is the art of charging, directing, and exploding fire-arms, as cannons, mortars, muskets, &c. to the best advantage.
To the Art of Gunnery belongs the knowledge of the force and effects of gun-powder, (see Gun Powder), the dimensions of cannon, &c. and the proportion of the powder and ball they carry, with the method of managing, charging, pointing, spunging, &c.
A cannon is a military engine, or fire-arm, for throwing iron, lead, or stone bullets, by force of gun-powder, to a place exactly opposite to the axis of the cylinder whereof it consists.
Cannons are made cylindrical, that the motion of the ball might not be retarded in its passage; and that the powder, when on fire, might not slip between the ball and the surface of the cannon, which would hinder its effect. With regard to the names, dimensions, weight, &c. of cannons, see Cannon.
Each fort of ordnance is more or less fortified; which fortification is reckoned by the thickness of the metal at the touch hole, at the trunions, and at the muzzle, in proportion to the diameter of the bore.
There are three degrees used in fortifying each fort of ordnance, both cannons and culverines: First, such as are ordinarily fortified, which are called legitimate pieces; secondly, such whose fortifications are lessened, which are called bastard pieces; thirdly, double fortified pieces, or extraordinary pieces.
The cannons double fortified have five-one diameter of their bore in thickness of metal at their touch-hole, and five-six at their trunions, and seven-eight at their muzzle. The lessened cannons have, at their touch hole, but three-quarters or five-six of the diameter of their bore in thickness of metal, and five-eighths at their trunions, and seven-eighths at their muzzle. The ordinary fortified cannons, have seven-eighths at the touch hole, five-eighths at the trunions, and three-eighths at the muzzle. All the double fortified culverines, and all lesser pieces of that kind, have one diameter and five-eighths at the touch-hole, five-sixths at the trunions, and seven-eighths at the muzzle. And all the ordinary fortified culverines, are fortified every way as the double fortified cannons; and the lessened culverines, as the ordinary cannons in all points.
With regard to bullets, or balls, wherewith cannons are loaded, they are of various kinds, viz. 1. Red-hot bullets, intended to set fire to places, where combustible matters are found. The bullet is made red-hot, by digging a place in the earth, and lighting in it a great quantity of charcoal, or sea coal, and placing over it a strong iron grate. When the fire is well lighted, the bullets are placed on the grate, where, in a very short time, they grow red-hot; they are taken out with tongs, or iron ladles for the purpose, and carried into the piece; having before put some clay over the powder the cannon is loaded with, lest it should be set on fire by the red-hot bullet; then the piece is fired. Where-ever the bullet passes, and meets with combustible matters, it sets them on fire. But when a trench is before the battery of red-hot bullets, hay is rammed over the powder; because, if it was clay, the pieces of it would wound and kill the workmen.
Red-hot bullets are never fired but with eight or four pounders. For if they were of a stronger caliber, the bullets could not be served easily.
2. Hollow bullets are shells made cylindrical, with an aperture and fusee at one end, which giving fire to the inside, when in the ground, it bursts, and has the same effect with a mine.
3. Chain- 3. Chain-bullets consist of two balls joined by a chain, three or four feet apart.
4. Branch bullets are two balls joined by a bar of iron, five or six inches apart.
5. Two-headed bullets, called also angels, being two halves of a bullet, joined by a bar or chain: these are chiefly used at sea, for cutting of cords, cables, sails, &c.
As bullets, as well as the pieces of ordnance, are of different caliber, which caliber, in a piece of ordnance, is the diameter of the mouth thereof; and in a bullet, its circumference; there are means found to proportion these two calibers to one another, viz. with an instrument called a caliber rule, wherein a right line is so divided, as that the first part being equal to the diameter of an iron or leaden ball of one pound weight, the other parts are to the first, as the diameters of balls of two, three, four, &c. pounds, are to the diameter of one ball of one pound.
The caliber consists of two thin pieces of brass, six inches long, joined by a rivet, so as to move quite round each other: the head, or one end of the piece, is cut circular, and one half of its circumference divided into every second degree. On the other half are divisions from one to ten; each again subdivided into four: the use of which divisions and subdivisions, is when the diameter of a bullet, &c. not exceeding ten inches, is taken, the diameter of the semicircle will, among the divisions, give the length of the diameter, taken between the points of the calibers, in inches and fourth parts.
The degrees on the head serve to take the quantity of an angle, the method of which is obvious. If the angle be inward, apply the outward edges to the planes that form the angle; the degree cut by the diameter of the semicircle, shews the quantity of the angle sought. For an outward angle, open the branches till the points be outward, and applying the straight edges to the planes that form the angle, the degrees cut by the diameter of the semicircle shew the angle required; reckoning from 180° towards the right hand.
On one branch of the calibers, on the same side, are, first, six inches; and each of these subdivided into ten parts. Secondly, a scale of unequal divisions, beginning at two, and ending at ten, each subdivided into four parts. Thirdly, two other scales of lines, shewing, when the diameter of the bore of a piece is taken with the points of the calibers outwards, the name of the piece, whether of the iron or brass, i.e. the weight of the bullet it carries, or that it is such or such a pounder, from one to forty-two pounds.
On the other branch of the calibers, on the same side, is a line of cords to about three inches radius; and a line of lines on both branches, as on the sector; with a table of the names of the several pieces of ordnance. On the same face is a hand graved, and a right line drawn from the finger towards the centre of the rivet, shewing, by its cutting certain divisions made on the circle, the weight of an iron shot, when the diameter is taken by the points of the calibers. Lastly, on the circle or head, on the same side, are graved several geometrical figures, inscribed in each other, with numbers; as a cube, whose side is supposed one foot; a pyramid on the same base or altitude, and the proportions of their weight, &c. a sphere inscribed in a cube; a cylinder, cone, circle, square, &c.
The outside of the caliber serves to take the diameter of the mouth of the piece; and the inside, called the heel, that of the bullet.
There is another method of taking the caliber of the pieces, which is to have a rule very well divided, on which are graved the calibers both of the pieces and bullets. That rule must be applied on the mouth of the piece, and the caliber is presently found.
Sometimes, in lieu of bullets, the pieces are charged with cartouches, which are cases loaded with musket-balls, nails, chains, and pieces of old iron; sometimes, also, with small cannon-balls. See Plate XCVIII.
There are cartouches made in form of grapes, which are musket-balls joined together with pitch, and disposed on a small board, in a pyramidal form round a wooden stick, which arises from the middle of the board. (ibid.)
The cartouches made of tin are the best, because they carry further.
There are also cartouches made in form of pine apples, whose figure is pyramidal. Their base is equal to the caliber of a bullet, proposed for the piece they are to be fired with; their height is of a caliber and a half; they are dipped in tar, and afterwards rolled on musket-balls, and when well covered with those balls, dipped again in the same tar, after which they may be used, thrusting the biggest foremost into the piece. These pine-apples are very good at sea, because, besides that the musket-balls flying about wound a great number of people, the bullet which is at the bottom of the cartouch does also much execution.
There are several sorts of carriages for ordnance, viz.: bastard carriages, with low wheels, and high wheels. Sea-carriages, made in imitation of those for ship-guns: and carriages for field-pieces, of which there are two kinds.
The carriages must be proportioned to the pieces mounted on them.—The ordinary proportion is, for the carriage to have 1½ of the length of the gun; the wheels to be half the length of the piece in height; four times the diameter or caliber, gives the depth of the planks the fore end, in the middle 3½.
The piece thus mounted on its carriage, several instruments are employed, some to prepare the piece to be loaded, some to load it, others to point it, and others to cleanse it, &c. Those instruments have each their proper name, which are as follows:
The lantern or ladle, (ibid.) which serves to carry the powder into the piece, and which consists of two parts, viz. of a wooden box, appropriated to the caliber of the piece for which it is intended, and of a caliber and a half in length with its vent; and of a piece of copper nailed to the box, at the height of a half caliber.
This lantern must have three calibers and a half in length, and two calibers in breadth, being rounded at the end to load the ordinary pieces.
The rammer, (ibid.) which is a round piece of wood, commonly called a box, fastened to a stick twelve feet long, for the pieces from twelve to thirty-three pounders; and ten for the eight and four pounders; which serve to drive home the powder and ball to the breech.
The sponge, (ibid.) which is a long staff or rammer, with a piece of sheep or lamb skin wound about its end, to serve for scouring the cannon when discharged, before it be charged with fresh powder; to prevent any spark of fire from remaining in her, which would endanger the life of him who should load her again.
Wad-screw, (ibid.) which are two points of iron turned serpent-wise, to extract the wad out of the pieces, when one wants to unload them, or the dirt which had chanced to enter into it.
The botefoux, (ibid.) which are sticks two or three feet long, and an inch thick, split at one end, to hold an end of the match twisted round it, to fire the cannon.
The priming iron, (ibid.) which is a pointed iron rod, to clear the touch-hole of the pieces of powder or dirt; and also to pierce the cartridge, that it may sooner take fire.
The primer, (ibid.) which must contain a pound of powder at least, to prime the pieces.
The quoins of mire, which are pieces of wood with a notch on the side to put the fingers on, to draw them back or push them forward, when the gunner points his piece. They are placed on the sole of the carriage.
Leaden plates, which are used to cover the touch-hole, when the piece is charged, lest some dirt should enter it and stop it.
Before you charge the piece, sponge it well, to clean it of all filth and dirt within side; then the proper weight of gunpowder, which powder drive in and ram down; taking care that the powder be not bruised in ramming, which weakens its effect; run over it a little quantity of paper, hay, or the like; and then throw in the ball.
To point, level, or direct the piece; so as to play against any certain point, is done by the help of a quadrant with a plummet; which quadrant consists of two branches made of brafs or wood; one about a foot long, eight lines broad, and one line in thickness; the other four inches long, and the same thickness and breadth as the former. Between these branches is a quadrant, divided into 90 degrees, beginning from the shorter branch, and furnished with thread and plummet.
Place the longest branch of this instrument in the cannon's mouth, and elevate or lower it till the thread cuts the degree necessary to hit the proposed object. Which done, prime the cannon, and then set fire to it.
To point a cannon well, so as to do the execution proposed, we must know the path of a bullet, or the line it describes, from the mouth of the piece to the point where it lodges, which path is commonly called range.
If the piece be laid in a line parallel to the horizon, it is called the right or level range; and if it be mounted to 45 degrees, the ball is said to have the utmost range, and so proportionally; all others between 90 degrees and 45, being called intermediate ranges.
A shot made when the muzzle of a cannon is raised above the horizontal line, and is not designed to shoot directly or point blank, is called random-shot.
The utmost random of any piece is about ten times as far as the bullet will go point blank; and the bullet will go farthest when the piece is mounted to about 45 degrees above the level range.
Mr Norton observes, that
| Pieces | Level | Utmost Random | |--------|-------|---------------| | A Base shots | 60 | 600 | | A Rabinet | 70 | 700 | | A Falconet | 90 | 900 | | A Falcon | 130 | 1300 | | Minion ordinary | 120 | 1200 | | Minion large | 125 | 1250 | | Sacker leaf | 150 | 1500 | | Sacker ordinary | 160 | 1600 | | Sacker old fort | 163 | 1630 | | Demi-culverine leaf | 174 | 1740 | | Demi-culverine ordinary | 175 | 1750 | | Demi-culverine old fort | 178 | 1780 | | Culverine leaf | 180 | 1800 | | Culverine ordinary | 181 | 1810 | | Culverine large | 183 | 1830 | | Demi-cannon leaf | 156 | 1560 | | Demi-cannon ordinary | 162 | 1620 | | Demi-cannon large | 180 | 1800 | | Cannon-royal | 185 | 1850 |
A 24 pounder may very well fire 90 or 100 shots, every day in summer; at 60 or 75 in winter. In case of necessity, it may fire more. Some French officers of artillery affirme, that they have caused such a piece to fire every day 150 shots in a siege.
A 16 and a 12 pounder fire a little more, because they are easier served. There have even been some occasions, where 200 shots have been fired from these pieces, in the space of nine hours, and 138 in the space of five.
To range pieces in a battery, take care to reconnoitre well the ground where it is to be placed, and the road to convey it, in the night time, the cannon and the munitions.
The pieces must be armed, each with two lanterns, or ladles, a rammer, a sponge, and two priming irons. The battery must also be provided with carriages, and other implements, necessary to remount the pieces which the enemy should chance to dismount.
To serve expeditiously and safely a piece in battery, it is necessary to have to each a sack of leather, large enough to contain about twenty pounds of powder to charge the lanterns or ladles, without carrying them to the magazine; and to avoid thereby making those trains of powder in bringing back the lantern from the magazine, and the accidents which frequently happen thereby.
A battery of 3 pieces must have 30 gabions, because six are employed on each of the two sides or parapets, which make twelve, and nine for each of the two merlons.
There ought to be two gunners and six soldiers to each piece, and four officers of artillery.
The gunner, posted on the right of the piece, must take care to have always a pouch full of powder, and two priming-irons; his office is to prime the piece, and load That on the left fetches the powder from the little magazine, and fills the lantern or ladle which his comrade holds; after which, he minds that the match be very well lighted, and ready to set fire to the piece at the first command of the officer.
There must be three soldiers on the right, and three on the left of the piece. The two first to take care to ram and sponge the piece, each on his side. The rammer and sponge must be placed on the left, and the lantern or ladle on the right. After having rammed well the wad put over the powder, and that put over the bullet, they then take each a handspike, which they pass between the foremost spokes of the wheel. The ends whereof will pass under the head of the carriage, to make the wheel turn round, leaning on the other end of the handspike, towards the embrasure.
It is the office of the second soldier on the right, to provide wad, and to put it into the piece, as well over the powder as over the bullet; and that of his comrade on the left, to provide 50 bullets, and every time the piece is to be charged, to fetch one of them and put it into the piece, after the powder has been rammed. Then they both take each an handspike, which they pass under the hind part of the wheel, to push it in battery.
The officer of artillery must take care to have the piece diligently served.
In the night he must employ the gunners and soldiers, who shall relieve those who have served 24 hours to repair the embrasures.
If there be no water near the battery, care must be taken to have a cask filled with it, to dip the sponges in it, and cool the pieces, every ten or twelve rounds.
The Mortar is a short piece of ordnance, thick and wide, proper for throwing bombs, carcases, shells, stones, &c.
There are chiefly two kinds of mortars: the one hung or mounted on a carriage with low wheels, after the manner of guns, called pendent or hanging mortars; the other fixed on an immoveable base, called standing mortars. (ibid.)
At the head of the bore, or chase of the mortar, is the chamber for the charge of the powder. This is usually made cylindrical, all but the base which they make hemispherical: though some of the later engineers prefer hemispherical chambers, as the surface of those being less, under equal capacities, makes less resistance to the gun-powder.
The thickness of the mortar about the chamber, is to be much greater than about the chase, by reason the gun-powder makes a much greater effort about the chamber than elsewhere. The diameter of the chamber to be much less than that of the bore; by reason bombs, shells, &c. are much lighter than the bullets of equal diameters, and consequently less powder suffices.
The first mortar-piece used for throwing stones, weighs commonly 1000 lb. and whose utmost random is 150 fathoms, loaded with two pounds of powder; it has 15 inches of diameter at its mouth, and 2 feet 7 inches in height.
The depth of its bore or chase is 1 foot 7 inches, and the depth of its chamber, without including the entrance where the tampion is placed, 8 inches. The tourillons have 5 inches of diameter.
The chamber must enter an inch into the tourillons; the thickness of the metal about the chamber, 3 inches; the thickness of the belly, 2 inches; and the length of the chase, 1 inch and 1/2; about each ring, 1 inch and 1/4.
Mortars, for throwing bombs, are of several kinds.
There are some in the ancient manner, of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 18 inches diameter at their mouth, and which contain in their chambers 3, 4, 5, 6, and 12 pounds of powder.
The chamber where the powder is put is cylindrical, and a little rounded at bottom.
Those of new invention have a concave chamber. And of these there are some which have 12 inches and 1/4 at the mouth, and contain in their chambers 18 pounds of powder; others 12, and others 8.
The proportions of mortars are as follow: The mortar which throws a bomb of 17 inches 10 lines of diameter, has the bore 27 1/4 inches long, and 18 inches 4 lines of diameter; it has in thickness between the bourrelet, and its small reinforced ring, 3 1/2 inches; its small reinforced ring, is 3 1/2 inches thick; its great one, 4 inches; the entrance of its chamber has 5 1/2 inches of diameter; the chamber, in form of a pear, is 13 inches long, and 7 1/2 inches of diameter at its greatest breadth; and also 7 1/2 thick, and contains 12 pounds of powder.
The tourillons of the mortar have 32 inches in length from one end to the other, and 9 of diameter. The mortar has in height 4 foot 4 inches.
The bomb has 17 inches 10 lines of diameter, is 2 inches thick everywhere, except the bottom, which has 2 inches 10 lines. The aperture of the touch-hole is of 20 lines within and without.
The bomb contains 48 lb. of powder, and weighs 490 lb. and a little more.
The bore of the concave mortar, whose chamber contains 18 pounds of powder, has 12 1/2 inches of diameter, and is 18 1/2 inches long. It has in thickness between the bourrelet, and its reinforced ring, 3 1/2 inches; and its reinforced ring is 4 1/2 inches thick. Its chamber has 9 inches 7 lines of diameter at its greatest width; the higher part thereof has 6 inches of diameter, and 4 inches in height; and its lower part 2 1/2 inches. The thickness of the metal round the chamber is of 26 inches 9 lines. The tourillons have, from one end to the other, 8 inches of diameter. The mortar has in height 3 feet 5 inches 4 lines. It throws a bomb of 11 inches 8 lines diameter, which is 1 inch 4 lines thick everywhere, except at its cullot, which has 1 inch 8 lines. The aperture of its touch hole is 16 lines inside and outside. The bomb contains 15 pounds of powder, and weighs 130 pounds, or thereabout.
The bore or chase of the concave mortar, whose chamber contains 12 pounds of powder, has 12 inches 6 lines of diameter, and 17 inches 6 lines in length. Its thickness between the bourrelet and its reinforced ring, is of 2 1/2 inches. Its reinforced ring is 3 inches thick. Its chamber has of diameter, at its greatest width, 9 inches 6 lines. The portion of that chamber atop has 5 inches 4 lines of diameter, and 2 inches at bottom. The thick- GUN
The thickness of the metal round the chamber is 6 inches. The tourillons are, from one end to the other, 30 inches long, and 7 inches of diameter; and the mortar is in all 3 feet 2 inches high.
It throws a bomb 11 inches 8 lines of diameter, which is 1 inch 4 lines thick everywhere, except at its cullot, which has 1 inch 8 lines.
The aperture of its touch-hole outside and inside, is 16 lines.
The bomb contains 15 pounds of powder, and weighs 130.
The mortar, which has a concave chamber containing 8 pounds of powder, must throw a bomb of 11 inches 8 lines. Its diameter is of 12½ inches; its bore 18 inches long; its thickness at the chase 2½ inches; its reinforced ring 6 inches long, and 3 inches thick; its concave chamber 8 inches 8 lines long, and 7 inches in diameter; the thickness of the metal round it 5 inches; its tourillons 3 inches long from one end to the other, and 7 inches in diameter. The concave chamber contains 8 pounds of powder, and throws a bomb as above.
The ordinary mortar, which throws a bomb of 11 inches 8 lines, has a bore of 12 inches diameter, and 18 long; its thickness at the neck 2 inches; at its reinforced ring 2½ inches; its chamber 9½ inches in length, its diameter of 5¼ inches, the thickness of the metal round the chamber 7 inches, which chamber contains 6 pounds of powder; the tourillons have in length, from one end to the other, 28 inches, and 8 inches of diameter.
The mortar, which throws a bomb of 8 inches, has the bore 12 inches long, and 8 inches 4 lines in diameter; its thickness 1 inch 4 lines at the chase; its reinforced rings 4 inches 8 lines long, and 1 inch 8 lines thick; its chamber 6 inches long, and 2 inches 8 lines of diameter; its tourillons 8 inches 8 lines in length, and 4 inches 8 lines of diameter. The bomb of 8 inches of diameter is 10 lines thick everywhere, except at the cullot, which is 13, and its touch-hole 1 inch of diameter inside and outside. The chamber contains 4 pounds of powder, and the bomb weighs 40 pounds.
The bore of the mortar, which is to throw a bomb of 6 inches, is of 6½ inches of diameter, and 9 inches long; its thickness at the chase 1 inch; its reinforced ring 1½ inch thick, and 3½ inches long; its chamber 4½ inches long, and 2 inches of diameter; the thickness of the metal 2 inches, and from the bottom of the chamber to behind the recoil of the mortar 4 inches thick.
Common mortars are very good for the bombardment of a place, when they can be carried near the place; throwing the bomb to 45 degrees of elevation, and to 700 fathoms distance: the chamber is charged with 5 or 6 pounds of powder, which is the greatest charge, and carries farther: the nearer a place a mortar is mounted, the less powder is wanted for its charge. The mortars, with a concave chamber of the same diameter, i.e., of 12 and 12½ inches, pointed at 45 degrees, are proper to bombard places afar off; they carry their bombs from 1200 to 1800 fathoms. Those whose chamber contains 8 pounds of powder, throw the bomb to 1200 fathoms, and weigh 2000 lb. Those of 12 pounds of powder will carry their bombs to 1400 fathoms, and weigh 2500 lb. Those of 18 pounds of powder will carry to 1800 fathoms, and weigh 3000 lb.
The carriage for a mortar of 12 inches of diameter must be 6 foot long, the flasks 12 inches long and 10 thick. The trunnions are placed in the middle of the carriage.
The carriage of 18 must be 4 foot long; and the flasks 11 inches high, and 6 thick.
To mount the mortars of new invention, they use carriages of cast iron.
In Germany, to mount mortars from 8 to 9 inches, and carry them into the field, and execute them horizontally as a piece of cannon, they make use of a piece of wood 8 feet 2 inches long, with a hole in the middle to lodge the body of the mortar and its trunnions as far as their half diameter, and mounted on two wheels four feet high, to which they join a vantrain proportioned to it, and made like those which serve to the carriages of cannons.
Having mounted the mortar on its carriage, the next thing is to caliber the bomb, by means of a great caliber, the two branches whereof embrace the whole circumference of the bomb: these two branches are brought on a rule where the different calibers are marked, among which that of the bomb is found.
A bomb is a hollow iron ball, or shell, filled with gunpowder, and furnished with a vent for a fusee or wooden tube filled with combustible matter to be thrown out from a mortar. The method of preparing a bomb is as follows: A hollow iron globe is cast pretty thick, having a round aperture by which it may be filled and lighted; and circular ansae for the commodiously putting it into the mortar. To prove whether it be staunch, after heating it red hot on the coals, it is exposed to the air so as it may cool gently; for, since fire dilates iron, if there be any hidden chinks or perforations, they will thus be opened and enlarged, and the rather because of the spring of the included air continually acting from within. This done, the cavity of the globe is filled with hot water, and the aperture well stopped, and the outer surface washed with cold water and soap; so that if there be the smallest leak, the air, rarified by the heat, will now perspire and form bubbles on the surface.
If no defect be found in the bomb, its cavity is filled, by means of a funnel, with whole gun-powder; a little space or liberty is left, that when a fusee or wooden tube, of the figure of a truncated cone, is driven through the aperture, (with a wooden mallet, not an iron one, for fear of accident), and fastened with a cement made of quick lime, ashes, brick-dust, and steel filings worked together in a glutinous water, or of four parts of pitch, two of colophony, one of turpentine, and one of wax; the powder may not be bruised. This tube is filled with a combustible matter, made of two ounces of nitre, one of sulphur, and three of gun-powder-dust well rammed.
This fusee set on fire, burns slowly till it reaches the gun powder, which goes off at once, bursting the shell to pieces with incredible violence. Special care, however, must be taken, that the fusee be so proportioned, as that the gun-powder do not take fire ere the shell arrives at the defined place; to prevent which, the fusee is frequently wound round with a wet clammy thread.
The mortar mounted on its carriage, and the bomb ready, let us place our piece in battery, which battery must consist—1. Of an epaulette to shelter the mortars from the fire of the enemy. 2. Of platforms on which the mortars are placed. 3. Of small magazines of powder. 4. Of a boyau which leads to the great magazine. 5. Of ways which lead from the battery to the magazine of bombs. 6. Of a great ditch before the epaulette. 7. Of a berm or retraite.
The platforms for mortars of 12 inches must have 9 feet in length, and 6 in breadth.—The lambours for common mortars must be four inches thick; those of a concave chamber of 8 lb. of powder, 5 inches; those of 12 lb. 6 inches; those of 18 lb. 7 inches, or thereabouts. Their length is at discretion, provided there be enough to make the platforms 9 feet long.—The fore-part of the platform will be situated at two foot distance from the epaulette of the battery.—The bombardiers, to shelter themselves in their battery, and not be seen from the town besieged, raised an epaulette of 7 foot or more high, which epaulette has no embrasures.
To serve expeditiously a mortar in battery are required,—five strong handspikes; a dame or rammer, of the caliber of the conic chamber, to ram the wad and the earth; a wooden knife a foot long, to place the earth round the bomb; an iron scraper two foot long, one end whereof must be 4 inches broad and roundwise, to clean the bore and the chamber of the mortar, and the other end made in form of a spoon to clean the little chamber; a kind of brancard to carry the bomb, a shovel, and pick-axe.
The officer who is to mind the service of the mortar must have a quadrant to give the degrees of elevation.
Five bombardiers, or others, are employed in that service; the first must take care to fetch the powder to charge the chamber of the mortar, putting his priming-iron in the touch-hole before he charges the chamber; and never going to fetch the powder before he has asked his officer at what quantity of powder he designs to charge, because more or less powder is wanted, according to the distance where it is fired; the same will take care to ram the wad and earth, which another soldier shall put in the chamber.
That on the right will put again two shovels full of earth in the bottom of the bore, which should be likewise very well rammed down.
This done, the rammer or dame is returned into its place, against the epaulette on the right of the mortar; he takes an handspike in the same place to post himself behind the carriage of the mortar, in order to help to push it into battery: having laid down his handspike, he takes out his priming-iron, and primes the touch-hole with fine powder.
The second soldier on the right and left, will have by that time brought the bomb ready loaded, to be placed in the mortar, which must be received in the mortar by the first soldier, and placed very strait in the bore or chale of the mortar.
The first, on the right, shall furnish him with earth to put round the bomb, which he must take care to ram close with the knife given him by the second on the left.
This done, each shall take a handspike, which the two first, on the right and left, shall put under the pegs of retreat of the fore part, and the two behind under those of the hind-part; and they together shall push the mortar in battery.
Afterwards the officer shall point or direct the mortar.
During that time the first soldier shall take care to prime the touch hole of the mortar, without ramming the powder; and the last on the right, shall have the match ready to set fire on the fusee of the bomb on the right, while the first shall be ready with his on the left, to set fire to the touch-hole of the mortar; which he ought not to do till he sees the fusee well lighted.
The foremost soldiers will have their handspikes ready to raise the mortar upright, as soon as it has discharged; while the hindmost on the left shall, with the scraper, clean the bore and chamber of the mortar.
The magazine of powder for the service of the battery, shall be situated 15 or 20 paces behind, and covered with boards, and earth over it.—The loaded bombs are on the side of the said magazine, at five or six paces distance.
The officer who commands the service of the mortar, must take care to discover, as much as possible, with the eye, the distance of the place where he intends to throw his bomb, giving the mortar the degrees of elevation, according to the judgment he has formed of the distance. Having thrown the first bomb, he must diminish or increase the degrees of elevation, according to the place upon which it shall fall. Several make use of tables to discover the different distances according to the differences of the elevations of the mortar, especially the degrees of the quadrant from 1 to 45.
M. Blondel has wrote a large treatise on that subject, where he pretends to give a demonstration to throw bombs with great exactness.
They say then, (says M. Blondel, speaking of bombardiers), that the mortar chases more or less, according as it is more or less charged with powder; and that a mortar, for example, of 12 inches caliber, charged in its chamber with 2 lb. of powder, gives every degree 48 feet difference in the random, and for the greatest extent under the elevation of 45 degrees, 2160 feet.
The same mortar will give every degree 50 foot difference, if it be charged with 2½ of the same goodness, and 2700 foot for the greatest random.
Lastly, it will give 72 foot difference every degree, if the charge be of 3 lb. of the same powder; and at the elevation of 45 degrees, which, they say, is the greatest random, it will throw the bomb at the distance of 3240 feet.
On this foundation they have made the following tables. ### Tables for Mortars of 12 inches of Caliber.
#### First Table at two pounds of powder.
| Degrees | Randoms | |---------|---------| | 5 | 220 Feet| | 10 | 480 | | 11 | 528 | | 12 | 576 | | 13 | 624 | | 14 | 672 | | 15 | 720 | | 16 | 768 | | 17 | 816 | | 18 | 864 | | 19 | 912 | | 20 | 960 | | 21 | 1008 | | 22 | 1056 | | 23 | 1104 | | 24 | 1152 | | 25 | 1200 | | 26 | 1248 | | 27 | 1296 |
Note, That the difference is of 48 feet every degree.
#### Second Table at two pounds and half of powder.
| Degrees | Randoms | |---------|---------| | 36 | 2160 Feet| | 37 | 2200 | | 38 | 2280 | | 39 | 2340 | | 40 | 2400 | | 41 | 2460 Feet| | 42 | 2520 | | 43 | 2580 | | 44 | 2640 | | 45 | 2700 |
Note, That the difference is of 60.
#### Third Table at three pounds of powder.
| Degrees | Randoms | |---------|---------| | 37 | 2664 Feet| | 38 | 2736 | | 39 | 2808 | | 40 | 2880 | | 41 | 2952 | | 42 | 3024 Feet| | 43 | 3096 | | 44 | 3168 | | 45 | 3240 |
The difference is of 72.
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### Tables for Mortars of 8 inches Caliber.
#### First Table at half pound of powder.
| Degrees | Randoms | |---------|---------| | 5 | 210 Feet| | 10 | 420 | | 11 | 460 | | 12 | 504 | | 13 | 546 | | 14 | 588 | | 15 | 630 | | 16 | 672 | | 17 | 714 | | 18 | 756 | | 19 | 798 | | 20 | 840 | | 21 | 882 | | 22 | 924 | | 23 | 966 | | 24 | 1008 | | 25 | 1050 | | 26 | 1092 | | 27 | 1134 |
The difference is of 42 feet every degree.
#### Second Table at three quarters of a pound of powder.
| Degrees | Randoms | |---------|---------| | 31 | 1922 Feet| | 32 | 1964 | | 33 | 2016 | | 34 | 2068 | | 35 | 2120 | | 36 | 2172 | | 37 | 2224 | | 38 | 2276 |
The difference is of 62.
#### Third Table at one pound of powder.
| Degrees | Randoms | |---------|---------| | 35 | 2870 Feet| | 36 | 2952 | | 37 | 3034 | | 38 | 3116 | | 39 | 3198 | | 40 | 3280 | | 41 | 3362 Feet| | 42 | 3444 | | 43 | 3526 | | 44 | 3608 | | 45 | 3690 |
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Granadoes are charged like the bombs, and are very much like them, except that they have no arse.
A granado is a hollow ball, or shell of iron, bras, or even glas, or potters earth, filled with gun powder, and fitted with a fusee to give it fire. (ibid.)
Of these there are two kinds; the one large for ditches, or fosses, called sometimes bombs, whose caliber is the same with that of the bullets of 32 lb. and which weigh 16 lb. of 24, and which weigh 12 lb. of 16, which weigh 8 lb.
These granadoes are rolled from the ramparts, or other works, into the ditch, or on a breach, and do much execution.
The other are hand-granadoes, of the bigness or caliber of a bullet of 4 lb. and weigh only 2 lb. containing 4 or 5 ounces of powder, or thereabout.
These serve to throw with the hand into the trenches, or retrenchments, in the middle of a troop or company, and they infallibly slame or kill.
Care is taken, as much as possible, that they be well emptied, shaved, and of brittle iron. Their aperture or orifice must have six lines, or thereabout.
Small lanterns or ladles of copper, and small rammers, are used to charge the granadoes.
As to the proportions of granadoes, those of the caliber... of a bullet of 33, have 6 inches of diameter, and something more; they are 8 lines thick, and weigh 16 lb.
Those of the caliber of 24 have 5 inches 5 lines diameter, are 6 lines thick, and weigh 12 lb.
Those of the caliber of 16 have 4 inches 9 lines diameter, are 5 lines thick, and weigh 8 lb.
Those which weigh 6 lb. have 3 inches 5 lines diameter, and 5 lines in thickness.
Those of 5 lb. weight have 3 inches 2½ lines diameter, and 5 lines in thicknesses.
Those which weigh 3 lb. have 2 inches 8 lines diameter, and are 4½ lines thick.
Those of 2 lb. weight, have 2 inches 4 lines diameter, and 4 lines in thickness.
Those of 1 lb. weight have 1 inch 10 lines diameter, and are 3 lines thick.
Those of ¾ have 1 inch 8 lines diameter, and are 3 lines thick.
Those of ¼ have 1 inch 6 lines diameter, and are 3 lines thick.
Those of a ¼ have 1 inch 2 lines diameter, and are 2½ lines thick.
All these granadoes must be thicker at bottom than anywhere else.
These different sorts of granadoes have also different sorts of fuses.
Those of the caliber of 33, 24, 16, 12, 8, 4, are at the biggest end, of 12 lin. 11 10½ 10 9½ 8½
The diameter of the orifices,
The fuses are in length, in all, of 5½ inch. 5 4 4 3 3 3 2
And as the large granadoes, which are made to throw into the fosses, or ditches, or with small mortars, they must have fuses of different lengths; those are for small mortars; those for ditches must be shorter.
The Germans cover over the fusee with paper or parchment, tied with a thread round the fusee.
In France they use a composition of black pitch, mixed with a little tallow, with which they rub over the fusee, when fixed to the granado.
The fusee must burn so long, and no longer, as is the time of the motion of the bomb or granado, from the mouth of the mortar, &c., to the place where it is to fall, which time is about 27 seconds; so that the fusee must be contrived, either from the nature of the composition, or the length of the pipe which contains it, to burn just that time.
At Paris they charge the fusees for the bombs and granadoes with a composition made with powder-dust and charcoal, very well pounded, and fitted very fine, putting two ounces of charcoal on each pound of powder, and make several proofs, to know if the composition be not too quick.
There are several other compositions to charge the fusees for bombs or granadoes.
The first is of 4 lb. of powder, 2 lb. of saltpetre, and 1 lb. of sulphur.
The second is of 5 lb. of powder, 2 lb. of saltpetre, and 1 pound of sulphur.
The third, which is the best, is of 3 lb. of powder, 2 lb. of saltpetre, and 1 lb. of sulphur.
The fourth is of 3 lb. of powder, 2 lb. of saltpetre, and ½ lb. of sulphur.
The fusees must be charged even, i.e., they must burn without spitting.
The fusee of the hand-granado, which is of the caliber of 4, must be 2 inches 2 lines long, 9 lines of diameter, and 6 lines at the small end: the orifice of the fusee 2½ lines.
As soon as the fusee is placed to the granado, the head thereof must be sauced in melted pitch, and afterwards dipped in water, which hinders the composition from spoiling, and the wood from rotting.
The petard (ibid.) is the next piece of artillery which deserves our attention, and is a kind of engine of metal, somewhat in shape of a high-crowned hat, serving to break down gates, barricades, drawbridges, or the like works; which are intended to be surprized. It is very short, narrow at the breach, and wide at the muzzle, made of copper mixed with a little brass, or of lead with tin.
The petards are not always of the same height and bigness: they are commonly 10 inches high, 7 inches of diameter a-top, and 10 inches at bottom. They weigh commonly 40, 45, and 50 pounds.
The madrier, on which the petard is placed, and where it is tied with iron circles, is of two feet for its greatest width, and of 18 inches on the sides, and no thicker than a common madrier. Under the madrier are two iron bars passed cross-ways, with a hook, which serves to fix the petard.
To charge a petard 15 inches high, and 6 or 7 inches of caliber or diameter at the bore, the inside must be first very well cleaned and heated, so that the hand may bear the heat; then take the best powder that may be found, throw over it some spirit of wine, and expose it to the sun, or put it in a frying-pan; and when it is well dried, 5 or 6 lb. of this powder is put into the petard, which reaches within three fingers of the mouth: the vacancies are filled with tow, and stopped with a wooden tampon; the mouth being strongly bound up with cloth, tied very tight with ropes; then it is fixed on the madrier, that has a cavity cut in it to receive the mouth of the petard, and fastened down with ropes.
Some, instead of gun powder for the charge, use one of the following compositions, viz.: gun-powder seven pounds, mercury sublimate one ounce, camphor eight ounces; or gun-powder six pounds, mercury sublimate three ounces, and sulphur three; or gun-powder six, beaten glas ½ an ounce, and camphor ½.
Before any of these pieces are appropriated for service, it is necessary to have each undergo a particular trial of its soundness, which is called a proof, to be made by or before one authorised for the purpose, called the proof-master.
To make a proof of the piece, a proper place is chosen, which is to be terminated by a mound of earth very thick to receive the bullets fired against it, that none of them may run through it. The piece is laid on the ground, supported supported only in the middle by a block of wood. It is fired three times: the first with powder of the weight of the bullet, and the two others with \( \frac{3}{4} \) of the weight; after which a little more powder is put in to finge the piece; and after this water, which is impressed with a sponge, putting the finger on the touch-hole, to discover if there be any cracks; which done, they are examined with the cat, which is a piece of iron with three grooves, disposed in the form of a triangle, and of the caliber of the piece; then it is visited with a wax candle, but it is of very little service in the small pieces, because if they be a little long, the smoke extinguishes it immediately.
The proof of mortars is made in this manner: Where there are carriages of cast iron, the mortar is placed on one of those carriages. Under that carriage is made a platform of madriers 5 or 6 inches thick; the mortar is charged with the best powder, and with as much of it as its chamber can contain, observing to leave no vacancy at the neck of the mortar, but what is necessary to put a little wad over the powder, and which is rammed with the end of an handspike, to keep the powder together as much as possible. A large green turf, with earth two fingers deep, is put over the wad, which must have width enough to fill up the bottom of the mortar. This turf and earth are very well rammed down, then the bomb is placed over it as upright as possible, leaving a small place round it, which is to be filled with clay as tight as possible, pressing it between the mortar and the bomb with a pointed stick; and as it is not necessary to spend much powder in these sort of proofs, the bomb must be filled with as much earth as it would contain powder.
For want of carriages of cast iron, holes are dug in the earth where the mortars are buried as far as the touch-hole; and in order that the mortars thus buried may find more resistance, and make a greater effort, large pieces of wood in form of joists are put under the mortar, chusing always the hardest ground, to resist better the recoil of the mortar.
A fusee for grenades is put on the touch-hole of each mortar, that the gunner may have time to retire, in case the mortar was to burst in the proof; which is also practised in the proof of the pieces.
This proof is made three times, without increasing or diminishing anything.
Besides the large pieces mentioned throughout this treatise, invented for the destruction of mankind, there are others called small guns, viz. muskets of ramparts, common muskets, fusils, carbines, musketoons, and pistols.
A musket, or musquet, is a fire-arm borne on the shoulder, and used in war, formerly fired by the application of a lighted match, but at present with a flint and lock.
The common muskets are of the caliber of 20 leaden balls to the pound, and receive balls from 22 to 24: its length is fixed to 3 feet 8 inches from the muzzle to the touch-pan.
A fusil, or fire-lock, has the same length and caliber; and serves at present instead of a musket.
A carbine is a small sort of fire-arm, shorter than a fusil, and carrying a ball of 24 in the pound, borne by the light-horse, hanging at a belt over the left shoulder,
The carbine is a kind of medium between the pistol and the musket; and bears a near affinity to the arquebus, only that its bore is smaller. It was formerly made with a match-lock, but of late only with a flint-lock.
The musketoon is of the same length of the carbine, the barrel polished, and clean within.
The musketoon carries five ounces of iron, or seven and a half of lead, with an equal quantity of powder.
The barrel of a pistol is generally 14 inches long.
As to the invention of cannon and gun powder, we are certain that they are discoveries of a modern date; but there is no depending upon the various accounts given of them by authors. All that can be said with certainty is, that there is mention made of gun-powder in the register of the chamber of accounts in France, in the year of Christ 1338; that Alphonsus XI., king of Castile, besieged the Moors with iron mortars, in the year of Christ 1343; and that our King Edward, in 1346, first carried those thundering machines of war and death into France, where he availed himself of five or six pieces of cannon at the battle of Cressy.
Before the invention of these instruments of war, the ancients made use of the aries, or battering-ram, the catapulte, the ballista, scorpion, and testudo. See RAM, &c.
For the mathematical principles of Gunnery, see PROJECTILES.