A military dictionary

by William Duane

Cartridges for cannon, are made with the best effect, when the flannel does not admit the leakage of powder; to effect this the flannels are first sewed to the size of a mandril or wooden roller; and the sewing completed, the end is tied, and hammered on the end of the mandril, the whole is then smeared with a coat of paste made of wheat flour and gum; and then drawn over, so that the pasted side may be inward; then set to dry, before filling they must be examined.

The experiment is worth the trial of making cartridges of cotton saturated with alum; its cheapness, its abundance, and easy formation, all recommend it. The alum would render it fire proof.

Cartridge-Box, a case of wood, made in a circular form, to wear before the body of the soldier, holding 24 or more musket-ball cartridges in rows: it is covered with leather, and worn upon a belt, both on duty, and on the day of battle. See [Pouch].

The light infantry in the French service carry a cartridge box in front which covers the abdomen; and contains several rounds; some carry the cartridges on the side one above the other.

Cartridges for guns.

Of Paper.				Weight of one Dozen.			Length.			Tonnage. No. packed ³⁄₄ Ton Vat.
Pounders.				lb.	oz.	dr.	Ft.	in.		Number.
42	——			3	0	0	2	4		1000
32	——			3	0	0	2	4		1100
24	——			3	0	0	2	4		1400
18	——			2	14	0	2	4		1500
12	——			2	4	0	2	4		1600
9	——			2	4	0	2	4		1800
6	——			1	5	0	2	0		2000
4	——			1	1	0	1	7		2200
3	——			1	1	0	1	7		2200
Of Flannel.
42 and 32				2	2	0	2	3		The tonnage of flannel cartridges is 1-fifth more than that of paper.
24	-		Heavy	1	12	0	1	10
			Med.	1	6	0	1	5
			Light	1	1	8	1	0
18	——			1	6	0	2	3
12	-		Heavy	1	3	0	1	6
			Med.	0	11	0	1	2
			Light	0	8	0	0	10
9	——			0	10	0	1	4
6	-		Heavy	0	14	0	1	1
			Med.	——			——
			Light	0	5	0	0	9	¹⁄₂
3	——			0	6	0	0	8
13 in. Morts.				1	2	8	1	6
10 —	——			0	10	8	1	1	-
8 —	——			0	7	0	1	0
5¹⁄₂	——			0	4	0	0	9
4²⁄₅	——			0	3	0	0	7
8 in. How’r				0	10	8	1	1	-
5¹⁄₂	——			0	4	8	0	9	-
4²⁄₅	——			0	4	0	0	9	-

Cartridges for small arms.

Kinds.	Powder contained in each Cartridge.		No. of each tied in one Bundle.	No. contained in one Barrel.		Weight of one Barrel filled.					One Sheet of paper makes
				Whole.	Half.	Whole.			Half.
	drs.		No.	No.	No.	ct.	qr.	lb.	qr.	lb.	No.
Wall pieces	10		6	1400	500	2	2	19	3	24	6
Musquet	6		10	2100	1000	1	3	10	3	24
Carbine	4		10	2853	1500	1	3	7	3	26	12
Do. pistol	3		10	4400	1500	1	3	17	3	21	16
Com. pistol	3		10		2000				3	11	24
7 bar. guns	1	¹⁄₂	14		1000 in kegs						24

Musquet Cartridges, by different powers in Europe.

Weight of	English.			Hessian.			Austrian.			Dutch.				French.
	oz.	dr.	gr.	oz.	dr.	gr.	oz.	dr.	gr.	oz.	dr.	gr.		oz.	dr.	gr.
Powder	0	6	0	0	7	10	0	6	13	0	10	10	¹⁄₂	0	7	4	¹⁄₂
Cartridges, complete.	1	9	11	1	7	2	1	6	4	1	12	4		1	6	0