | | 12 0 0 12 Prs. Med. gun, carriage, without boxes| 16 1 21 | Limber to do. | 7 2 14 | 42 — 7 Gun | 18 — — | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 12 Pr. light gun | 12 — — | Carriage complete | 12 3 7 | 36 2 21 Limber, with empty boxes | 12 3 14 | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 6 Prs. Desaguliers | 12 — — | Carriage complete | 11 — 14 | 34 1 13 Limber, to do. empty boxes | 11 — 27 | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 6 Prs. light battalion gun | 6 — — | Carriage without boxes, iron axletrees | 9 2 — | 24 1 21 Limber, with empty boxes | 8 3 21 | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 5½ Inch howitzer, light | 4 3 7 | Carriage, without boxes | 10 — 7 | 24 — 14 Limber, with empty boxes | 9 1 — | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 24 Prs. platform travelling carriage | 22 3 — | Standing carriage for do. iron trucks, | | and tackles of the carriage | 13 3 16 | 84 2 16 Iron gun | 48 — — | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Ball cartridge waggon, Duke of Richmond’s| | pattern, with spare pole and swingle | 16 1 17 | trees | | 36 1 17 Charge of musquet ammunition | 20 — — | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Common pattern ammunition waggon, altered| 16 2 — | Charge of ammunition | 20 — — | 36 2 — -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ New infantry ammunition cart | 9 1 14 | Charge of ammunition | 12 — — | 21 1 14 -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Common sling cart, complete | 17 1 14 | Common truck carriage | 12 2 21 | Common hand cart | 4 1 — | Forge waggon, complete | 13 2 14 |
Dimensions of certain parts of carriages, the knowledge of which may prevent many mistakes in arranging the different pieces for disembarkation, or in other similar situations.
_Axletrees._—Most of the field carriages are now made with _iron_ axletrees; the dimensions of which are as follows:
+--------------------+----------------+--------------------------+ | | Diameter of | | | Iron Axletrees. | the arm. | Length of arm. | | +---------+------+---------+------+---------+ | | | | Box, or | | Total | | | At the |At the| Nave |Washer|length to| | |Shoulder.|Point.| part. | part.|linchpin.| +--------------------+---------+------+---------+------+---------+ | | Inch. | Inch.| Inch | Inch | Inch. | |6 Pr. Light | | | | | | |3 Pr. Heavy | | | | | | |5½ Inch Howitzer | | | | | | |Ammuni. Waggon | | | | | | |Ball cartridge do. | | | | | | | whether horse | 2¾ | 1¾ | 13 | ⅝ | 13⅝ | | artillery or the | | | | | | | park, whether | | | | | | | limber or carriage| | | | | | +--------------------+---------+------+---------+------+---------+ |Light 12 Pounder | | | | | | | and limber | 3¼ | 2¼ | 16 | ¾ | 16¾ | +--------------------+---------+------+---------+------+---------+ |Medium 12 Pr. | 3½ | 2½ | 16 | ¾ | 16¾ | |Limber to do. | 2¾ | 2 | 13 | ⅝ | 13⅝ | +--------------------+----------------+---------+------+---------+
+----------------+-----------------------++------------------------+ | | Carriage. || Limber. | | Wood +-----------------------++------------------------+ | Axletrees. | Di. of arm. |Length|| Di. of arm. |Length| | +---------+------+ of |+---------+-------+ of | | | At | At | Nave.|| At | At | Nave.| | |Shoulder.|Point.| ||Shoulder.| Point.| | +----------------+---------+------+------++---------+-------+------+ | | Inch. | Inch.| Inch || Inch | Inch. | Inch.| |24 Prs. Heavy | 7 | 4.9 | 18 || 6 | 3.3 | 16 | |12 Prs. Med. | 6 | 4 | 16 || 6 | 4 | 12 | |6 Prs. Des’rs. | 5½ | 3½ | 13½ || 5½ | 3½ | 13½ | |6 Prs. Light | 5 | 3 | 13 || 5 | 3 | 13 | |3 Prs. Des’rs. | 2½ | 1¼ | || 2½ | 1¼ | | |3 Prs. Light | | | || | | | |Howitzer, 8 In. | 6½ | | 17 || 5½ | | 15 | | ” , 5½ In.| 5½ | | 13 || 4¼ | | 11½ | | ” , 4⅖ In.| 4½ | | 12 || 4 | | 10 | +----------------+---------+------+------++---------+-------+------+ | | Fore || Hind | +----------------+---------+------+------++---------+-------+------+ |Ammunition | | | || | | | | waggon, with | 5 | 2.9 | 14 || 5 | 2.9 | 13 | | folding sides | | | || | | | +----------------+---------+------+------++---------+-------+------+ |Close bodied | | | || | | | | ammunition | 5 | 3.3 | 14 || 5 | 2.9 | 14 | | waggon | | | || | | | +----------------+---------+------+------++---------+-------+------+
_Diameter of the Wheels of the Field Carriages at present in Use_:
Diameter. All the horse artillery carriages, limbers, and waggons; the heavy 6 Prs. and long 3 Prs. and their limbers; the carriage of a 6 Pr. battalion gun, and a light 5 feet 5½ inch howitzer; the hind wheels of a common ammunition waggon
Limber to light 6 Pr. and 5½ howitzer, 4 ft. 8 in. Med. 12 Pr.—limber, 4 ft. 6 in.—carriage, 4 ft. 8 in. Sling cart 5 ft. 8 in. Fore wheels of an ammunition waggon, 4 feet.
Pontoon carriage Fore 3 feet. Hind 5 ft. 6 in.
8 Inch Howitzer Limber 4 feet. Carriage 5 feet.
Ball Ammunition Cart 5 feet.
24 Prs. Platform Carriage Fore 4 feet. Hind 4 ft. 2 in.
_Dimensions and Weight of Standing Gun Carriages._
+--------------------+------+------+------+-----+--------+------+ | Nature. | 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 6 | +--------------------+------+------+------+-----+--------+------+ | |Ft.in.|Ft.in.|Ft.in.|Ft.in|Ft.in. |Ft.in.| |Axletrees,} | | | | | | | | length } | 4 9 | 4 7 | 4 3 | 3 9| 3 6½ | 3 4 | | | | | | | | | |Side pieces,} | | | | | | | | length } | 6 4 | 6 0 | 5 9 | 5 6| 5 3 | 5 0 | | | | | | | | | |Whole heighth } | | | | | | | | to trunnion beds} | 2 9 | 2 7 | 2 6 | 2 3| 2 1 | 2 0 | | | | | | | | | |Weight of carriage,}|ct.qr.|ct.qr.|ct.qr.|ct.qr|ct.qr. |ct.qr.| | bed & coins }| 9 0 | 8 0 | 7 0 | 6 0| 3 3 | 2 3 | +--------------------+------+------+------+-----+--------+------+
_Carriages_ on a march. See _Marching_.
For wood of which carriages are made, see the word _Wood_.
_CARTRIDGES_ for guns.
+-----------------+--------------+----------+---------------+ | | Weight of | | Tonnage. | | Of paper | one | Length. | Nᵒ. packed in | | | Dozen. | | ¾ Ton Vat. | +-----------------+--------------+----------+---------------+ | Pounders. | lbs. oz. dr. | Ft. In. | Number. | | 42 ” | 3 0 0 | 2 4 | 1000 | | 32 ” | 3 0 0 | 2 4 | 1100 | | 24 ” | 3 0 0 | 2 4 | 1400 | | 18 ” | 2 14 0 | 2 4 | 1500 | | 12 ” | 2 4 0 | 2 4 | 1600 | | 9 ” | 2 4 0 | 2 4 | 1800 | | 6 ” | 1 5 0 | 2 0 | 2000 | | 4 ” | 1 1 0 | 1 7 | 2200 | | 3 ” | 1 1 0 | 1 7 | 2200 | | Of Flannel. | | | | | 42 and 32 | 2 2 0 | 2 3 | The tonnage | | { Heavy | 1 12 0 | 1 10 | of flannel | | 24 { Medium | 1 6 0 | 1 5 | cartridges is | | { Light | 1 1 8 | 1 0 | ⅕ more than | | 18 —— | 1 6 0 | 2 3 | that of paper.| | { Heavy | 1 3 0 | 1 6 | | | 12 { Medium | 0 11 0 | 1 2 | | | { Light | 0 8 0 | 0 10 | | | 9 —— | 0 10 0 | 1 4 | | | { Heavy | 0 14 0 | 1 1 | | | 6 { Medium | —— | —— | | | { Light | 0 5 0 | 0 9½ | | | 3 —— | 0 6 0 | 0 8 | | | 13 Inch Mortar | 1 2 8 | 1 6 | | | 10 ” ” | 0 10 8 | 1 1½ | | | 8 ” ” | 0 7 0 | 1 0 | | | 5½ ” ” | 0 4 0 | 0 9 | | | 4⅖ ” ” | 0 3 0 | 0 7 | | | 8 In. Howitzer| 0 10 8 | 1 1½ | | | 5½ ” ” | 0 4 8 | 0 9½ | | | 4⅖ ” ” | 0 4 0 | 0 9½ | | +-----------------+--------------+----------+---------------+
_Cartridges_ for small arms.
=(A)= = Powder contained in each Cartridge. =(B)= = Nᵒ. of each tied in one Bundle. +-----------+-----+-----+--------------+-------------------+-------+ | | | |Nᵒ. contained | Weight of one |1 Sheet| | Nature | | |in one Barrel.| Barrel filled | of | | |=(A)=|=(B)=+------+-------+-----------+-------+ Paper | | | | |Whole.| Half. | Whole. | Half. | makes | +-----------+-----+-----+------+-------+-----------+-------+-------+ | | drms| Nᵒ.| Nᵒ. | Nᵒ. |Ct. qr. lb.|qr. lb.| Nᵒ. | | | | | | | | | | |Wall pieces| 10 | 6 | 1400 | 500 | 2 2 19 | 3 24 | 6 | |Musquet | 6 | 10 | 2100 | 1000 | 1 3 10 | 3 24 | 12 | |Carbine | 4 | 10 | 2853 | 1500 | 1 3 7 | 3 26 | 16 | |Do. pistol | 3 | 10 | 4400 | 1500 | 1 3 17 | 3 21 | 24 | |Com. pistol| 3 | 10 | | 2000 | | 3 11 | 24 | |7 Bar. guns| 1½ | 14 | | 1000 | | | | | | | | |in kegs| | | | +-----------+-----+-----+------+-------+-----------+-------+-------+
Musquet _Cartridges_, by different powers in Europe.
+----------+---------------------------+ | | Weight of | | +-------------+-------------+ | | Powder | Cartridges, | | | | complete | +----------+-------------+-------------+ | | oz. dr. gr. | oz. dr. gr. | |English. | 0 6 0 | 1 9 11 | |Hessian. | 0 7 10 | 1 7 2 | |Austrian. | 0 6 13 | 1 6 4 | |Dutch. | 0 10 10½ | 1 12 4 | |French. | 0 7 4½ | 1 6 0 | +----------+-------------+-------------+
_CASE SHOT._ See _Shot_.
_CHAMBERS._—In 1787 and 1789 experiments were made at Woolwich with an 8 inch mortar, with four shifting chambers, to ascertain which form gives the longest range.
The chambers were all of the same capacity, viz. 63.7 cubic inches, and contained two pounds of powder. Their forms were:
1st. Common conical chamber with the circular bottom.
2d. The same reversed.
3d. The cylindric chamber with circular bottom.
4th. The spheric chamber.
The ranges were the medium of 6 rounds; from them it appears, that when the spheric chamber is filled with powder, it has the advantage in point of range; but when smaller charges are used, its ranges are found to be shorter than those of other forms. The conical (No. 1.) chamber of the present establishment gives the longest range under other circumstances.
_CHARGES._
_Charges for Field Guns._
lbs. 12 Prs. Medium and Heavy for Round Shot 4 ” ” ” ” ” ” Case ” 3½ 12 Prs. Light ” Round ” 3 ” ” ” ” Case ” 3 6 Prs. Desaguliers ” Round ” 2¼ ” ” ” ” Case ” 2 6 Prs. Medium ” Round ” 2 ” ” ” ” Case ” 6 Prs. Light ” Round ” 1½ ” ” ” ” Case ” 1¼ 3 Prs. Heavy ” Round ” 1 ” ” ” ” Case ” 3 Prs. Light ” Round ” 12 oz.
The charge for battering guns is ⅓ the weight of the round shot, for round shot, and ¼ of it for case shot.
The charge for carronades is usually ¹/₁₂ the weight of the shot. The highest is ⅛, and the lowest ¹/₁₆.
By the experiments made at Woolwich in March 1801, it is recommended, that when cylinder powder is used on service, the charges of field ordnance with round shot, shall be reduced to the usual quantities for case shot. The same experiments recommend, that the thickness or length of the wood bottom be varied, in order to change the position of the shot, and thereby save the bore; and that the paper cap which is usually thrown away on service, shall be put over the shot before it is introduced into the piece.
For charges for small arms see the word Cartridges.
_Charges of French Guns in French Weights._
lbs. 24 Prs. 8 } Siege 16 Prs. 5½ }
12 Prs. 4 } 8 Prs. 2½ } Field { ¼ less for 4 Prs. 1½ } { Case Shot.
_CHEVAUX DE FRIZE._—The _body_ or _beam_ of a chevaux de frize is generally made 9 feet long, and 6 inches square, and weighs 41 lbs. The _spears_ are 33 in number, weighing 2 lb. each, are 5 feet long, and 1¼ inches square. They are placed 9½ inches asunder.
_COMPOSITION._—For the composition of fuzes, portfires, tubes, carcasses, see those words.
_Composition for Kitt. For Fire Balls_, 1794. lbs. lbs. oz. Rosin 9 Rosin 5 8 Pitch 6 Sulphur 3 0 Beeswax 6 Allum powder 1 8 Tallow 1 Starch, ” 0 8 Saltpetre 4 6 Mealed powder 8 0 Linseed oil ¼ pint. Oil of spike 1 pint.
_Bengal Lights._
_First_ Composition. lbs. oz. Saltpetre 7 0 Sulphur 1 12 Red orpiment 0 8
_Second_ Composition.
lbs. oz. Saltpetre 2 4 Sulphur 0 8 Antimony 0 4 Orpiment 0 1½
_Light Balls._
Nitre 40 parts Sulphur 15 Antimony 3 Pitch 3
This composition to be carefully fused, and cast into the shape of balls, which when cold will be sufficiently hard to be fired from a small mortar.
Composition for _Suffocating Pots_.
Sulphur 6 parts Nitre 5
This composition when intimately mixed, to be rammed into wooden boxes, and primed in the usual way.
This composition will answer for fumigation.
_Chinese_ or _White Light_.
Nitre from 50 to 60 parts Sulphur 16 to 20 Antimony 5 Orpiment 8 to 10
For _Smoke Balls_.
lbs. Corned powder 10 Saltpetre 2 Pitch 4 Seacoal 3 Tallow 1
For _Fire Hoops, Fire Arrows_, and _Fire Lances_.
lbs. oz. Mealed powder 1 0 Saltpetre 3 0 Flour of sulphur 0 8 Linseed oil ½ pint.
_Composition_ to fill cases for _setting fire to Fascine Batteries_.
lbs. oz. Mealed powder 1 4 Saltpetre 6 0 Sulphur 1 8
All dry compositions must be well mixed; first by the hands, and then passed several times through fine hair sieves, that the ingredients may be thoroughly incorporated. In mixing compositions which require fire, the greatest precautions are necessary; particularly in those where gunpowder enters. The dry parts of the composition may in general be mixed together first, and put by degrees into the cauldron, while the other ingredients are fluid, being well stirred all the time of putting in. When the dry ingredients are inflammable, the cauldron must not only be taken off the fire, but the bottom must be dipt in water, to prevent the possibility of accidents while mixing them.
R. LAB.
_CONVOYS._—A waggon with four horses occupies about sixteen paces; a mile will therefore hold about 117 waggons: but allowing a short distance between, each waggon in travelling, a mile may be said to contain 100 waggons. Waggons in convoy may travel from one to two miles _per_ hour, according to the roads and other circumstances. A great object in convoys is to preserve the horses as much as possible from fatigue. For this purpose, if the convoy amounts to many hundred waggons, they must be divided into divisions of not more than 500 each. Should it consist of thousands, it will be adviseable to divide them into _grand_ divisions, and then again into subdivisions of 500 each: by this means, and the time of departure being calculated by the following rules, each division may remain at rest, till just before its time of movement; and which will prevent the necessity of the latter part of a large convoy being harassed for a considerable time before its turn to move.
RULE 1. _To find the time in which any number of waggons may be driven off_: Divide the number of waggons by 100, and multiply by the time of travelling one mile.
RULE 2. _To find the time in which any number of waggons will drive over any number of miles_: To the time they take in driving off, add the time any one of the waggons takes to travel the distance.
The different divisions of the convoy should be numbered, and obliged each day to change the order of their marching.
Whenever the progress of a train of waggons is arrested by the breaking down of any one of them, or other delay, all the waggons in the rear of the stoppage, should immediately drive up into the first open space, to as great a number as the open space will hold; this keeps the convoy together and better under the care of the escort.
The escort for a convoy should be divided into front, center, and rear guards; beside the divisions for the flanks, which should never be beyond musquet shot, or at most 400 yards from each other. The whole escort, should never be so separated that they could not be collected in an hour. Under proper precautions against an enemy, a convoy of any size cannot travel more than five or seven miles per day.
TEMPLEHOFT.
_DISPART._—The dispart of a gun is the half difference between the diameter of the gun at the base ring, and at the swell of the muzzle. The general dispart of all guns is about the ¹/₅₆ part of their length. See the disparts of French and English guns under the word _Tangent Scale_.
[Illustration: _Fig. 1._]
_DISTANCES._—Inaccessible distances may be found several ways; the most correct of which of course is by means of proper mathematical instruments; which, however, are not always to be had in the field.
The following different methods are laid down by several authors, where instruments cannot be had.
I. Wishing to know the distance of the object A from B—(fig. 1.) place a picket at B and another at C, at a few fathoms distance, making A B C a right angle, and divide B C into 4, 5, or any number of equal parts: make another similar angle at C, in a direction from the object, and walk along the line C D till you bring yourself in a line with the object A, and any of the divisions, (say _o_) of the line B C. Then, as C_o_ : CD :: B_o_ : BA.
VAUBAN.
[Illustration: _Fig. 2._]
II. To gain the distance between two objects C and D (fig. 2) from any point A, taken in the line C D, erect the perpendicular A E: on which set off from A to E, 1 or 200 feet, more or less, according to the distance between the points C and D; set off from E to G in the prolongation A E, ⅛ or ⅒ of A E; at G raise the perpendicular G F, and produce it towards I; plant pickets at E and G, then move with another picket on G F till it becomes in a line with E and D; and on the prolongation of the perpendicular F G place another picket at I in the line with E and C; measure F I, and it will be as GE : AE :: FI : CD.
[Illustration: _Fig. 3._]
LANDMAN’S _Practical Geometry on the Ground_.
III. To gain the inaccessible length A B, (fig. 3.) of the front of a fortification; plant a picket at C, from whence both points may be seen: find the lengths C A and C B by the method just given (Nᵒ 1.) make C E ¼, or any part of C B, and make C D bear the same proportion to C A: measure D E, then it will be as CD : DE :: CA: AB.
NOTE. Nearly after the same manner may be ascertained the distance from B to A when the point B is accessible; for having measured the line C B, and made the angle C E D equal to C B A, it will be, as CE : DE:: CB : BA.
IV. The distance of a battery, or other object, may be ascertained by the tangent scale on the breach of a gun. It is however necessary in this case to know the height of the object, the distance of which is required. Lay the gun by the upper line of metal for the top of the object, then raise the tangent scale till the _top_ of the scale and the notch at the muzzle are in a line with the bottom of the object, and note what length of tangent scale is required: then say, as the length of the scale above the base ring of the gun is to the length from the base ring to the swell of the muzzle, so is the height of the object to its distance from the muzzle of the gun.
LOMBARD’S TABLES.