The rotating band should be greased very lightly with cosmis just before inserting the projectile into the breech. In continued firing, oil the slides frequently. Keep the fuze setter clean and be careful that no dirt gets down around the stop pin. Examine the breech recess frequently and wipe out all dirt and brass filing that may accumulate. The gun should be cleaned thoroughly immediately after firing. Make a solution of one pound of sal soda in one gallon of boiling water. Remove the breechblock and carrier, and let one man clean and oil it thoroughly while the rest of the gun is being cleaned. Remove the sponge from the rammer staff, and over the brass rammer, fit a piece of folded burlap. Fold this burlap as many times as you can and still force it through the bore. Soak the burlap in the sal soda solution and swab the bore out thoroughly. Be careful to remove all copper filing, and the bore should be as bright as a piece of glass when finished. After cleaning it is best though not absolutely necessary to swab out with clean water. Then dry thoroughly with a dry swab, and grease every exposed surface. In cleaning the breechblock and firing mechanism always dismantle it completely. Clean and oil the slides, fuze setters and all parts of the carriage. Decap the empty cartridge cases and wash them out thoroughly with the sal soda solution. There is a decapping set with every battery. Rinse out in clean water and set them in the sun to dry.
A CLEANING SCHEDULE FOR MATERIEL.
Daily.
Before leaving the park:
1. Unlock boxes and chests and secure them with snaps.
2. See that all tools, paulins, etc., are secure.
After returning to the park:
1. Remove from carriages all dust, excess oil and mud. Examine for missing nuts, split pins, broken parts and parts that need adjustment. Make necessary repairs.
2. Clean and oil breech recess and breechblock; after firing, clean bore with salsoda solution, wipe perfectly dry and oil.
3. Oil wheels, elevating and traversing mechanism, tools if necessary.