Ammunitionfor Field Artillery.A proportion of Ammunition and Stores for each Species of Field Ordnance, viz. 1 Medium 12 Pr.[1]—1 heavy 6 Pr.—2 light 6 Prs. as they are always attached to Battalions of Infantry—and one 5¹⁄₂ inch Howitzer; according to the British Service.Proportion ofAmmunition and Stores.12 Pounders,Medium.6 Pounders,Heavy.2 Light6 Pounders.5¹⁄₂ InchHowitzers.Shot fixed to wood bottoms—case24306824Shot fixed to wood bottoms—round12012018800Shells, fixed00000024Shells, empty000000120Carcasses, fixed0000004Cartridges of flannel filled with powder.-4 lb.1200000003¹⁄₂ lb.000000002¹⁄₄ lb.0012000002 lb.003000001¹⁄₂ lb.0000188001¹⁄₄ lb.0000680010 oz.0000125001 lb.00000014412 oz.00000028Cartridges flan. empty121210012Ditto of paper for bursting 10 oz.000000120Tubes of tin—N. P.172178560190Portfires—long small18186218Fuses—drove000000132Powder, mealed lbs.000000¹⁄₂Travelling carriages and limbers1121Aprons of lead1121Spunges with staves and heads2242Wad hooks, with staves11200Handspikes, traversing2242Tompions with collars1121Trucks, Hanoverian00121Straps for lashing side arms003800Tarpaulins, gun1121Tarpaulins, limber00121Lintstocks with cocks1121Drag ropes with pins, pairs2242Padlocks with keys2354Match, slow—lbs.28285628Spikes-Spring1121Common2242Punches for vents2242Barrels budge1111Couples for chain traces006126Spare heads, spunge1121Spare heads, rammer1121Hammers, claw1121Priming irons, sets1121Draught chains, prs.2132Powder horns, N. P.0010000Water buckets French1121Intrench’g tools,felling axes,1121pick axes,1121hand bills,1121spades,2242Marline, tarred-skeins1111Twine, tarred-lbs.0010000Hambro’ line, tarred-do.1111Packthread, tarred-do.0010000Grease-firkins1111Grease-boxes3233Tallow-lbs.1121Lanthorns, dark1111Jacks, lifting1111Jacks, handscrew1000000Waggons with hps. and painted covers, Flanders pattern2112Wad miltilts2112Tanned hides2112Men’s harness (12 to a set) sets110000Horse Harness.-New pattern.-Rope, 6 do. sets1000000Chain, 6 do. sets0010000Trace, 4 do. sets2113Common Pattern-Thill0000200Trace0000400Bit halters0000600Wanties2132Hemp halters14101012Whips, long0000200Whips, short7526Nose bags14101012Corn Sacks3233Forage cords, sets3233Rope, tarred, 2 inch, fathoms00001000For Waggons.-Linch pins2112Clouts, body4224Clouts, linch4224Clout nails, 6d.64323264Spare ladle staves1111Horses, for guns6664Horses, for waggons8448Drivers, for guns3322Drivers, for waggons4214Tube boxes, with straps2242Portfire sticks2242Cutting knives1121Drawing do.0000001Scissars, pairs1121Worsted, ounces¹⁄₂¹⁄₂1¹⁄₂Needles, large2242Cartouches of leather2242Copper measures for powder.-4 oz.112002 oz.00100001 oz.112004 lb. to ¹⁄₄ oz. sets0000001Thumb stalls2242Perpendicular0000001Quadrant of brass0000001Diagonal scale0000001Copper salting box0000001Pincers for drawing fuzes, pairs0000001Sheepskins0000002Funnels of copper0000001Compasses of steel, Pairs0000001Saw, tenant0000001Files, square0000003Rasps, half round0000002Flax, oz.0000008Tow, oz.0000004Saw set0000001Mallets of wood0000001Setters do.0000002
Ammunitionfor Field Artillery.
A proportion of Ammunition and Stores for each Species of Field Ordnance, viz. 1 Medium 12 Pr.[1]—1 heavy 6 Pr.—2 light 6 Prs. as they are always attached to Battalions of Infantry—and one 5¹⁄₂ inch Howitzer; according to the British Service.
[1]The 12 Prs. which have a small box on their limbers, carry 6 round shot and 2 case shot, with 6 cartridges of 4 lbs. and 2 of 3¹⁄₂ lbs. of powder, more than the above proportion.
[1]The 12 Prs. which have a small box on their limbers, carry 6 round shot and 2 case shot, with 6 cartridges of 4 lbs. and 2 of 3¹⁄₂ lbs. of powder, more than the above proportion.
This proportion of ammunition and stores is carried in the following manner:
12 Pr.Medium—Has no limber boxes,[2]but has two waggons attached to it, and the ammunition and stores divided between them.
[2]A small limber box has lately been added to the medium 12 Prs. which carries 6 round shot and 6 case shot, with a small proportion of the small stores. Seenotepreceding page.
[2]A small limber box has lately been added to the medium 12 Prs. which carries 6 round shot and 6 case shot, with a small proportion of the small stores. Seenotepreceding page.
6 Pr.Heavy—Carries 36 round, and 14 case shot in limber boxes, with a proportion of the small stores; and the remainder is carried in one waggon.
6 Pr.Light—Carries 34 round, and 16 case shot on the limber, with a proportion of the small stores for immediate service; and, if acting separately, must have a waggon attached to it, to carry the remainder. But two 6 pounders attached to a battalion, have only one waggon between them.
5¹⁄₂ Howitzer,Light—Has 22 shells, 4 case shot, and two carcasses in the limber-boxes, with such of the small stores as are required for immediate service; and has two waggons attached to carry the rest.
One common pattern ammunition waggon carries the following numbers of rounds of ammunition of each kind:
[3]Though the waggons will contain 20,000 cartridges, it is customary to load them with only 18 half barrels of 1000 each, and 2 half barrels of flints.
[3]Though the waggons will contain 20,000 cartridges, it is customary to load them with only 18 half barrels of 1000 each, and 2 half barrels of flints.
The waggons, however, attached to the different parks of artillery in England, which have not been altered from the old establishment, are loaded with only the following number, and drawn by three horses:
The horse artillery having waggons of a particular description, carry their ammunition as follows:
The following Proportion of Artillery, Ammunition, and Carriages, necessary for four French Armies of different Degrees of Strength, and acting in very different Countries, is attributed to Gribauvale, and is extracted from Durtubie, on Artillery.
This table contains, beside the proportion of ordnance with each army, also the quantity of ammunition with each piece of ordnance, and the number of rounds of musquet ammunition carried for the infantry; for each waggon in the French service, having its particular allotment of ammunition and stores, it needs but to know the number of waggons of each description, to ascertain the quantity of ammunition and stores with an army. The following is the number of waggons usually attached to each piece of field ordnance in the French service, and the quantity of ammunition carried with each.
The French horse artillery waggon, called thewurst, carries 57 rounds for 8 pounders; or 30 for 6 inch howitzers.
The following is a proportion of ammunition for one piece of field artillery of each kind, by different powers in Europe.
Of the movements and positions of field artillery.
Battalion Guns; the following are the usual positions taken by battalion guns, in the most essential manœuvres of the battalion to which they are attached; but the established regulations for the movements of the infantry in the British service, take so little notice of the relative situations for the artillery attached to it, that they afford no authority for a guide on the subject. In review, both guns are to be placed, when in line, on the right of the regiment; unlimbered and prepared for action. The guns 10 yards apart, and the left gun 10 yards from the right of the battalion. Nos. 7 and 8 dress in line with the front rank of the regiment. The officer, at open order, will be in front of the interval between his guns, and in line with the officers of the regiment. When the regiment breaks into column, the guns will be limbered up and wheeled by pairs to the left: the men form the line of march, and the officer marches round in front of the guns. In the review of a single battalion, it is usual after marching round the second time, for one of the guns to go to the rear, and fall in at the rear of the column. Upon the regiment wheeling on the left into line, the guns, if separated, will be unlimbered to the right, but if they are both upon the right, they must be wheeled to the right, and then unlimbered; and afterwards run up by hand, as thereby they do not interfere with the just formation of the line, by obstructing the view of the pivots.
The usual method by which the guns take part in the firings while in line, is by two discharges from each piece, previous to the firing of the regiment; but this is usually regulated by the commanding officer, before the review. Though the guns when in line with a regiment in review, always remain in the intervals; in other situations of more consequence, every favorable spot which presents itself, from which the enemy can be more effectually annoyed, should be taken advantage of. In column, if advancing, the guns must be in front; if retreating, in the rear of the column. If in open column of more than one battalion, the guns in the centre must be between the divisions, and when the column is closed, these guns must move to the outward flank of that division of the column, which leads the regiment to which they are attached. In changing front, or in forming the line from column, should the guns be on that flank of the battalion on which the new line is to be formed, they will commence firing to cover the formation.
In retiring by alternate wings or divisions, the guns must be always with that body nearest the enemy. That is, they will not retire with the first half, but will remain in their position till the second half retires; and will then only retire to the flanks of the first half; and when it retires again, the guns will retire likewise, but only as far as the second half, and so on.
When in hollow square, the guns will be placed at the weakest angles, and the limbers in the centre of the square. In passing a bridge or defile in front, the guns will be the first to pass; unless from any particular position they can more effectuallyenfiladethedefilé; and thereby better open the passage for the infantry. But in retiring through adefilé, the guns will remain to the last, to cover the retreat.
General rule—with very few variations, the guns should attend in all the movements of the battalion, that division of it, to which they are particularly attached; and every attention should be paid in thus adapting the movements of the guns to those of the regiment, that they be not entangled with the divisions of the line, and never so placed as to obstruct the view of the pivots, and thereby the just formation of the line; but should always seek those positions, from which the enemy can be most annoyed, and the troops to which they are attached, protected.
If at any time the battalion guns of several regiments should be united and formed into brigades, their movements will then be the same as those for the artillery of the park.
Artilleryof the Park—The artillery of the park is generally divided into brigades of 4, 6 or 8 pieces, and a reserve, according to the force and extent of the from of an army. The reserve must be composed of about one-sixth of the park, and must be placed behind the first line. If the front of the army be extensive, the reserve must be divided.
The following are the principal rules for the movements and positions of the brigades of artillery: they are mostly translated from theAide Mémoire, a new French military work.
In adefensiveposition, the guns of the largest caliber must be posted in those points, from whence the enemy can be discovered at the greatest distance, and from which may be seen the whole extent of his front.
In anoffensiveposition, the weakest points of the line must be strengthened by the largest calibers; and the most distant from the enemy: those heights on which the army in advancing may rest its flanks, must be secured by them, and from which the enemy may be fired upon obliquely.
The guns should be placed as much as possible under cover; this is easily done upon heights, by keeping them so far back that the muzzles are only to be seen over them: by proper attention many situations may be found of which advantage may be taken for this purpose, such as banks, ditches, &c. every where to be met with.
Abatteryin the field should never bediscovered by the enemy till the very moment it is to open. The guns may be masked by being a little retired; or by being covered by troops, particularly cavalry.
To enable the commanding officer of artillery to choose the proper positions for his field batteries, he should of course be made acquainted, with the effect intended to be produced; with the troops that are to be supported; and with the points that are to be attacked; that he may place his artillery so as to support, but not incommode the infantry; nor take up such situations with his guns, as would be more advantageously occupied by the line. That he may not place his batteries too soon, nor too much exposed; that he may cover his front and his flanks, by taking advantage of the ground; and that he may not venture too far out of the protection of the troops, unless some very decided effect is to be obtained thereby.
The guns must be so placed as to produce a cross fire upon the position of the enemy, and upon all the ground which he must pass over in an attack.
They must be separated into many small batteries, to divide the fire of the enemy; while the fire from all these batteries, may at any time be united to produce a decided effect against any particular points.
These points are thedébouchésof the enemy, the heads of their columns, and the weakest points in the front. In an attack of the enemy’s position, the cross fire of the guns must becomedirect, before it can impede the advance of the troops; and must annoy the enemy’s positions nearest to the point attacked, when it is no longer safe to continue the fire upon that point itself.
The shot from artillery should always take an enemy in the direction of its greatest dimension; it should therefore take a line obliquely or in flank; but a column in front.
The artillery should never be placed in such a situation, that it can be taken by an enemy’s battery obliquely, or in flank, or in the rear; unless a position under these circumstances, offers every prospect of producing a most decided effect, before the guns can be destroyed or placedhors de combat.
The most elevated positions are not the best for artillery, the greatest effects may be produced from a height of 30 or 40 yards at the distance of about 600, and about 16 yards of height to 200 of distance.
Positions in the rear of the line are bad for artillery, because they alarm the troops, and offer a double object to the fire of the enemy.
Positions which are not likely to be shifted, but from whence an effect may be produced during the whole of an action, are to be preferred; and in such positions a low breast work of 2 or 3 feet high may be thrown up, to cover the carriages.
Artillery should never fire against artillery, unless the enemy’s troops are covered, and his artillery exposed; or unless your troops suffer more from the fire of his guns, than his troops do from yours.
Never abandon your guns till the last extremity. The last discharges are the most destructive; they may perhaps be your salvation, and crown you with victory.
The parks of artillery in Great Britain are composed of the following ordnance: 4 medium 12 pounders; 4 desaguliers 6 pounders; and 4 light 5¹⁄₂ inch howitzers.
The following is the proposed line of march for the three brigades when acting with different columns of troops, as settled, in 1798.
2d.Artilleryand Ammunition for a siege.
Necessary considerations in forming an estimate for this service.
The force, situation, and condition of the place to be besieged; whether it be susceptible of more than one attack; whether lines of circumvallation or countervallation will be necessary; whether it be situated upon a height, upon a rocky soil, upon good ground, or in a marsh; whether divided by a river, or in the neighborhood of one; whether the river will admit of forming inundations; its size and depth; whether the place be near a wood, and whether that wood can supply stuff for fascines, gabions, &c. whether it be situated near any other place where a depot can be formed to supply stores for the siege. Each of these circumstances will make a very considerable difference in proportioning the stores, &c. for a siege. More artillery will be required for a place susceptibleof two attacks, than for the place which only admits of one. For this last there must be fewer pieces of ordnance, but more ammunition for each piece. In case of lines being necessary, a great quantity of intrenching tools will be required, and a numerous field train of artillery. In case of being master of any garrison in the neighborhood of the besieged town, from whence supplies can readily be drawn, this must be regarded as a second park: and too great a quantity of stores need not be brought at once before the besieged place. The number of batteries to be opened before the place must determine the number of pieces of ordnance; and on the quantity or ordnance must depend the proportion of every species of stores for the service of the artillery.
There must be a battery toenfiladeevery face of the work to be besieged, that can in any way annoy the besiegers in their approaches. These batteries, at least that part of them to be allotted for guns, need not be much longer than the breadth of the rampart to be enfiladed, and will not therefore hold more than 5 or 6 heavy guns; which, with two more to enfilade the opposite branch of the covert way, will give the number of guns for each ricochet battery. As the breaching batteries, from their situation, effectually mask the fire of the first or ricochet batteries, the same artillery generally serves for both. Having thus ascertained the number of heavy guns, the rest of the ordnance will bear the following proportion to them:
Mortars.From 8 inch to 13 inch, about ¹⁄₃.
Small Mortars.About ¹⁄₄.
Heavy Howitzers.About ¹⁄₃.
The fewer kinds of ordnance which compose the demand the better, as a great deal of the confusion may be prevented, which arises from various kinds of ammunition and stores being brought together.
The carriages for the ordnance are generally as follows:
For 24 Prs. ⁵⁄₆ the number of guns.
For Mortars, ⁸⁄₉ the number of mortars.
For Howitzers, ³⁄₄ the number of howitzers.
ForStoneMortars, ⁶⁄₇ the number of mortars.
Ammunition for the ordnance.
24 Prs. At 1000 rounds per gun.
Mortars, howitzers, and stone mortars, at 800 rounds per piece of ordnance.
The following proportion of artillery and ammunition was demanded by a very able officer, for the intended siege of Lisle, in 1794, which place was thought susceptible of two attacks.
64—24 Prs, with carriages complete, at 50round shotper gun, per day, for the whole siege; half of themen ricochet, with 2lbs. of powder; the other half with the full charge of 8lbs.
CaseandGrapeshot, at one round per gun, per day, of each: 6lbs. per charge.
Shellsfor guns, two rounds do.
Flannel cartridges, for the case, grape, and shells.
Tintubes for the case and grape.
Quilltubes for the round shot.
Spare, one tenth.
28—10 Inch mortars, on iron beds, at 50 shells each per day, for the whole siege. 3lbs. of powder charge; 2lbs. 10 oz. for bursting.
Pound shot; 100 to a charge; 50 rounds per mortar each day for 10 mortars 7 days; 2lbs. of powder each.
Hand granades; 25 to a charge; the same as the pound shot.
Carcasses, round; 1 per mortar, per day.
8—8 Inch howitzers, on travelling carriages.
30Shellsfor each per day, during the siege.
Case shot; 5 rounds per day each.
Carcasses; 1 per day each.
Powder; 1lb. per charge; 1lb. 14 oz. for bursting.
20—5¹⁄₂ Inch mortars, on wooden beds.
50Shellsfor each, per day, for the whole siege; charge 8 oz.; 12 oz. for bursting.
Flannel cartridges, for ¹⁄₃ the number of rounds.
Tintubes in the same proportion.
Portfires, one half the number of rounds with tubes.
Fuzes, one tenth to spare.
Match, 50 cwt.
Spare carriages for 24 Prs. seven.
2 Devil carriages.
6 Sling carts.
6 Block carriages.
3 Forge carts.
3 Store waggons, with iron and coals.
3 Triangle gins, complete.
6 Laboratory tents.
2 Small petards.
4 Grates for heating shot.
Of the arrangement of Artillery at a siege.
The first arrangement of the artillery at a siege is to the different batteries raised near the first parallel, to enfilade the faces of the work on the front attacked, which fire on the approaches. If these first batteries be favorably situated, the artillery may be continued in them nearly the whole of the siege; and will save the erection of any other gun batteries, till the besiegers arrive on the crest of the glacis. It however frequently happens, from local circumstances, that the besiegers cannot avail themselves of the most advantageous situations for the first batteries. There are four situations from which the defenses of any face may be destroyed; but not from all with equal facility. The best position for the first batteries, is perpendicular to the prolongation of the face of the work to be enfiladed. If this position cannot be attained, the next thatpresents itself is, on that side of the prolongation which takes the face in reverse; and under as small an angle as possible. From both these positions the guns must fireen ricochet. But if the ground, or other circumstance, will not admit of either of these being occupied by ricochet batteries, the battery to destroy the fire of a face must be without the prolongation, so as to fire obliquely upon the outside of the face. The last position, in point of advantage, is directly parallel to the face. From these two last positions the guns must fire with the full charges.
The second, or breaching batteries at a siege, are generally placed on the crest of the glacis, within 15 or 18 feet of the covert way; which space serves as the epaulment: but if the foot of the revetement cannot be seen from this situation, they must be placed in the covert way, within 15 feet of the counterscarp of the ditch. These batteries must be sunk as low as the soles of the embrasures, and are in fact but an enlargement of the sap, run for the lodgment on the glacis or in the covert way. In constructing a battery on the crest of the glacis, attention must be paid that none of the embrasures open upon the traverses of the covert way. These batteries should consist of at least four guns; and if the breadth between the traverses will not admit of this number, at the usual distances, the guns must be closed to 15 or 12 feet from each other.
The mortars are generally at first arranged in battery, adjoining the first gun batteries, or upon the prolongation of the capitals of the works; in which place they are certainly least exposed. Upon the establishment of the half parallels, batteries of howitzers may be formed in their extremities, to enfilade the branches of the covert way; and upon the formation of the third parallel, batteries of howitzers and stone mortars may be formed to enfilade the flanks of the bastions, and annoy the besieged in the covert way. In the lodgement on the glacis, stone and other mortars may also be placed, to drive the besieged from their defences. A great object in the establishment of all these batteries, is to make such an arrangement of them, that they mask the fire of each other as little as possible; and particularly of the first, or ricochet batteries. This may very well be prevented till the establishment on the crest of the glacis, when it becomes in some degree unavoidable: however, even the operations on the glacis may be so arranged, that the ricochet batteries be not masked till the breaching batteries be in a great state of forwardness: a very secure method, and which prevents the soldiers in trenches being alarmed by the shot passing over their heads, is to raise aparados, or parapet, in the rear of the trenches, at such parts where the fire from the besieger’s batteries crosses them. For further details on this subject, and for the manner of constructing batteries, see the wordBattery; also the wordsRicochet,Breach,Magazine,Platform, &c.
3d.Artilleryand Ammunition for the defence of a Fortified Place.