CHAPTER I.

OBSERVATIONS IN GENERAL.

Laboratory-works comprehend all the operations of the _workshop_, connected with this branch of pyrotechny. The tools and instruments required for the laboratory, as well as the substances employed in the different preparations, we have already described.

Having noticed the origin of gunpowder, in the first part of our work, the following remarks in relation to that subject, namely, the history, of cannon, may be interesting.

For some time after the invention of artillery, gunpowder was of a weaker composition than that at present used, or than that described by Marcus Græcus. The first pieces of artillery were rough and very inconvenient, being usually framed of several pieces of iron bars, fitted together lengthwise, and hooped with rings. These guns were first employed in throwing stone shot of a prodigious weight, in imitation of the ancient machines, to which they succeeded, and were of an enormous bore. When Constantinople was besieged by Mahomet II. in the year 1453, the walls were battered with stone bullets, and some of the pieces were of 1200 lbs. caliber; but they could not be fired more than four times in twenty-four hours, and sometimes were burst by the first charge.

As mathematical knowledge increased in Europe, that of mechanics gradually advanced, and enabled artists, by making brass cannon of a much smaller bore for iron bullets, and capable of bearing a much greater charge of strong powder in proportion to their calibers, to produce a very material and important change in the construction and fabric of those original pieces. Guicciardin (_History_, &c. _1st book_) informs us, that, about 114 years after the first use made of those unwieldy pieces by the Venetians, in their war against the Genoese in 1380, the French were able to procure, for the invasion of Italy, a great number of brass cannon, mounted on carriages, drawn by horses. He then enumerates the advantages which these pieces possessed, and particularly that they could be pointed with incredible quickness and expedition, in comparison with those formerly made use of in Italy. But, as our limits will not permit us to notice all the circumstances in connection with these pieces, it is sufficient to remark, that this change in the formation of artillery has as yet undergone no material alteration; if we except the introduction of carronades, first suggested by general Melville, and of Columbiads, by the late Mr. Barlow.

Glenie (_History of Gunnery_, 1776) appears to have been the first, who gave the theory of projectiles in vacuo by plain geometry, or by means of the square and rhombus, with a method of reducing projections on inclined planes, whether elevated or depressed below the horizontal plane, to those which are made on the horizon. The experiments, and observations, of Mr. Robins, on the subject of gunpowder, &c. may be seen in the article on gunpowder.

Besides the formation of cannon, by uniting iron bars together, and strengthening them by hoops, (one or two of which were made in Philadelphia in 1776, by a Mr. Wheeler, of a superior kind,) others were made of thin sheets of iron, rolled up together and hooped; and on emergencies, they were made of leather, with plates of iron or copper. Stone balls were used, and a small quantity of powder. In the 13th century, cannon were used in a sea fight, between the king of Tunis and the Moorish king of Seville. The Venetians used cannon at the siege of Claudia Jessa, now called Chioggia, in 1366, which were brought thither by two Germans, with some powder and leaden balls; as likewise in their wars with the Genoese in 1379. At the battle of Cressy, in 1346, Edward III made use of cannon. They were also employed in the seige of Calais, in 1347. Pieces of ordnance were made use of by the Turks, at the siege of Constantinople, then in possession of the Christians, in 1394, or in that of 1452, that threw a weight of 1006 lbs. Louis XII had one cast at Tours, of the same size. One of those cannon was taken at the seige of Dieu, in 1546, by Don John de Castra, and is in the castle of St. Juliao de Barra, 10 miles from Lisbon. Its length is 20 feet 7 inches, diameter at the centre, 6 feet 3 inches, and it discharges a ball of 1000 lbs. It has neither dolphins, rings, nor buttons, is of a curious kind of metal, and has a large Indostan inscription upon it, by which it appears it was cast in 1400. The mortars at the Dardanelles are represented to throw shells, or ball of an immense size and weight.

Some do not consider cannon an European invention; because it is asserted, that authentic documents exist of their use in China, many centuries before they were thought of in Europe. If they say, the testimony of the Chinese themselves is not sufficient on this point, the fact of their great wall being furnished with embrasures, fitted in such a manner for cannon, leaves no doubt of their having been in use at the time of its erection. To this, an additional argument may be added, from their very ancient game of chess, in which pieces have been used from remote antiquity, designating engines of war, whose power was derived from gunpowder. Mr. Irvin, (_Trans. Royal Irish Academy_,) in his paper on the Chinese Game of Chess, proves, that gunpowder was in common use in China, 371 years after Confucius, or 161 years before Christ; and Du Halde has long since given documents to show, that the Chinese wall was in existence 200 years before the commencement of the Christian era; and consequently, for the reason before stated, the use of cannon must have been of at least equal antiquity. The Asiatic Researches contain some remarks to the same point. There is a strong probability then, that the invention of guns was of a much more remote date. It is not impossible, however, that the same thing may have been invented by different persons, in various parts of the world.

We mentioned, that it is much more probable, that the use of gunpowder in war was derived ultimately from the Chinese, notwithstanding the generally received opinion, that the Greek fire was the progenitor of its discovery; or that Bacon, or Schwartz, an obscure monk, has claims to the invention. The mode in which the use of gunpowder in war might have passed from China to Europe, is the most probable and simple imaginable. Zingis Khan is known to have conquered the five northern provinces of China, about the year 1234. He must have known the common use of gunpowder at that period, as it had been known in China 1400 years before. In the _Chinese annals_ of the Moguls, by Yuen, as translated by Pére Gaubil, it is particularly stated, that the use of cannon and mortars was familiar in the wars and sieges of Zingis against the Chinese, both by them and him, in attack and defence. It is most probable, that he used gunpowder in his wars against Mahomet, Sultan of Carisme, whose dominions extended from the Persian Gulf, to the borders of India and of Turkistan. It is known, that he had a body of Chinese engineers in his army, who, of course, must have been acquainted with the use of gunpowder.

The conquests of Zingis would thus have spread the knowledge of gunpowder, &c. over the western part of Asia; and the Europeans, in their crusades, may have had frequent opportunities of becoming acquainted with it. It was just after this time, that it became known, and was used in the European wars.

Sir Francis Bacon (_Moral and Political Essays_,) observes, that "ordnance was known in the city of Oxydraces, in India, and was that which the Macedonians called 'thunder, lightning, and magic;' and it is well known, that the use of ordnance had been common in China above two thousand years."

Beckman, (_History of Inventions_, iii, p. 434,) in his essay on the origin of guns and gun-locks, has given, at some length, the history of guns. All we can add here, is, that the first portable fire-arms were discharged by means of a match, which, in the course of time, was fastened to a cock, and afterwards a fire stone and steel plate were used. This fire stone was not a flint, but a compact pyrites, or marcasite, (sulphuret of iron), which was distinguished by that name. On each new improvement, the piece received a new name; as, _büchse_, _haken büchse_, _arquebuse_, &c. After explaining the origin of these names, he adds, that the large pieces were conveyed on carriages, called _karrenbüchse_, but soon after also _canna_, cannon. Pistols are mentioned by Beilay, in 1544, in the time of Francis I; and under Henry II, the German horsemen were called _pistoliers_. The name is derived from Pistoia, in Tuscany; because they were there first made. Muskets received their name from the Latin _muschetus_, which signifies a male sparrow-hawk. They were first used at the seige of Rhege, in the year 1521. They were known in France in the time of Francis I. Brantome, however, asserts, that they were first introduced by the Duke of Alva, in 1567, and used in the Netherlands. He also says, that they were made general in France by M. de Strozzi, under Charles XI. The lock was invented in Germany, in the city of Nuremberg, in 1517; it is uncertain whether it is the present lock. In the arsenal at Hanover, there are many ancient pieces. The oldest had on the barrel, the figure of a hen with a musket in its mouth; because it is said they were made at Henneberg.

There are three species of cannon, the _gun_, the _howitzer_, and the _mortar_. The gun is the longest piece of artillery, employed at the present day: the _culverins_, _dragons_, &c. as they were formerly called, had calibers twice, and even three times as long as those now used. Guns were originally called _bombards_, and were eight calibers in length. The term _pieriers_, from _pierre_, a stone, were given to some guns, because they were employed in throwing rough stones. The carronades, derived from the river Carron, in Scotland, where they were originally made, is a short gun, with a bore about eight diameters of the shot in length. The howitzer is a species of mortar, but longer, and used to throw a hollow projectile, called a howitz, which acts at first as a _ricochet_ ball. The mortar is the shortest species of cannon, and is used to throw bombs or shells. A stone mortar is used in sieges, to throw stones upon an enemy. Besides these descriptions of guns, there is another division, to which General Lallemand (_Treatise on Artillery_, vol. 1, p. 20,) has given the name of _demi-guns_, under which he ranks the _harquebus_ on a swivel, the _rampart gun_, and the _repeating gun_, or _musket_, of the Americans.

He observes, that the harquebus nearly resembles the _amusette_ of Marshal Saxe, has a barrel like that of a musket, and carries a ball weighing half a pound or more; that the rampart gun, or wall piece, is a large musket, that was anciently much used in the defence of fortresses, having a barrel of 5-1/2 or 6 feet long, and a ball from 10 to 14 to the pound; and that the repeating musket is a gun, consisting of 7 barrels, all of which discharges 32 rounds in succession, making 224 in all. With respect to this gun, the effect of which we have witnessed, not only in the discharge of thirty-two rounds from a single gun, but the combined effect of seven or more barrels, the General observes, that the diameter of the bore is three-fourths of an inch, and the weight seventy pounds. It is placed, like the rampart guns, upon a wooden frame, and has a handle at the breech to point by. As to its use, he adds:--it may be advantageously employed in the defence of places at the moment of assault; it may be useful in the field, to defend parts of a line of battle, or entrenchments, with few troops, and yet astonish the enemy by a warm fire, when he ventures to approach. Its discharge does not last a minute. It may be of great service in the tops of ships of war.

The inventor is a Mr. Chambers, of Pennsylvania. We witnessed its effect, when the President of the United States visited the navy yard in Philadelphia, where the inventor manufactured them; and also at Bush-hill, in the neighbourhood of that city. Having examined their construction, and also the shot it may be sufficient to remark, that the lead is cylindrical, one end being flat, and the other conical, and of such a size as to fit the caliber of the musket; that these rounds are pierced with a hole in the centre, which is charged with fuse composition; and, after a charge of powder, one of these cylinders is put in; then a charge, then a cylinder, &c. up to 32. The lock is placed opposite the last charge, so that when the first load is discharged, the fire communicates successively _through the cylinders_.

A repeating gun has been invented by a gentleman of New York. I have seen no description of it. The Marquis of Worcester, in his Century of Inventions, in the 58th to the 64th invention, hints at a similar contrivance; as for instance, (Inven. 58th,) "How to make a pistol to discharge a dozen times with one loading, and without so much as one new priming requisite, or to change it out of one hand into the other, or stop one's horse."

We may add, that, in 1764, M. Bouillet and Sons presented, to the Academy of Sciences, at Paris, a musket of their invention, which was lighter than the common kind, and had the property of firing twenty-four times in succession, charging and priming itself by a single circular movement of the musket upon an axis, fixed for that purpose. In the file of the _French Gazette_, for 1786, article Linberg, there is an account of an invention of the baron De Walskohl. It is the same, it would appear from the description, as the repeating musket. Being once charged, it will fire thirty-six times in succession. The experiments made with it were satisfactory.

Many patents have been secured in this country, and in England and France, for improvements on the musket and rifle; but, in order to accommodate short-sighted persons, M. Regnier's invention appears to be the first which consists in an _optic_ glass fixed in the butt, enabling persons of that description to shoot with accuracy. This invention is given in the _Journal de la Blancherie_ for 1779, p. 194.

In 1771, Moret, an armourer, announced a new constructed pistol, which would charge itself, &c. and in 1793, M. Gass presented to the military committee of France, a pistol of a new construction, calculated to fire several _ball_ in succession. The _Journal des Inventions et Découv._ i, p. 121, speaking of this invention, adds, that the means employed depended entirely on the construction of the ball, which, instead of round, was a cylinder, pierced in its length. This small canal is filled with meal-powder, and serves as the match of communication to the charges. This contrivance is much the same as the one we have described.[29]

Mr. Misson (_Travels through Germany and Italy_,) says, that in the arsenal at Venice, there is an engine which will light five hundred matches at once, and some very curious arms of ancient make, among which is a small trunk, with six little guns, which Carrara, the last lord of Padua, who was famous for his inhumanity, sent as a present to a lady; and was so contrived, that, upon opening of the trunk, the guns all fired at once, and killed her!

With respect to the invention of the various incendiary machines, we may observe generally, (as we purpose to notice them in their respective places), that Greek fire was employed in different ways, and was considered a destructive composition; that rain-fire, bombs, lances, matches, fire-balls and carcasses, torches, powder sacks, petards, &c. were all employed in more modern times for the same purpose; and, lastly, that the _fougette_ of the Asiatics, called Indian rockets, the Congreve rocket, the incendiary bomb of the French, and the floating rocket carcass, are embraced under the same head, and are all used for similar purposes in war. These, and other subjects, belonging to military fire-works, we purpose to mention in this, and the following chapters.

_Sec. I. Of Cartridges._

Cartridges are cases of paper, parchment, or flannel, fitted to the caliber of the piece, and holding exactly its proper charge. Strong paper is always used for musket and pistol cartridges, and the French musket-ball-cartridges are capped with flannel or coarse cotton. For heavy guns, they are made of thick, and as the English call it, of _cured_ paper, with flannel bottoms. Those for field ordnance are all made of flannel, and their size suited to the bore, or chamber of pieces, for which they are intended. The ball cartridges, for wall pieces, muskets, carbines, and pistols, are made of whitish-brown paper, on formers of wood. A sheet of paper will make six for wall pieces, twelve for muskets, sixteen for carbines, and twenty-four for pistols. The quantity of powder they contain respectively is, for wall pieces ten drachms, musket six, carbine four, and pistol three drachms.

Blank cartridges, for pistols, carbines, and muskets, are made of blue paper, to preserve a distinction between ball and blank, and to prevent the possibility of accidents, from the ball cartridges being mixed with the blank.

The charge for muskets is commonly half the weight of the ball. The balls for musketry are eighteen to the pound; and one pound of powder is sufficient for thirty-six cartridges.[30] Forty cartridges may be used to the pound, but forty-five would be too weak. The paper, necessary to form cartridges, should be well sized and not too thick. It is made for the purpose, under the name of cartridge paper, and should be of such a size as to cut to advantage. It is usually fourteen inches in length, and sixteen in breadth. A sheet will form twelve cartridges, but on account of wastage, it makes only ten. Half a sheet is employed as a wrapper for every ten cartridges, and one and a half sheets are used for ten and their wrapper. Six quires will make 1000 cartridges, and 31 reams, 100,000. Five ounces of packthread are necessary for binding 1000 cartridges, and 31 lbs. for 100,000.

Musket cartridges are made in the following manner. Long tables are provided, and, at certain distances, excavations, or holes are made, larger than the diameter of the ball, and one-third of its diameter in depth. These holes are designed for rounding the folds upon the ball. It is necessary first to be provided with formers to roll the cartridges upon, and measures to fill them with. These formers are made of hard and dry wood, seven inches, or seven and a half inches in length, and six-tenths of an inch in diameter, one-twelfth of an inch less than the diameter of the caliber. One end is rounded so as not to hurt the hand; the other is hollow, to receive one-third of the ball. The measures are in the form of the frustrum of a cone, open above. They are made of sheet-tin, and should contain one-fortieth part of a pound of powder, (one-forty-ninth according to the Strasburgh directions), or, when heaped, one thirty-sixth part of a pound. The height of these measures is one inch and a quarter; their diameter at the large end one inch and one-twelfth, and at the smaller end, three-quarters of an inch. In every squad of ten men, six are employed to roll the cartridges, two to fill them, and two to pack them. Each squad may make 10,000, but commonly 8,000, in a day.

To cut the paper for musket cartridges, we begin by folding the sheet in three parts widthwise; then each third part into two, again into three, and again into two, by a diagonal line which takes from 2.2 inches of a superior angle on the left, to 2.2 of the opposite inferior angle at the right; so that every sheet of paper will cut, without loss, into twelve parts, and every part will be 5.68 inches in height, 4.53 in width at one end, and 2.2 at the other end. According to Bigot, however, each trapezoid thus formed is 5-1/3 inches in length, 4-1/4 in width at one end, and 2-1/4 at the other end. The paper is cut by a person detailed for the purpose.

The person who rolls the cartridges, having spread the cut paper upon a table, takes the form with one hand, and the ball in the other, which he puts into the hollow of the form; after which, he rolls the paper round the ball and the form, so that there remains sufficient beyond the ball, to fold over in small folds; then he rolls the form surrounded with the paper, and having rounded the folds upon the ball, in a small hole made for that purpose in the table, he withdraws the form, and passes the cartridge to the man who is to fill it. He puts in the charge with a small tin measure, folds the paper over upon the powder as close as possible, and passes it on to him who is to make the packages. The packer takes ten in his hand, and arranges them on a sheet of paper folded in two, the balls half on one side and half on the other; and having wrapped them in the paper, he folds over the two ends, and ties the packets crosswise over the middle, and lengthwise.

Musket cartridges cannot be too tightly rolled upon the form; and to ascertain their accuracy, they must be calibered before they are loaded; that is, they must be put into the end of a musket. He who fills them, should make a charge complete in every cartridge, and not load one more than another, but always pour a full measure into every one. The packer should tie the cartridges, and round them as much as possible, without tearing the paper. He should take care that all the packets are of the same length; so that they may be placed in the partitions of the ammunition chest, which are all of one determined length, and will not therefore contain them, if made too long.

Cannon cartouches should be well arranged in the ammunition chests, and well stowed with tow, that they may be carried without danger of injury from the road. The tow is pressed down in small quantities, by a little wooden spatula, and cannot be pressed too hard; for the more the chests are stuffed with tow, the better the ammunition will be preserved.

Musket cartridges are placed in the ammunition chests in different arrangements, the height of which is proportioned to that of the cartridge. There are three stories in height in each chest, for musket cartridges; and between each a small separation, to prevent them from injuring each other. The number of cartridges contained in an ammunition wagon is proportioned to the kind of wagon in use, and to the quantity necessary for the service. The common load of ammunition wagons does not exceed thirteen hundred weight, if it is meant to take the benefit of forced marches. In every ammunition wagon for cannon cartouches, there are cartouches with ball, grape-shot, quick-match, and port-fires, staffs for port-fires, priming wires and match-rope--so that every wagon contains all kinds of ammunition relative to its caliber. In an ammunition wagon filled with musket cartridges, a certain number of flints are contained, to be distributed to the troops from the same chest whence they receive their ammunition.

We might here speak of the load of every ammunition wagon; but this subject more particularly belongs to artillery and its suite, than to fire-works.

Cartridges, used in sieges, &c. are made of paper bags, of the calibers of the different pieces, and of a sufficient length to contain the requisite quantity of powder. The paper should be large and strong.

The handle of each of the formers should have such a length and size, as to render them convenient to hold in the hand. Care must be taken to pierce a small hole in the middle, through the whole length of the form, by which the air might enter to the cartouches, and cause the form to be more easily drawn out, after the cartridge is made.

Pasted cartridges are formed in the usual manner upon a former; and when five-sixths of the paper are rolled, the remaining portion is pasted with a paste made of flour and glue, mixed together. The bottom is pasted over in the same manner. When the cartridge is drawn off the former, it is placed to dry in the sun, or near a stove.

With regard to the cost of cartridges in France, it appears, that a pound of packthread costs twelve sous, and workmen receive from fifteen to twenty sous per thousand for their labour. The whole expense of 100,000 would be, for paper, 105 livres; for packthread, 18 livres, 15 sous; for making 100 livres; total 223 livres, 15 sous. Bigot has furnished us with the following estimate:

For 31 reams of paper, at 4 fr. 50 c. the ream, is 140 fr. 60 c. For 31¼ lbs. of packthread at 80 centimes, 24 Labour, 1 fr. per thousand, 100 Five days work, for the cutter, 5 ------------- Total. 269 fr. 60 c.

One hundred thousand cartridges, for which the above is a calculation, require also

Bullets of lead, 5556 lbs. Powder, 2500 lbs.

_Sec. II. Of Cannon Cartridges._

The _gargousse_ of the French, in artillery, is a sack or bag of paper, or parchment, destined to enclose the load of a cannon. When it is made of serge, it is then called a pouch, (_sachet_); and, when united with the ball, it receives the name of ball-cartridge.

Bigot remarks, that these cartridges have been substituted for the dangerous and unsafe use of the spoon, or ladle, (_lanternes_, Fr.[31]), by means of which the load was carried to the bottom of the piece. They are paper bags or sacks, of the caliber of the gun. The loading is much more expeditious, and less danger is to be apprehended. It requires only, that the piece should be well sponged, and the priming to communicate with the load.

For the construction of these cases, coarse gray paper, and sufficiently strong, is used; and they should be well pasted. The paper, which is used with advantage, and commonly employed, is 23 inches in length, and 28 inches in breadth. It serves for all calibers, and even proof charges, which are stronger than the ordinary loads. The paper is cut of such a size as to leave from 1-1/4 inches, to 1-1/2 inches, on the roller, and a sufficiency to cover the lower extremity. One of the sides, as well as the side which is cut, is pasted. The paper is rolled upon the former, or roller, and is straightened, so that the hand may be passed over the pasted part, and the paper tightened. The bottom of the bag is placed upon the roller, and, in folding it, the bag is tied above that part of the paper, which is pasted. The bag is then dried, by placing it on one end upon a table, and exposing it to the air.

The rollers should be bored in their axis, so that, in drawing them out, they may come out easy, and without injuring the bag. This hole admits the external air, and prevents the formation of a vacuum in a degree, when the roller is suddenly withdrawn. The bottoms (_culots_,) are cut of the same diameter as the roller. The paste is made of flour and glue.

The table given by Bigot, p. 28, relative to the dimensions of sacks or cartridges, for cannon, embraces the following particulars: The diameter of the former, or roller for a 24 pr. is 5-1/6 inches: for a 16, 4-1/2; for a 12, 4; for an 8, 3-1/2; for a 6, 3-1/6; and for a four pounder 2-3/4 of an inch: the circumference of the cartridge for a 24 pr. is 17-2/3 inches; for a 16, 15-3/12ths; for a 12, 13-1/3; for an 8, 12-11/12; for a 6, 6-1/2; for a 4, 9-2/3ds inches. The height of the roller for a 24 pr. is 18 inches; for a 16, 15; for a 12, 14; for an 8, 13; for a 6, 12-1/2, and for a 4, 12. The height of the paper, including the circumference, for a 24 pr. is 17-2/3 inches; for a 16, 14; for a 12, 14; for an 8, 11; for a 6, 10-1/2; for a 4, 10. The height, which covers the cartridge, is for a 24 pr. 1-5/10 inches; for a 16, 1-3/12; for a 12, 1-1/12; for an 8, 11/12; for a 6, 10/12; and for a 4, 9/12. The bottom (_culot_,) for a 24 pr. is 1-2/12th inches; for a 16, 1; for a 12, 10/12; for an 8, 2/3ds; for a 6, 7/12; and for a 4, 1/2 inch. The height of the charge for a 24 pr. is 11-1/6 for a 16, 8-1/2; for a 12, 8-1/6; for an 8, 7-1/3; for a 6, 6-9/11; and for a 4, 6-2/12ths inches. The height of the paper, for the charges of exercise, is for a 24 pr. 10 inches; for a 16, 9; for a 12, 8; for an 8, 7; for a 6, 6-1/2; and for a 4, 6 inches.

In the table of the proportions of the charge, for different calibers, given by Ruggieri, (_Pyrotechnie Militaire_, p. 197,) besides the weight of the ball, and the height of the sack, the weight of the charge is given in pounds, and ounces, which is thus stated by him: for a 4 pr. 1 lb. 8 oz; an 8 pr. 2 lbs. 8 oz; a 12 pr. 4 lbs. 8 oz; a 16 pr. 5 lbs; and a 24 pr. 8 lbs.

_Cannon Cartouches_ are composed of a bag of serge, and a shoe or base, in which the ball was fixed by means of a tin cross, nailed to the shoe or base. The bag should be as large as the shoe, and long enough to contain the requisite quantity of powder. The shoe is a little less in diameter than the ball, so that the tin and the bag put upon it, do not increase its size beyond that of the ball. The shoe is flat on one side, and hollow on the other. The hollow part should be a spherical concavity, about one-third of the diameter of the ball. At a small distance from the bottom of the shoe, a groove is made sufficiently deep to contain the packthread, with which it is fastened to the bag.

In the construction of cannon cartouches, the ball must first be fixed to the base by means of two tin bands in the form of a cross, and nailed with two small nails at the bottom and sides of the base. These bands for sixteen and twelve pounders, are at least .44 decimal parts of an inch in width, and 15 inches long. Those for eight and four pounders, are .355 decimal parts of an inch in width, and 11.72 inches in length.

The ball being fixed on this base, it is put into a bag filled with powder, and the bag tied above to the base. Then a bit of parchment soaked in water, of from two to four inches in width, and of sufficient length to go round the cartouch, is placed round the bag, half on the shoe and half on the powder. Then tie it with a string passing in the groove, at about .27 parts of an inch below the base; so that the cartouch is tied in three different places--the two first above in the groove of the shoe, serves to hold the bag and it strongly together; the third below, is to prevent the powder from rising and slipping between the bag and the shoe. The band is placed on the part where the greatest friction is, to preserve the bag from being torn.

The cartouch thus made, is to be calibered by trying it with the piece for which it is intended, into which it must enter with ease. This cannot be too strongly recommended. It is of all things the most essential, and the only way of ascertaining the goodness of ammunition.

A workshop of twelve workmen is divided into four classes. The first class consists of two men who put the ball into the shoe; the second of two others who fill the bag with powder; the third, two others who press the powder into the bag; and the remaining six are employed in tying the bags to the shoes, two to each.

These twelve workmen can, in one day of twelve hours, make two hundred and forty cartouches, of sixteen or twelve pounders, or 320 of eight or four pounders.

_Table relative to the Cartouch, or Pouch._

------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------------ For | 12 | 8 | 6 | 4 |Light Troops ------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------------ Height, without | Inches. | Inches. | Inches. | Inches. | Inches. the folds. | 11 | 10 | 9½ | 9 | 6 Circumference, | | | | | without the folds.| 12-7/12 | 10-9/12 | 9¾ | 8½ | 5-3/12 Diameter of | | | | | the base, without | | | | | the folds. | 4 | 3-5/12 | 3-1/12 | 2-9/12 | 1-8/12 ------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------------

To make _grape shot_, we must have a bag of ticking, in which the small balls are arranged; also a shoe, to which not only the bag which contains the ball is attached, but also the serge filled with powder.

The shoe is made of the same wood with the ball cartridges, and of the following dimensions, viz. The sixteen pounder should have 4.97 inches diameter; the twelve pounders, 4.35; the eight pounders, 3.82; and the four pounders, 3.1 inches diameter. Those of the caliber of sixteen and twelve, should be 1.6 inches in thickness, with a groove in the middle of .44 parts of an inch in depth, and the same in width; the eight and four pounders have but 1.07 inch in thickness, with a groove in the middle of .36 parts of an inch in depth and width. Every shoe or base, has a pin in its centre, the size of which is in proportion to the vacancy left by the small balls of iron arranged about it. The height is in proportion to the different layers of ball.--In general thirty-six balls are put into one grape shot, of whatever caliber it be; that is to say, six heights of six each. The balls should be proportioned to the caliber, so that the six balls on the base should exactly fill the circumference of it. The pin in the middle of the base is exactly the size of the ball and seven times its diameter in height. At the top of the pin a groove is made to tie the threads, the width of which is one-third, and the depth, one-fourth of its diameter.

The bag in which the small balls are arranged, layer upon layer, should be of good strong ticking closely woven. It is of the size of the shot, and 2.13 inches in length above the top of the pin. It is strongly fastened at the bottom in the groove of the base with strong pack-thread. There must be 3-1/2 fathom of strong pack-thread trebled, to tie the grape of the caliber of sixteen and twelve pounders, and three fathom only for one of eight and four.

Grape shot may be corded in the same manner as the carcase is corded; with this difference, instead of eight turns, taking only six. The best and strongest method of tying the thread in grape-shot, is in the net-work form--one person holding, and another tying it.

In a work-shop where ten men are employed, eight are employed to wind the thread round, and two to attach the bag to the base or shoe, or to arrange the small balls on the shoe, round the pin. Such a work-shop, in a day of ten hours, can complete 120 grape-shot of the largest caliber, and as many as 140 of eight or four pounders might be made.

The grape shot composed of 36 iron balls, weigh, without their charge of powder, as follows:

lb. oz. For a caliber of 16 21 10 For do. of 12 16 3⅕ For do. of 8 10 12⅘ For do. of 4 6 3⅓

The diameters of the small balls for grape shot, of which six exactly fill the circumference, are as follows:

For 16 pounders, 1.66 inch. For 8 pounders, 1.31 inch. For 12 do. 1.5 do. For 4 do. 0.16 do.

_M. Bigot has given the following Table relative to Cartouches, and their Balls._

------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------------ Calibers. | 12 | 8 | 6 | 4 |Light Troops ------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------------ | lbs. oz.| lbs. oz.| lbs. oz.| lbs. oz.| lbs. oz. Charge of powder.| 4 0 | 2 ½ | 2 0 | 1 ½ | 0 17 Weight of the | | | | | cartouch and ball.| 16 11 | 11 2 | 8 ½ | 5 12 | 2 1 Height of the | Inches. | Inches. | Inches. | Inches. | Inches. charge of powder. | 8-3/12 | 6-9/12 | 6-3/12 | 6-1/12 | 5-1/12 Total height | | | | | of the cartouch. | 13½ | 11½ | 10-8/12 | 9-11/12 | 7-8/12 ------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------------