Some idea of the importance of Gunpowder may be formed by the estimate of the enormous quantity employed in sieges, and warfare generally.
Quantity used in sieges.
At the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, January, 1812, 74,978lbs. were consumed in 301⁄2 hours; at Badajos, March, 1812, 228,830lbs. in 104 hours, and this from the great guns only.
San Sebastian and Zaragoza.
At the two sieges of San Sebastian, 502,110lbs. At Zaragoza, the French exploded 45,000lbs. in the mines, and threw 16,000 shells.
Sebastopol.
During the siege of Sebastopol, extending over a period of eleven months, the enormous quantity of 2,775,360lbs., or 1,239 tons of gunpowder, were expended by ourselves alone; 9,076 tons of shot and shell having been launched by us on that memorable occasion, from 476 pieces of heavy ordnance; of which only 11 actually burst, though 269 were rendered unserviceable.
Quantity made.
Some of our private manufactories make from 8 to 10,000 barrels of powder a year in time of peace, and from 10 to 14,000 during war.
Quantity proved by Government.