sword and defend himself after the discharge of his piece, and to render
him more competent to act against the pikemen, a long thin rapier blade
fixed into a handle, and carried in a sheath called a Swine’s feather,
was drawn out of its scabbard, and fixed into the muzzle of his gun,
which gave him a weapon of great length. (Plate 19, fig. 11.). And this
dagger or sword, stuck into the muzzle of the gun, gave origin to the
bayonet, which was first made at Bayonne, and introduced into the French
army in 1671.
~Swords discontinued, 1745.~
~Improved bayonet.~
~Bayonet in Flanders, William III.~
~Bayonet at Killicrankie.~
Swords in general were left off in the battalion companies ever since
the year 1745, and about 1762 by the grenadiers. As a still further
improvement the bayonet was made to fit on to the side of the barrel, so
as to leave it clear. An early application of the improved bayonet took
place in the campaigns of William III., in Flanders. Three French
regiments thus armed, marched with fixed bayonets, and one of them
against the 25th regiment. Lieut-Colonel Maxwell ordered his men to
screw their bayonets into their muzzles to receive them; but to his
great surprise when they came within the proper distance, the French
threw in such a heavy fire, as for the moment to stagger his people, who
by no means expected such a greeting, not conscious how it was possible
to fire with fixed bayonets. Macaulay in the 3rd volume of his History,
states “That at the battle of Killicrankie, the King’s army being drawn
up in position, the Highlanders advanced to the attack, and immediately
after having delivered their fire, threw away their muskets and rushed
on to the charge with Claymores. It took the regular musketeer two or
three minutes to alter his missile weapon into one with which he could
encounter an enemy hand to hand, and during this time the battle of
Killicrankie had been decided.” Mackay therefore ordered all his
bayonets to be so made that they might be screwed upon the barrel.
~Bayonets, Marsaglia, 1693, and Spiers, 1703.~
~Pike abolished, 1703.~
~Earl Orrery in favour of pike versus musket, 1677.~
Bayonets were employed by Marshal Catinat at the battle of Marsaglia,
when the slaughter was immense. Also at the battle of Spiers, in 1703.
Thus improved, the bayonet came into general use, and the pike was
abolished in France by Royal Ordinance 1703, with the advice of Marshal
Vauban. Before the introduction of the improved bayonet, Lord Orrery, in
1677, thus speaks in favour of the pike:--“But what need I more say of
the usefulness of the pike above the musket, than that all persons of
quality carry the pike which they would not do unless it had adjudgedly
the honour to be the noblest weapon, since the bravest choose and fight
with it. I wish our companies consisted of fewer shots and more pikes,
for they are not only always in readiness but need no ammunition, which
cannot be said of the musket which requires powder, bullet, and match,
and in wet or windy weather often disappoints the service.”
~M. Mallet, pike versus musket, 1684.~
Mons. Mallet in his “Travaux de Mars,” speaks lightly of the
“mousquetaires,” without pikemen; he says, “A horse wounded by a
fire-arm is only more animated, but when he finds himself pierced by a
pike, all the spurs in the world will not make him advance.”
~Gen. Loyd, pike versus bayonet, 1766.~
~Pike recently discontinued.~
Even so recently as about ninety-two years ago, and ninety-five years
after the introduction of the improved bayonet, General Loyd in his
history of the war in Germany, recommends the abandonment of the system
of arming the whole of the infantry with fire-arms, “which he says are
useful only in _defensive_ warfare, and even then not more than one shot
in four hundred takes effect.” For many years after pikes were
discontinued by our infantry, the officers carried a short one, and the
sergeants only gave up their halberts within the last thirty years. The
soldiers of artillery when in Holland under the late Duke of York,
carried short pikes for the defence of their field guns.
ACCOUTREMENTS AND AMMUNITION.
~Armament of infantry soldier.~
~Bandolier.~
~Bandolier abandoned in France, 1684.~
~Flask resumed.~
~Patrons.~
~Cartridges.~
Besides his matchlock, the soldier carried a powder horn or flask, a
ball bag, slow match, a rest, and a sword. The two last changed for a
bayonet. In order to accelerate the loading, a large leather belt,
called bandolier, was worn over the shoulder. To this were hung twelve
wooden cases, each of which contained one charge, with a case of finer
powder for priming, and at the lower end a bag for balls. This system
was soon found to be inconvenient, as the cases were apt to get
entangled in passing through woods, &c. It was therefore abandoned in
France in 1684, and the flask resumed. Sir James Turner, speaking of the
pistol, says, “All horsemen should always have the charges of their
pistols ready in patrons, the powder made up compactly in paper, and the
ball tied to it with a piece of pack thread.” In this description we
have evidently the cartridge, though not expressed by name. It is a
curious fact that these were first confined to the cavalry, and that the
general adoption of the cartridge was not earlier than the common use of
the modern firelock. The Patron was an upright semi-cylindrical box of
steel, with a cover moving on a hinge, filled with a block of wood with
five perforations, to hold as many pistol cartridges.
~Earl of Orrery in favour of pouches.~
The Earl of Orrery, in 1677, writes, “I am, on long experience, an enemy
to bandoliers, but a great approver of boxes of cartridges for them, as
by biting off the bottom of the cartridge, you charge your musket for
service with one ramming. I would have these boxes of tin, because they
are not so apt to break as the wooden ones are, and do not, in wet
weather, or lying in the tents, relax. Besides, I have often seen much
prejudice in the use of bandoliers, which are often apt to take fire.
They commonly wound, and often kill he that wears them, and those near
him, for likely if one take fire, all the rest do in that collar. They
often tangle when they have fired, and are falling off by the flanks of
the files of the intervals to get into the rear to load again. Their
rattling in the night often discovers the designs; and if the weather be
windy, their rattling also often hinders the soldier from hearing, and,
consequently, obeying the word of command. Whereas the cartridge boxes
exempt those who use them from all these dangers and prejudices. They
enable the soldier to fire more expeditiously. They are also usually
worn about the waist of the soldier, the skirts of whose doublet and
whose coat doubly defend them from all rain, that does not pierce both,
and being worn close to his body, the heat thereof keeps the powder
dryer. Besides all this, whoever loads his musket with cartridges, is
sure the bullet will not drop out, though he takes his aim under breast
high; whereas those soldiers on service who take the bullets out of
their mouths, which is the nimblest way, or out of their pouches, seldom
put any paper, tow, or grass, to ram the bullet in, whereby if they fire
above breast high the bullet passes over the head of the enemy, and if
they aim low the bullet drops out, ere the musket is fired, and it is to
this that I attribute the little execution I have seen musketeers do in
time of fight, though they fired at great battalions, and those also
reasonably near.”
The preceding article on Portable Fire-Arms is principally compiled
from “Military Antiquities,” by Francis Grose; “Ancient Armour and
Weapons of War,” by John Hewitt; “Engraved Illustrations of Ancient
Armour,” by Joseph Skelton, F.S.A.; “A Critical Enquiry into Ancient
Armour,” by Sir R. S. Meyrick, Knt.; and “Deane’s Manual of
Fire-arms.”
HISTORY OF THE RIFLE.
~Invention of the rifle.~
We shall now direct our attention to the rifle,--its invention is
ascribed to Gaspard Zollner, of Vienna, towards the end of the fifteenth
century.
~1466.~
The first society for firing with the arquebuss was founded at Bâle, in
Switzerland.
~Rifles at Leipsic, 1498.~
In the practice of firing at a mark, at Leipsic, 1498, the greater part
of the Sharpshooters or Marksmen, were armed with the Rifles.
~Rifles used first for amusement.~
At first, Rifle arms were used only for amusement, and sometimes for the
defence of places, but very rarely as weapons of war in the field.
~Rifles used in war.~
Their employment in a campaign only dates from a little before the
middle of the seventeenth century.
~Landgrave of Hesse, 1631.~
In 1631, the Landgrave William of Hesse had three companies of
Chasseurs, armed with rifles.
~Elector Maximilian, 1645.~
In 1645, the Elector Maximilian of Bavaria formed three regiments of
Chasseurs, armed with rifles which he intended to employ principally in
the minor operations of war.
~Frederick William of Prussia, 1674.~
In 1647, Frederick William of Prussia, in his campaign on the Rhine,
distributed in each company of infantry, some light infantry and
Riflemen.
~Frederick the Great in Seven Years’ War.~
~By Austrians ditto.~
Frederick the Great, in order to counterbalance the Austrian Light
Troops, more particularly the Tyrolese Marksmen, whose fire was
exceedingly deadly, felt obliged during the seven years’ war to add a
company of trained light infantry to the effective strength of each
battalion.
~Rifles in France, 1674.~
In France the Cavalry were supplied with rifles before the Infantry.
Towards 1674 Louis XIV. created some squadrons of Cavalry armed with
“Carabines rayées.” The name was given in France to all arms which were
grooved, and it also served for the name of the corps which were first
armed with them, viz., “Carabins.”
~Rifles in English Life Guards.~
In 1680 eight rifle carbines were carried in each troop of English Life
Guards.
~Rifles in Sweden, 1691.~
In 1691 the Non-Commissioned Officers of the Swedish Dragoons received
the rifled carabin, and in 1700 those of the Prussian Cavalry received
the same rifled arms.
~Experiments in England, 1776.~
Experiments were tried with rifled small arms in England in the year
1776.
We read in the Scots’ Magazine, vol. 36, that “the Guards are every day
practising the use of the Rifle Gun in Hyde Park. On Saturday, April
27th, 1776, their Majesties attended a Review of the Rifle-men
yesterday, and were much pleased with the dexterity of the officer, who
loaded and fired several times in a minute, and hit the mark each time.
He lies upon his back when he discharges his piece.”
~Rifles in Austria, 1778.~
Austria kept 2000 Sharpshooters, having double carbines, which were
supplied with a crotch to rest them upon while shooting. Only one of the
barrels was rifled.
~Rifles in French infantry, 1793.~
In 1793 the first model carbine for French Infantry was made at
Versailles; at the same time the model for Cavalry was also fixed.
Rifles were soon abandoned in the French Army; they deemed them of more
trouble than profit.
~Rifles, English, 1794.~
In 1794 the English adopted the Rifle, which, I fancy, was first used by
a Battalion of the 60th, or Royal American Regiment.
~Rifles numerous in Austria, 1796.~
In 1796 there were in the Austrian Army 15 Battalions of Light Infantry,
the greater part of whom were armed with Rifles.
~Rifles for the 95th regt., 1800.~
In 1800, Rifles were placed in the hands of the 95th Regiment, now the
Rifle Brigade of four Battalions. These Rifles weighed about 10¹⁄₂lbs.
each, with the sword. They were sighted for 100 and 200 yards, with
seven grooves, having a quarter turn in the length of the barrel, which
was about 2 feet 6 inches, the length of the Rifle 3 feet 10 inches,
weight of sword 1lb., diameter of bore ·623. The locks were excellent,
and had a detent, to prevent the nose of the sear catching at half cock,
and it had a bolt, to prevent its going off at half cock. The ball was
spherical, and driven in with a mallet, which was afterwards dispensed
with, and a greased patch substituted.
~Rifle ball in two sizes.~
~Range of English rifle.~
During the Peninsular War, our Riflemen were supplied with balls of two
sizes, the easiest fitting being designed for use where celerity of
loading was required. Baker, who made these Rifles, says in his Work,
1825, “I have found 200 yards the greatest range I could fire to any
certainty. At 300 yards I have fired very well at times, when the wind
has been calm. At 400 yards, and at 500 yards, I have frequently fired,
and have sometimes struck the object, though I have found it to vary
much.”
~Rifles in 7th and 10th Dragoons.~
Colonel Dickson, R.A., says, “In the early part of the present century,
there was also introduced a rifle-arm for cavalry. The barrel 20 inches,
calibre 20 bore, grooves 7, having the same pitch as those for the
infantry; the 7th and 10th light cavalry were the only regiments armed
with them, but they were soon discontinued from being considered as
unfit for cavalry service.”
~Brunswick rifle.~
The Brunswick rifle was introduced in 1836. Weight with bayonet 11lbs.
5oz., length of barrel 2ft. 6-in., bore ·704. Two deep spiral grooves
with one turn in the length of the barrel. Sighted for 100, 200, and 300
yards. Bullet spherical and belted, diameter ·696. Weight of bullet 557
grains. The shooting of this arm was superior to our first rifle,
although the loading was not so easy as was desired, and a great
disadvantage existed in the bullet and cartridge being separate in the
soldier’s pouch, the grooves were deeper and rounder than those of the
ordinary rifle, the projecting zone of the ball was made to fit the
grooves, the ball was wrapped in a linen patch dipped in grease. It was
found that, although the rifle loaded easily at first, after constant
firing the barrel became very foul, rendering loading nearly as
difficult as under the old system of the indented ball. The belt on the
ball caused considerable friction while passing through the air. (Plate
20, fig. 1).
~Merits of the Brunswick rifle.~
By a committee of officers assembled at Enfield, it was determined that
all firing with the Brunswick beyond 400 yards was too wild to give a
correct angle of elevation. It was tested at Antwerp in 1844, in an
experiment extending to 44,000 rounds, and declared to be the worst
tried.
~Improvements from France.~
From France chiefly have proceeded most of the modern improvements in
fire-arms.
~French at discount without rifles.~
~Captain Delvigne’s first step to restore rifles in France.~
~The French desired to be on an equality with Arabs.~
~Expansion by chamber.~
~Defects of chambered rifle.~
~Poncharra Delvigne rifle 1833.~
The original French rifle (like our own) was loaded by force with a
strong ramrod and mallet, and they found that it gave precision with
diminution of range. For these reasons during the early campaigns of the
French Revolution, the rifle was given up in the French army; but as
their Chasseurs were found to be unequally matched against those of
other armies, who surpassed them in accuracy as marksmen, a series of
experiments were carried on at different times, with a view to its
reintroduction into their service. No satisfactory result was obtained
until the occupation of Algeria, when Mons. Delvigne, of the Guarde
Royale, took the first step in its restoration. In the flying wars kept
up against them by Abd-el-Kader, they found that masses of their men
were struck by Arab balls at distances where the French muskets were
apparently powerless, and this they afterwards found arose from the long
matchlocks of their enemies being fired at a much greater elevation than
was ever thought of by European troops. In order to put themselves on an
equality with their enemies, Mons. Delvigne showed in 1828 how the rifle
bullet could be made to enter the piece easily, and quit it in a forced
state; a method of loading as easy and simple as that of a smooth-bore
arm. Expansion was obtained by the introduction of a chamber in the
bore, which furnished an annular surface to receive the bullet, and on
its being struck a small blow with the rammer it was expanded into the
grooves. (Plate 20, fig. 2). The objection to the chambered rifle, was
that after frequently firing, a residuum collected which eventually left
the powder less room in the chamber, and of necessity it then reached
above the shoulder of the latter, so that the ball resting upon the
powder instead of upon the shoulder of the chamber, was not so readily
dilated by the strokes of the ramrod into the grooves. To remedy this
defect the wooden sabot and greased patch (plate 20, fig. 3) were
suggested by Colonel Poncharra, in 1833, introduced into the French army
1839, and employed in Algeria, 1840, but several inconveniences attended
its use.
~Carabine à Tige, 1842.~
~Defects of Tige.~
~Tige introduced, 1846.~
Colonel Thouvenin endeavoured to overcome these difficulties by fixing
at the bottom of the bore an iron shank, around which was placed the
powder. This stem, (plate 20, fig. 4) stopping the bullet, allowed it to
be struck in such a manner as to cause the lead to penetrate into the
grooves. There is much fouling at the breech, and around the pillar of
these rifles. They are difficult to clean, the soldier having to carry
an instrument for this purpose. The Chasseurs and Zouaves of the African
Army were armed with the tige in 1846.
At first a spherical ball had been used, and then a solid
cylindro-conical bullet was resorted to; (Plate 20, fig. 6.) Messrs.
Delvigne and Minié having long previously experimented with hollow
cylindro-conical projectiles.
~Minié iron cup.~
~French army 1850.~
Some years after these experiments, Captain Minié proposed the adoption
of a bullet which should receive its expansion by placing an iron cup in
the hollow of the base, which should be driven up by the gas, and force
the walls of the cavity outwards, thus making them enter the grooves.
(Plate 20, fig. 7.) In 1850 the Fusil rayé with balle à culot was put
into the hands of some French regiments of the line, and since then the
French Imperial Guard have been armed with the old musket rifled, and a
hollow bullet without a cup.
At present it is understood that the French are rifling all their smooth
bore arms, and the Russians are doing the same.
~Prussian. army.~
~Russian riflemen.~
~Austrian riflemen.~
~Belgium.~
~Portugal.~
The Prussians have many thousands of their infantry armed with a
breech-loading long range Rifle. The Russian Army is to have fifty-four
rifle regiments, with a rifle company to each other regiment of
Infantry. The Austrians are busy at work, according to their means. The
Tyrol has always supplied them with a large number of marksmen. The
Belgians are, I believe, universally armed with rifles, and even the
little Kingdom of Portugal has ordered 28,000 rifles from Belgium.
~Conoidal bullet, with Brunswick.~
~Minié rifle, introduced, 1851.~
~Performance and angle of Minié.~
Subsequent to the French experiments with the conoidal bullet, and the
great results obtained over the spherical from it, it was proposed to
adapt a conoidal bullet to the Brunswick Rifle. (Plate 20, fig 5.) This
was done as an experiment, and succeeded very well, but at the same time
the new arm, called the Minié pattern, 1851, was also tried, and the
shooting exhibited greater accuracy with this latter arm. Nothing
further was done with the Brunswick rifle and conoidal bullet; and the
(then called) “new regulation Minié,” was introduced into the service by
the late Marquis of Anglesea, Master-General of Ordnance, with the
approval of the late Duke of Wellington. Its weight with bayonet, was
10lbs. 8³⁄₄ozs., bore ·702, four spiral grooves, with one turn in 6 feet
6-in., powder, 2¹⁄₂ drs., bullet, 680 grs., with iron cup, diameter of
bullet, ·690, windage, ·012. When the axis is parallel to the ground at
4 feet 6-in. above it, the first graze is about 177 yards, and the angle
of elevation at 800 yards, is 3° 25.
~Consequences of improvements in military rifles.~
A few years previous to the Russian war, rifles had attained to a degree
of improvement in structure and adaptability to the general purpose of
war, which threatened subversion to the established notions of the
military world.
~Probable effect on artillery.~
~On cavalry.~
~Minié in Kaffir war.~
~Bullet improved.~
The artillery arm was menaced in its long rested monopoly of range and
precision, with an equilibrium in hands it had never dreamed to find it;
one which not alone would curb the wonted dash of field batteries to
within the “shortest range,” but also impress a more than wonted respect
upon the best led and most daring cavalry, for even the thinnest
formation of that arm, which it had hitherto been taught to despise. The
Minié was first used in the Kaffir war, and next at Alma and Inkerman,
when it proved that the gallant Marquis had advanced a step in the right
direction; who had ordered 28,000, but quarrels taking place among the
contractors this order was never completed. The accuracy of firing from
the Minié was improved by altering the form of the bullet from conoidal
to cylindro-conoidal, (plate 20, fig. 8.) and the iron cup from
hemispherical to a conical shape with a hole in the apex.
~Lord Hardinge’s desire for improvement.~
~Experiments at Enfield.~
Lord Hardinge, succeeding to the post of Master-General, and after to
that of Commander-in-Chief, zealously followed out the prosecution of
the now becoming fixed idea, the general adoption for British infantry,
of a pattern rifle-musket, which should combine lightness with
solidity, precision, and superior range. Lord Hardinge opened
competition to the leading British gun makers, when the following sent
in muskets for trial, viz:--Purdy, Westley Richards, Lancaster,
Wilkinson, and Greener. The Minié pattern, (51), and Brunswick, (36),
were also subjected to a course of trial before the committee assembled
at Enfield, in 1852, for the purpose of determining the best description
of fire-arm for military service.
~Merits of the Brunswick.~
The Brunswick rifle showed itself to be very much inferior in point of
range to every arm hitherto tried. The loading was so difficult, that it
is wonderful how the rifle regiments can have continued to use it so
long, the force required to ram down the ball was so great as to render
a man’s hand much too unsteady for accurate shooting. Colonel Gordon,
says, “It should be noticed here with the exception of Mr. Wilkinson,
every one of the makers changed either his musket or projectile during
the trials, thereby causing them to be protracted much beyond the time
originally intended.”
~All had reduced bores.~
~Elongated bullets.~
~Reversed cartridge.~
~Best shooting from short rifle.~
~Advantage of small bore.~
~Disadvantages of small bore.~
The diameter of the bore of all the new muskets was less than that
hitherto in use, all the bullets were elongated and had auxiliaries for
expansion, being metallic, or in one case a horn plug, one pattern had
cannelures and the whole required the cartridge to be reversed in
loading. It is worthy of remark that the best shooting at these trials
was from a short rifle made at Enfield, which was named the artillery
carbine, but not the one now used by the Royal Artillery. The barrel was
only 2 feet 6-in. long, and the projectile cylindro-conoidal, with an
iron cup weighing 620 grains; thus proving that great length of barrel
is not absolutely necessary in a rifle; but a certain length of barrel
is required to fire in double ranks, and so that the weapon may be
effectually used as a pike. With a small bore, a greater number of
rounds of ammunition may be carried, greater penetration, velocity,
lower trajectory, and more accuracy, than with larger projectiles of
equal weight. The alleged disadvantages of small bore are, the slender
form of cartridge and the smaller hole made in a man’s body, as stated
to be proved in the case of wild animals, in proof of which it is said
that they are found to run further when wounded with a small ball, than
they do with a large one; but this reasoning does not seem applicable to
the human race, for it is presumed that few men would be found willing
to move far when wounded by a musket ball, whether the hole in their
body was ·702 or ·530 of an inch in diameter.
~Objection to reversing the cartridge.~