The artillerist's manual and British soldier's compendium

by F. A. Griffiths

An artilleryman should, however, never forget that the guns are his Standard, which it should be his pride and glory to defend to the last moment, never deserting them without positive orders to do so, or until the last glimmering hope of saving them is destroyed. But should the necessity of abandoning the guns appear imperative, then let the Artillerist remember that a parting shot (especially canister) at the advancing columns of the enemy, may insure not only his own safety, but also that of a large portion of the army.

UNSPIKING ORDNANCE.

If a gun has been spiked with a Common steel spike, load with a charge of powder equal to half the shot’s weight: lay a leader of quick match along the bore, and double shot the gun, introducing the shot, however, very carefully.

By affixing a piece of slow match to the end of the quick match which reaches to the muzzle, the gun may be easily and safely fired. Should the spike not be removed, the operation may be repeated.

When Brass guns have been spiked, it would be advisable, a day or two before making the above experiment, to scratch round the spike with a graver, and pour a few drops of Sulphuric, or Nitric acid into the circle, which, being repeated, will find its way down between the spike and the metal, particularly if the former is not perfectly round. When the gun cannot be unspiked by the above-mentioned operations, make a large fire round the breech to soften the spike, and after the gun has been gradually cooled, the spike may generally be removed by using the drill.

When a gun cannot be unspiked, the only means of rendering it serviceable is to drill another vent, about half an inch from the original one.

To drill a new Vent will require about an hour per inch. Care must be taken that a very small drill is first used, and afterwards one rather less than the diameter of the vent, otherwise the vent will run the risk of being too much enlarged.

Length, Weight, Calibre, Charge, &c., of Ordnance.
		Length.					Charges, Land Service.			Shot.
	Nature of	In feet and		In	Weight.	Calibre.	Service.	Proof.		High	Low
	piece.	inches.		Calibres.						gauge.	gauge.
		ft.	in.		cwt.	inches.	lb. oz.	lb.	oz.	inches.	inches.
	10-Inch	9	4	11·	85	10·	12 †	20
	8	9		13·3	65	8·05	10 †	20		7·95	7·9
		8	10	13·05	60	8·05	10 †	20		”	”
		8		11·82	52	8·05	8 †	16		”	”
		6	8	9·93	50	8·05	8 †	14		”	”
	68 Pr.	10	10	16·15	112	8·12	18	30		”	”
		10		14·78	95	8·12	14	28		”	”
		9	6	14·	87	8·12	14	25		”	”
	56 Pr.	11		17·6	98	7·65	14	28		7·51	7·45
		10		16·	87	7·65	14	25		”	”
	42 Pr.	10		17·21	84	6·97	14	25		”	”
		10		17·21	75	6·97	14	25		6·79	6·73
		9	6	16·43	67	6·93	10	23		”	”
	32 Pr.	9	7	17·95	64	6·41	10	21	5	6·2	6·14
		9	6	17·78	56	6·41	10	21	5	”	”
		9		16·35	46	6·35	6	12		”	”
		8	6	16·	45	6·35	7	16		”	”
		8		14·9	48	6·41	8	21	8	”	”
		8		15·1	42	6·35	6	14		”	”
	*	7	6	14·1	40	6·35	6	12		”	”
	*	6	6	12·38	32	6·3	5	10		”	”
	*	6		11·4	25	6·3	4	9		”	”
	24 Pr.	9	6	19·57	50	5·82	8	18		5·63	5·58
		9		18·54	48	5·82	8	18		”	”
		6	6	13·39	33	5·82	6	12		”	”
	18 Pr.	9		18·52	42	5·29	6	15		5·12	5·07
		8		18·14	38	5·29	6	15		”	”
	*	7		16·24	22	5·17	3	7		”	”
	*	6		13·92	20	5·17	3	7		”	”
	*	5	6	12·76	15	5·17	2	5		”	”
	12 Pr.	9		23·14	34	4·62	4	12		4·54	4·50
		8	6	22·	33	4·62	4	12		4·54	4·50
		7	6	19·46	29	4·62	4	12		”	”
		6		15·57	21	4·62	4	10		4·50	4·50
	9 Pr.	8	6	24·28	28	4·2	3	9		4·11	4·08
		7	6	21·4	26	4·2	3	9		”	”
		7		20·	25	4·2	3	9		”	”
		5	6	15·71	17	4·2	2	8		4·11	4·08
	6 Pr.	7	6	24·53	21	3·66	2	6		3·58	3·55
		6		19·6	17	3·66	2	6		3·56	3·55
* Bored-up guns.					† Hollow shot.