Part 6

When bridges are made to facilitate the communication between different parts of the approaches at a siege, they should, if possible, be placed above the town; or the besieged will take advantage of the current to float down large trees, or other bodies, in order to destroy the bridge. Two of such bridges should always be placed close to each other, in order to prevent the confusion of crossing and recrossing on the same bridge; the one being intended to pass over one way, and the other to return. Pontoon bridges will generally not support a greater weight than 4 or 5,000 pounds. Pontoons, when united as a bridge, will no doubt bear more in proportion, than when acted upon separately: but the weight which a pontoon will bear may be easily ascertained, by loading it with water till it sinks to any required depth, and then by calculating the number of cubic feet of water it contains, ascertain the number of pounds required to sink it to that particular depth.

_CAMP._—With some trifling variations, camps are formed after the same manner in all countries. This principle seems general, that there should not be more ground occupied by the camp of a body of men, in front, than the extent of their line when drawn out in order of battle. Intervals are however generally left between battalions of infantry of about one eighth their front, and between squadrons of cavalry of thirty or forty paces. An army is sometimes encamped in two lines, and sometimes in three; the distance between the lines varies according to the face of the country, from 200 to 600 yards, or more.

In the distribution of the front of a camp, two feet are generally allowed for every file of infantry, and three feet for each file of cavalry. When the ground will admit of it, the infantry are usually arranged in rows perpendicular to the front; each row containing the tents of one company; and the cavalry in the same position, each perpendicular row containing the horses of a troop.

The grenadiers and light infantry are usually placed in single rows on the flanks, and the battalion companies in double rows.

A single row, or one company, occupies in front, nine feet; and a double row, or two companies, twenty one feet, if formed of the old pattern rectangular tents, which hold only five men each. But if the new bell tents are used, 15 feet must be allowed for a single row, and 30 feet for a double row in front.

In the cavalry, a row or troop occupies in front as follow:

Old Tents. New Tents. Tent 3 yards, 5 yards. From the front pole } of the tent to } 3 3 picket rope } For the horse 6 6 For the dung 2 2 —— —— 14 yards. 16 yards.

The breadth of a row in front, whether of infantry or cavalry, being multiplied by the number of rows, and the product subtracted from the whole extent of front for a battalion of infantry, or a squadron of cavalry, will leave the space for the streets, which are generally divided as follows:

For the infantry, 59½ feet each. For the cavalry, 30 feet each between the tents. ” ” ” 46 feet ” ” horses.

_The following is the Distribution of the Depth of a Camp of Infantry or Cavalry, when the Ground permits._

_Distribution of the Depth of a Camp._ |_Infantry._|_Cavalry._ --------------------------------------------+-----------+---------- | Yards | Yards | | From the quarter-guard parade to the | | line of parade of battalion | 62 | | | From this first line of parade to the | | front of the {Serjeant’s tents | 16 | {quarter master’s | — | 24 _N. B. These tents open to the front._ | | | | To the first picket of horses | — | 5 | | Infantry: for every tent in depth | | ” old pattern, 9 feet | | ” new pattern, 15 feet | | | | Cavalry: for every horse, 3 feet | | | | _The soldiers tents for the infantry open_| | _to the streets. The cavalry tents front_ | | _to the horses heads._ | | | | Suppose infantry 12 tents deep } o. pat. | 36 | 60 ” cavalry, 60 horses } | | | | From the last tent of infantry, or the | | last horse of the cavalry, to the front | | of the subalterns’ tents | 15 | 12 | | _These tents open to the rear._ | | | | To the front of the line of captains | 15 | 15 _These open to the front. The captains, and_| | _subalterns in the rear of their troops or_ | | _companies._ | | | | To the front of the field officers | 10 | 15 _Open to the front, opposite the outside_ | | _street of the battalion._ | | | | To the colonel’s | 10 | 10 _Opens to the front, opposite the main_ | | _street of the battalion._ | | --------------------------------------------+-----------+--------- To the staff officers | 10 | 14 _Open up the streets next the main street_| | To the first row of batmen’s tents | 10 | _The batmen’s tents front their horses._ | | To the first row of pickets for bat | | 15 horses | 2 | To the second row of ditto | 10 | To the second row of batmen | 2 | To the front of the grand sutler’s tent | 10 | _The grand sutler is in the rear of_ | | _the colonel._ | | --------------------------------------------+-----------+--------- To the center of the kitchens | 15 | 20 _The kitchens are 16 feet in diameter._ | | | | To the front of the petty sutlers | 15 | 15 _Directly in the rear of the kitchens: there_| | _are allowed 6 yards in front by 8 deep._ | | | | To the rear guard | 15 | 15 _Opens to the rear._ | | +-----------+--------- Total depth required Yards | 253 | 220

If the ground on which the camp is to be formed will not, from a swamp in the rear, or any other circumstance, admit of each troop or company being formed in one row perpendicular to the front; the distribution of the front of a battalion or squadron must be more contracted than the above, and laid out as follows: Find how many perpendicular rows will be required, by dividing the number of men in the battalion or squadron by the number the ground will admit of in one row; then the number of rows being multiplied by the breadth of one in front, will give that part of the front to be occupied by the rows; and the difference between it and the whole front allowed for the battalion or squadron, will be left for the streets; which, if the streets are to be equal, must be divided by their number, to find the breadth of each; or is otherwise easily divided into streets of unequal breadths. When two guns are attached to a battalion, they are posted on the right in the following order: from the right of battalion to the center of the first gun, four yards—from this to the second gun, 6 yards.—The muzzles of the guns in a line with the serjeants’ tents.

The subaltern of artillery, if any, in a line with the subalterns of infantry.—The rear of the gunner’s tents in a line with the rear of the battalion tents.

For the proper positions for camps, see the word _Reconnoitering_; and for the encampment of a park of artillery, see the word _Park_.

_CARCASSES.—Composition._

Saltpetre 50 parts. Sulphur 25 Antimony 5 Rosin 8 Pitch 5

Valencienne’s composition, so called, from its having been used by the Austrians at the siege of that place, has the effect of making shells answer the purpose of carcasses after they burst:

Saltpetre 50 parts. Sulphur 28 Antimony 18 Rosin, or Swedish pitch 6

This composition is cast in copper cylindric moulds of 6 inches long, and of different diameters according to the shell in which it is to be used. It must be put in along with the bursting powder in pieces as large as the shell will admit, without preventing the fuze being driven down.

_CARCASSES._—Their Dimensions and Weight, 1796.

+--------------+----------------------------------------+---------+ | | Weight. | _Time_ | | +------------+------------+--------------+ _each_ | | Nature. | Empty. | Of | Complete. | _will_ | | | |Composition.| | _burn._ | +--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+ |_Round_, for |lbs. oz. dr.|lbs. oz. dr.|lbs. oz. dr.| Min. | |Mortars 13 |194 10 11 | 18 14 — |213 8 16 | 11 | |and 10 | 89 13 11 | 7 8 11 | 97 6 11 | 8½ | |How’rs. 8 | 44 9 5 | 4 4 11 | 48 14 — | 5½ | +--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+ | 42 | 27 3 — | 2 7 11 | 29 10 11 | 5 | | For 32 | 20 13 5 | 1 14 5 | 22 11 11 | 4½ | | Guns 24 | 14 12 — | 1 9 11 | 16 5 11 | 4 | | 18 | 11 13 11 | 1 1 5 | 12 15 — | 4 | +--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+ | 68 | — — — | — — — | | | | For 42 | 26 — — | 2 7 — | 28 7 — | 4½ | |Carronades 32 | 21 10 — | 1 13 — | 23 7 — | 4 | | 24 | 14 5 — | 2 5 — | 16 10 — | 3½ | | 18 | 10 4 — | 1 2 — | 11 6 — | 3 | +--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+ |_Oblong_, for | | | | | |Mortars 10 | 36 7 5 | 35 10 — | 72 1 5 | 12 | | and 8 | 16 5 5 | 18 2 — | 34 7 5 | 10 | |How’rs. 5½ | 1 12 2 | 6 15 — | 8 11 3 | 6 | | 4⅖ | 1 0 6 | 3 11 7 | 4 11 13 | 4 | +--------------+------------+------------+--------------+---------+

NOTE. It being found at the siege of Quebec, that the quantity of powder requisite for throwing the carcasses into the town, always destroyed them, the method of filling the interval between the powder and carcass with turf was adopted; and found to preserve the carcass, and to produce every desired effect.

_CARRONADES._—Their Weight and Dimensions.

+----------+---------+----------------+------------+---------------+ | |Diameter | Length in | Weight. | _Proportion | | Nature. |of Bores.+---------+------+------------+betw’n the Shot| | | |Ft. In. |Calib.|cwt. qr. lb.|and Carronade._| +----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+ |68 Prs. | 8.05 | 5 2 | 7.702| 36 — — | 59 to 1 | | ” | | 4 0 | 5.962| 29 — — | | +----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+ |42 ” | 6.84 | 4 3½ | 7.518| 22 1 — | 58 to 1 | |32 ” | 6.35 | 4 0½ | 7.679| 17 — 14 | 62 to 1 | +----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+ |24 ” | 5.68 | 3 7½ | 7.656| 13 — — | 56 to 1 | | | | 3 0 | 6.336| 11 2 25 | | +----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+ |18 ” | 5.16 | 3 3 | 7.587| 9 — — | 56 to 1 | | | | 2 4 | 5.447| 8 1 25 | | +----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+ |12 ” | 4.52 | 2 2 | 5.778| 5 3 10 | 56 to 1 | +----------+---------+---------+------+------------+---------------+

_N. B._ Carronades have not so much windage as guns. See _Windage_.

Ranges with Carronades, 1798. The charge is ¹/₁₂ the weight of the shot and with one shot and one wad. The line of fire from 6 to 9 feet above the level of the water.

+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ |Nature. | 68 | 42 | 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ |Charge. |5lb 8oz |3lb 8oz |2lb 10oz| 2lb |1lb 8oz |1lb 10oz| +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+ | | Yards | | | | | | |P. Blank| 450 | 400 | 330 | 300 | 270 | 230 | |1 Degree| 650 | 600 | 560 | 500 | 470 | 400 | |2 ” | 890 | 860 | 830 | 780 | 730 | 690 | |3 ” | 1000 | 980 | 900 | 870 | 800 | 740 | |4 ” | 1100 | 1020 | 970 | 920 | 870 | 810 | |5 ” | 1180 | 1170 | 1087 | 1050 | 1000 | 870 | +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

NOTE.—The highest charge for carronades is ⅛ the weight of the shot; the lowest ¹/₁₆.

Ranges with 8 inch shells, from 68 Pr. carronades.

+---------+-------+-------+----------+------+-------+ | Shells | | | |First |Extreme| | Weight |Charge.|Flight.|Elevation.|graze.|range. | +---------+-------+-------+----------+------+-------+ | | 3 lbs.| 1½ | P. B. | 302 | 1365 | |lbs. oz. | 3 ” | — | 5 Deg. | 1140 | | | 43 11 | 4 ” | 1½ | 1 ” | 358 | 1843 | | | ” ” | 5 | 5 ” | 1137 | 1250 | | | ” ” | ” | 11½ ” | 1767 | | +---------+-------+-------+----------+------+-------+

_CARRIAGE._—Weight of Field Carriages at present in use.

_Horse Artillery Carriages._ cwts. qrs. lbs.|cwts. qrs. lbs. -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 12 Prs. gun and carriage complete for | | service, with two men, and their | | 45 0 14 their appointments on the limber, | | and 16 rounds of ammunition. | | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Ammunition waggon for do. | | complete, with two men on the limber | | 33 3 0 and 1 spare wheel, 2 spare shafts, | | 78 rounds of ammunition | | -----------------------------------------+-------------+=----------- 6 Prs. equipped as above, with 42 rounds | | 34 1 21 Ammunition waggon as above, 108 rounds | | 39 0 21 -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 5½ Inch howitzer, equipped as above, | | with 20 rounds | | 35 3 0 -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Ammunition waggon for do. | | as above, with 52 rounds | | 39 2 0 -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Forge waggon, complete for travelling | | 19 2 14 Large tilted baggage waggon, empty | | 18 3 0 Equipage to be carried | | 12 0 0 12 Prs. Med. gun, carriage, without boxes| 16 1 21 | Limber to do. | 7 2 14 | 42 — 7 Gun | 18 — — | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 12 Pr. light gun | 12 — — | Carriage complete | 12 3 7 | 36 2 21 Limber, with empty boxes | 12 3 14 | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 6 Prs. Desaguliers | 12 — — | Carriage complete | 11 — 14 | 34 1 13 Limber, to do. empty boxes | 11 — 27 | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 6 Prs. light battalion gun | 6 — — | Carriage without boxes, iron axletrees | 9 2 — | 24 1 21 Limber, with empty boxes | 8 3 21 | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 5½ Inch howitzer, light | 4 3 7 | Carriage, without boxes | 10 — 7 | 24 — 14 Limber, with empty boxes | 9 1 — | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ 24 Prs. platform travelling carriage | 22 3 — | Standing carriage for do. iron trucks, | | and tackles of the carriage | 13 3 16 | 84 2 16 Iron gun | 48 — — | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Ball cartridge waggon, Duke of Richmond’s| | pattern, with spare pole and swingle | 16 1 17 | trees | | 36 1 17 Charge of musquet ammunition | 20 — — | -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Common pattern ammunition waggon, altered| 16 2 — | Charge of ammunition | 20 — — | 36 2 — -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ New infantry ammunition cart | 9 1 14 | Charge of ammunition | 12 — — | 21 1 14 -----------------------------------------+-------------+------------ Common sling cart, complete | 17 1 14 | Common truck carriage | 12 2 21 | Common hand cart | 4 1 — | Forge waggon, complete | 13 2 14 |

Dimensions of certain parts of carriages, the knowledge of which may prevent many mistakes in arranging the different pieces for disembarkation, or in other similar situations.

_Axletrees._—Most of the field carriages are now made with _iron_ axletrees; the dimensions of which are as follows:

+--------------------+----------------+--------------------------+ | | Diameter of | | | Iron Axletrees. | the arm. | Length of arm. | | +---------+------+---------+------+---------+ | | | | Box, or | | Total | | | At the |At the| Nave |Washer|length to| | |Shoulder.|Point.| part. | part.|linchpin.| +--------------------+---------+------+---------+------+---------+ | | Inch. | Inch.| Inch | Inch | Inch. | |6 Pr. Light | | | | | | |3 Pr. Heavy | | | | | | |5½ Inch Howitzer | | | | | | |Ammuni. Waggon | | | | | | |Ball cartridge do. | | | | | | | whether horse | 2¾ | 1¾ | 13 | ⅝ | 13⅝ | | artillery or the | | | | | | | park, whether | | | | | | | limber or carriage| | | | | | +--------------------+---------+------+---------+------+---------+ |Light 12 Pounder | | | | | | | and limber | 3¼ | 2¼ | 16 | ¾ | 16¾ | +--------------------+---------+------+---------+------+---------+ |Medium 12 Pr. | 3½ | 2½ | 16 | ¾ | 16¾ | |Limber to do. | 2¾ | 2 | 13 | ⅝ | 13⅝ | +--------------------+----------------+---------+------+---------+