Part 58
+--------------+----------- Kind. | Length in | Weight. -------------------+------+-------+----------- |Calib.|ft. in.|ct. qr. lb. 42 Pounders |16.244| 9 6 |66 -- -- 32 ---- |18.721|10 0 |55 2 -- {Heavy |19.574| 9 6 |53 0 9 24 {Medium |16.483| 8 0 |41 3 2 {Light |10.302| 5 0 |16 3 13 {Do. new |13.000| 6 3 |24 0 -- 18 Light do. |13.000| 5 9 |18 0 -- {Heavy |24.659| 9 0 |31 2 8 {Desagulier’s |19.468| 7 6 |22 1 21 12{Medium, old |16.872| 6 6 |21 3 -- {Medium, new |16.872| 6 6 |18 -- -- {Light |12.978| 5 0 | 8 3 4 * {Do. new |13.000| 5 0 |12 -- -- {Heavy |26.112| 8 0 |19 1 6 * {Desag’s. Med. |22.876| 7 0 |12 -- 24 6 { {new |18.500| 6 0 | 8 3 27 {Med.{reduced |17.000| 5 6 | 8 0 22 * {Gen. Belford’s|16.342| 5 0 | 5 2 21 {Light, common |14.706| 4 6 | 5 - 18 {Heavy |28.836| 7 0 |11 3 19 * {Desagulier’s |24.717| 6 0 | 6 -- -- *3 {Light, common |14.418| 3 6 | 2 2 27 {Light infantry |12.358| 3 0 | 1 3 16 {Gen. Pattison’s|12.358| 3 0 | 1 2 19 1 Pr. Amuzette |29.7 | 5 0 | 2 2 12 Do. |35.6 | 6 0 | 3 0 11 Do. |41.5 | 7 0 | 3 1 12 -------------------+------+-------+----------
The guns marked (*) are the only ones used by the British since 1795, on general service.
_Length and weight of French brass guns, in their old weights and measures._[9]
+------------------+---- Kind. | Length in |W’t. -----------------+------+-----------+---- |Calib.|ft. in. li.|lbs. 24 Prs.}Siege {| -- | 9 11 5|5628 16 -- } {| -- | 9 7 --|4111 | | | 12 -- }Garrison{| -- | -- -- --|3184 8 } {| -- | -- -- --|2175 | | | 12 -- } {| 18.0 | 6 6 --|1808 8 -- }Field {| 18. | 5 8 --|1196 4 -- } {| 18. | 4 6 --| 590 1 -- | -- | -- -- --| 266 -----------------+------+-----------+----
[9] The French weights and measures have assumed new names, and are reduced to strict proportions since the revolution. The weights here referred to are the old. For the new French system of weights and measures, see the word WEIGHTS.
_Length and weight of English iron guns._
+--------------+-------+-------- | | |[10]Pro- | | |portion | | |between | | |shot and Kind. | Length in | Wt. |gun. ---------+------+-------+-------+-------- |Calib.|ft. in.|ct. qr.| 42 Prs.{ |17.098|10 -- |67 -- | { |16.244| 9 6 |65 -- | 170 32 -- {|18.721|10 -- |58 -- | {|17.725| 9 6 |55 -- | 193 { |20.604|10 -- |52 -- | 24 -- { |19.574| 9 6 |49 2 | 231 { |18.542| 9 -- |47 2 | 18 -- {|21.542| 9 6 |42 -- | {|20.408| 9 -- |40 -- | 249 { |24.659| 9 6 |34 -- | 12 -- { |23.361| 9 -- |32 -- | { |22.063| 8 6 |31 2 | { |19.468| 7 6 |29 1 | 294 {|21.4 | 7 6 |24 2 | 305 9 -- {|19.9 | 7 -- |23 -- | { |26.2 | 8 -- |22 -- | 6 -- { |19.6 | 6 -- |16 2 | 411 {|22.4 | 6 -- |22 1 | 343 4 -- {|20.6 | 5 6 |11 1 | 3 -- |18.6 | 4 6 | 7 1 | 270 ---------+------+-------+-------+--------
[10] This column expresses the number of English pounds of metal in the guns, to each pound in the shot.
_French iron guns, in English weights, &c._
+----------------+------------ Kind. | Length in | Weight. ------------+------+---------+------------ |Calib.|ft. in. |ct. qr. lbs. 36 Pounders | 16.18| 9 8 | 74 3 -- 24 ---- | 18.18| 9 1¹⁄₂| 51 -- -- {| 21.01| 9 7 | 42 -- -- 16 ---- {| 18.45| 8 4 | 43 2 -- {| 16.92| 7 8¹⁄₂| 35 -- -- {| 21.54| 8 7 | 31 2 -- 12 ---- {| 20.5 | 8 2 | 20 3 -- {| 17.14| 6 10 | 28 -- -- 8 ---- {| 24.64| 8 7 | 24 1 -- {| 17.22| 6 -- | 16 -- -- 4 ---- | 17.19| 4 9 | -- -- -- ============+======+=========+============
_Ranges of brass guns, with one shot. 1793._
+--------+----------------------------- | | To the first graze of | | the shot. Kind. | Charge.| PB | 1° | 2° | 3° | 4° | 5° ------------------+--------+----+----+----+----+----+---- |lbs. oz.|yds.|yds.|yds.|yds.|yds.|yds. Heavy | 8 0 | 473| 781|1032|1405|1585|1710 24 Medium | 8 0 | 488| 757|1103|1425|1557|1745 Light | 3 0 | 162| 364| 606| 722| |1399 Heavy | | | | | | | 12 Medium | 4 0 | | 705| 973|1189| | Light | 3 0 | | 601| 816|1063| | {Desagulier’s | 2 0 | | 646| 966|1325| | {6 Feet | 2 0 | | 683| 948|1327| | 6{5 : 6 Med. | 2 0 | | 775|1003|1444| | {5 : 6 Red’d. | 2 0 | | 642| 976|1150| | {5 Feet | 1 8 | | 587| 825| 950| | {4 : 6 Feet. | 1 8 | | 628| 804| 991| | 3 Desagulier’s | 1 0 | | 679| 883| 918| | Amuzette of 5 feet| 0 8 | | 604| 800| | | Do. 7 feet | 0 8 | | 656| 830|1000| | ------------------+--------+----+----+----+----+----+----
_Ranges from Brass Guns, with Two Shot. 1793._
+------------------+--------+------+------------------+ | | |Eleva-|Medium first Graze| | Kind. | Charge.| tion.| in yards. | +------------------+--------+------+---------+--------+ | |lbs. oz.|1° 30′|1st Shot.|2d Shot.| |12 Pounder, Medium| 4 -- |1 30 | 607 | 706 | | 6 : Desagulier’s | 2 -- |1 30 | 621 | 739 | | 6 : of 5 feet | 1 8 |1 30 | 586 | 732 | | 3 : Desagulier’s | 1 -- |1 30 | 523 | 638 | +------------------+--------+------+---------+--------+
_Ranges from Brass Field Guns, with small charges. 1798._
+------+-------+----------------------------------+-----------------+ | | | First Graze | | | Kind.|Charge.| with different elevations. | Extreme range. | |------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----------------+ | Pr. | | 1°| 2°| 3°| 4°| 5°| 6° | 7° | 8° | | | 12 {| 10 oz.|199|290|390|385|597| 716| 695| 788|from 800 to 1000| | {| 1 lb.|280|416|729|777|966|1090|1054|1295|from 1200 to 1500| +------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----------------+ |6 Pr.{| 5 oz.|111|222|376|432|618| 625| 650| 788|from 800 to 1000| | {| 8 oz.|277|401|754|826|925| 980|1103|1100|from 1000 to 1300| +------+-------+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----------------+
N. B. The above was a 12 Pr. Medium, and a 6 Pr. Desagulier’s. The distances are given in yards.
_Effects of case shot from a battalion gun--Light 6 Pr. length 5 feet--Weight 5 cwt. 3 qrs. 21 lbs. against a target 8 feet high, and 90 feet long._
+-----------------+-------+-----------------+----------------- | | |No. put into the |No. put into the Distance| Kind | |height of 6 feet,|height of 8 feet, of | of | Ele- |or the height of |or the height of Target.| charge. |vation.| Infantry. | Cavalry. --------+-----------------+-------+-----------------+----------------- Y’ds. | | deg. | | 500 {|12 balls, 8 oz. }| 1 | 3 | 3 {|each, 3 in a }| 1¹⁄₂ | 3 | 4 {|tier, 1¹⁄₄ lb. }| 2 | 3 | 4 {|powder. }| | | { | { | 1 | 6 | 6 400 { |same ch’ge { | 1¹⁄₂ | 4 | 5 { | { | 2 | 4 | 5 {| {| ¹⁄₂ | 6 | 7 300 {|same ch’ge {| 1 | 3 | 3 {| {| 1¹⁄₂ | 4 | 6 { |34 balls. 3 oz.} | P B | 10 | 12 400 { |each, 7 in a } | ¹⁄₂ | 9 | 10 { |tier, 1¹⁄₄ lb. } | 1 | 6 | 8 { |powder } | | | {| {| P B | 11 | 13 300 {|same ch’ge {| ¹⁄₂ | 12 | 15 {| {| 1 | 7 | 9 --------+-----------------+-------+-----------------+-----------------
N. B. There were three rounds fired at each charge, but they were all so nearly alike, that it has been thought necessary to put down only one of them. 1802.
_Ranges with sea service iron guns. 1796._
Kind of Guns, 32, 24, and 18 Pounders. ------+----------+--------------------------------------------+------ |Proportion| | Eleva-| of | | tion.| powder. | Kind of shot. |Range. ------+----------+--------------------------------------------+------ deg. | | |Yards. 2 | ¹⁄₃ |With single shot to the first graze | 1200 2 | ¹⁄₄ |Do. Do. | 1000 2 | ¹⁄₄ |2 shot, ranged close together, to | 500 4 | ¹⁄₃ |Single shot | 1600 4 | ¹⁄₄ |Do. | 1500 7 | ¹⁄₃ |Do. | 2150 7 | ¹⁄₄ |Do. | 2020 2 | ¹⁄₄ |1 round shot and 1 r’d. of grape range with | | |effect together, to | 600 4 | ¹⁄₄ |One round of grape shot, alone, to | 1000 2 | ¹⁄₄ |One double headed, or bar shot will range to| | |the first graze | 800 ------+----------+--------------------------------------------+------
_Ranges with 5¹⁄₂ inch shells, from a 24 Pr. iron Gun. Length of Gun 9¹⁄₂ ft. Wt. 49 ct. 26lb._
+-----+------------------++------------------++------------------+ | | 2 Pounds. || 2 lbs. 8 oz. || 3 Pounds. | | +-------+----------++-------+----------++-------+----------+ | |Flight.| ||Flight.| ||Flight.| | | Ele-| +--+ Range to || +--+ Range to || +--+ Range to | | va- | | First| Ex- || | First| Ex- || |First | Ex- | |tion.| | Graze| treme|| | Graze| treme|| |Graze | treme| +-----+----+------+------++----+------+------++----+------+------+ | deg.|Sec.|Yards.|Yards.||Sec.|Yards.|Yards.||Sec.|Yards.|Yards.| | 1 |1 | 213 | 1139 ||2³⁄₄| 562 | 1456 ||1 | 277 | 1424 | | 2 |1³⁄₄| 384 | 1267 ||1¹⁄₂| 442 | 1413 ||1³⁄₄| 526 | 1464 | | 3 |2³⁄₄| 565 | 1413 ||2 | 647 | 1553 ||2¹⁄₄| 740 | 1600 | | 4 |2¹⁄₄| 750 | 1479 ||3³⁄₄| 896 | 1639 ||3¹⁄₂| 880 | 1679 | | 5 |3³⁄₄| 836 | 1670 ||4 | 915 | 1510 ||5 | 1182 | 1733 | | 6 |4 | 896 | 1495 ||5 | 1140 | 1657 ||6¹⁄₄| 1384 | 1787 | | 7 |6¹⁄₂| 1180 | 1492 ||6 | 1205 | 1481 ||6¹⁄₄| 1410 | 1749 | | 8 |6³⁄₄| 1305 | 1526 ||6¹⁄₂| 1259 | 1544 ||7 | 1520 | 1744 | | 9 |7¹⁄₂| 1329 | 1527 ||7 | 1341 | 1561 ||7³⁄₄| 1722 | 1938 | | 9¹⁄₂|6³⁄₄| 1229 | 1453 ||----| ---- | ---- ||8¹⁄₂| 1748 | 1881 | +-----+----+------+------++----+------+------++----+------+------+
_Ranges with 4²⁄₅ Shells from a 12 Pounder, Medium._
+-----+------------------++------------------++------------------+ | | 8 Ounces. || 12 Ounces. || 1 lb. 8oz. | | +-------+----------++-------+----------++-------+----------+ | |Flight.| ||Flight.| ||Flight.| | | Ele-| +--+ Range to || +--+ Range to || +--+ Range to | | va- | | First| Ex- || | First| Ex- || |First | Ex- | |tion.| | Graze| treme|| | Graze| treme|| |Graze | treme| +-----+----+------+------++----+------+------++----+------+------+ | deg.|Sec.|Yards.|Yards.||Sec.|Yards.|Yards.||Sec.|Yards.|Yards.| | 1 |1¹⁄₂| 156 }| || | | || | | | | 2 |2 | 293 }| ||2¹⁄₂| 350 }| || | 707 }| | | 3 |2¹⁄₂| 363 }| From ||3¹⁄₂| 355 }| From || | 758 }| From | | 4 |3¹⁄₂| 462 }| 800 ||4 | 679 }| 1100 || | 849 }| 1400 | | 5 |4 | 587 }| to ||3¹⁄₂| 641 }| to || |1075 }| to | | 6 |4 | 621 }| 1200 ||5 | 941 }| 1300 || |1150 }| 1600 | | 7 |4¹⁄₂| 898 }| ||6 |1020 }| || |1300 }| | | 8 |5 | 781 }| || | | || | | | +-----+----+------+------++----+------+------++----+------+------+
_Ranges with French brass field guns, with round shot._
+------------+-------------------+------- | | Elevation. | | +-----------+-------+ Range | | Lines of | | in Kind.| Charge. |Tan. Scale.|Deg. M.|Toises. ------+------------+-----------+-------+------- | {| L. M. |-- 58| 300 | {| 2 | 1 3| 350 12 Pr.| 4 lbs. {| 10 | 1 39| 400 | {| 14 | 1 49| 450 | {| 16 | 1 56| 480 | { | L. M. |-- 58| 300 | { | 6 | 1 24| 350 8 Pr.| 2¹⁄₂ lbs.{ | 12 | 1 51| 400 | { | 16 | 2 8| 450 | { | 20 | 2 24| 480 | {| L. M. |-- 58| 250 | {| 4 | 1 20| 300 4 Pr.| 1¹⁄₂ lbs. {| 8 | 1 40| 350 | {| 12 | 2 --| 400 | {| 16 | 2 20| 450 | {| 18 | 2 40| 480 ------+------------+-----------+-------+-------
The above are in old French weights and measures.
_Definitions of_ GUNNERY. 1. The impetus at any point of the curve is the perpendicular height to which a projectile could ascend, by the force it has at that point; or the perpendicular height from which a body must fall to acquire the velocity it has at that point.
2. The diameter to any point of the curve is a line drawn through that point perpendicular to the horizon.
3. The points where the diameters cut the curve are called vertexes to these diameters.
4. The axis is that diameter which cuts the curve in its highest or principal vertex, and is perpendicular to the tangent at that point or vertex.
5. The ordinates to any diameter are lines drawn parallel to the tangent at the point where that diameter cuts the curve, and intercepted between the diameter and curve.
6. The absciss is that part of the diameter which is intercepted between the ordinate and the curve.
7. The altitude of the curve is the perpendicular height of the principal vertex above the horizon.
8. The amplitude, random, or range, is the distance between the point of projection and the object aimed at.
9. The elevation of the piece is the angle its axis (produced) makes with the horizon, and the axis itself is called the direction.
10. The horizontal distance to which a mortar, elevated to a given angle, and loaded with a given quantity of powder, throws a shell of a given weight, is called the range of that mortar, with that charge and elevation.
11. The inclination of a plane is the angle it makes with the horizon either above or below.
12. The directrix is the line of motion, along which the describing line or surface is carried in the genesis of any plane or solid figure.
_Laws of motion in_ GUNNERY.
1. Spaces equally run through with equal velocities, are to one another as the times in which they are run through, and conversely.
2. Spaces equally run through in the same or equal times, are to one another as the velocities with which they are run through, and conversely.
3. Spaces run through are in the same proportion to one another, as their times multiplied into their velocities, and conversely.
4. A body urged by two distinct forces in two different directions, will in any given time be found at the point where two lines meet that are drawn parallel to these directions, and through the points to which the body could have moved in the same time, had these forces acted separately.
5. The velocities of bodies, which by the action of gravity begin to fall from the rest, are in the same proportion as the times from their beginning of their falling.
6. The spaces run through by the descent of a body which began to fall from rest, are as the squares of the times, from the beginning of the fall.
7. The motion of a military projectile is in a curve.
GUN-_powder_, a composition of nitre, sulphur, and charcoal, well mixed together and granulated, which easily takes fire, and expands with amazing force, being one of the strongest propellents known.
_Gun-powder.--Proportions of the different ingredients for making gunpowder, by different powers in Europe_:
+--------+----+------+-------+-------+------+-------+ | |Eng.| Fran.|Sweden.|Poland.|Italy.|Russia.| +--------+----+------+-------+-------+------+-------+ |Nitre | 75| 75 | 75 | 80 | 76¹⁄₂| 70 | |Sulphur | 10| 9¹⁄₂| 9 | 8 | 12¹⁄₂| 11¹⁄₂| |Charcoal| 15| 15¹⁄₂| 16 | 12 | 12¹⁄₂| 18¹⁄₂| +--------+----+------+-------+-------+------+-------+ | Pounds| 100|100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | +--------+----+------+-------+-------+------+-------+
GUNPOWDER. This well known powder is composed of seventy five parts, by weight, of nitre, sixteen of charcoal, and nine of sulphur, intimately blended together by long pounding in wooden mortars, with a small quantity of water. This proportion of the materials is the most effectual. But the variations of strength in different samples of gunpowder are generally occasioned by the more or less intimate division and mixture of the parts. The reason of this may be easily deduced from the consideration, that nitre does not detonate until in contact with inflammable matter; whence the whole detonation will be more speedy, the more numerous the surfaces of the contact. The same cause demands, that the ingredients should be very pure, because the mixture of foreign matter not only diminishes the quantity of effective ingredients which it represents, but likewise prevents the contacts by its interposition.
The nitre of the third boiling is usually chosen for making gunpowder, and the charcoal of light woods is preferred to that of those which are heavier, most probably because this last, being harder, is less pulverable. An improvement in the method of making the charcoal has lately been adopted, which consists in putting the wood, cut into pieces about nine inches long, into an iron cylinder laid horizontally, closed at one end, and furnished with small pipes at the other, that the pyroligneous acid and carburetted hidrogen may escape, and thus exposed to the heat of a fire made underneath. It is said, this charcoal improves the strength of gunpowder so much, that only two thirds of the old charge of gunpowder for ordnance are now used in our navy. The requisite pounding of the materials is performed in the large way by a mill, in which wooden mortars are disposed in rows, and in each of which a pestle is moved by the arbor of a water-wheel: it is necessary to moisten the mixture from time to time with water, which serves to prevent its being dissipated in the pulverulent form, and likewise obviates the danger of explosion from the heat occasioned by the blows. Twelve hours pounding is in general required to complete the mixture; and when this is done, the gunpowder is in fact made, and only requires to be dried to render it fit for use.
_Proofs of powder._--The first examination of powder in the British mills, is by rubbing it in the hands to find whether it contains any irregular hard lumps. The second is by blasting 2 drams of each sort on a copper plate, and in this comparing it with an approved powder; in this proof it should nor emit any sparks, nor leave any beads or foulness on the copper. It is then compared with an approved powder, in projecting an iron ball of 64 lbs. from an 8 inch mortar, with a charge of 2 ounces. The best cylinder powder generally gives about 180 feet range, and pit 150; but the weakest powder, or powder that has been redried, &c. only from 107 to 117 feet.
The merchants’ powder, before it is received into the government service, is tried against powder of the same kind made at the royal mills; and it is received if it gives a range of ¹⁄₂₀ less than the king’s powder with which it is compared. In this comparison both sorts are tried on the same day, and at the same time, and under exactly the same circumstances.
The proof of fine grained, or musquet powder, is with a charge of 4 drams from a musquet barrel, to perforate with a steel ball a certain number of ¹⁄₂ inch wet elm boards, placed ³⁄₄ inch asunder, and the first 39 feet 10 inches from the barrel: the king’s powder generally passes through 15 or 16, and restoved powder from 9 to 12. The last trial of powder is by exposing about 1 pound of each sort, accurately weighed, to the atmosphere for 17 or 18 days; during which time, if the materials are pure, it will not increase any thing material in weight, by attracting moisture from the atmosphere.
In this exposure 100 lbs. of good gunpowder should not absorb more than 12 oz. or somewhat less than one per cent.
Different modes of trying gunpowder have been adopted. A ready one is, to lay two or three small heaps on separate pieces of writing paper, and fire one with a red hot wire. If the flame ascend quickly, with a good report, leaving the paper free from white specks, and not burnt into holes; and at the same time the other heaps be not fired by the sparks, the powder is well made, and the ingredients are good.
There are experiments which seem to show, that gunpowder is stronger in the fine impalpable form, than when granulated. This appears to be true with regard to gunpowder originally made, or pounded till it assumes that form; but it may be doubted, whether it have any foundation in general, or indeed that the greater strength depends at all upon this form.
_British Powder Marks._--The different sorts of powder are distinguished by the following marks on the heads of the barrels.
N^{o.} ¹⁄₂} } L G }Cylinder} ----- } } N^{o.} 2} } S G } Cylinder}Marked in Red. ----- } } N^{o.} 3 } } F G } Cylinder} ----- } }
~S A~--The dust from N^{o.}3, and F G cylinder.
~R A~--For rifle arms.
⁴⁄₇ Cylinder}mixed--Marked white L G. ³⁄₇ Restoved}
L G or F G in blue, is powder made of pitcoal.
/ \ / \ {N^{o.} ¹⁄₂ L G}Marked in yellow, is restoved. |R S| {N^{o.} 3 F G} \ / \ /