CHARGE, in gunnery, implies the quantity of powder, shot, ball, shells, grenades, &c. with which a gun, mortar, or howitzer, is loaded.
Charges for heavy guns from a 42-pounder to a 3 pounder, both brass and iron, in proof, service, saluting, and ricochet.
| Kinds. | Proof. | Service. | Salut- ing. | Rico- chet. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brass. | Iron. | Brass. | Iron. | |||||||||
| Prs. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. |
| 42 | 31 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 32 | 26 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| 24 | 21 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | 18 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 12 |
| 12 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| Charges for Medium Guns. | ||||||||||||
| Kinds. | Proof. | Service. | Salut- ing. | Rico- chet. | ||||||||
| Brass. | Iron. | Brass. | Iron. | |||||||||
| Prs. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. |
| 24 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 12 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 8 |
| Charges for light Guns. | ||||||||||||
| Kinds. | Proof. | Service. | Salut- ing. | Rico- chet. | ||||||||
| Brass. | Iron. | Brass. | Iron. | |||||||||
| Prs. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. |
| 24 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 8 |
As pieces of artillery are of various denominations, and consequently made use of on several occasions, their charges must of course have many variations.
Charge, is also the attack of cavalry; and charge bayonet is a word of command given to infantry, to force the enemy whom they are to charge at the point of the bayonet. To sound a charge, is the sound of the trumpet as a signal for cavalry to begin the attack.
Charge, in military law, is the specification of any crime, or offence for which a non-commissioned officer or soldier is tried before a court martial. In all charges of this nature, the time and place, when and where the crime, or offence was committed, must be set forth with accuracy and precision.
Charged Cylinder, in gunnery, implies that part of the chace of a gun, which contains the powder and ball.
Charger, any horse belonging to an officer on which he rides in action.
Chargers are also either bandoliers, or little flasks that contain powder for charge or priming.
CHARIOT, a car, in which men of arms were anciently placed. These were armed with scythes, hooks, &c. The person who drove the chariot was called the charioteer.