The charge for muskets is commonly half the weight of the ball. The balls for musketry are eighteen to the pound; and one pound of powder is sufficient for thirty-six cartridges.[30] Forty cartridges may be used to the pound, but forty-five would be too weak. The paper, necessary to form cartridges, should be well sized and not too thick. It is made for the purpose, under the name of cartridge paper, and should be of such a size as to cut to advantage. It is usually fourteen inches in length, and sixteen in breadth. A sheet will form twelve cartridges, but on account of wastage, it makes only ten. Half a sheet is employed as a wrapper for every ten cartridges, and one and a half sheets are used for ten and their wrapper. Six quires will make 1000 cartridges, and 31 reams, 100,000. Five ounces of packthread are necessary for binding 1000 cartridges, and 31 lbs. for 100,000.
Musket cartridges are made in the following manner. Long tables are provided, and, at certain distances, excavations, or holes are made, larger than the diameter of the ball, and one-third of its diameter in depth. These holes are designed for rounding the folds upon the ball. It is necessary first to be provided with formers to roll the cartridges upon, and measures to fill them with. These formers are made of hard and dry wood, seven inches, or seven and a half inches in length, and six-tenths of an inch in diameter, one-twelfth of an inch less than the diameter of the caliber. One end is rounded so as not to hurt the hand; the other is hollow, to receive one-third of the ball. The measures are in the form of the frustrum of a cone, open above. They are made of sheet-tin, and should contain one-fortieth part of a pound of powder, (one-forty-ninth according to the Strasburgh directions), or, when heaped, one thirty-sixth part of a pound. The height of these measures is one inch and a quarter; their diameter at the large end one inch and one-twelfth, and at the smaller end, three-quarters of an inch. In every squad of ten men, six are employed to roll the cartridges, two to fill them, and two to pack them. Each squad may make 10,000, but commonly 8,000, in a day.
To cut the paper for musket cartridges, we begin by folding the sheet in three parts widthwise; then each third part into two, again into three, and again into two, by a diagonal line which takes from 2.2 inches of a superior angle on the left, to 2.2 of the opposite inferior angle at the right; so that every sheet of paper will cut, without loss, into twelve parts, and every part will be 5.68 inches in height, 4.53 in width at one end, and 2.2 at the other end. According to Bigot, however, each trapezoid thus formed is 51/3 inches in length, 41/4 in width at one end, and 21/4 at the other end. The paper is cut by a person detailed for the purpose.
The person who rolls the cartridges, having spread the cut paper upon a table, takes the form with one hand, and the ball in the other, which he puts into the hollow of the form; after which, he rolls the paper round the ball and the form, so that there remains sufficient beyond the ball, to fold over in small folds; then he rolls the form surrounded with the paper, and having rounded the folds upon the ball, in a small hole made for that purpose in the table, he withdraws the form, and passes the cartridge to the man who is to fill it. He puts in the charge with a small tin measure, folds the paper over upon the powder as close as possible, and passes it on to him who is to make the packages. The packer takes ten in his hand, and arranges them on a sheet of paper folded in two, the balls half on one side and half on the other; and having wrapped them in the paper, he folds over the two ends, and ties the packets crosswise over the middle, and lengthwise.
Musket cartridges cannot be too tightly rolled upon the form; and to ascertain their accuracy, they must be calibered before they are loaded; that is, they must be put into the end of a musket. He who fills them, should make a charge complete in every cartridge, and not load one more than another, but always pour a full measure into every one. The packer should tie the cartridges, and round them as much as possible, without tearing the paper. He should take care that all the packets are of the same length; so that they may be placed in the partitions of the ammunition chest, which are all of one determined length, and will not therefore contain them, if made too long.
Cannon cartouches should be well arranged in the ammunition chests, and well stowed with tow, that they may be carried without danger of injury from the road. The tow is pressed down in small quantities, by a little wooden spatula, and cannot be pressed too hard; for the more the chests are stuffed with tow, the better the ammunition will be preserved.
Musket cartridges are placed in the ammunition chests in different arrangements, the height of which is proportioned to that of the cartridge. There are three stories in height in each chest, for musket cartridges; and between each a small separation, to prevent them from injuring each other. The number of cartridges contained in an ammunition wagon is proportioned to the kind of wagon in use, and to the quantity necessary for the service. The common load of ammunition wagons does not exceed thirteen hundred weight, if it is meant to take the benefit of forced marches. In every ammunition wagon for cannon cartouches, there are cartouches with ball, grape-shot, quick-match, and port-fires, staffs for port-fires, priming wires and match-rope—so that every wagon contains all kinds of ammunition relative to its caliber. In an ammunition wagon filled with musket cartridges, a certain number of flints are contained, to be distributed to the troops from the same chest whence they receive their ammunition.
We might here speak of the load of every ammunition wagon; but this subject more particularly belongs to artillery and its suite, than to fire-works.
Cartridges, used in sieges, &c. are made of paper bags, of the calibers of the different pieces, and of a sufficient length to contain the requisite quantity of powder. The paper should be large and strong.
The handle of each of the formers should have such a length and size, as to render them convenient to hold in the hand. Care must be taken to pierce a small hole in the middle, through the whole length of the form, by which the air might enter to the cartouches, and cause the form to be more easily drawn out, after the cartridge is made.