Part 5

If to the above proportion of materials, &c. for a battery of two guns, there be added for each additional gun, 30 fascines of 9 feet, and 10 of 18 feet, with 12 workmen, the quantity may easily be found for a battery of any number of pieces.

The workmen are generally thus disposed; one half the men of the line in the ditch at 3 feet asunder, who throw the earth upon the berm; one fourth upon the berm at 6 feet asunder, to throw the earth upon the epaulment, and the other quarter on the epaulment, to level the earth, and beat it down. The artillery men carry on the fascine work, and level the interior for the platforms. This number of workmen may complete a battery in 36 hours, allowing 216 cubic feet tn be dug and thrown up, by each man _in the ditch_ in 24 hours.

_Tools for the Construction of a Battery._

_Intrenching_—1½ times the number of workmen required; half to be pick axes, and half shovels or spades, according to the soil.

_Mallets_—3 per gun.

_Earth Rammers_—3 per gun.

_Crosscut Saws_—1 to every two guns.

_Handbills or Hatchets_—2 per gun.

This estimate of tools and workmen, does not include what may be required for making up the fascines, or preparing the other materials, but supposes them ready prepared. For these articles, see the words _Fascine_, _Gabion_, _Platform_, &c. and for the construction of field magazines for batteries, see the word _Magazine_.

NOTE. The following estimate of the quantity of earth which may be removed by a certain number of workmen in a given time, may serve to give some idea of the time required to raise any kind of works. 500 common wheel barrows will contain 2 cubic toises of earth, and may be wheeled by one man, in summer, to the distance of 20 yards up a ramp, and 30 on a horizontal plain, in one day. In doing which he will pass over, going and returning, about 4 leagues in the first case, and 6 in the last. Most men, however, will not wheel more than 1¾ toise per day. Four men will remove the same quantity to four times the distance.

In a soil easy to be dug, one man can fill the 500 barrows in a day; but if the ground be hard, the number of fillers must be augmented, so as to keep pace with the wheel barrow man.

_BEDS for Mortars._

+------------+-------------+--------------+-------+-------+-------+ |Nature. | Weight. | Tonnage. | Len. | Bre. | Ht. | +------------+-------------+--------------+-------+-------+-------+ | |cᵂᵗ. qʳˢ. lb.| tⁿˢ. cᵂᵗ. qʳ |ft. in.|ft. in.|ft. in.| | | | | | | | | Sea | 38 3 13 | 3 3 2 | | | | +--+---------+-------------+--------------+-------+-------+-------+ |13|Land Wood| 21 2 7 | 1 6 0 | 7 0 | 2 6 | 2 3 | | | ” Iron| 50 0 0 | 2 10 0 | 6 3 | 3 1 | 1 6 | +--+---------+-------------+--------------+-------+-------+-------+ | Sea | 32 2 14 | 2 2 2 | | | | +--+---------+-------------+--------------+-------+-------+-------+ |10|Land Wood| 10 0 20 | 0 4 2 | 6 6 | 1 8 | 1 10 | | | ” Iron| 23 0 0 | 1 3 0 | 4 8 | 2 4 | 1 1½ | +--+---------+-------------+--------------+-------+-------+-------+ |8 |Land Wood| 6 0 20 | 0 7 2 | 4 2 | 1 7 | 1 7½ | | | ” Iron| 12 0 0 | 0 12 0 | 4 0 | 1 11 | 0 11 | +--+---------+-------------+--------------+-------+-------+-------+ | 5½ Wood | 1 0 22 | 0 2 0 | 2 9 | 1 4 | 0 10 | | 4⅖ Wood | 0 3 11 | 0 1 2 | 2 4½| 1 2 | 0 9 | +------------+-------------+--------------+-------+-------+-------+ _Stool Beds for Guns._ +------------+-------------+--------------+-------+--------+------+ | | | | | Inch. | In. | |42 Pounders | 0 1 20 | 0 1 0 | 2 10 |11 to 8¾| 3¾ | |32 ” | 0 1 14 | 0 1 0 | 2 10 |10 5½| 3¼ | |24 ” | 0 1 14 | 0 1 0 | 2 9 |10¼ 6½| 4 | |18 ” | 0 1 12 | 0 1 0 | 2 8 | 9½ 6½| 3¾ | |12 ” | 0 1 10 | 0 0 2⅔ | 2 8 |10 6½| 4 | | 9 ” | 0 1 4 | 0 0 2 | 2 7 | 9½ 5¾| 3½ | | 6 ” | 0 1 0 | 0 0 1¾ | 2 6 | 9 4¾| 3½ | | 4 ” | 0 1 0 | 0 0 1 | 2 6 | 8¼ 5¼| 3 | +------------+-------+-----+--------------+-------+--------+------+

_BOXES for Ammunition._—The dimensions of the common ammunition boxes vary according to the ammunition they are made to contain, in order that it may pack tight: this variation, however, is confined to a few inches, and does not exceed the following numbers.

_Table of general Dimensions of Ammunition Boxes._

+-------+---------------------------------------+--------+ | | Exterior. | Weight | | +------------+------------+-------------+ when | | | Length. | Breadth. | Depth. | empty. | +-------+------------+------------+-------------+--------+ | | feet inch. | feet inch. | feet inch | lbs. | | From | 2 2 | 0 10 | 0 8½ | 20 | | To | 2 9 | 1 6 | 1 6 | 30 | +-------+------------+------------+-------------+--------+

Weight when filled, and Number contained in each.

+---------------------------+-----------------+---------------+ | | Weight of | No. of Rounds | | | Boxes when | contained in | | Nature of Ammunition. | filled with | each Box. | | | Ammunition. | | +---------------------------+-----------------+---------------+ | | cᵂᵗ. qʳˢ. lb. | No. | +---+--------+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | | |12 Prs.|Round | 1 1 10 | 8 | | | | |Case. | 0 3 15 | 6 | | | Shot +-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | | fixed | 6 Prs.|Round | 1 2 7 | 12 | | | with | |Case | 1 0 15 | 12 | | | powder.+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | | | |Round | 0 2 25 | 16 | | | | 3 Prs.|Case | 0 2 23 | 14 | | +--------+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | B | |24 Prs.|Round | 1 1 26 | 6 | | o | | |Case | 2 0 0 | 6 | | x | +-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | e | |12 Prs.|Round | 1 2 20 | 12 | | s | Shot | |Case | 1 2 22 | 8 | | | fixed +-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | | to wood| |Round | 1 2 20 | 24 | | | bottoms| 6 Prs.|Case | 1 1 12 | 18 | | f | without+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | o | powder.| |Round | 1 1 0 | 30 | | r | | 3 Prs.|Case | 1 1 0 | 30 | | | +-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | | |How’r. | 8 | 1 2 2 | 3 | | | | Case. | 5½ | 1 2 12 | 10 | | | | | 4⅖ | 1 2 22 | 20 | | +--------+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+ | | | | f | | | | | |How’r |8 i | 1 2 2 | 3 | | | Shells.|Shells.|5½ x | 1 2 12 | 10 | | | | |4⅖ e | 1 2 22 | 20 | | | | | d | | | +---+--------+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+

The common ammunition waggon will hold from 9 to 13 of these boxes in one tier.

The tonnage of ammunition in boxes is equal to its weight: about 12 boxes make one ton.

_BOMB Ketch._ The bomb ketches upon the old establishment carry one 13 inch and one 10 inch mortar; with eight 6 pounders, beside swivels, for their own immediate defence. The modern bomb vessels carry two 10 inch mortars, four 68 pounders, and six 18 pounders carronades; and the mortars may be fired at as low an angle as 20 degrees; though these mortars are not intended to be used at sea, but on very particular occasions; their principal intention, at these low angles, being to cover the landing of troops, and protect our coast and harbours. A bomb ketch is generally from sixty to seventy feet long from stem to stern, and draws eight or nine feet water. The tender is generally a brig, on board of which the party of artillery remain, till their services are required on board the bomb vessel.

_Instructions for their Management and Security in Action._

1. A Dutch pump, filled with water, must be placed in each round top, one upon the forecastle, one on the main deck, and one on the quarter deck; and furnished with leather buckets, for a fresh supply of water.

2. The booms must be wetted by the pumps before the tarpaulins and mortar hatches are taken off; and a wooden skreen, 5 feet square, is to be hung under the booms, over each mortar, to receive the fire from the vents.

3. The embrazures being fixed and properly secured, the port must be let down low enough to be covered by the sole of the embrazure. Previous to its being let down, a spar must be lashed across it, to which the tackles for raising it again must be fixed: this spar serves to project the tackles clear of the explosion.

4. The mortars must not be fired through the embrazures at a lower angle than 20 degrees, nor with a greater charge than 5 lbs. of powder.

5. Previous to firing, the doors of the bulkhead, under the quarter deck, must be shut, to prevent the cabin being injured by the explosion.

6. The bed must be wedged in the circular curb, as soon as the mortar is pointed, to prevent reaction; the first wedge being driven tight before the rear ones are fixed, in order to give the full bearing on the table, as well as the rear of the bed. The holes for dog bolts must be corked up, to prevent the sparks falling into them.

7. When any shells are to be used on board the bomb, they must be fixed on board the tender, and brought from thence, in boxes in her long boat; and kept along side the bomb ship till wanted, carefully covered up.

8. In the old constructed bomb vessels it is necessary to hoist out the booms; and raft them along side previous to firing; but in these new ones, with embrazures, only the boats need be hoisted out; after which the mortars may be prepared for action in 10 minutes.

_Proportion of Ordnance and Ammunition for a Bomb Ship, carrying two 10 Inch Mortars, to fire at low Angles, and at 45 Degrees, Four 68 Prs. and Six 8 Prs. Carronades._

+----------------------------------+------------+---------+--------+ | _NATURE._ | _In the_ |_Tender._|_Total._| | |_Bomb Ship._| | | +----------------------------------+------------+---------+--------+ | Mortars, sea service with Beds, | | | | | &c. 10 inch | 2 | — | 2 | |----------------------------------+------------+---------+--------+ | Quoins for do.—2 for 45°—2 | | | | | for 20° elevation, } | 4 | — | 4 | |----------------------------------+------------+---------+--------+ | Capsquares, with keys, &c. spare | 2 | — | 2 | | Handspikes, large | 4 | — | 4 | | Spunges, with rammer heads | 4 | — | 4 | | Handscrews, small | 2 | — | 2 | | Handcrow levers—6 feet | 4 | — | 4 | | Handspikes, common | 6 | — | 6 | | Linstocks, with cocks | 4 | — | 4 | | Powder horns, new pattern | 4 | — | 4 | | Match cwts. | 1 | — | 1 | | Marline skeins | — | 12 | 12 | | Budge barrels, copper hooped | 1 | 1 | 2 | | Lanthorns, Muscovy | 2 | 2 | 4 | | ” dark | 2 | 2 | 4 | | Carronades, 68 Prs. | 4 | — | 4 | | ” 18 Prs. | 6 | — | 6 | | having sliding carriages, | | | | | elevating screws, | | | | | spunges, rammers | | | | | &c. complete. | | | | | Gun tackles, complete for | | | | | traversing mortars, 12 Prs. | 4 | — | 4 | | Wads, 68 Prs. | 270 | 270 | 540 | | ” , 18 Prs. | 480 | 180 | 660 | | Musquets { Bright | 32 | — | 32 | | { Black | 8 | — | 8 | | Pistols, pairs | 15 | — | 15 | | Swords | 40 | — | 40 | | Pole axes | 6 | — | 6 | | Pikes | 40 | — | 40 | | Musquetoons | 2 | — | 2 | | Flints, musquet | 900 | — | 900 | | ” pistol | 150 | — | 150 | | Ball Cartridges, musquet | 2000 | — | 2000 | | ” ” pistol | 2000 | — | 2000 | | Shot, musquet, cwts. qrs. lbs. | 1.0.0 | — |1.0.0 | | ” pistol, ” ” ” | 0.1.1 | — |0.1.1 | | Round Carcasses, fixed, 10 inch | 48 | 152 | 200 | | Empty Shells, 10 inch | 48 | 352 | 400 | | Iron Shot, 1 lb. | 1000 | 4000 | 5000 | | Fixed Shells, 10 inch | 48 | — | 48 | | Case Shot, 68 Prs. Carronades | 20 | 20 | 40 | | Empty Shells,8 in. for Carronades| 52 | 100 | 152 | | Shot, round, 68 Prs. | 50 | 50 | 100 | | Carcasses, do. 68 Prs. | 96 | 104 | 200 | +----------------------------------+------------+---------+--------+ |Shot, round, 18 Prs. | 300 | — | 300 | |Case Shot, 18 Prs. | 30 | 30 | 60 | |Carcasses, do. fixed, 18 Prs. | 150 | 150 | 300 | |Hand Shells, fixed, sea service | — | 150 | 150 | |Fuzes for do. spare | — | 15 | 15 | |Paper Covers for cart’ges, 10 in. | 106 | 609 | 715 | | ” ” ” ” , 68 Pr. | 293 | 301 | 594 | | ” ” ” ” , 18 Pr. | 258 | 198 | 726 | | | | | | |Flannel Cartridges,} | | | | | empty, for 10 in.} to hold 5lbs.| 106 | — | 106 | | mortars } do. 10lbs.| — | 609 | 609 | | | | | | |Flannel Cartridges, } | | | | | empty, for 68 Prs.} to hold 5lbs| 293 | 151 | 594 | | carronades } do. 4lbs| — | 150 | | | | | | | |Flannel Cartridges, empty, for } | | | | | 18 Prs. to hold 1½ lbs. } | 528 | 148 | 726 | | | | | | |Paper Cartridges, for bursting, } | | | | | 10 inches, empty } | — | 352 | 352 | | | | | | |Paper Cartridges, for bursting, } | | | | | 8 inches, empty } | — | 100 | 100 | |Do. filled with 2lb. 10 oz. | | | | | for 10 in. | 48 | — | 48 | |Do. filled with 1 ” 14 ” | 52 | — | 52 | | for 8 in. | | | | |Fuzes, drove, 10 inch | 57 | 388 | 445 | | ” ” 8 ” | 57 | 110 | 167 | |----------------------------------+------------+---------+--------+ | Valencience composition | | | | | 200 for 10 in. shells, | | | | | at 14 oz. each, lbs. | — | 175 | 175 | | 768 for 10 in. shells, | | | | | at 9 oz. each, lbs. | — | 42 | 42 | |----------------------------------+------------+---------+--------+ |Tube Boxes, tin | 12 | — | 12 | |Fuze composition, for priming } | | | | | carcasses, lbs. } | — | 10 | 10 | | | | | | |Powder bags | — | 6 | 6 | |Portfires | — | 200 | 200 | |Quick Match, cotton, lbs. | — | 20 | 20 | |Spirits of Wine, gals. | — | 4 | 4 | |Kitt lbs. | — | 80 | 80 | |Bottoms of wood, 10 inch. | 10 | 40 | 50 | |Signal Rockets, 1 lb. doz.| — | 2 | 2 | |Blue Lights, ” | — | 3 | 3 | |Gunpowder for the mortars and } | | | | | carronades, half barrels } | 72 | 150 | 222 | |Powder for priming, do. | — | 1 | 1 | |Powder for bursting, do. | — | 28 | 28 | | with all the small articles | | | | | which usually attend mortars | | | | | on every service, and the | | | | | articles necessary for the | | | | | service of carronades at sea. | | | | |Laboratory Chests, 4 feet | — | 2 | 2 | | ” ” , 3 feet | — | 2 | 2 | |Handpumps for wetting the | | | | | rigging, &c. | 6 | — | 6 | |Leather Buckets | 24 | — | 24 | +----------------------------------+------------+---------+--------+

_BREACH._—The batteries to make a breach, should commence by marking out as near as possible, the extent of the breach intended to be made; first, by a horizontal line within a fathom of the bottom of the revetement in a dry ditch, and close to the water’s edge in a wet one; and then by lines perpendicular to this line, at short distances from each other, as high as the cordon; then, by continuing to deepen all these cuts, the wall will give way in a body. The guns to produce the greatest effect should be fired as near as possible in _salvos_ or vollies. The breach should be ⅓ the length of the face, from the center towards the flanked angle. When the wall has given way, the firing must be continued to make the slope of the breach practicable.

Four 24 Pounders from the lodgement in the covert way will effect a breach in 4 or 5 days, which may be made practicable in 3 days more.

Another way of making a breach is by piercing the wall sufficiently to admit two or three miners, who cross the ditch, and make their entry during the night into the wall, where they establish two or three small mines, sufficient to make a breach.—See _Artillery at a Siege_; see also _Battery_.

_BRIDGES.—Manner of laying a Pontoon Bridge across a River._

The bank on each side, where the ends of the bridge are to be, must be made solid and firm, by means of fascines, or otherwise. One end of the cable must be carried across the river; and being fixed to a picket, or any thing firm, must be drawn tight by means of a capstan, across where the heads of the boats are to be ranged. The boats are then launched, having on board each two men, and the necessary ropes, &c. and are floated _down_ the stream, under the cable, to which they are lashed endwise, by the rings and small ropes, at equal distances, and about their own breadth asunder; more or less, according to the strength required. If the river be very rapid, a second cable must be stretched across it, parallel to the first, and at the distance of the length of the boats; and to which the other ends of the boats must be lashed. The spring lines are then lashed diagonally from one boat to the other, to brace them tight; and the anchors, if necessary, carried out, up the stream, and fixed to the cable or sheer-line across the river. One of the chesses is then laid on the edge of the bank, at each end of the bridge, bottom up; these serve to lay the ends of the baulks upon, and as a direction for placing them at the proper distances, to fit the chesses that cover the bridge. The baulks should then be laid across the boats, and keyed together: their numbers proportioned to the strength required in the bridge. If the gangboards are laid across the heads and sterns of the boats from one side of the river to the other, they will give the men a footing for doing the rest of the work. Across the baulks are laid the chesses, one after another, the edges to meet; and the baulks running between the cross pieces on the under side of the chesses. The gangboards are then laid across the ends of the chesses on each edge of the bridge.

_Precautions for passing a Bridge of Boats._

Whatever size the bridge may be, infantry should never be allowed to pass at the same time with carriages or cavalry. The carriages should always move at a certain distance behind each other, that the bridge may not be shook, by being overloaded. The horses should not be allowed to trot over the bridge; and the cavalry should dismount and lead their horses over. Large flocks of cattle must not be allowed to cross at once.

For the dimensions, weight, and equipage of a pontoon, see the word _Pontoon_.