ARMS.
ARMS.
41.
THE
principal small arms used in warfare at the present day, are the common
or
smooth bore musket with percussion lock, the rifled musket, the rifle
with
elongated ball, rifled carbines, pistols and sabres.
42.
The
smooth bore musket (U. S. service pattern), is four feet ten inches in
length
from the butt to the muzzle; is provided with a bayonet eighteen inches
in
length, which fits upon the outside of the muzzle, and locks, so as to
prevent
its removal by an adversary; it has a bore of 0.69 of an inch in
diameter, and
carries a leaden ball running 32 to the pound. The musket with its
bayonet
weighs ten pounds nearly. The fire of the musket is inaccurate, but in
a
general action, where accuracy of fire is not attainable, it may be
made
effective up to 300 yards; beyond 400 yards it is useless.
This arm is being
rapidly superseded by
the rifled musket, or Mini~ musket, as it is sometimes called.
43.
The
rifled musket is nothing but the common musket “rifled;”
the grooves are three in number, they are of equal width,
and equal
in width to the
“lands;” the twist of the
grooves is a uniform spiral of one turn to six feet in length; the
grooves are
very shallow
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
at the muzzle (0.005
of an inch), and
deepen slightly as they go down to the breech. The projectile, instead
of being
round, as in the common musket, is made cylindro-conical,
the cylindrical portion having three grooves around it, and
the base or
bottom being hollowed out in a conical form. Fig. 10 is a
representation of the
exterior of the ball, and Fig. 11 is a section through it showing the
shape of
the grooves, and the cone at the base. The object of giving the ball a
pointed
form, is that it may meet with the least possible resistance in its
flight
through the air; the effect of the grooves is, by the action of the air
upon
them, to keep the point of the ball in front, and cause it to strike
first; the
object of making it hollow at the base is, to make it expand when the
piece is
fired, thereby causing it to fill the grooves, and follow them in its
passage
out of the piece.
The dimensions of the
rifled musket (U. S.
pattern) are as follows: length, without bayonet, four feet
eight inches; with
bayonet fixed, six feet two inches; weight ten pounds;
diameter of bore 058 of
an inch; weight of ball 500 grains.
44.
The
“altered musket” of the U. S. service, is the old
pattern musket rifled; the
principal difference between this and the new rifled musket being, that
the
altered musket has a larger bore, its diameter being 069 of an inch.
The ball
carried by it is heavier, weighing 730 grains, and a heavier charge of
powder
is necessary.
45.
The
rifle, or Minie rifle, as it is
generally called, is rifled in the same manner as the muskets; the
diameter of
the bore is 058 of an inch, the same as the new musket, and the same
ball is
used; it is shorter than the musket, being but four feet one inch in
length,
without the bayonet, and not quite six feet with the bayonet fixed; its
weight
is greater than that of the musket, it being, without the bayonet, ten
pounds,
within a small fraction, and thirteen with it. The bayonet is not quite
twenty-two inches in length; it is made in the form of a heavy sabre,
but slightly
curved near the point. It is usually worn at the side, and is only
fixed when
pressed by cavalry, or in a charge.
46.
There
are several forms of rifles and carbines which are
ARMS.
More or less in use
by mounted troops, as
Colt’s repeating carbines and repeating rifles,
Maynard’s, Burnside’s, and
Sharp’s rifles, and Sharp’s carbine, all of which
are breech-loading arms. Colt’s
rifles are intended for both round
and elongated balls; in the others, the elongated ball alone is used.
47.
The
pistols in general use at this time are the largest size of
Colt’s repeaters;
they are rifled, and may be used as carbines by the attachment of an
“adjustable breech.”
There is also a
“pistol carbine”
manufactured by the U. S. ordnance department; it is rifled,
has the same bore
as the rifle and rifle musket, and the same ball may be used, although
a ball
with a larger cavity than that of the rifle ball is preferable. This
arm may be
used as a pistol or carbine — in
the latter case an adjustable breech becomes necessary.
48.
All
cavalry and artillery troops are armed with sabres, the U. S. cavalry
and
artillery sabres have steel scabbards, are forty-three and thirty-eight
inches
long respectively, and arc attached to “sling”
belts, which are worn around the
waist.
49.
The
fire-arms used in artillery are divided into three classes, guns, howitzers, and mortars.
Guns are used to throw solid
shot, which cut by their force of percussion, hence they are always
fired with
large charges of powder, say from one-fifth to one-half the weight of
the ball.
They are used to strike an object direct,
and at a distance; or by their ricochet
fire for reaching objects not attainable by direct
fire. They are also
used to batter down the walls of fortifications. They are always
designated by
the weight of solid shot which they carry.
There are six
different calibres, which
are divided into three classes, according to the position in which they
are to
be used; they are 6, 12, 18, 24, 32, and 42-pounders.
50.
The
6 and 12-pounders, usually made of bronze, but sometimes of
cast iron,
constitute one class called field guns; the
12, 18, and 24-pounders, made of cast iron, constitute a second known
as siege and garrison guns; and
the 32 and 42-pounders,
also cast iron, make the third, denominated sea-coast
guns.
Field
guns are used in the field as light
artillery; siege and gar-
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
ARMS.
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
ARMS.
rison guns are used
in permanent and field
fortifications, and in sieges, to batter down the
walls, etc; sea-coast
guns are principally used in permanent fortifications, on the sea board.
51.
A
howitzer is a gun with a chamber in it. It is used
principally
for firing hollow projectiles, or shells; in order to prevent breaking
the
shell, and at the same time to give the projectile sufficient
velocity, a
small charge of powder is fired from a cylindrical chamber at the
bottom of the
base.
The calibre of
howitzers is designated by
the weight of the solid shot which they would carry, or by the number
of inches
that the bore is in diameter. They are divided into field
howitzers, mountain howitzers, siege and garrison,
and sea-coast howitzers; field
howitzers are 12, 24, and 32-pounders;
mountain howitzers are 12-pounders, siege and garrison howitzers are
24-pounders and 8-inch, and sea-coast howitzers are 8 and 10-inch.
52.
Field
howitzers are used with light batteries ill the field; the mountain
howitzer is
for service in countries too rough to admit the passage of wheeled
carriages;
siege and garrison howitzers are used in the trenches at sieges, and in
the
defence of permanent fortifications; and sea-coast howitzers
are used in permanent
fortifications on the sea-board.
53.
There
are several kinds of mortars ranging from six to sixteen
inches in calibre;
the heavy mortars are principally used on the sea-coast; the others are
for use
in the trenches at sieges, and in the defence of fortifications of all
kinds.
54.
Pieces
of artillery are mounted on their carriages by means of trunnions;
they are cylinders east with the gun, having a common
axis perpendicular to that of the gun. The trunnions of the 6-pounder
gun, and
12-pounder howitzer have the same diameter, so that guns and howitzers
may be
mounted on the same sized carriages, and serve together in the
same battery;
the trunnions of the 12-pounder gun, and 24 and 32-pounder howitzer,
are also
of the same size, so that they may be thrown together in the same
battery.
Fig. 12 gives the form of the 6-pounder gun, with the names of the
parts, and Fig. 13 represents
a 12 and 24-pounder
howitzer
55.
The field gun carriage is composed of two parts; the
portion on
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
Which the piece rests
when it is fired,
and the limber.
The first part,
or carriage proper, is two wheeled; from the axle proceeds the stock,
tp
which are fastened two upright pieces called cheeks,
upon
which the trunnions rest. The end of the stock designated the trail, rests on the ground during the
firings; at other times it is attached to the limber; the piece gets
its proper
elevation by means of the elevating
screw, which works through a plate on the stock. Fig. 14
represents the
gun and carriage with the names of the parts, one wheel being removed
to show
them the better. The limber is the part of the carriage to which the
horses are
attached; on the end of the trail is an iron plate called the lunette, through which there is an
opening,
which goes over a book on the axle of the limber called the pintle-hook, and is secured in its place
by a bolt called the pintle-bolt. The
limber also carries an ammunition-box, which may be removed at pleasure.
56. Each piece is
followed by its caisson or carriage, for ammunition.
The wheels of the carriage, limber and caisson , are all of the same
size; and may, when
necessary, replace each other, and a spare wheel is carried on the rear
of
every caisson. The caisson carries three ammunition boxes, of the same
size as
the one on the limber, and movable, so that when the box on the limber
is
empty, it may be exchanged for a full one from the caisson. The boxes
are
partitioned off into small compartments, each compartment being the
receptacle
for a charge of ammunition.
Every artillery
carriage is drawn by from
four to six horses, a driver being required for each pair of horses.
_____________
AMMUNITION.
57.
When
troops are in the field it is not only necessary that they should go
with a
sufficient supply of ammunition, but that it should be put up in such
form as
to be convenient for use, and at the same time as well protected as
possible
from the effects of the weather, etc. Cartridges made of paper or
flannel, or
some other woollen
AMMUNITION.
goods are in general use; the former for small arms, the latter for artillery.
|
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58.
To make the cylinders for blank cartridges, the paper is
cut in the form
represented in Fig. 15, with a
pattern. The former is a cylinder
of
hard wood of the same diameter as the ball, concave at one
end, and convex at
the other. The paper is laid on a table with the side perpendicular to
the
bases next the workman, the broad end to the left, the former
laid on it with
the concave end half an inch from the broad edge of the paper, and
enveloped
in it once. The right hand is then laid flat on the former, and all the
paper rolled on it.
The projecting end of
the paper is now neatly folded down into the concavity of the former,
pasted,
and pressed on a ball imbedded in the table for the purpose.
Instead of being
pasted, these cylinders
may be closed by choking with a string tied to the table, and having at
the
other end a stick by which to hold it. ‘Ihe convex end of the
former is placed
to the left, and after the paper is rolled on, the former is taken in
the left
hand, and a turn made around it with the choking string half an inch
from the
end of the paper. Whilst the string is drawn tight with the right hand
the
former is held in the left with the forefinger resting on the end of
the
cylinder, folding it neatly down upon the end of the former. The choke
is then
firmly tied with twine.
59.
For
ball cartridges, the cylinders are made and choked as above, and the
choke tied
without cutting the twine. The former
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
is then withdrawn,
the ball inserted, and
followed by the concave end of the former. Two half-hitches are made
just above
the ball, and the twine cut off.
For ball and
buck-shot cartridges make the
cylinder as before, insert three buck-shot; fasten them with a
half-hitch, and
insert and secure the ball as before.
For buck-shot
cartridges make the cylinder
as before, insert four tiers of three buck-shot each, as at first,
making a
half-hitch between the tiers, and ending with a double hitch.
60.
To
fill the cartridges, the cylinders are placed upright in a box, and the
charge
poured into each from a conical charger of the appropriate size; the
mouths of
the cylinders are now folded down on the powder by two rectangular
folds, and
the cartridges bundled in packages of ten. For this a folding-box is
necessary;
it is made with but two vertical sides, at a distance from each other
equal to
five diameters of the ball, and two diameters high.
Put a wrapper in the
folding-box, and
place in it two tiers of five cartridges each, parallel to each other
and to
the short sides of the wrapper, the balls alternating; wrap the
cartridges
whilst in the folding-box, by folding the paper over them, and tie
them. A
package of twelve percussion caps is
placed in each bundle of ten cartridges.
The bundles are
marked with the number and
kind of cartridge.
61.
The
cartridges for elongated projectiles differ so much from those used
with the
spherical bullet, that a separate description is necessary.
Each cartridge is
made of three pieces of
paper, the larger piece or cartridge proper, (see Fig. 16, No. 1,) is
made of
what is known as cartridge paper, but it should not be too strong; the
second
piece, No. 2, is made of the same
or
stronger paper, and the third, No. 3, is made of the stoutest rocket
paper.
Before enveloping the
balls in the
cartridges, their cylindrical parts should be covered with a melted
composition
of one part beeswax, and three parts tallow; it should be
applied hot, in which
ease the superfluous part would run off. Care should be taken to remove
all the
grease from the bottom of the ball, lest by coming in contact
AMMUNITION.
with
the bottom of the case it penetrate the paper, and injure the powder.
62. The sticks on
which the cartridges are
rolled are made of the same diameter as the bore of the piece; the
dimensions
given
are for the U. S.
musket or rifle of O-58
bore. The piece of stiff paper No. 3, is laid upon No. 2, as shown in
the
dotted line of the figure; the stick is laid down on the side a,
b, c, the end being at b,
and the
paper rolled around it; the projecting end is then folded down and
pasted.
After the cylinder thus made is dry, it is again put on the stick; the
stick is
then taken in the left hand and laid upon the outer wrapper, the end
not far
from the middle of the wrapper, (the oblique edge of the wrapper turned
from
the workman, the longer vertical edge towards his left hand,)
and snugly
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
rolled up. The ball
is then inserted in
the open end of the cartridge, the base resting on the cylinder ease,
the paper
neatly choked around the point of the ball and fastened by tying with
cartridge
thread. The stick is then withdrawn, sixty grains of powder poured into
the
case, and the mouth of the cartridge is “pinched”
or folded in the usual way.
The cartridge is shown in Fig. 17.
63.
To
use this cartridge, tear the fold and pour out the powder; then seize
the ball
end firmly between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, and
strike the
cylinder a smart blow across the muzzle of the piece; this breaks the
cartridge
and exposes the bottom of the ball; a slight pressure of the thumb and
forefinger forces the ball into the bore clear of all cartridge paper.
In
striking the cartridge the cylinder should be held square across, or at
right
angles to the muzzle; otherwise, a blow given in an oblique
direction would
only bend the cartridge without breaking it.
64.
The
ammunition for artillery consists of a charge of powder contained in a
cartridge-bag, and the projectile, which may be either fixed to, or
separate
from the cartridge. When the two are fastened together, the whole
constitutes a
charge of fixed ammunition.
65.
The
cartridge-bag should be made of merino, bombazette, or flannel, which
should be
all wool, otherwise fire might be left in the piece after its
discharge. The
texture and sewing should be close enough to prevent the powder sifting
through. Untwilled stuff is preferable. The bag is formed of two
pieces, a
rectangle, which forms the cylinder, and a circular piece which forms
the
bottom. As the stuff does not stretch in the direction of its length,
the long
side of the rectangle should be taken in that direction, otherwise the
cartridge might become too large for convenient use with its piece. The
material is laid sometimes several folds thick, on a tablet and the
rectangles
and circles marked out on it with chalk, using, for the purpose,
patterns made
of hard, well-seasoned wood, sheet iron, or tin. The pieces are then
cut with
the scissors. For a 6-pounder gun and 12-pounder howitzer, the
rectangle is
11.4 inches long by 7.25 inches in height, the diameter of the bottom
being
4.37 inches—the seam is half an inch wide. For the 12-pounder
gun, and 24 and
32-pounder howitzer, the rectangle is 14.2 inches
AMMUNITION.
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
AMMUNITION.
by 10,
and the diameter of the bottom is 5.25 inches,
The short sides of the rectangle are sewed together, and
the bottom
sewed in. The sewing is done with woollen yarn, twelve stitches to the
inch.
The two edges of the seam arc turned down on the same side, and basted,
to
prevent the powder from sifting through.
Blank cartridge-bags,
or those intended for immediate use,
may be made of two rectangular pieces with semi-circular ends sewed
together.
66. When special accuracy is required, charges are carefully weighed in delicate scales; but usually the bags are filled by measurement. The powder measures are made of sheet copper; they are cylindrical, and their diameters and height are equal. A measure 3.628 inches in diameter and height, holds one and a quarter pounds of powder, the charge for a 6-pounder gun when it fires solid shot; one of 3.368 inches holds one pound of powder, the charge for the same gun when it fires spherical case or canister; it is also the charge for the 12-pounder howitzer. A measure of 4.24 inches in diameter and height, holds two pounds of powder, the light charge for a 24-pounder howitzer; one of 4.57 inches holds two and a half pounds of powder, the heaviest charge for the 24-pounder howitzer, and the light charge for the 32-pounder. The one pound ~nd a quarter measure, and the two pound measure, making three and a quarter pounds, will be the heavy charge for the 32-pounder howitzer.
67.
Blank cartridges,
and those for the 12-pounder gun, are, after being filled, simply tied
firmly
about the neck with twine. Those for fixed ammunition are attached to
pieces of
wood called sabots,
by tying
them with strong twine, before attaching them to the sabots,
however, the sabot must be fastened in the projectile.
The sabot (Fig. 18), for guns, is cylindrical, or nearly so, in shape, and for howitzers, conical. For shot and spherical case for guns, they have one groove for attaching the cartridge; those for gun canisters, and for 12-pounder howitzer shells, spherical case, and canister, have two grooves. Sabots for 32-pounder and 24-pounder howitzers have no grooves, but are furnished with han-
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
dles
made of a piece of cord, passing through two holes, and fastened by
knots
countersunk on the inside.
68.
The sabots are
fastened to shot and shell with strips of sheet tin. For shot there are
two
straps crossing at right angles (Fig. 19), one passing through a slit
in the
middle of the other. For shells there are four straps soldered to a
ring of
tin; the straps are nailed to the sabot. If tin cannot be procured,
straps may
be made of strong canvass, one
inch
wide, sewed at the point of crossing. The part of the ball which is to
be
inserted into the socket is dipped in glue; the straps are glued to the
ball,
and nailed to the sabot.
69.
A canister shot is a
cylinder of tin, of
the same diameter as the bore of the piece, filled with small balls.
(See Fig.
20.) The cylinder is left open at both ends; after being soldered, it
is nailed
|
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to the sabot, and a
plate of rolled iron placed at the bottom
of the sabot. To prevent rusting, the cylinder before filling
should be
covered with beeswax dissolved in spirits of turpentine, and the balls
should
be painted or lacquered.
To fill the canister
place it upright on
its sabot; put in a tier of balls, filling the interstices
with dry sawdust,
packing it with a pointed stick, so that the balls will hold by
themselves when
the case is turned over, and throw out the loose sawdust. Place another
tier of
balls, and proceed in the same manner until the canister is filled;
cover the
top tier with a layer of sawdust, and put on the cover, which is a
circular
plate of sheet iron, settling it well with a mallet in order to
compress the
sawdust.
The top of the cylinder is cut into slits about half an inch lon which
are
turned down over the cover to secure it.
70.
The shot, shell, or
canister being secured to the sabot, the cartridge is tied to it,
making the
charge complete. The mouths of the bag are first twisted and pressed
down, so
as to settle the powder; they are then opened and the powder smoothed.
The
AMMUNITION.
sabot
is introduced, and the cartridge drawn up around it, until it reaches
the
powder; the cartridge is then secured by passing several turns of
strong twine
around it in the grooves, and tying it, after which the excess of the
bag is
cut off. (See Fig. 21.)
71.
The
cartridge and projectile for the 24 and 32-pounder howitzers
are kept
separate; the projectile is attached to the sabot as has been
|
shown (see No. 68,
and Fig. 19), and the cartridge to a cylindrical piece of light wood
called a cartridge block.
(Fig. 22.) These blocks give a
better finish to the cartridge, help to fill the chamber, and keep the
cartridge from turning in the bore while the piece |
|
is being loaded. They have but one groove; the grooved end is inserted in the mouth of the cartridge, and pressed down upon the powder; the bag is pulled over it and tied with twine in the groove. The mouth of the bag is then turned down, and another tie made over it, which keeps the powder from working up between the block and the bag. The superfluous part of the bag is then cut off.
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
72.
For the greater
security of field ammunition, the cartridges are covered with paper
cylinders
and caps. They are both made together, on the same former, which is a
piece of
board with slightly inclined sides, and rounded edges. The paper is
pasted
around this. The requisite length for the cylinder is cut from the
smaller end,
the rest forming the cap, which is choked at the end from which the
cylinder is
cut. For choking, a cylindrical former of wood, with a hemispherical
end, is
used, which should be bored through the end to facilitate the drawing
off of
the cap. The cylinder fits over the body of the cartridge and a part of
the
sabot to which it is tied, while the cap fits over the end. When the
cap is
drawn off, which is always done when the cartridge is placed in the
piece, the
lower end is left exposed so that the priming wire, or fire from the
friction
tube, can reach it without going through any paper.
73.
Shells are hollow
shot, the interior space being formed of a sphere concentric with the
outer
surface, making the sides of equal thickness. They have a conical
opening or eye, used to load the
shell, and in
which is inserted the fuze to
communicate fire to the charge.
74.
To load shells,
they are set upon their sabots, the charges measured out in the proper
powder
measure, and poured in through a copper funnel. The 32-pounder requires
a
charge of one pound of powder (rifle or musket powder) to burst it, the
24-pounder twelve ounces, and the 12-pounder seven ounces. If now the
shell is
to be fired by an ordinary fuze, (see article on fuzes,) a conical
piece of dry
beech is firmly driven into the eye, and then a hole is reamed out
through it
to receive the fuze, and stopped with a wad of tow, the fuze not to be
driven
in until the shell is to be fired.
75.
Spherical case, or Schrapnel shot, as they are called,
after the English officer who
brought them to perfection, are thin-sided shells in which, besides the
bursting charge, are placed a number of musket balls. Their sides are
much
thinner than those of the ordinary shell, in order that they may
contain a
greater number of bullets; and these acting as a support to the sides
of the
shell prevent it from being broken by the force of the discharge. The
weight of
the empty case is about one-half that of the solid shot
AMMUNITION.
of the
same diameter. Lead
being much more
dense than iron, the schrapnell is, when loaded, nearly as heavy as the
solid
shot of the same caliber; but on account of the less charge which it is
necessary to use to prevent breaking the case, their fire is neither so
accurate nor the range so great as with the solid shot. But when the
schrapnell
bursts just in front of an object the effect is terrible, being as
great as the
discharge of grape from a piece at a very short range.
76.
To load a
schrapnell shot, the requisite number of balls are placed in; the shell
for a
6-pound gun requires thirty-eight balls, that for the 12-pound gun and
howitzer
seventy-eight, the 24-pound howitzer one hundred and seventy-five, and
the
32-pound howitzer two hundred and twenty-five. The balls being
inserted, a
stick a little less in diameter than the fuze-hole, and having a groove
on each
side of it, is inserted and pushed to the bottom of the
chamber by working the
balls aside. The shell is then heated to about the melting point of
sulphur,
and melted sulphur is poured in to fill up the interstices between the
balls.
When the shell is cool the stick is withdrawn, and any adhering sulphur
is
removed.
If a fuze-plug and
common fuze are to be used, the charge is
placed in and the plug inserted as for shells; but if the ]3oarmann
fuze is to
be used, (see the article on fuzes,) the charge is to be inserted, and
the
stopper and fuze are screwed into their places. The bursting charges
are as
follows: for the 6-pounder, 2~5 ounces; for the 12-pounder, 45 ounces;
for the
24-pounder, 6 ounces; and for the 32-pounder, 8 ounces.
77.
A fuse is a
contrivance for
communicating fire to the charge in a shell. It consists of a highly
inflammable composition, inclosed in a wood, metal, or paper case. The paper fuze consists of a
conical paper
case, containing the composition, whose rate of burning is shown by the
color
of the case, as follows:
Black burns
two seconds to the inch.
Red
“
three
“
“
“
Green
“
four
“
“
“
Yellow
“
five
“
“
“
Each fuze is made two
inches long, and the
yellow burns, cons-
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
quently, ten seconds. For any shorted time, the fuse is cut with a sharp knife. This fuse is not placed in the sh~dl until it is to be fired, when the wad of tow is removed from the fuze-plug, and the fuze pressed down with the thumb.
78.
The Belgian or Boarmann fuze is the best now in use.
The fuze case is made of
metal (an alloy of lead and tin), and consists, first (Fig. 23), of a
short
cylinder, having at one end a horse-shoe shaped indentation, one end only of which communicates with
the magazine of the fuze placed in the centre. The indentation extends
nearly
to the other end of the cylinder, a thin layer of metal only
intervening. This
is graduated on the outside into equal parts, representing seconds and
quarter
seconds, as represented in Fig. 24. In the bottom of this channel a
smooth
layer of the composition is placed, with a piece of wick or yarn
underneath it;
on this is placed the piece of metal represented in Fig. 25, the cross
section
of it being wedge-shaped; and this is by machinery pressed down upon
the
composition. The cylindrical opening represented at a, Fig. 23, is
filled with
fine powder, and covered with a sheet of tin, which is soldered in its
place,
closing the magazine from the external air. Before using the fuse,
several
holes are punched through this sheet of tin, to allow the flame to
escape into
the shell. On the side of the fuse the thread of a screw is cut which
fits into
one on the inside of the fuze hole, and the fuze is screwed into the
shell with
a wrench.
79.
The thin layer of
metal over the composition is cut away with a gouge or chisel of any
kind, at
the point marked with the number of seconds which we wish the fuze to
burn. The
metal of this fuze being soft, there is danger of its being driven into
the
shell by the explosive force of the charge. To prevent this, a circular
piece
of iron, of a less diameter than the fuze, with a hole through its
centre, and
the thread of a screw on the outside, is screwed into the fuze-hole
before the
fuze is placed in.
The regularity and
certainty of this fuze is very great; one
of its most important advantages is, the fact that the shells can he
loaded,
all ready for use, and remain so for any length of time, perfectly safe
from
explosion; as the fuze can be screwed to its
AMMUNITION.
MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND MILITIA.
place,
and the composition never exposed to external fire until the metal is
cut
through. The only operation to be performed when the shell is to be
fired, is
to gouge through the metal at the proper
point,
which may be done with any kind of a chisel, knife, or other instrument.
80.
Fire is communicated
to the charge in a cannon by means of priming
tubes and friction tubes.
Quill
priming tubes are
made from quills by
cutting off the barrel at both ends, and splitting down the large end
for about
half an inch, into seven or any other odd number of parts; these are
bent outwards,
perpendicular to the body of the quill, and from the cup of the tube.
Fine
woollen yarn is then woven into these slits, like basket work, the end
being
brought down and tied on the stem; or a perforated dish of paper is
pasted on
them.
These tubes are
filled by injecting into them, with a tube-injector,
a liquid paste made of
mealed powder and spirits of wine; a better method is, not to make the
paste
too thin, and then press it in with the thumb. A strand of quick match,
two
inches long, is now laid across the cup, and pasted in them with the
powder
paste. A small wire is then run through the tube, and remains there
until the
paste is dry; this leaves an aperture, furnishing a quick communication
for the
fire along the tube. A paper cap is placed over the cup, and twisted
tightly around
the tube under the cup.
Fig. 20
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Tubes are also
made of metal, they are
either moulded, or formed into tubes by machinery. They are filled,
primed, and
capped, in the same way as quill tubes.
Priming tubes are now
almost entirely superseded
by friction tubes, which are made
by
machinery at one of the U. S. arsenals.
To fire priming tubes
portfires are used; they consist
of paper cases, filled with a highly inflammable, but slowly burning
compo-
AMMUNITION.
sition,
the flame of which is very intense and penetrating, and cannot be
extinguished
with water.
Friction tubes are fired by means of a lanyard; this is a stout cord which has a wooden handle at one end, and an iron hook upon the other; the cannoneer puts the hook through the loop in the wire of the friction tube (Fig. 26), and holding the lanyard by the handle, pulls steadily until the wire is withdrawn, when an explosion takes place, induced by the friction of the wire against the composition in the tube.
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