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Chapter III: Part 3

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_Distribution of the Depth of a Camp._ |_Infantry._|_Cavalry._
--------------------------------------------+-----------+----------
| Yards | Yards
| |
From the quarter-guard parade to the | |
line of parade of battalion | 62 |
| |
From this first line of parade to the | |
front of the {Serjeant’s tents | 16 |
{quarter master’s | — | 24
_N. B. These tents open to the front._ | |
| |
To the first picket of horses | — | 5
| |
Infantry: for every tent in depth | |
” old pattern, 9 feet | |
” new pattern, 15 feet | |
| |
Cavalry: for every horse, 3 feet | |
| |
_The soldiers tents for the infantry open_| |
_to the streets. The cavalry tents front_ | |
_to the horses heads._ | |
| |
Suppose infantry 12 tents deep } o. pat. | 36 | 60
” cavalry, 60 horses } | |
| |
From the last tent of infantry, or the | |
last horse of the cavalry, to the front | |
of the subalterns’ tents | 15 | 12
| |
_These tents open to the rear._ | |
| |
To the front of the line of captains | 15 | 15
_These open to the front. The captains, and_| |
_subalterns in the rear of their troops or_ | |
_companies._ | |
| |
To the front of the field officers | 10 | 15
_Open to the front, opposite the outside_ | |
_street of the battalion._ | |
| |
To the colonel’s | 10 | 10
_Opens to the front, opposite the main_ | |
_street of the battalion._ | |
--------------------------------------------+-----------+---------
To the staff officers | 10 | 14
_Open up the streets next the main street_| |
To the first row of batmen’s tents | 10 |
_The batmen’s tents front their horses._ | |
To the first row of pickets for bat | | 15
horses | 2 |
To the second row of ditto | 10 |
To the second row of batmen | 2 |
To the front of the grand sutler’s tent | 10 |
_The grand sutler is in the rear of_ | |
_the colonel._ | |
--------------------------------------------+-----------+---------
To the center of the kitchens | 15 | 20
_The kitchens are 16 feet in diameter._ | |
| |
To the front of the petty sutlers | 15 | 15
_Directly in the rear of the kitchens: there_| |
_are allowed 6 yards in front by 8 deep._ | |
| |
To the rear guard | 15 | 15
_Opens to the rear._ | |
+-----------+---------
Total depth required Yards | 253 | 220

If the ground on which the camp is to be formed will not, from a swamp in the rear, or any other circumstance, admit of each troop or company being formed in one row perpendicular to the front; the distribution of the front of a battalion or squadron must be more contracted than the above, and laid out as follows: Find how many perpendicular rows will be required, by dividing the number of men in the battalion or squadron by the number the ground will admit of in one row; then the number of rows being multiplied by the breadth of one in front, will give that part of the front to be occupied by the rows; and the difference between it and the whole front allowed for the battalion or squadron, will be left for the streets; which, if the streets are to be equal, must be divided by their number, to find the breadth of each; or is otherwise easily divided into streets of unequal breadths. When two guns are attached to a battalion, they are posted on the right in the following order: from the right of battalion to the center of the first gun, four yards—from this to the second gun, 6 yards.—The muzzles of the guns in a line with the serjeants’ tents.

The subaltern of artillery, if any, in a line with the subalterns of infantry.—The rear of the gunner’s tents in a line with the rear of the battalion tents.

For the proper positions for camps, see the word _Reconnoitering_; and for the encampment of a park of artillery, see the word _Park_.

_CARCASSES.—Composition._

Saltpetre 50 parts.
Sulphur 25
Antimony 5
Rosin 8
Pitch 5

Valencienne’s composition, so called, from its having been used by the Austrians at the siege of that place, has the effect of making shells answer the purpose of carcasses after they burst:

Saltpetre 50 parts.
Sulphur 28
Antimony 18
Rosin, or Swedish pitch 6

This composition is cast in copper cylindric moulds of 6 inches long, and of different diameters according to the shell in which it is to be used. It must be put in along with the bursting powder in pieces as large as the shell will admit, without preventing the fuze being driven down.

_CARCASSES._—Their Dimensions and Weight, 1796.

+--------------+----------------------------------------+---------+
| | Weight. | _Time_ |
| +------------+------------+--------------+ _each_ |
| Nature. | Empty. | Of | Complete. | _will_ |
| | |Composition.| | _burn._ |
+--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+
|_Round_, for |lbs. oz. dr.|lbs. oz. dr.|lbs. oz. dr.| Min. |
|Mortars 13 |194 10 11 | 18 14 — |213 8 16 | 11 |
|and 10 | 89 13 11 | 7 8 11 | 97 6 11 | 8½ |
|How’rs. 8 | 44 9 5 | 4 4 11 | 48 14 — | 5½ |
+--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+
| 42 | 27 3 — | 2 7 11 | 29 10 11 | 5 |
| For 32 | 20 13 5 | 1 14 5 | 22 11 11 | 4½ |
| Guns 24 | 14 12 — | 1 9 11 | 16 5 11 | 4 |
| 18 | 11 13 11 | 1 1 5 | 12 15 — | 4 |
+--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+
| 68 | — — — | — — — | | |
| For 42 | 26 — — | 2 7 — | 28 7 — | 4½ |
|Carronades 32 | 21 10 — | 1 13 — | 23 7 — | 4 |
| 24 | 14 5 — | 2 5 — | 16 10 — | 3½ |
| 18 | 10 4 — | 1 2 — | 11 6 — | 3 |
+--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+
|_Oblong_, for | | | | |
|Mortars 10 | 36 7 5 | 35 10 — | 72 1 5 | 12 |
| and 8 | 16 5 5 | 18 2 — | 34 7 5 | 10 |
|How’rs. 5½ | 1 12 2 | 6 15 — | 8 11 3 | 6 |
| 4⅖ | 1 0 6 | 3 11 7 | 4 11 13 | 4 |
+--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+

NOTE. It being found at the siege of Quebec, that the quantity of powder requisite for throwing the carcasses into the town, always destroyed them, the method of filling the interval between the powder and carcass with turf was adopted; and found to preserve the carcass, and to produce every desired effect.

_CARRONADES._—Their Weight and Dimensions.

+----------+---------+----------------+------------+---------------+
| |Diameter | Length in | Weight. | _Proportion |
| Nature. |of Bores.+---------+------+------------+betw’n the Shot|
| | |Ft. In. |Calib.|cwt. qr. lb.|and Carronade._|
+----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+
|68 Prs. | 8.05 | 5 2 | 7.702| 36 — — | 59 to 1 |
| ” | | 4 0 | 5.962| 29 — — | |
+----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+
|42 ” | 6.84 | 4 3½ | 7.518| 22 1 — | 58 to 1 |
|32 ” | 6.35 | 4 0½ | 7.679| 17 — 14 | 62 to 1 |
+----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+
|24 ” | 5.68 | 3 7½ | 7.656| 13 — — | 56 to 1 |
| | | 3 0 | 6.336| 11 2 25 | |
+----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+
|18 ” | 5.16 | 3 3 | 7.587| 9 — — | 56 to 1 |
| | | 2 4 | 5.447| 8 1 25 | |
+----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+
|12 ” | 4.52 | 2 2 | 5.778| 5 3 10 | 56 to 1 |
+----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+

_N. B._ Carronades have not so much windage as guns. See _Windage_.

Ranges with Carronades, 1798. The charge is ¹/₁₂ the weight of the shot and with one shot and one wad. The line of fire from 6 to 9 feet above the level of the water.

+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|Nature. | 68 | 42 | 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 |
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|Charge. |5lb 8oz |3lb 8oz |2lb 10oz| 2lb |1lb 8oz |1lb 10oz|
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| | Yards | | | | | |
|P. Blank| 450 | 400 | 330 | 300 | 270 | 230 |
|1 Degree| 650 | 600 | 560 | 500 | 470 | 400 |
|2 ” | 890 | 860 | 830 | 780 | 730 | 690 |
|3 ” | 1000 | 980 | 900 | 870 | 800 | 740 |
|4 ” | 1100 | 1020 | 970 | 920 | 870 | 810 |
|5 ” | 1180 | 1170 | 1087 | 1050 | 1000 | 870 |
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

NOTE.—The highest charge for carronades is ⅛ the weight of the shot; the lowest ¹/₁₆.

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_.

_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.

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.

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.

V. The breadth of a river, or other short distance, may be taken thus:—take two pickets of different lengths, drive the shortest into the ground close to the edge of the bank; measure some paces back from it, and drive in the other till you find, by looking over the tops of both, that your sight cuts the opposite side.—Then pull up the first picket, measure the same distance from the second, in any direction the most horizontal, and drive it as deep in the ground as before.—Consequently, if you look over them again, and observe where the line of sight falls, you will have the distance required.

TEILK.

VI. The following simple method of ascertaining the breadth of a river may be sufficiently correct for some cases: Place yourself at the edge of one bank, and lower one corner of your hat till you find the edge of it cuts the other bank; then steady your head, by placing your hand under your chin, and turn gently round to some level spot of ground, and observe where your eyes and the edge of the hat again meet the ground; your distance from that point will be nearly the breadth of the river.

TEILK.

VII. Distances ascertained by the difference between the true and apparent level.

See _Levelling_.

VIII. Distances measured by sound.

See _Sound_.

IX. The following simple micrometer may be so usefully applied to military purposes, that I shall extract it verbatim from the Philosophical Transactions for 1791, where it is described by Cavallo. This micrometer consists of a thin and narrow slip of mother of pearl, finely divided, and placed in the _focus_ of the eye glass of a telescope, just where the image is formed.—It is immaterial whether the telescope be a reflector, or a refractor, provided the eye glass be a _convex_ lens and not a _concave_ one, as in the Galilean construction.—The simplest way to fix it, is to stick it on the diaphragm, which generally stands within the tube, and in the focus of the eye glass.—When thus fixed, if you look through the eye glass, the divisions on the scale will appear very distinct, unless the diaphragm is not exactly in the focus; in which case the scale must be placed exactly in the focus, by pushing the diaphragm, backwards or forwards, when this is practicable; or else the scale may be easily removed from one surface of the diaphragm to the other, by the interposition of a circular bit of paper or card, or a piece of sealing wax.—This construction is fully sufficient when the telescope is always to be used by the same person; but when different persons are to use it, then the diaphragm, which supports the micrometer, must be so constructed as to be easily moved backwards or forwards, though that motion need not be greater than about the tenth or eighth of an inch. This is necessary, because the distance of the focus of the same lens appears different to the eyes of different persons; and therefore whoever is going to use the telescope for the mensuration of an angle, must first unscrew the tube which contains the eye glass and micrometer, from the rest of the telescope, and, looking through the eye glass, place the micrometer where the divisions of it may appear most distinct to his eye. The mother of pearl scale may be about the 24th part of an inch broad; its length is determined by the aperture of the diaphragm; its thickness that of writing paper. The divisions on it may be the 200th of an inch, which may reach from one edge of the scale to about the middle; and every fifth and tenth division may be a little longer, the tenths going quite across. When the telescope does not magnify above 30 times, the divisions need not be so minute. For the sake of those not conversant in trigonometry, the following is an easy method of determining the value of the divisions on the scale. Mark upon a wall or other place, the length of 6 inches; then place the telescope before it so that the 6 inches be at right angles to it, and exactly 57 feet 3½ inches distant from the object glass of the telescope. This done, look through the telescope, and observe how many divisions of the micrometer are equal to it, and that same number of divisions will be equal to half a degree, or 30´; and this is all that need be done to ascertain the value of the scale. The reason on which it is founded is, that an extension of six inches at the distance of 57 feet, 3½ inches, subtends an angle of 30´, as is easily calculated by trigonometry. To save the trouble of calculation, a scale may be made requiring only inspection. Thus, draw a line equal to the diameter of the field of the telescope, and divide its under side into the same number of parts as are on your micrometric scale, and, by the above operation on the wall, having determined the value of 30´, which we will suppose to correspond with 16 divisions on the scale, mark 30´ on the opposite side of the line, opposite 16 on the lower; 15 opposite 8, and so on.

By the following table the results may be ascertained by inspection only: thus, suppose an extension of 1 foot is found by the table to subtend an angle of 22′, the distance will be 156.2: and suppose at the distance of 171.8 an object subtends an angle of 20′, its height will be found to be 1 foot; or, suppose an object of 6 feet high to subtend an angle of 20′, the distance is 1030.8, by multiplying 171.8 by 6.

_Table of Angles subtended by 1 Foot, at different Distances._

+--------+------------++--------+------------+
|Minutes.| Distances ||Minutes.| Distances |
| | in feet. || | in feet. |
+--------+------------++--------+------------+
| 1 | 3437.7 || 31 | 110.9 |
| 2 | 1718.9 || 32 | 107.4 |
| 3 | 1145.9 || 33 | 104.2 |
| 4 | 859.4 || 34 | 101.1 |
| 5 | 687.5 || 35 | 98.2 |
| 6 | 572.9 || 36 | 95.5 |
| 7 | 491.1 || 37 | 92.9 |
| 8 | 429.7 || 38 | 90.4 |
| 9 | 382.0 || 39 | 88.1 |
| 10 | 343.7 || 40 | 85.9 |
| 11 | 312.5 || 41 | 83.8 |
| 12 | 286.5 || 42 | 81.8 |
| 13 | 264.4 || 43 | 79.9 |
| 14 | 245.5 || 44 | 78.1 |
| 15 | 229.2 || 45 | 76.4 |
| 16 | 214.8 || 46 | 74.7 |
| 17 | 202.2 || 47 | 73.1 |
| 18 | 191.0 || 48 | 71.6 |
| 19 | 180.9 || 49 | 70.1 |
| 20 | 171.8 || 50 | 68.7 |
| 21 | 162.7 || 51 | 67.4 |
| 22 | 156.2 || 52 | 66.1 |
| 23 | 149.4 || 53 | 64.8 |
| 24 | 143.2 || 54 | 63.6 |
| 25 | 137.5 || 55 | 62.5 |
| 26 | 132.2 || 56 | 61.4 |
| 27 | 127.3 || 57 | 60.3 |
| 28 | 122.7 || 58 | 59.2 |
| 29 | 118.5 || 59 | 58.2 |
| 30 | 114.6 || 60 | 57.3 |
+--------+------------++--------+------------+

_DRAG ROPES_—

weight length
5 pins 6 lbs. 8 oz. 21 feet.
With 4 ” 5 6 13
3 ” 5 0 12

_EMBARKATION._

1. _Of Ordnance and Stores._—The first thing necessary is to prepare a list of all the articles to be embarked, with the weight of each. This list must have a large column for remarks. The tonnage required for bulky articles will be generally ⅓ more than their actual weight; but the tonnage of ordnance, shells, shot, _&c._ will be equal to their weight. If vessels be paid according to the tonnage they carry, the masters will of course stow away as much as the ships will hold; but if, by the voyage, they will be averse to loading their ships too much; a naval officer should therefore always attend to see that the ships are properly stowed.

Ordnance and stores may be embarked either for the purpose of merely transporting them to another situation, or for a military expedition. In the first case, each ship must be stowed with as much as it will carry, and every article that relates to one particular species of service or ordnance, must be put on board the same ship; that in case one ship be lost, the others may remain in themselves complete. This principle must of course be likewise attended to in an embarkation for an expedition; but a more particular distribution must take place of the stores when on board. With each piece of ordnance must be placed every thing necessary for its service; its side arms, carriage, limber, ammunition, _&c._ so as to be readily come at, when required to be disembarked. If it be an embarkation of ordnance, _&c._ for a siege, not only every thing necessary for the service of the pieces of ordnance should be arranged with them; but also every thing necessary for the construction of the battery on which they are mounted. It will be adviseable in this case, to put different natures of ordnance in the same ship, in proportions according to the service required of them. In general it will be best to put the heavy articles in first, and every thing that is light, easy to be removed, or likely to be first wanted, on the top. Previous to embarkation, the guns, carriages, waggons, _&c._ must be dismounted, but first numbered as follows: and the number of each article marked in the list, in the column of remarks. Give each piece of ordnance and its carriage the same number. Give the ammunition and other carriages, different numbers from the ordnance carriages. Then give every limber, whether of ordnance carriage, ammunition carriage, or waggon, the number of its respective carriage. If for a simple transport, arrange the small stores, side arms, _&c._ according to their several natures; but if for an expedition, every thing belonging to each particular piece of ordnance must be collected together, and the cases or chests in which they are put, marked with the number of the piece of ordnance to which they belong, their natures and description. If there be any doubt of the different parts of the carriages, being made with that uniformity, so essentially necessary, every part which is separated, must bear the number of its carriage. This precaution at any rate may be a good one, if the same vessel contain different natures of ordnance or carriages.

The axletrees need not be taken off the carriages, if the vessel be of a sufficient size to admit them when fixed, as they are not easily replaced without workmen and a tedious operation. When a carriage is dismounted, all the small articles, such as elevating screws, linch pins, drag washers, cap squares, _&c._ must be carefully collected, and secured in a box, marked with the description of stores, and number of the carriage to which they belong. All carriages or waggons embarked with their axletrees fixed, must be arranged in the ship, side by side, and alternately front and rear, that their axletrees may not interfere with each other, and take too much room. Every transport or other vessel employed in carrying troops or stores for an expedition, should be numbered on the quarters and on the bows, with figures as large as 2 or 3 feet, and on the sails, that they may be known at a distance. The number of the ship, her name and tonnage, and the master’s name must be entered in the list of the stores which she carries.

In disembarking ordnance and stores, they must be landed exactly in order, the reverse of what they were shipped. The carriages and waggons must be mounted as soon as possible, and every nature must be arranged as far from the shore as possible to prevent confusion. If the disembarkation take place in the presence of an enemy, the vessels of course must be loaded accordingly; and the field ordnance, with their carriages, ammunition, _&c._ must be so arranged as to be first landed, and with the greatest ease possible. In this case, the entrenching tools must also be kept in the greatest readiness.—_Aide Memoire._

2. _Of Troops._—All transports taken into His Majesty’s service, are under the direction of the Transport Board, and of their agents at the different ports at home and abroad. No troops or other persons can be put on board them, or victualled, but by an order from this Board, or one of its agents. Troops embarked on board transports or ships of war (except as marines) are only allowed ⅔ of a seaman’s allowance of provisions. (See the word _Ration_.) It is therefore necessary to divide the men into messes of 6 each. Six women to 100 men embarked on foreign service, are allowed provisions; and 10 women to 100 men on home service. The births on board transports, are usually made 6 feet square, and each admits 4 men at a time; but agreeable to the regulations for the army for 1799, one third of the men are always to be on deck; therefore 6 men (or one mess) are told off to each birth, ⅓ of whom are always on watch. The commanding officer of the troops on board a transport, has a right to peruse the charter party of the ship, which points out every different article, as firing, candles, boats, utensils, _&c._ which the ship is engaged to find for the use of the troops on board. It likewise expresses the part of the ship allotted to the officers, to the master, the mate, and the agent, should there be one on board.

_EXERCISE of Artillery._—_With 9 men to a field gun._

When 15 men are attached for the service of a gun in the field, they are numbered from 1 to 15; but when the gun is not to be advanced by men, the first six numbers are left out, and the remaining nine men are numbered from 7 to 15. The exercise of field guns of a heavy nature varies but little from the light ones. Though different duties done by the men attached to the one, should, as nearly as possible, be kept up at the other; as thereby is prevented that confusion which must arise when men removed from a light gun to a heavy one, change their numbers, though their duties at each be the same. The following will be the position of 9 men, for field ordnance of all natures, in the

1. _Line of March._

Numbers 7, 9, 12, and 15, on the left of the gun; 8, 10, 13, 14, and 11, on the right; numbers 7 and 8 opposite the muzzle of the gun; 9 and 10 opposite the breech; 12 and 13 opposite the trail; 14 opposite the axletree of the limber; 11 opposite the shafts; 15 leads the limber horse; the driver leads the front.

2. _Position and Duties of 9 men when prepared for Action._

_Light Guns._—7 spunges, 8 loads, 9 serves the vent, 10 fires, 11 commands, 12 carries the match and water bucket, 13 serves 8 with ammunition from 14, who carries a cartouch and a pair of drag ropes; 15 holds the limber horse, and carries a cartouch.

_Positions._—7 between the right wheel and the muzzle; 8 between the left wheel and the muzzle; 9 clear of the rear of the right wheel; 10 clear of the left wheel, both in a line with the vent; 11 on the left of the handspike; 12 on his right, clear of 9; 13 covers the left wheel, 5 yards in the rear; 14 covers the right wheel, 10 yards in the rear. The limber is 25 yards directly in the rear of the gun.

_Heavy Guns._—This is the same as with the light guns, except that 7 and 8 stand outside the wheels, and 8 assists 7 to ram home, if necessary.

_Howitzers._—Positions are the same as the heavy guns, but the duties different. 7 spunges, uncaps the fuze, and puts in the shell; 8 takes the sheepskin out of the piece, lays it on the ground, with the woolen side up, loads with cartridge, wipes the bottom of the shell, (when 7 holds it up) puts in the sheep skin again, and pulls it out with his left hand on the word _Ready_: He stops the muzzle with it immediately that the piece is fired; 9 serves the vent; 10 fires; 11 commands; 12 carries the match and bucket; 13 serves 8 with cartridges from a cartouch; 14 serves 7 with shells from the limber, which he lays on the sheep skin; 15 attends the limber. As from unavoidable accidents the number of men attached to a gun, may be reduced, it will be necessary if the vacancies happen amongst those doing the most essential duties, to immediately replace them by those doing the most subordinate duties.

_The following method of distributing the duties amongst a smaller number of men, will be equally applicable to all natures of field ordnance._

+-------+-------+---------------------------+----------------------+
| Nᵒ. |Nature.| Numbers retained. | The vacancies, |
|of men.| | | how supplied. |
+-------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--------------+
| 9 |Gun | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| complete. |
| |Howr | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| |
+-------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--------------+
| |Gun | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11| 13| 14| 15| Nᵒ. 12 being |
| 8 | | | | | | | | | | dropt, Nᵒ. 11 |
| |Howr | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11| 13| 14| 15| does his duties. |
+-------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+------------------+
| | | | | | | | | | Nᵒ. 14’s pouch is |
| |Gun | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11| 13| 15| laid on the ground; |
| | | | | | | | | | 13 carries it when |
| | | | | | | | | | moving. |
| 7 +-------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+----------------------+
| |Howr | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11| 14| 15| Nᵒ. 8 serves himself |
| | | | | | | | | | with cartridges |
+-------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+----------------------+
| |Gun | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11| 13| 15| Nᵒ. 9 serves the vent |
| 6 | | | | | | | | with his left hand, |
| |Howr | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11| 14| 15| faces about and fires. |
| | | | | | | | | Tube box on left side. |
+-------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+---+--------------------------+
| |Gun | 7 | 8 | 11| 13| 15| Nᵒ. 11 does all the duties |
| 5 | | | | | | | of 9, as in the last |
| |Howr | 7 | 8 | 11| 14| 15| change, his own duties, |
| | | | | | | | and those of 12. |
+-------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+------------------------------+
| 4 |Gun | 7 | 8 | 11| 15| Nᵒ. 8 fetches his own ammunition;|
| |Howr | 7 | 8 | 11| 15| 7 serves his own shells. |
+-------+-------+---+---+---+---+----------------------------------+
| |Gun | 7 | 11| 15| Nᵒ. 7 serves and loads all the |
| 3 | | | | | ammunition.—Nᵒ. 7 & 15 must |
| |Howr | 7 | 11| 15| change duties occasionally. |
+-------+-------+---+---+---+--------------------------------------+

3. _To Limber up._—_Light Guns and Howitzers._

The whole of the men face towards the gun; 11 unships his traversing handspike; the limber is brought up by 15, rather to the right of the gun, and then turned to the left about; 12 and 13 raise the trail, and place it on the limber, in which they are assisted by 7 and 8 bearing down on the muzzle, and 9 and 10 at the wheels; 11 chains the limber.

_Heavy Field Guns, or Howitzers._—The only difference from the above is, that 9 and 10 assist 12 and 13 to raise the trail, and 14 and 15 stand to the gun wheels.

4. _To unlimber._—_Light Guns and Howitzers._

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The bombardier, and pocket gunnerChapter III: Part 3

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