R. W. ADYE.

INDEX.

Page.
PREFACE,[ i]
AMMUNITION—For Small Arms—How carried,[ 7]
—For Artillery, see Artillery.
AMMUZETTE—Its Length, Weight, &c.[8]
APRONS of Lead—Weight and Dimensions of,[ 8]
ARMS, Small—Their Weight and Dimensions,
Balls for their Proof, Service, &c.
ARTILLERY—1st. For the Field.
—Divided into Battalion Guns, Park and Horse Artillery,[10]
—Ammunition and Stores for one Field Piece of each Nature,[11]
—Manner of carrying the Ammunition and Stores,[15]
—Load for a common Artillery Ammunition Waggon,[16]
—Load for a Horse Artillery Ammunition Waggon,[17]
—Proportion of Artillery, Ammunition, and Carriages
for four French Armies,[18]
—Proportion of Ammunition carried with French Artillery,
and with that of other Powers,[20]
—Movements and Positions of Battalion Guns,[21]
—Movements and Positions of Artillery of the Park,[24]
—Line of March for Three Brigades of Field Artillery,[28]
—2d. Artillery and Ammunition for a Siege—
Considerations in estimating them,[29]
—Proportion demanded for the Siege of Lisle,[31]
—Arrangement and Position at a Siege,[33]
—3d. Artillery and Ammunition for the Defence
of a Fortified Place—Manner of estimating them,[37]
—Arrangement of the Artillery,[39]
—Expenditure of Ammunition,[42]
AXLETREES—Dimensions of, in Wood or Iron,[44]
BALLS—of Lead—Manner of Packing them,[45]
—Manner of finding their Diameters and Weights
BARRELS for Gunpowder; their Dimensions and Content
—Budge do.[46]
BASKETS, Ballast—Dimensions of[46]
BATTERIES—Dimensions of, for Guns, Mortars, and Howitzers[46]
—For Ricochet firing,[48]
—For the Defence of a Coast,[49]
—Manner of estimating the Quantity of Materials for,[50]
—Tools required for the Construction of[52]
—Estimate of the Quantity of Earth which may be removed
in a given time,[53]
BEDS—Dimensions and Weight of, for Mortars and Guns,[54]
BOXES, for Ammunition—Dimensions and Weight of, when
filled and empty; and the Number of Rounds contained by[55]
BOMB KETCH—Instruction for the Management of a, in Action,[56]
—Proportion of Stores for,[58]
BREACH—Manner of forming one; and Time required
to make it practicable,[60]
BRIDGE—Manner of laying one, of Pontoons; Weight it will
bear; and Precautions required in passing over it,[62]
CAMPS—Manner of laying out the front of,
for Infantry and Cavalry,[65]
—Distribution of the Depth of,[66]
—In a confined Situation,[69]
CARCASSES—Composition for,[70]
—Valencienne’s Composition, for making Shells
answer the Purpose of
—Dimensions and Weight of,[71]
—Manner of preventing their being destroyed by the Explosion
CARRONADES—Dimensions and Weight of,[72]
—Ranges with Shot and Shells from
CARRIAGES—Weight of, for Field Service,[73]
—Dimensions of Axletrees for,[75]
—Diameters of Wheels for,[76]
—Dimensions and Weight of standing[77]
CARTRIDGES—Weight and Dimensions of,
for Guns, Mortars, and Howitzers[78]
—For Small Arms[79]
—For Musquets by different Nations[79]
CHAMBERS—Experiments upon the best Form of, for Mortars[80]
CHARGES—For different Natures of Guns and Carronades[81]
—Lessened when Cylinder Powder is used[81]
—of French Guns[82]
CHEVAUX DE FRIZE—Dimensions and Weight of[82]
COMPOSITIONS—For Kitt; Fire, Smoke, and Light Balls;
suffocating Pots; Fire Hoops, Arrows, and
Lances; Cases for burning Fascine Batteries[84]
—General Precautions in mixing [84]
CONVOYS—Length of Line of March of[84]
—Rate of travelling with, and Manner of escorting[85]
DISPART—Of Guns[86]
DISTANCES—Practical Methods of measuring without
mathematical Instruments[87]
—Cavallo’s Micrometer for measuring[92]
—Table of Angles subtended by one Foot at different[95]
DRAG ROPES—Weight and Dimensions of[95]
EMBARKATION—Of Ordnance and Stores[96]
—Of Troops[99]
EXERCISE—Of Artillery
—Duties of the Men attached to Field Guns or Howitzers,
with the full Complement, and with reduced Numbers[100]
—Methods of advancing and retiring Field Artillery
without Drag Ropes[104]
—Duties of the Men in advancing and retiring
Field Artillery with Drag Ropes[109]
—Of Heavy Ordnance on a Battery with different
Complements of Men[112]
—Of the Triangle Gin[115]
—Of the Sling Cart[117]
FASCINES—Dimensions and Uses of the different Natures of,
with the necessary Attentions in making them[119]
FIRE SHIP—Proportion of combustible Stores for[120]
—Method of fitting out[122]
—New Method of fitting out, to produce more external Fire[124]
FLINTS—Number of, packed in a half Barrel;
with the Weight of, &c.[126]
FORTIFICATION—Practical Maxims in building Field Works
with their Dimensions
—Permanent; Observations upon the different Parts of,
with their principal Dimensions[131]
—Observations upon the Means of adding to the Defence of Places
by Outworks, &c. and on defilading a Place from Heights[133]
—Principal Dimensions of, according to Vauban[140]
—Dimensions of Walls from 10 to 50 Feet high[142]
FUZES—Composition for—Dimensions of[143]
—Manner of finding the Length of, for any Range[144]
GABIONS—Dimensions of, and Attentions in making them[145]
GIN TRIANGLE—Dimensions and Weight of[146]
GRAVITY—Table of specific Gravities[146]
—Rules, to find the Magnitude of any Body from its Weight,
and the contrary[147]
GRAPE SHOT—See Shot.
GRENADES—Distance to which they may be thrown[147]
GUNNERY—In a nonresisting Medium
—How far it may be applied to Practice with the Help of good
Tables of Experiments[147]
—Upon a horizontal Plane[148]
—Upon inclined Planes[149]
—Table of Amplitudes[151]
—Table of Natural Sines, Tangents, and Secants[152]
GUNS—Calibers of English and Foreign[153]
—Length and Weight of English Brass[154]
—Ditto French Brass[155]
—Ditto English and French Iron[155]
—Ranges with One Shot from Brass[156]
—Ditto Two Shot[157]
—Ditto small Charges from[157]
—Effects of Case Shot from Battalion[158]
—Ranges from Iron[159]
—Ditto of 5½ Inch Shells from 24 Pr.[160]
—Ditto 4⅖ Inch Ditto 12 Pr.[161]
—Ranges from French[162]
GUNPOWDER—Proportion of Ingredients for, by different
Powers in Europe[162]
—Manner of Proving it at Pursleet[163]
—Marks on the Barrels, by which the different Qualities
are distinguished[164]
—French Proof of[165]
HAIR CLOTH—Dimensions and Weight of[166]
HAND BARROW—Ditto[166]
HANDSPIKES—Ditto[166]
HARNESS—Ditto for Horses and Men[166]
HORSES—Military Gait, and other Particulars respecting them[166]
—Manner of Regulating the Weight they ought to Draw[166]
—Number of, allowed to Artillery Carriages[167]
HOWITZERS—Dimensions and Weight of English and French[168]
—Natures of and by different Powers[169]
—Ranges from[170]
LEVELLING—Table shewing the Difference between the true
and apparent Level[172]
—Manner of applying this Table to finding Heights and Distances[172]
LOAD—How regulated for Artillery Carriages[174]
MAGAZINES—For Powder—Dimensions of Temporary ones
for Batteries[175]
—Permanent, for fortified Places[175]
MATCH, Slow—Composition for, and manner of making
—Time it will burn[177]
—Quick—of Cotton or Worsted[178]
MARCHING—Rate of, for Cavalry and Infantry[178]
—Rates paid for pressed Carriages on a March[179]
—Rates paid to Publicans for Troops on a March[179]
MEASURES—Tables of English Weights and[180]
—Old French, Do.[181]
—New System of, by the French, with their proportion
to the old, and to the English[182]
—Rules for converting French Weights and Measures into English[184]
—German, and Weights[184]
—Proportion between the English Foot, and Pound Avoir,
and those of the principal Places in Europe[185]
—For Powder; their Dimensions[185]
MECHANICS—The different Powers of, and the advantage
gained by each[186]
MILE—Comparison between the Miles of different Countries[189]
MINE—Rules for finding the proper Charge to produce
any required Excavation or Effect[190]
—Remarks upon the Dimensions and Construction of Mines,
and their Galleries[193]
—Usual System of Countermines, when prepared before hand[197]
—Temporary Mines[198]
MORTARS—Dimensions and Weight of English Brass and Iron
Mortars, with their extreme Ranges[200]
—Ranges from 10 Inch Sea Service, at 21°[201]
—Ditto 13 and 10 Inch Sea Service, at 45°[201]
—Ditto French, at 45°[202]
—Ditto English Land Service, at 45°[203]
—Ditto of Iron[203]
—Ditto English Land Service, at 45° of Brass[205]
—Ditto Land Service, 5½ Inch Brass, at 15°[205]
—Ditto Land Service, 10 and 8 Inch, at 10°[206]
—Ditto Land Service, 10 and 8 Inch, at 15°[206]
NAVY—Number and Nature of Ordnance for each Ship
in his Majesty’s[207]
—Principal Dimensions of Ships Of War, Complements of Men,
and Draught of Water [208]
ORDNANCE—Value of Brass and Iron [209]
PACE—The Length of the Common and Geometrical[210]
PARALLELS—See Trenches, and Sap
PAY—Table of, for the Officers, non Commissioned
Officers, and Privates of the Army[211]
PARK—Its Situation and Distribution[213]
PENDULUMS—How made for Artillery Purposes[215]
—Proper Length of, for Seconds, ½ Seconds, and Quarters[215]
—Rules for Finding the proper Length to make any number
of Vibrations in a Minute, and the Contrary[215]
PETARDS—Dimensions of, and Stores for[216]
PLATFORMS—Dimensions of, and Materials for Gun and Mortar[216]
POINT BLANK—What[217]
PONTOONS—Dimensions and Weight of, and Equipage for one[217]
PORTFIRES—Composition for—Time they will Burn
—Manner of making them at Gibraltar[218]
PROVISIONS—Regulations respecting Rations of,
for Sea and Land Service[219]
PROOF of Iron Guns, with the Limits of their Reception[219]
—Of Brass do.[220]
—Howitzers, Mortars, and Carronades[221]
—By Water[222]
—By assaying the Metal[223]
—Marks of condemned Ordnance[224]
RATIONS—Of Provisions for Land and Sea Service[225]
—Regulations respecting their Issue[226]
—Deductions to be made from the Pay of Soldiers for[227]
RANK—Between Sea and Land Officers[228]
RECOIL—Of Brass Guns on Field Carriages, of Iron Guns
on Standing Carriages, and Mortars on their Beds[229]
RECONNOITERING—Preparations for[230]
Objects to be attended to in Reconnoitering—
1 Roads—2 Fords—3 Inundations—4 Springs
and Wells—5 Lakes and Marshes—6 Woods
and Forests—7 Heaths—8 Canals—9 Rivers—
10 Passes—11 Ravins—12 Cultivated Lands—
13 Orchards—14 Bridges—15 Mountains and
Hills—16 Coasts—17 Redoubts—18 Castles
and Citadels—19 Villages—20 Cities not fortified—
21 Fortified Towns—22 Positions
RICOCHET—Rules for firing[243]
ROCKETS—Composition for Sky Rockets[245]
—Table of General Dimensions of, with their Sticks[245]
—Height to which they will ascend[246]
ROPE—How distinguished—Rule for finding the Weight of[247]
SAND BAGS—Dimensions of—Number required[248]
SAP—Manner of carrying it on[248]
SECANTS—Table of Natural Secants[248]
SHELLS—Dimensions and Weight of, for Mortars and Howitzers[249]
—For Guns and Carronades[250]
—Manner of throwing Shells from Guns though they
do not fit the Bore[251]
—French and German[251]
—Rules to find the Weight of, and the Quantity of Powder
they will contain[252]
SHOT—Rules to find the Number in any Pile of[252]
—Rules for finding the Weight and Dimensions of
Iron and Lead Shot[253]
—Table of Diameters of English and French Iron round Shot[255]
—Table of English Case Shot for different Services[256]
—Tables of Grape Shot for Sea and Land Service[257]
—Manner of Quilting small Shells in Grape[257]
—Precautions in firing Hot Shot[258]
SINES—Table of Natural Sines[259]
SOUND—Velocity of—Rules for computing Distances by[259]
STOPPAGES—From the Pay of an Artillery Soldier, weekly[260]
TANGENTS—Table of Natural Tangents[261]
—Manner of making a Tangent Scale to any Piece of Ordnance[262]
—Table of Tangents to 1° for English Field Artillery[262]
—Ditto French[262]
TENTS—Weight and Dimensions of Tents of different Descriptions[262]
TONNAGE—Manner of finding the Tonnage of any Ship[263]
—Table of Tonnage of Ordnance Stores[264]
—Tonnage allowed for Officers Baggage on board Transports[266]
TRANSPORTS—Regulations on board of[266]
TRENCHES—Dimensions of Trenches of Approach at a Siege[266]
—Manner of opening, and conducting the Trenches and Parallels[267]
TROU DE LOUP—Dimensions of[269]
TUBES—Dimensions of, and Composition for Tin Tubes[269]
UNIFORMS—Principal Colours of the Military
Uniforms of different Powers in Europe[271]
VELOCITY—Principal Points ascertained respecting the initial
Velocities of Shot from Guns of different Lengths, and
with different Charges, by the Experiments at Woolwich[272]
—Initial Velocities of English and French Artillery[273]
VENTS—Diameter of[275]
WEIGHTS—Table of English and French[276]
WINDAGE—Of English and French Artillery[276]
WOOD—Employed in making Artillery Carriages[277]

PREFACE.

A man must appear somewhat vain, who declares that he has been obliged to reject much useful information, for fear of increasing too much the size of his work: and yet manages to find room for a few pages of his own, by way of Preface: but lest the objects which the compiler of this little work has had in view should be mistaken, he finds it absolutely necessary to say a few words in explanation of them. This small collection of military memorandums was originally intended only for the compiler’s own pocket; to assist him in the execution of his duty: but it occurred to him, that many of his military friends stood in equal need of such an aid, and would willingly give a few shillings for what they would not be at the trouble of collecting. The compiler has seen young men, on their first entry into the regiment of artillery, give a guinea for manuscripts, which contained a very small part of the information offered in this little book. From a persuasion that a very principal part of its merit is derived from its portability, every endeavor has been used to press much into a little compass; and it is hoped, that this power has not been so far exerted, as to make the whole unintelligible: but, it must be understood, that the compiler does not propose to convey instruction to the untaught, but only to make a few memorandums of reference to facts; which those already versed in the military profession are supposed to have the knowledge to apply. The totally ignorant of these matters, he has, therefore, nothing to say to; they must consult more voluminous works. An alphabetical arrangement is merely adopted as the best calculated for this purpose; and as nothing like a military dictionary is intended, all terms are omitted, not within the compiler’s plan. All reference to plates has, likewise been avoided; as they not only very much increase the cost, but the bulk of a book. The principal difficulty which the compiler has had in making this little collection, has been to confine it within the limits of his original plan. The quantity of useful information which has pressed for admittance, has been with reluctance rejected. Such authors only have been quoted, as are generally esteemed the best; and every advantage has been taken of such information, as the compiler has been able to collect from experienced friends; but he has ventured to offer nothing whatever of his own. The French military authors have been principally consulted, on all subjects not immediately confined to our own system; and such notes as are given respecting their ordnance, may be of use in drawing a comparison with our own; and may serve as references to those in the habit of reading their military works. The compiler has not, in any instance, attempted to offer changes which he may have been led to imagine improvements; or to point out what he thinks deserve the title of defects in our own system; but he has given every information according to the present practice in our service. He cannot, however, help expressing a hope, that he will one day see his little book laid by as totally obsolete, and a better built upon a system less complicated, and more applicable to that particular nature of service which this country has in every war the greatest reason to expect.

Our armies will never, it is to be hoped, find a field of battle but on the other side of the water: they must therefore always be subject to the inconveniencies attendant upon the embarkation, and the confusion, too often the companion of a disembarkation of a quantity of ordnance and other military stores upon an enemy’s coast: how peculiarly necessary is it, therefore, that our military system should be the simplest and the best arranged. The French system of artillery was established as far back as the year 1765, and has been rigidly adhered to, through a convulsion in the country, which has overturned every thing else like order; and which even the government itself has not been able to withstand. We should therefore conclude that it has merit, and, though in an enemy, ought to avail ourselves of its advantages. At the formation of their system, they saw the necessity of the most exact correspondence in the most minute particulars; and so rigidly have they adhered to this principle, that though they have several arsenals, where carriages and other military machines are constructed; the different parts of a carriage may be collected from these several arsenals in the opposite extremities of the country, and will as well unite and form a carriage, as if they were all made and fitted in the same workshop. As long as every man who fancies that he has made an improvement is permitted to introduce it into our service, this cannot be the case with us.

Gunpowder has been so much improved of late years, under the direction of Col. Congreve, that the experiments made with the old powder are now of little service: only such tables of ranges with different natures of ordnance have therefore been inserted, as have been ascertained since the improved powder has been in use. As experiments are daily making at Woolwich and elsewhere, a blank leaf may be bound up after each nature of ordnance, in order to insert an abstract of them.

The compiler thinks it necessary to address himself to two classes of persons in particular; perhaps they may comprise the whole of his readers. First, those who think his little book might have been made much more complete. Second, those who think it improper that any information upon such matters should be offered to the public. To the first, he acknowledges the justice of the remark, but has to remind them, of the very great difficulties which they may themselves have experienced, in collecting information at Woolwich. To the second, he has but to remark, that he is well aware of the objections urged against publications which may give information as well to our enemies as our friends; but he does not imagine his little book to contain matter of sufficient consequence to do such mischief: and he is supported in an opinion by the most powerful and best organized military nations in Europe, that such secresy is the surest mark of ignorance.

The first edition being out of print, the compiler has endeavored to improve this, by every correction, and by some of the additions which his friends have been kind enough to suggest to him as necessary: but if he has neglected much of the valuable information offered him, it has not been from an insensibility of its merit, but from its entering more into the detail of matters than his little book would afford room to profit by; for it still professes not to instruct, but only to remind.