Transcriber’s Notes:
Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_
in the original text.
Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold=
in the original text.
Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals.
Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs.
Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved.
Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected.
THE
BOMBARDIER,
AND
_Pocket Gunner._
By
_RALPH WILLETT ADYE_,
CAPTAIN,
ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.
First _American_,
from the Second _London_ Edition.
PRINTED FOR
E. LARKIN, No. 47, CORNHILL, _BOSTON_,
_BY WILLIAM GREENOUGH_,
CHARLESTOWN.
1804.
TO THE
_Junior Officers_
OF THE
_Royal Regiment of Artillery_:
WITH A HOPE OF ALSO
MEETING THE APPROBATION
OF THE
_SENIOR OFFICERS OF THAT CORPS_.
R. W. ADYE.
INDEX.
Page.
_PREFACE_, i
_AMMUNITION_—For _Small Arms_—How carried, 7
— For Artillery, see _Artillery_.
_AMMUZETTE_—Its Length, Weight, &c. 8
_APRONS_ of Lead—Weight and Dimensions of, 8
_ARMS, Small_—Their Weight and Dimensions,
Balls for their Proof, Service, &c.
_ARTILLERY_—1st. _For the Field._
— Divided into Battalion Guns, Park and Horse Artillery, 10
— Ammunition and Stores for one Field Piece of each Nature, 11
— Manner of carrying the Ammunition and Stores, 15
— Load for a common Artillery Ammunition Waggon, 16
— Load for a Horse Artillery Ammunition Waggon, 17
— Proportion of Artillery, Ammunition, and Carriages for
four French Armies, 18
— Proportion of Ammunition carried with French Artillery,
and with that of other Powers, 20
— Movements and Positions of Battalion Guns, 21
— Movements and Positions of Artillery of the Park, 24
— Line of March for Three Brigades of Field Artillery, 28
— 2d. _Artillery and Ammunition for a Siege_—
Considerations in estimating them, 29
— Proportion demanded for the Siege of Lisle, 31
— Arrangement and Position at a Siege, 33
— 3d. _Artillery and Ammunition for the Defence_
_of a Fortified Place_—Manner
of estimating them, 37
— Arrangement of the Artillery, 39
— Expenditure of Ammunition, 42
_AXLETREES_— Dimensions of, in Wood or Iron, 44
_BALLS_—of Lead—Manner of Packing them, 45
— Manner of finding their Diameters and Weights
_BARRELS_ for Gunpowder; their Dimensions and Content
— Budge do. 46
_BASKETS_, _Ballast_—Dimensions of 46
_BATTERIES_—Dimensions of, for Guns, Mortars, and Howitzers 46
— For Ricochet firing, 48
— For the Defence of a Coast, 49
— Manner of estimating the Quantity of Materials for, 50
— Tools required for the Construction of 52
— Estimate of the Quantity of Earth which may be removed
in a given time, 53
_BEDS_—Dimensions and Weight of, for Mortars and Guns, 54
_BOXES_, for Ammunition—Dimensions and Weight of,
when filled and empty; and the Number of
Rounds contained by 55
_BOMB KETCH_—Instruction for the Management of a, in Action, 56
— Proportion of Stores for, 58
_BREACH_—Manner of forming one; and Time required
to make it practicable, 60
_BRIDGE_—Manner of laying one, of Pontoons;
Weight it will bear; and Precautions
required in passing over it, 62
_CAMPS_—Manner of laying out the front of,
for Infantry and Cavalry, 65
— Distribution of the Depth of, 66
— In a confined Situation, 69
_CARCASSES_—Composition for, 70
— Valencienne’s Composition, for making Shells
answer the Purpose of
— Dimensions and Weight of, 71
— Manner of preventing their being destroyed
by the Explosion
_CARRONADES_—Dimensions and Weight of, 72
— Ranges with Shot and Shells from
_CARRIAGES_—Weight of, for Field Service, 73
— Dimensions of Axletrees for, 75
— Diameters of Wheels for, 76
—Dimensions and Weight of standing 77
_CARTRIDGES_—Weight and Dimensions of,
for Guns, Mortars, and Howitzers 78
— For Small Arms 79
— For Musquets by different Nations 79
_CHAMBERS_—Experiments upon the best Form of, for Mortars 80
_CHARGES_—For different Natures of Guns and Carronades 81
— Lessened when Cylinder Powder is used 81
— of French Guns 82
_CHEVAUX DE FRIZE_—Dimensions and Weight of 82
_COMPOSITIONS_—For Kitt; Fire, Smoke, and Light Balls;
suffocating Pots; Fire Hoops, Arrows, and
Lances; Cases for burning Fascine Batteries 84
— General Precautions in mixing 84
_CONVOYS_—Length of Line of March of 84
— Rate of travelling with, and Manner of escorting 85
_DISPART_—Of Guns 86
_DISTANCES_—Practical Methods of measuring without
mathematical Instruments 87
— Cavallo’s Micrometer for measuring 92
— Table of Angles subtended by one Foot at different 95
_DRAG ROPES_—Weight and Dimensions of 95
_EMBARKATION_—Of Ordnance and Stores 96
— Of Troops 99
_EXERCISE_—Of Artillery
— Duties of the Men attached to Field Guns or Howitzers,
with the full Complement, and with reduced Numbers 100
— Methods of advancing and retiring Field Artillery
_without Drag Ropes_ 104
— Duties of the Men in advancing and retiring
Field Artillery _with Drag Ropes_ 109
— Of Heavy Ordnance on a Battery with different
Complements of Men 112
— Of the Triangle Gin 115
— Of the Sling Cart 117
_FASCINES_—Dimensions and Uses of the different
Natures of, with the necessary Attentions
in making them 119
_FIRE SHIP_—Proportion of combustible Stores for 120
— Method of fitting out 122
— New Method of fitting out, to produce more external Fire 124
_FLINTS_—Number of, packed in a half Barrel;
with the Weight of, &c. 126
_FORTIFICATION_—Practical Maxims in building Field Works
with their Dimensions
— Permanent; Observations upon the different Parts of,
with their principal Dimensions 131
— Observations upon the Means of adding to the Defence of
Places by Outworks, &c. and on defilading a Place
from Heights 133
— Principal Dimensions of, according to Vauban 140
— Dimensions of Walls from 10 to 50 Feet high 142
_FUZES_—Composition for—Dimensions of 143
—Manner of finding the Length of, for any Range 144
_GABIONS_—Dimensions of, and Attentions in making them 145
_GIN TRIANGLE_—Dimensions and Weight of 146
_GRAVITY_—Table of specific Gravities 146
— Rules, to find the Magnitude of any Body from its Weight,
and the contrary 147
_GRAPE SHOT_—See _Shot_.
_GRENADES_—Distance to which they may be thrown 147
_GUNNERY_—In a nonresisting Medium
— How far it may be applied to Practice with the Help of
good Tables of Experiments 147
— Upon a horizontal Plane 148
— Upon inclined Planes 149
— Table of Amplitudes 151
— Table of Natural Sines, Tangents, and Secants 152
_GUNS_—Calibers of English and Foreign 153
— Length and Weight of English Brass 154
— Ditto French Brass 155
— Ditto English and French Iron 155
— Ranges with One Shot from Brass 156
— Ditto Two Shot 157
— Ditto small Charges from 157
— Effects of Case Shot from Battalion 158
— Ranges from Iron 159
— Ditto of 5½ Inch Shells from 24 Pr. 160
— Ditto 4⅖ Inch Ditto 12 Pr. 161
— Ranges from French 162
_GUNPOWDER_—Proportion of Ingredients for,
by different Powers in Europe 162
— Manner of Proving it at Pursleet 163
— Marks on the Barrels, by which the different Qualities
are distinguished 164
— French Proof of 165
_HAIR CLOTH_—Dimensions and Weight of 166
_HAND BARROW_—Ditto 166
_HANDSPIKES_—Ditto 166
_HARNESS_—Ditto for Horses and Men 166
_HORSES_—Military Gait, and other Particulars
respecting them 166
— Manner of Regulating the Weight they ought to Draw 166
— Number of, allowed to Artillery Carriages 167
_HOWITZERS_—Dimensions and Weight of English and French 168
— Natures of and by different Powers 169
— Ranges from 170
_LEVELLING_—Table shewing the Difference between
the true and apparent Level 172
— Manner of applying this Table to finding Heights
and Distances 172
_LOAD_—How regulated for Artillery Carriages 174
_MAGAZINES_—For Powder—Dimensions of _Temporary_
ones for Batteries 175
— _Permanent_, for fortified Places 175
_MATCH, Slow_—Composition for, and manner of making
— Time it will burn 177
— _Quick_—of Cotton or Worsted 178
_MARCHING_—Rate of, for Cavalry and Infantry 178
— Rates paid for pressed Carriages on a March 179
— Rates paid to Publicans for Troops on a March 179
_MEASURES_—Tables of English Weights and 180
— Old French, Do. 181
— New System of, by the French, with their proportion
to the old, and to the English 182
— Rules for converting French Weights and Measures
into English 184
— German, and Weights 184
— Proportion between the English Foot, and Pound Avoir,
and those of the principal Places in Europe 185
— For Powder; their Dimensions 185
_MECHANICS_—The different Powers of, and the advantage
gained by each 186
_MILE_—Comparison between the Miles of different
Countries 189
_MINE_—Rules for finding the proper Charge to produce
any required Excavation or Effect 190
— Remarks upon the Dimensions and Construction of Mines,
and their Galleries 193
— Usual System of Countermines, when prepared before hand 197
— Temporary Mines 198
_MORTARS_—Dimensions and Weight of English Brass and
Iron Mortars, with their extreme Ranges 200
— Ranges from 10 Inch Sea Service, at 21° 201
— Ditto 13 and 10 Inch Sea Service, at 45° 201
— Ditto French, at 45° 202
— Ditto English Land Service, at 45° 203
— Ditto of Iron 203
— Ditto English Land Service, at 45° of Brass 205
— Ditto Land Service, 5½ Inch Brass, at 15° 205
— Ditto Land Service, 10 and 8 Inch, at 10° 206
— Ditto Land Service, 10 and 8 Inch, at 15° 206
_NAVY_—Number and Nature of Ordnance for each Ship
in his Majesty’s 207
— Principal Dimensions of Ships Of War, Complements of Men,
and Draught of Water 208
_ORDNANCE_—Value of Brass and Iron 209
_PACE_—The Length of the Common and Geometrical 210
_PARALLELS_—See _Trenches_, and _Sap_
_PAY_—Table of, for the Officers, non Commissioned
Officers, and Privates of the Army 211
_PARK_—Its Situation and Distribution 213
_PENDULUMS_—How made for Artillery Purposes 215
— Proper Length of, for Seconds, ½ Seconds, and Quarters 215
— Rules for Finding the proper Length to make any number
of Vibrations in a Minute, and the Contrary 215
_PETARDS_—Dimensions of, and Stores for 216
_PLATFORMS_—Dimensions of, and Materials for Gun
and Mortar 216
_POINT BLANK_—What 217
_PONTOONS_—Dimensions and Weight of, and Equipage for one 217
_PORTFIRES_—Composition for—Time they will Burn
—Manner of making them at Gibraltar 218
_PROVISIONS_—Regulations respecting Rations of, for Sea
and Land Service 219
_PROOF_ of Iron Guns, with the Limits of their Reception 219
— Of Brass do. 220
— Howitzers, Mortars, and Carronades 221
— By Water 222
— By assaying the Metal 223
— Marks of condemned Ordnance 224
_RATIONS_—Of Provisions for Land and Sea Service 225
— Regulations respecting their Issue 226
— Deductions to be made from the Pay of Soldiers for 227
_RANK_—Between Sea and Land Officers 228
_RECOIL_—Of Brass Guns on Field Carriages, of Iron Guns
on Standing Carriages, and Mortars on their Beds 229
_RECONNOITERING_—Preparations for 230
Objects to be attended to in Reconnoitering—
1 Roads—2 Fords—3 Inundations—4 Springs
and Wells—5 Lakes and Marshes—6 Woods
and Forests—7 Heaths—8 Canals—9 Rivers—
10 Passes—11 Ravins—12 Cultivated Lands—
13 Orchards—14 Bridges—15 Mountains and
Hills—16 Coasts—17 Redoubts—18 Castles
and Citadels—19 Villages—20 Cities not fortified—
21 Fortified Towns—22 Positions
_RICOCHET_—Rules for firing 243
_ROCKETS_—Composition for Sky Rockets 245
—Table of General Dimensions of, with their Sticks 245
—Height to which they will ascend 246
_ROPE_—How distinguished—Rule for finding the Weight of 247
_SAND BAGS_—Dimensions of—Number required 248
_SAP_—Manner of carrying it on 248
_SECANTS_—Table of Natural Secants 248
_SHELLS_—Dimensions and Weight of,
for Mortars and Howitzers 249
— For Guns and Carronades 250
— Manner of throwing Shells from Guns though they
do not fit the Bore 251
— French and German 251
— Rules to find the Weight of, and the Quantity of Powder
they will contain 252
_SHOT_—Rules to find the Number in any Pile of 252
— Rules for finding the Weight and Dimensions of
Iron and Lead Shot 253
— Table of Diameters of English and French Iron round Shot 255
— Table of English Case Shot for different Services 256
— Tables of Grape Shot for Sea and Land Service 257
— Manner of Quilting small Shells in Grape 257
— Precautions in firing Hot Shot 258
_SINES_—Table of Natural Sines 259
_SOUND_—Velocity of—Rules for computing Distances by 259
_STOPPAGES_—From the Pay of an Artillery Soldier, weekly 260
_TANGENTS_—Table of Natural Tangents 261
— Manner of making a Tangent Scale to any Piece of Ordnance 262
— Table of Tangents to 1° for English Field Artillery 262
— Ditto French 262
_TENTS_—Weight and Dimensions of Tents
of different Descriptions 262
_TONNAGE_—Manner of finding the Tonnage of any Ship 263
— Table of Tonnage of Ordnance Stores 264
— Tonnage allowed for Officers Baggage on board Transports 266
_TRANSPORTS_—Regulations on board of 266
_TRENCHES_—Dimensions of Trenches of Approach at a Siege 266
— Manner of opening, and conducting the Trenches
and Parallels 267
_TROU DE LOUP_—Dimensions of 269
_TUBES_—Dimensions of, and Composition for Tin Tubes 269
_UNIFORMS_—Principal Colours of the Military
Uniforms of different Powers in Europe 271
_VELOCITY_—Principal Points ascertained respecting the
initial Velocities of Shot from Guns of
different Lengths, and with different Charges,
by the Experiments at Woolwich 272
— Initial Velocities of English and French Artillery 273
_VENTS_—Diameter of 275
_WEIGHTS_—Table of English and French 276
_WINDAGE_—Of English and French Artillery 276
_WOOD_—Employed in making Artillery Carriages 277