Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

THE CARE OF AMMUNITION.

Ammunition for field-pieces is put up in wooden boxes so painted as to indicate their contents, viz.: for shell, black; for shrapnel, red; for canister, light drab. The kind of ammunition is also marked on the end of the box, and the place and date of manufacture on the inside of the cover. Each box contains ten projectiles. Projectiles, except bands and fuzes, are painted as follows:

Shrapnel, with Point-charge.—Body black; head vermilion.

Shrapnel, with Base-charge.—Body, from band to include ⅗ of head, black; remainder of head and part of body in rear of band, vermilion.

Canister.—Wholly black.

Shell (Cast-iron).—Body, including ½ length of head, black; remainder of head, next to point, vermilion.

The fuze-holes should be stopped with tow or cotton waste, and the projectiles should be kept under cover in a dry place. Care should be taken in handling projectiles to avoid injuring the bands. Projectiles for field-guns are now issued, charged and fuzed for service, from the arsenals.

Shells of field-mortars should not be kept charged. This is done as occasion requires when firing, and the greatest care must be taken before inserting the fuze that the threads of both fuze and fuze-hole are perfectly free from dust, grit, and powder; and when assembled the fuze must be screwed tight home.

Powder.—When made cartridges are not supplied, the powder is in wooden barrels, or in barrels of corrugated metal with bronze screw-caps, each containing 100 pounds. On the heads are stencilled the number of the barrel, the name of the manufacturer, year of fabrication, kind of powder, the mean initial velocity and pressure per square inch on the pressure-piston. Each time the powder is proved the initial velocity is marked below the former proof-marks, and the date of trial opposite it.

Barrels of different kinds of powder are piled separately, and, besides being recorded in the magazine-book, each parcel is marked with a card showing the kind and the entries and issues.

In the magazine the barrels are placed on their sides, generally three tiers high, or four tiers if absolutely necessary. Small skids are placed on the floor and between the several tiers, and the barrels chocked at intervals to prevent rolling. The tiers must be so arranged that the marks can readily be seen and any particular kind reached. There should be an unobstructed space of several yards square at the door, and this space, as likewise the alleys, should be covered with carpet or matting. The magazine is provided with a well near the door; into this the sweepings are put; they should never be swept out at the door.

For the preservation of the magazine it is of the greatest importance to keep unobstructed the circulation of air under as well as above the flooring. The magazine should be opened and aired only in dry, clear weather, when the temperature of the air outside is lower than that inside of the magazine.

It should not be opened in damp weather if it can be avoided. The ventilators must be kept free, and no shrubbery or trees allowed to grow near so as to screen the building from the sun. The yard should be of sand or clay and well drained. The moisture of a magazine may be absorbed by chloride of lime kept in an open vessel and renewed from time to time. Quicklime is dangerous, and should not be used. Candles in lanterns are used for lighting the magazine. No one should enter without first removing his shoes or putting india-rubbers over them. No cane, sword, or anything which might occasion sparks must be carried in.

Barrels of powder must not be rolled in transportation; they should be carried in handbarrows, or in slings made of rope, canvas, or leather. All implements used in the magazine or on the barrels should be of copper or wood. The barrels must never be repaired in the magazine. When it is necessary to roll them for the better preservation of the powder and to prevent its caking, it is done with a small number at a time on boards in the yard.

Neither loaded shells, fireworks, nor composition for fireworks, fuzes, nor friction-primers, etc., will be stored in a magazine with powder. Shells should be filled in the filling-room of the service-magazine.

Transportation of Powder.—In wagons. The barrels of powder must be packed in straw, secured in such a manner as not to rub against each other, and the load closely covered with canvas. Sufficient guard should accompany the train to prevent all fire or smoking near the wagons. No camp-fires should be allowed near the park. On railroads each barrel should be tightly boxed and packed so as to avoid friction; the cars, if practicable, should have springs similar to those of passenger-cars.

Fuzes and Friction-primers are kept as far as possible in their original packages, and are stored in the driest and safest place in the storehouse.

Filling Cartridge-bags.—The powder is carried in barrels from the magazine to the filling-room. Under no circumstances will the filling be done at the magazine. Handle powder carefully. Implements required: 1 copper hammer, 1 wooden drift, 1 counter-brush, 1 scoop, 1 counter-scale and weights (brass or copper), 1 filling-funnel, 1 set of powder-measures, cartridge-bags and twine. When the cartridges are to be used with projectiles, each charge is carefully weighed; if for blank cartridges, it is measured.

One man holds the bag open and another pours the powder into it through a funnel. The bag is then securely tied with twine close to the powder. When filled, each should be marked in pencil, showing kind and weight of powder, and for what piece to be used.

Filling Projectiles.—The bursting-charge should be weighed and carefully placed in shell through copper funnel, the nose of which should pass below the end of the screw-thread. Then carefully wipe the thread of both fuze and fuze-hole before inserting the fuze.