Part 145

+---------+---------------+-------+ | | Diameter of | | | | Fuze Hole. | Thick-| | +-------+-------+ ness | | | Out- | In- | of | | Kind. | side. | side. | Metal.| +---------+-------+-------+-------+ | |Inches.|Inches.|Inches.| |13 inch. | 1·837 | 1·696 | 2·05 | |10 -- | 1·57 | 1·45 | 1·575| | 8 -- | 1·219 | 1·127 | 1·2 | | 5¹⁄₂ -- | 0·894 | ·826 | 0·822| | 4²⁄₅ -- | 0·832 | ·769 | 0·653| |H. Gren.{| | | | | {| | | | | | | | | +---------+-------+-------+-------+

_To find the weight of a shell of iron._

Take ⁹⁄₆₄ of the difference of the cubes of the external and internal diameters for the weight of the shell.

_To find how much powder will fill a shell._

Divide the cube of the internal diameter of the shell in inches by 57·3, for the pounds of powder.

_To find the size of a shell to contain a given weight of powder._

Multiply the pounds of powder by 3.75, and the cube root of the product will be the diameter in inches.

_To find the weight of a_ SHELL. _Rule._

Double the difference of diameters of the shell and hollow sphere, and 7 times the result gives the weight in pounds, cutting off the two right hand figures of whole numbers.

_Example._ Let the diameter of the shell be 13 inches, and that of the hollow sphere 9·5. Then the cube of 13 is 2197, and that of 9·5, is 857·357; the difference is 1339·625, its double is 2679·25, which multiplied by 7, gives 18754·625; and cutting off two places in whole numbers, the result is 187 lb. or 1 cwt. 2 qrs. 21 lb. the weight of the shell.

_French Shells, in French weights and measures._

+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------------------+------+ | | | | Powder | | | | | | | | con- | Powder | Diameter of Fuze |Thick-| | | | | tained | for | Hole. | ness | | | | Diam- | in | burst- +---------+---------+ of | | Kind. |Weight.| eter. | Shells.| ing. | Outside.| Inside. |Metal.| +-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+---------+---------+------+ | | lbs. |Inches.|lbs. oz.|lbs. oz.|Lines Po.|Lines Po.|Lines.| |12 inch| 150 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 15 9 | 15 | 16 | |10 ----| 100 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 15 9 | 15 | 16 | | 8 ----| 43 | 8 | 4 1 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 10 | | 6 ----| 23 | 6 | 2 8 | 12 | 11 | 10 6 | 10 | +-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+---------+---------+------+

_Dimensions of shells for guns and carronades made with an equal thickness of metal._

+--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | Kind. | 42 Pr.| 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 | +--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | |Inches.|Inches.|Inches.|Inches.|Inches.| | {Diameter of{Exterior| 6·684 | 6·105 | 5·547 | 5·04 | 4·4 | | {the shell {Interior| 4·404 | 4·005 | 3·767 | 3·4 | 2·8 | | {Thickness of | | | | | | |Guns.{metal | 1·14 | 1·05 | 0·89 | 0·82 | 0·8 | | {Diameter of{Exterior| 0·892 | 0·894 | 0·894 | 0·832 | 0·832 | | {fuze hole {Interior| 0·826 | 0·826 | 0·826 | ·769 | ·769 | | {Powder for | | | | | | | {bursting oz.| 14 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 5¹⁄₂ | | +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | {Diameter of{Exterior| 6·64 | 6·05 | 5·48 | 4·935 | 4·295 | | {shell {Interior| 4·36 | 3·95 | 3·48 | 3·235 | 2·695 | |Car- {Thickness of | | | | | | |ron- {metal | 1·14 | 1·05 | 1· | ·85 | 0·8 | |ades.{Shell’s weight lbs.| | 22 | | 12 | | | {Contains powder oz.| | 12¹⁄₂ | | 9 | | | {Powder for | | | | | | | {bursting oz.| | 10 | | 7 | | +--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

Shells are likewise sometimes quilted into grape. See the word SHOT.

For the method of proving shells, see PROOF.

The Germans do not name their shells from the diameter of the bore which receives them, but from the weight of a stone ball that fits the same bore as the shell. Thus, a 7lb. howitzer admits a stone ball of that weight; the shell for this weighs 15 lb. and answers to the English 5¹⁄₂ inch. The 30 lb. howitzer shell weighs 60 lb. and is rather more than 8 inches in diameter.

Shells were, till lately, made thicker at the bottom than at the fuze hole; but are now cast of the same thickness throughout, and are found to burst into a greater number of pieces in consequence.

_Message_-SHELLS, are nothing more than howitz shells, in the inside of which a letter, or other papers, are put; the fuze hole is stopt up with wood or cork, and the shells are fired out of a royal or howitz, either into a garrison or camp. It is supposed that the person to whom the letter is sent, knows the time, and accordingly appoints a guard to look out for its arrival.

SHELL. A particular part of a sword, which serves as a shield to the hand when it grasps the hilt. The British regulation sword, which is directed to be worn in a cross belt, has its shell so constructed that one side can fall down, by which means the hilt hangs more conveniently.

SHELL. A short jacket without arms, which was worn by light dragoons, and in some instances by the infantry, before the new regulations took place, respecting the clothing of the British army. At the commencement of the present war, some militia colonels derived no inconsiderable emolument from this mode of dress.

SHERISCHER-_war_, _Ind._ A word which corresponds with Saturday.

SHERISTA, _Ind._ An office; a registry; serishtadar, a linguist or secretary.

_To_ SHIFT. In a military sense, to change place or station. Hence, to shift quarters. In the exercise, &c. of a battalion, officers commanding divisions are, upon particular occasions, such as marching past, &c. to shift from the right to the left, to conduct the heads of files, or the pivot flanks, in column or echellon. Whenever officers shift, they must pass briskly by the rear, and never along the front of the division. The covering serjeants always move with them.

_The_ SHILLINGS. A phrase in familiar use among British army brokers, to express a certain profit or per centage which they gain in the sale, purchase, and exchange of commissions. The regulated price of a company in any regiment of foot being 1500_l._ only, that sum can be lodged at an agent’s, or a banker’s; but if the company be what is called in the market, the broker who transacts the business, receives one shilling in the pound, and in order to produce this premium, the purchaser gives 1500 guineas, out of which the shillings amounting to 75_l._ are paid to the broker, leaving the nett regulation untouched.

_Head-quarter_ SHIP. The ship on which the commander in chief of an expedition is embarked, and from which signals are made for the commanding officers, adjutants, &c. of corps, to attend.

_Hospital_ SHIP. The ship in which the sick and wounded soldiers, &c. are taken care of on expeditions, and during sea voyages.

_Prison_ SHIP. A ship appropriated for the reception of prisoners of war, &c.

SHOCCA, _Ind._ Any letter written by the king.

SNOOKREWAR, _Ind._ A word which corresponds with Friday.

SHOOTING. See GUNNERY and PROJECTILE.

SHORTEN _your bridle_. A word of command used in cavalry, viz.

1st. Seize the upper end of the reins of the bridle, which is to lie on the right side of the horse, with the right hand.

2d. Bring it up as high as your chin, keeping your right elbow on a level with the shoulder.

3d. Slip your left hand along the reins of the bridle, and take hold of the loop or button, which is near the upper end of the reins.

4th. Slip the loop down with the left hand as low as the pommel of the saddle.

5th. Bring the right hand down with life on the right holster-cap, quitting the reins of the bridle with both hands.

SHORT-_roll_. See SIGNALS.

SHOT. A denomination given to all kinds of balls used for artillery and fire-arms; those for cannon being of iron, and those for guns and pistols, &c. of lead.

_Grape_ _Chain_ _Case_ SHOT. See LABORATORY.

_To find the weight of an iron Shot_ whose diameter is given; and the contrary. _Rule._ Double the cube of the diameter in inches, and multiply it by 7; so will the product (rejecting the 2 last or right hand figures) be the weight in pounds.

_Example._ What is the weight of an iron shot of 7 inches diameter. The cube of 7 is 343, which doubled is 686, and this multiplied by 7 produces 4802, which with the right hand figures rejected, gives 48 pounds, the weight required.

N. B. This rule is sufficiently exact for practical uses.

_To find the diameter of the Shot_, when the weight is given. _Rule._ Multiply the cube root of the weight in pounds by 1.923, and the product is the diameter in inches.

_Example._ What is the diameter of an iron shot of 52 pounds? The cube root of 52 is 3.732, which multiplied by 1.923 gives 7.177 inches, the diameter required.

_Rule by logarithms._

To ¹⁄₃d of the log. of 52 0.572001 Add the constant log. 0.283979 And the sum is the log. of the diameter 7.177 0.855980

_To find the diameter of a_ SHOT, from the impression or cavity it makes by striking a brass gun, or other object. _Rule._ Divide the square of the radius of the cavity by the depth of it, and add the quotient to the depth; so will the sum be the diameter of the shot required.

_Example._ A shot having struck upon a brass gun, made a cavity of 1.49 inches deep, and 4.94 inches diameter; what was the size of the shot? The radius of the cavity is 2.47, and its square is 6.1009, which divided by the depth 1.49, the quotient is 4.1, to which adding 1.49, the sum 5.59 inches is the diameter required, answering to a 24 pounder.

SHOT.--_Rules for finding the number in any pile._

_Triangular pile._

Multiply the base by the base + 1, this product by the base + 2, and divide by 6.

_Square pile._

Multiply the bottom row by the bottom row + 1, and this product by twice the bottom row + 2, and divide by 6.

_Rectangular piles._

Multiply the breadth of the base by itself + 1, and this product by 3 times the difference between the length and breadth of the base, added to twice the breadth + 1, and divide by 6.

_Incomplete piles._

Incomplete piles being only frustrums, wanting a similar small pile on the top, compute first the whole pile as if complete, and also the small pile wanting at top; and then subtract the one number from the other.

_Rules for finding the dimensions and weight of shot._

The weight and dimensions of shot or shells might be found by means of their specific gravities; (see the word GRAVITY,) but they may be found still easier, by means of the experimented weight of a ball of a given size, from the known proportion of similar figures, namely, as the cubes of their diameters.

1st. _To find the weight of an iron ball from its diameter._--An iron ball of 4 inches diameter weighs 9 lb. and the weights being as the cubes of their diameters, it will be as 64, (the cube of 4,) is to 9, so is the cube of the diameter of any other ball to its weight.

2d. _To find the weight of a leaden ball._ A leaden ball of 4¹⁄₄ inches diameter weighs 17 lb. therefore, as the cube of 4¹⁄₄ is to 17, (as 9 to 2 nearly,) so is the cube of the diameter of any leaden ball to its weight.

3d. _To find the diameter of an iron ball._ Multiply the weight by 7¹⁄₉ and the cube root of the product will be the diameter.

4th. _To find the diameter of a leaden ball._ Multiply the weight by 9, and divide the product by 2; and take the cube root of the quotient for the diameter.

_Table of diameters of English iron round shot_.

+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Kind | 68 | 42 | 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 | +------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Inches|8· |6·684|6·105|5·547|5·040|4·403|4·000|3·498|2·775|1·92 | +------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | _Diameter of French iron round shot in English inches._ | +------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ |Kind | 36 | 24 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 | +------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ |Inches| 6·648 | 5·808 | 5·074 | 4·610 | 4·027 | 3·196 | +------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

_Table of grape shot, for sea and land service._

+-------------+------------ | |Total weight | Weight of |of the grape Kind. | each shot. | complete. -----------+-------------+------------ |lbs. oz. |lbs. oz. 42 pounders| 4 0 | 46 6 32 ---- | 3 0 | 34 1 24 ---- | 2 0 | 25 5 18 ---- | 1 8 | 19 15¹⁄₂ 12 ---- | 1 0 | 10 15 9 ---- | 0 13 | 7 6 6 ---- | 0 8 | 5 8¹⁄₂ 4 ---- | 0 6 | 3 14¹⁄₂ 3 ---- | 0 0 | 2 10¹⁄₂ ¹⁄₂ ---- | 0 ³⁄₄ lead| 8³⁄₄ -----------+-------------+------------

_Table of English case shot for different services._

+------------------------+------------------------------- | Sea service. | Carronades. +------+------+----------+--------+------+------+-------- | | | Weight | | | |Weight |Weight|Number| of | |Weight|Number| of | of | in | each | | of | in |each | each | each | case | | each | each | case Kind.| shot.| case.| filled. | Kind. | shot.| case.|filled. -----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+-------- Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz. | Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs oz. 32 | 8 | 70 | 33 8 | 68 | 8 | 90 | 46 2 24 | 8 | 42 | 22 15 | 42 | 8 | 66 | 32 8 18 | 6 | 42 | 15 8 | 32 | 8 | 40 | 21 4 12 | 4 | 42 | 11 5 | 24 | 8 | 32 | 16 1 9 | 3 | 44 | 8 9 | 18 | 6 | 31 | 12 2 6 | 2 | 40 | 5 2 | 12 | 4 | 32 | 8 2 4 | 2 | 28 | 4 -- +--------+------+------+-------- 3 | 2 | 20 | 2 15 | 1 | 1¹⁄₄ | 12 | 1 2¹⁄₄| Tier shot for field service. -----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+-------- | | oz. | No. |lbs. oz. Common land service. |12 pr.} | 18 | 15 | 18 8 |Med. } | 6!!!| 42 | 17 11 -----+------+------+----------+6 pr. }| 8- | 15 | 9 -- Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz. |Med. }| 3- | 42 | 8 14 24 | 4 | 84 | 21 11 |3 pr. } | 4- | 15 | 4 10 12 | 2 | 84 | 12 1 |Med. } | 1- | 42 | 4 6 6 | 1¹⁄₂ | 55 | 5 10¹⁄₂|12 pr. }| 14 | 12 | 14 14 3 | 1¹⁄₄ | 52 | 2 14 |light }| 6 | 34 | 14 11 | | | |6 pr. } | 8- | 12 | 7 3 | | | |light } | 3- | 34 | 7 7 | | | |3 Pr. }| 4- | 12 | 3 10 | | | |light }| 1- | 34 | 3 11 -----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------

_Table of case shot.--Continued._

+---------------------- For mortars | Howitzers. -----+------+------+--------+------+------+-------- |Weight|No. of| Weight |Weight|No. of| Weight | of | shot | of | of | shot | of | each | in | case | each | in | case Kind.| shot.| each.| filled.| shot.| each.| filled. -----+------+------+--------+------+------+-------- In. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz.| oz. | No. |lbs. oz. 10 | 8 | 170 | 91 8 | -- | -- | -- -- 8 | 6 | 90 | 38 4 | 6 | 90 | 38 8 5¹⁄₂| 3 | 55 | 12 6 | 3 | 55 | 12 8 4 | 2 | 55 | 8 1 | 2 | 55 | 8 2 -----+------+------+--------+------+------+--------

Small shells, as 4²⁄₅ inches, and hand grenades were quilted into grape for 13 inch mortars at Gibraltar. The fuzes were turned inwards next the iron tompion, and leaders of quick match for communicating fire to the fuzes were introduced through holes made in the wooden bottom, and placed as near the fuzes as possible in the centre of the grape. These answered very well for short ranges.

_Hot Shot._--The powder for firing with hot shot must be in strong flannel cartridges, without any holes, lest some grains should remain in the bore, in putting the cartridge home. Over the powder must be rammed a good dry wad, then a damp one, and then the hot shot; and if the gun lays at a depression, there must be a wad over the shot, which may be rammed home. If the above precautions be attended to, the gun may be pointed after being loaded, without the smallest danger, as it is well known that the shot will grow cold in the gun, without burning more than a few threads of the wads next it. This is not the mode usually taught of loading with hot shot, but is that which was practised during the siege of Gibraltar. Mr. Durtubie proposes putting the shot when heated, into a tin cannister, as an effectual method of preventing accidents.

The grates usually made for heating shot will generally make them red hot in three-fourths of an hour.

SHOULDER. The upper part of the blade of a sword is so called. The shoulders of regimental sword-blades, for the infantry, should be one inch broad at least.

SHOULDER _of a bastion_. In fortification. See EPAULE.

SHOULDER-_belt_, so called because it hangs over the shoulder, to carry the bayonet or sword: it is made of strong leather.

_To_ SHOULDER. In a military sense; to lay on the shoulder, or to rest any thing against it. Hence to shoulder a musquet.

SHOULDER _arms_. A word of command which is used in the manual exercise. See MANUAL.

_Right_ SHOULDERS _forward_. _Left_ SHOULDERS _forward_. Two terms of command in the British service, when a column of march (in order to follow the windings of its route) changes its direction in general, less than the quarter of the circle. This is a clumsy translation of the _line of science_, or oblique facing of the French system; the proper word of command is _half_ or _quarter face_ to the right or left.

SHROF, _Ind._ A banker; a moneychanger, or one who keeps a shop for the accommodation of the public in pecuniary matters, and who derives considerable advantage from the circulating medium of other people’s property.

SHROFFING, _Ind._ The act of examining and sorting money.

SHUMSERTREEPUT, _Ind._ Avowal, acknowlegement, confession.

_To_ SHUT. To close; to make not open.

SHUT _pans_. A word of command used in the inspection of arms. Place the inside of your fingers against the back part of the hammer, and bring it briskly to in one motion. In opening pans, you place the thumb against the inside of the hammer.

SHUTERNAUL, _Ind._ A sort of arquebuss, which is fixed upon the back of a camel.

SICK and _hurt_. A board so called, to which the agents, commissaries, &c. belonging to the several military hospitals in Great Britain, are responsible.

SIDE-_pieces_, of _gun-carriages_. See CARRIAGES.

SIDE-_straps_, in a _field carriage_, are flat iron bands which go round the side-pieces, in those places where the wood is cut across the grain, to strengthen them near the centre and the trail.

SIEGE, (_Siege_, _Fr._) The position which an army takes, or its encampment before a fortified town, or place, for the purpose of reducing it. The term comes from _siege_, which signifies seat, chair, &c. Hence; to sit down before a place, signifies in a military sense, to chuse a position from which you may commence the necessary operations to attack and get possession of it. The French use the word generally as we do.

_To undertake the_ SIEGE _of a town_. _Entreprendre le siege d’une Ville._ To invest it, to form lines of circumvallation, to open trenches, &c.

_To lay_ SIEGE _to a town_, (_faire le siége d’une ville_, _Fr._) To draw your forces round a town, for the purpose of attacking it.

_To carry on a_ SIEGE, (_continuer un siége_, _Fr._) To persevere by regular approaches, &c. in gaining ground upon the garrison.

_To lay close_ SIEGE, (_presser le siége_, _Fr._) To approach close to the walls for the purpose of making a breach and storming, or of starving out the garrison. For a full and scientific explanation of the different methods, which are adapted in modern times, for the attack or defence of places, particularly of sieges, see _Essai General de Fortification, d’attaque et defense de places_, tom. 1, page 61, &c. &c.

SIEGE _brusque_, _Fr._ An expression used among the French, to signify the prompt and immediate movement of a besieging army, against a fortified town or place, without waiting for the regular formation of lines, &c. In this case the troops make a vigorous attack upon all the outworks, and endeavour to make a lodgment upon the counterscarp. When they have succeeded, they instantly throw up temporary lines, &c. behind them, in order to secure a retreat, should the garrison force them to quit their ground.

SIEGE, in the _art of war_, is to surround a fortified place with an army, and approach it by passages made in the ground, so as to be covered against the fire of the place.

The first operation of a _siege_ is investing. The body of troops investing a town should, at least, be as strong again as the garrison: so as to be able to divide itself into several parties, in order to take possession of all the avenues leading to the place. By day they should keep themselves out of cannon shot: but as soon as it is dusk they must approach much nearer, the better to be able to support each other, and to straiten the town.

_General phrases and terms used at a_ SIEGE _are_, _viz._

_To besiege a place._ See SIEGE.

_To accelerate the_ SIEGE, (_Presser le Siege_, _Fr._) is when an army can approach so near the place as the covert-way, without breaking ground, under favor of some hollow roads, rising grounds, or cavities, and there begin their work.

_An attack_, is when the besieging army can approach the town so near as to take it, without making any considerable works.

_To form the_ SIEGE, _or lay siege to a place_, (_Mettre le Siege à une place_, _Fr._) there must be an army sufficient to furnish five or six reliefs for the trenches, pioneers, guards, convoys, escorts, &c. and artillery, with all the apparatus thereto belonging; magazines furnished with a sufficient quantity of all kinds of warlike stores; and a general hospital, with physicians, surgeons, medicines, &c.

_To raise a_ SIEGE, (_Lever le Siege_, _Fr._) is to give over the attack of a place, quit the works thrown up against it, and the posts formed about it. If there be no reason to fear a sally from the place, the _siege_ may be raised in the day-time. The artillery and ammunition must have a strong rear guard, lest the besieged should attempt to charge the rear: if there be any fear of an enemy in front, this order must be altered discretionally, as safety and the nature of the country will admit.