Joseph Roberts

“ The wheel is thrown into or out of gear, that is, made to bear on the rail of the chassis or relieved from it, by turning the axle with a wrench placed on the octagonal end. In the direction of the radii of the wheels, but inclined outwards, mortises are placed for the reception of the end of the iron handspikes, by acting on which while inserted the wheels are turned, and the carriage moved back and forth on the chassis. Ordinarily, when the wheels are thrown into gear, the carriage being back, it will run into battery of itself. ”

“ When the object cannot be seen from the mortar, owing to the interposition of some obstacle, as a parapet or a hill, two persons in sight of each other, one of whom can see the mortar, and the other the object, must by successive changes of position, place themselves in the vertical plane of fire, and at the points thus determined, stakes must be driven, one of which will serve as the object.
15. How may precision of fire be secured at night with mortars? ”

“ The grooves are of different forms, determined by the angle made by the tangent line at any point with the corresponding element of the bore. If the angles be equal at all points, the groove is said to be uniform. If they increase from the breech to the muzzle, the grooves are called increasing; if the reverse, decreasing grooves. The practical method of cutting grooves consists in moving a rod armed with a cutter, back and forth in the bore, and at the same time revolving it around its axis. If the velocities of translation and rotation be both uniform, the grooves will have a uniform twist ”

“ What is a platform?
A strong flooring upon which a piece of ordnance, mounted on its carriage, is manœuvred when in battery.
2. What is the object of a platform?
To facilitate the service of heavy guns and mortars, and to insure accuracy of fire.
3. Mention the kinds of platforms in general use in the service.
Fixed platforms for casemate and barbette batteries in fortifications, which are constructed with the works; the siege-platform for guns and howitzers; and the siege-platform for mortars; the rail-platform; and the ricochet-platform.
4. What properties should wooden platforms possess? ”

“ When the notches or sights, which are sometimes made upon the base-ring and swell of the muzzle in field guns, for aiming the piece are used, how is the error of direction remedied when the wheels are not on the same level? ”

“ What is the rate of march of horse-artillery and cavalry?
Walk, 33⁄4 miles per hour, or 1 mile in 16 minutes; trot, 71⁄2 per hour, or 1 mile in 8 minutes; manœuvring gallop, at the rate of 11 miles per hour, or 1 mile in 3 minutes; cavalry charge, 24 miles an hour, or at the rate of 1 mile in 21⁄2 minutes.
16. At what rate does infantry march?
In common time, 90 steps = 70 yards in 1 minute, or 2 miles 680 yards in an hour; in quick time, 110 steps = 86 yards in 1 minute, or 2 miles 1613 yards in an hour; in double quick, 140 steps = 109 yards in 1 minute, or 3 miles 1253 yards in an hour. ”

“ Previous to an assault, the artillery ought to support the other troops by a combined fire of guns, howitzers, and small mortars, so that, if possible, the fire may be simultaneous, as such a diversity of projectiles would tend to distract the defenders and prevent them from extinguishing any fire among buildings, besides throwing them into confusion at the moment of assault. ”

“ A solid sphere of cast-iron, almost exclusively appropriated to guns. The gun derives it denomination from the weight of the shot, as 6-pr., 12-pr., &c.
3. What is a shell, and its use?
A hollow sphere of cast-iron, containing powder, which is ignited by means of a fuze; when fired at troops, it should be prepared to burst over their heads, or, if the ground be favorable, to ricochet a little in front, and plunge into the column. When fired at works or buildings, it should explode after penetration. ”

“ If a siege is to be undertaken, place in each vessel with each piece of artillery its implements, ammunition, and the carriages necessary to [Pg 122] transport the whole or a part; the platforms, tools, instruments, and materials for constructing batteries; skids, rollers, scantling, and plank.
3. If a particular calibre of gun is necessary for any operation, do not place all of one kind in one vessel, to avoid being entirely deprived of them by any accident. ”

“ In firing, the carriage should yield to the recoil. Were it fixed [Pg 95] immovably, it would soon be destroyed, no matter how great its solidity. Its weight should be proportional to that of the piece. If too heavy it would soon be destroyed by the shocks of the piece. If too light, the recoil would be immoderate. Its weight should always be less than that of the piece. A heavy piece upon too light a carriage will perform better service than the reverse arrangement, since the effort exerted by a piece depends upon its mass multiplied into the square of the velocity. ”

“ As a precaution, it is well to insert a wet sponge just before putting in the ball. The muzzle is sufficiently elevated to allow the ball to roll down the bore, the cartridge is inserted, the mouth of the outer bag foremost, the fold down, and carefully pushed home without breaking it; a dry hay-wad is placed upon it, and rammed once; then a clay or wet hay wad, and rammed twice; and finally, if firing at angles of depression, a wad of clay a half-calibre in length, or a wet hay-wad is put on the ball.
40. May the ball cool in the gun without igniting the charge? ”

“ Cannon should be placed together, according to kind and calibre, on skids of stone, iron, or wood, laid on hard ground well rammed and covered with a layer of cinders or of some other material to prevent vegetation. In case of guns and long howitzers, the pieces should rest on the skids in front of the base ring and in rear of the astragal, the axis inclined at an angle of 4° or 5° with the horizon, the muzzle lowest, the trunnions touching each other ”

“ When a particular point of the line requires additional support, a favorable position is to be seized, an impression has been made on the line by the enemy, a forward or retrograde movement is in contemplation, or when a determined attack is to be made on him, then the reserve should come up and take part in the action ”

“ The body is generally made of cast-iron; and the expanding portion is a band or cup of some softer metal, as pewter, copper, or wrought iron, which enters the bore of the piece freely when it is loaded, but which is forced into the grooves by the discharge. ”

“ It is better to do it in summer. Old lacker should be removed with a scraper, or by scouring, and not by heating the guns or balls, by which the metal is injured.
About 5 gallons of lacker are required for 100 field guns and 1000 shot; about 1 quart for a sea-coast gun. Before the lacker is applied, every particle of rust is removed from the gun, and the vent cleared out. ”

“ What are the dimensions required for an earthen parapet to resist the fire of field or siege guns?
6 feet for 6-pdrs.; 14 feet for 12-pdrs.; 18 feet for 24 or 18-pdrs.; four feet of oak or brick will resist cannon shot.
33. What thickness of ice will admit the passage of infantry, cavalry, and artillery?
Ice 3 inches thick, will bear infantry marching in file; from 41⁄2 to 61⁄2 inches, cavalry and light artillery; and beyond that the heaviest gun carriages may pass in safety. Ice 8 inches thick will bear nearly 10 cwt. upon a square foot without danger. ”

“ It is a shell much thinner than the ordinary shell, and filled with leaden bullets and a charge of powder sufficient to burst it, which is done by means of a fuze as with a common shell at any required distance. It is thus calculated to extend all the advantages of canister shot, to distances far beyond the reach of that projectile. It is fired both from guns and howitzers. ”