No. 1 to lock-string; when the object comes in view, Officer of piece gives order.

VIII. "READY—FIRE!"

427. Gun Captain pulls lock-string. No. 3 lets go port-tackle. No. 5 closes port. Engineer revolves the turret so as to point the gun abeam. (This gets the scuttle clear for passing up ammunition.)



If necessary,

Nos. 11 and 12 ship crank, and, with 7 and 8, run the gun in; Nos. 9 and 10 easing compressor. No. 10 ships ratchet-lever to ease compressor, No. 9 easing it further by hand. The gun is now ready for loading, and the exercise proceeds as before.

428. The exercise of the left gun is in all respects the same, except that Nos. 3 and 4 exchange duties.

429. The crew of the XV-in. gun consists ordinarily of 14 men, but the gun may be readily worked by 8 men; indeed, some officers prefer the smaller number as being equally efficient, giving more room in the turret, and affording the very great advantage of relief crews during a protracted engagement. The same remarks apply to the XI-in. gun.

WORKING XV-IN. BY HALF-CREW.

"SERVE VENT AND SPONGE!"

430. No. 1 stops vent. 3 passes to left of muzzle. 5 passes sponge-head and sections as required to 3, and assists in sponging.

"LOAD!"

431. No. 13 receives passing-box at scuttle and holds it to 5. 5 receives cartridge from 13, enters it in muzzle, passes rammer-head and sections, and, assisted by 3, rams home. Gun Captain serves the vent, 3 and 5 falling back.

Nos. 9, 11, 13, and 15 whip up shell and attend it to muzzle.

Nos. 5 and 3 steady shell and enter it in muzzle.

No. 5 removes patch, passes it to 7, who hands it to 1.

Nos. 5 and 3 ram home by sections as before.

"ELEVATE!"

432. Nos. 3 and 5 raise muzzle by section of rammer.

No. 1 tends elevating screw.

"PRIME!"

433. No. 1 serves vent and primes with powder.

"RUN OUT!"

434. Nos. 7, 11, and 15 man crank.

No. 9 eases compressor.

Nos. 3, 5, and 13 open port.

When out,

No. 1, Gun Captain, inserts percussion-primer.

No. 11 unships crank.

No. 9 heaves compressor hand taut.

No. 15 ships lever and heaves well taut.

The gun is trained as before.

"FIRE!"

435. Nos. 3 and 5 close port.

Nos. 7, 11, and 15 man crank, and 9 eases compressor. The above is given for the 1st part of gun's crew; for 2d part substitute next high numbers in each station.

SHELL AND POWDER DIVISION.

436. To the Shell and Powder Division is assigned the most laborious and difficult of all the duties—that of keeping up a supply of projectiles.

437. It is therefore necessary to have it strongly manned, and a system of frequent reliefs for all the important stations, particularly in the magazine and shell-locker.

438. There are required three gangs of four each for the passage of projectiles: one to whip them out of the hold, or shell-room; a second to pass them to the door of the turret-chamber; and a third to pass them to the scuttle and adjust them in the bearer. When working with half-crews, the third gang assists at the shell-whip, the fall being dropped down to them.

439. The XV-in. passing-box requires two men to carry it to the turret-chamber.

440. The allowance of projectiles can only be determined by the character of the service expected, and the stowage capacity of the vessel, which is limited to about 150 rounds per gun for sea-service.

441. By reason of the contracted space in these vessels, all shell should be filled, and all powder must be made up into cartridges.

442. All XV-in. shell shall be fitted with three fuze-holes, and issued for service fuzed with 3-1/2, 5, and 7 seconds fuzes.

443. When the distance of the object is known to be less than the range of the shortest fuze, and time will admit of doing so, uncap all the fuzes. At other times uncap the fuze suited to the distance, and the one of longest time of burning.



FOOTNOTES:

[43] The compressor-shaft should be marked as a guide to No. 1 to know when compressed sufficiently.



CHAPTER VII.

MORTARS.

444. TITLES OF MORTAR CREW.

(See Diagram 1.)

No. 1. First Captain. No. 2. Second Captain. No. 3. First Loader and Trainer. No. 4. First Sponger and Trainer. No. 5. Second Loader, Front Eccentric Trainer. No. 6. Second Sponger, Front Eccentric Trainer. No. 7. Left Circle Eccentric Trainer and Shell-carrier. No. 8. Right Circle Eccentric Trainer and Shell-carrier. No. 9. Left Circle Eccentric Trainer and Shell-hoister. No. 10. Right Circle Eccentric Trainer and Shell-hoister. No. 11. Rear Circle Eccentric Trainer and Shell-hoister. No. 12. Rear Circle Eccentric Trainer and Shell-hoister. No. 13. Powder-man.

During exercise or action, Nos. 9, 10, 11, and 12, in addition to their other duties, will hoist up shell from below.

445. IMPLEMENTS AND EQUIPMENTS.

-+ - ARTICLES. WHERE THEY ARE PLACED. -+ - Handspikes. Two on each side of the bed against the cheeks, leaning upon the manoeuvring-bolts, the ends towards the vessel's sides, and those of the front handspikes even with the front of the cheeks. Haversack. Containing fuzes, and a pair of sleeves, attached to the tompion. Tube-pouch. Containing the priming-wire, friction-tubes, and lanyard, attached to the tompion, and lying on the mortar. Gunner's Pouch. Containing gunner's level, gimlet, vent-punch and chalk, attached to tompion. Quadrant. } Plummet. } Scraper. } In a basket between the cheeks of the mortar-bed. Wiper. } Shell-hooks. } Tompion. In the muzzle. Quoin. Under the mortar upon the bolster, with handle to the left. Maul. } Wrench. } With the basket. Pincers. } Broom. } -+ -

Directly over each mortar must be rigged a gun-tackle purchase-whip, with seven-inch block, to whip up and lower the bomb into the mortar.

One empty bomb and one empty cartridge-bag must be ready for drill.

D. Van Nostrand Publisher. Julius Bien, pr.]

MANUAL EXERCISE.

XIII-IN. MORTAR.

446. WORDS OF COMMAND.

I. "SILENCE!" II. "CAST LOOSE AND PROVIDE!" III. "TRAIN!" (RIGHT OR LEFT). IV. "SERVE VENT AND SPONGE!" V. "LOAD!" VI. "ELEVATE!" VII. "PRIME!" VIII. "READY—FIRE!" IX. "MORTAR FRONT!" X. "SECURE!"

The exercise commences with the supposition that the Mortar is secured fore and aft, but not loaded.

I. "SILENCE!"

(Diagram 1.)

447. At this preparatory order the strictest silence is to be observed.

The Captain faces the breech, the men on the right and left stand facing the mortar; all fix their eyes on the Captain, and attentively wait for orders.

II. "CAST LOOSE AND PROVIDE!"

(Diagram 2.)

448. 1st Captain commands; sees his mortar cleared and cast loose; canvas covers taken off; Eccentric Bars in their place; Train-Tackles overhauled and placed fore and aft on deck; Shell-whip hooked into mast-head span; small shell-hooks moused on lower block of shell-whip; Shell-tongs ready for use; Grommet for resting shell on deck at hand; basket of implements on deck to the rear of mortar; Tompion taken out and placed to the rear; sees that there is a Gunner's Quadrant and plumb-line in the basket; a boring-bit between beckets; a breeching and tackle, if it should be wanted; buckles on his waist-belt, furnished with a primer-box; equips himself with a priming-wire and lanyard; places elevating lever on the right side of mortar ready for use.

2d Captain gets basket of implements and spirit-level from the Gunner; places basket on deck to the rear of the mortar; screws spirit-level to trunnion, and adjusts it to an angle of 45 deg. with the axis of the bore.

No. 3, First Loader, removes mortar-cover; takes out tompion and places it to the rear of mortar-circle, out of the way; provides grommet for resting shell on deck; gets scrapers and spatulas out of basket.

No. 4, First Sponger, assists in removing mortar-cover; gets his sleeves out of basket and puts them on; provides an empty cartridge-bag for wiping shell.

Nos. 5 and 6, Second Loader and Second Sponger, hook shell-whip into mast-head span, and bring it perpendicular over the bore; mouse small shell-hooks on to lower block; get breechings and tackles ready for hooking; ship front eccentric bars.

Nos. 7 and 8, Shell-carriers, get shell-tongs for carrying shell; assist in shipping eccentric bars on their respective sides of circle.

Nos. 9 and 11 overhaul left train-tackle to its full length, and place it on deck fore and aft, near the ship's side; ship left circle eccentric bar, and place lever for carriage-eccentric on the circle, butt to the front, and close to the side of carriage.

Nos. 10 and 12 execute the same duties on the right side of the mortar.

Nos. 11 and 12 also ship rear eccentrics.

Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, hook tackles for hoisting shell from below.

No. 13, Powder-man, repairs to the proper scuttle for his passing-box, returns, and stands a little to the left and in rear of the circle.

III. "TRAIN!" (RIGHT OR LEFT).

(Diagram 3.)

449. Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, throw circle eccentric into gear, and pin eccentric bars down. Nos. 5 and 6 then hook double blocks of train-tackles into circle on their respective sides. All the crew, except Nos. 1 and 2, will bowse on train-tackles, until the mortar is in the desired direction, when the order "Well!" will be given by No. 2, who attends spirit-level and trunnion-sight.

At the command "Well!" Nos. 5 and 6, 11 and 12 will unhook their respective blocks and lay the train-tackle fore and aft on deck, near the ship's side; Nos. 5 and 6, 7 and 9, 8 and 10, 11 and 12, throw the circle eccentrics out of gear.

IV. "SERVE VENT AND SPONGE!"

450. 1st Captain inserts his priming-wire and clears the vent. No. 3 scrapes the chamber and bore, removes scrapings with the spoon. No. 4 takes the empty cartridge-bag and wipes out the mortar, then uses the sponge to thoroughly cleanse the chamber and bore; as soon as this operation is performed, the Captain again serves the vent. Should there be any fire or dirt pushed down, the sponging will be repeated.

D. Van Nostrand Publisher. Julius Bien, pr.]

D. Van Nostrand Publisher. Julius Bien, pr.]

V. "LOAD!"

451. The Powder-man, No. 13, goes to the scuttle for a cartridge, and brings it to No. 3 (always passing on the side not engaged), who empties it carefully into the chamber, keeping the cartridge-bag in his hand, to be used in wiping the shell before it is lowered into the bore. No. 4 takes spatulas, levels off the powder, and calls out "Shell!" which is brought to the front of the mortar by Nos. 7 and 8, Shell-carriers, and landed in the grommet, which has been put in its proper place by No. 5. Nos. 5 and 6 hook shell on and whip it up; when high enough, No. 3 calls out, "High!" wipes it clean with empty cartridge-bag, and, assisted by No. 4, steadies it over the bore; it is then lowered carefully upon the charge, keeping the fuze exactly in the axis of the bore. No. 4 then removes the paper covering and exposes the priming of the fuze, handing the covering to No. 2, as an evidence that it has been removed. After an exercise or an action, these paper coverings will be compared with the account kept by the Officer having charge of the Powder Division. Nos. 3 and 4 now step down on deck, ready to assist in training, should any be required.

VI. "ELEVATE!"

452. The 2d Captain, having adjusted the trunnion-sight[44] to a given angle with the axis of the bore (usually 45 deg.), orders "Raise" or "Lower;" and at the same time the 1st Captain inserts the elevating lever through elevating loop, on to ratchet, and raises or lowers according to direction from 2d Captain, who will give the word "Well!" when the mortar has its proper elevation.

VII. "PRIME!"

453. 1st Captain inserts his priming-wire to ascertain that the vent is clear; takes a friction-primer, raises the loop nearly in line with the spur, hooks it on his lanyard and inserts the primer into the vent, being careful that the lanyard has been led through the loop at the rear of mortar-carriage for that purpose; then retires to the rear of mortar to the full length of the lanyard, and gives the word.

Officer in charge takes station to watch the effect of the bomb, which shall be recorded in a suitably ruled note-book.

VIII. "READY—FIRE!"

454. At the word "Fire!" the Captain pulls the lanyard with a quick draw: there should be a pause of about two seconds between the words "Ready" and "Fire," in order to allow every one time to retire to the rear.[45]

IX. "MORTAR—FRONT!"

455. Nos. 1 and 5, on the left side, Nos. 2 and 6, on the right side, step on the circle; take carriage eccentric levers and throw eccentrics into gear; withdraw the lever from the sockets, and insert them into holes in the wheel, and heave the mortar-carriage up against the front hurter; throw eccentric out of gear; place levers on the circle close to Brackets, butts forward, and retire to their stations.

X. "SECURE!"

(Diagram 1.)

456. Train fore and aft, face of mortar forward, throw circle out of gear; 1st Captain stops vent; 2d Captain unscrews spirit-level. Nos. 3 and 4 put in tompion, put on mortar-cover, put scrapers, spoons, sleeves, and empty cartridge-bags into basket. Nos. 5 and 6 unhook shell-whip and coil it up on the lower step of carriage; put small shell-hooks into basket; put grommet between brackets of carriage; coil up breeching-tackle, and put it on the lower step of carriage; secure the mast-head span to the rigging; unship front circle eccentric. Nos. 7 and 9 coil left train-tackle on the circle, left side of carriage, unship left circle eccentric bar. Nos. 8 and 10 coil right train-tackle on the circle, right side of carriage, unship right circle eccentric bar. Nos. 11 and 12 coil shell-tackle on the circle in rear of carriage; unship rear circle eccentric bar. Eccentric bars to be placed on the circle in the following manner: left and front bars, on left side of brackets; right and rear bars on the right side of brackets. Nos. 7 and 8 put shell-tongs on circle to the rear of carriage. 1st Captain puts his lanyard and priming-wire into the basket, which, together with the spirit-level, is carried to the Gunner by 2d Captain; the crew then resume their stations as at "SILENCE."

MAGAZINE AND SHELL-ROOM.

457. Vessels specially constructed for mortar purposes have regularly-built shell-rooms, while others, fitted for temporary service, have merely spaces set apart, which should be protected by screens fitting tightly to the beams and deck, with tubs of water always at hand during practice, and likewise wet swabs laid to cut off trains of powder.

458. Before the vessels leave port, every thing must be arranged in the magazines for the rapid and safe transmission of ammunition to the mortars, and any deficiencies should be promptly reported to the Officer commanding the division, and by him to the Officer in charge of ordnance.

459. The Officer in command of each vessel is to be present at the embarkation of the ordnance, to stow and check the lists.

460. All the implements accompanying the mortars are to be kept in lockers used solely for that purpose, and under the charge of the Gunner or his mate.

461. The full service-charges for the mortars will be sent on board ready filled in white cotton bags, and their transmission from the magazines will be in leather passing-boxes.

462. The powder is to be emptied into the mortar, the bag well shaken and beaten over the lee-side to remove dust and fine grains of powder, and the bag placed in the rear to wipe out the mortar-chamber after every round.

None of these bags should be returned to the magazine during the action, as the loose powder would be likely to form trains.

463. Large tubs of water are to be kept near the magazines, with buckets at hand to drown the cartridges, or to extinguish fire; and every precaution taken to cut off trains of powder with wet swabs.

464. The forward part of the vessel above decks will be used as the most convenient place for cutting or preparing fuzes, and a heavy screen, spread tent-fashion, should be rigged to protect the fuzes from fire from the mortars, or rain.

In filling shells, the Gunner and two assistants will be detailed for this purpose, besides the men stationed to pass powder from the magazines.

All fire and lights must be put out when the magazine is opened for action.

465. In firing against the wind, the flame is thrown back in-board; therefore care should be taken beforehand to wet the sides, decks, and rigging of the vessel; the sails covered with tarpaulins; and men stationed with buckets to put out fire.

466. One hundred bombs are at all times to be kept ready filled in the shell-room.

A vessel properly organized ought to throw at least 20 bombs an hour; but should circumstances prevent, the mortar may be properly served if even one bomb can be filled before the previous one is fired.

467. A beech plug must be temporarily put in the fuze-hole of the bomb when filled; and the men who fill cartridges and charge the bombs are to wear flannel sleeves and magazine-shoes.

468. When ranges are desired to be obtained by reduced charges, the measuring and filling of the cartridges must always be done in the magazine, no matter how inconvenient it may be; and the utmost exactness is to be observed in filling the powder-measures and levelling off the top, as an ounce of powder makes an important variation in the range of the bomb.

469. Extra cotton bags are to be provided to receive the reduced charges, which are to be stowed in half barrels.

470. Every precaution that suggests itself to the officers in command to prevent accidents, should immediately be put in force, and a memorandum of the matter transmitted to the Ordnance Officer of the squadron.

GENERAL RULES AND OBSERVATIONS.

471. To estimate the distance by the bursting of a bomb, where the flash can be seen, multiply the number of seconds which elapse between it and the sound of the report by 1,100, and the product will be nearly the distance in feet.

472. The officer in charge of a mortar must always note the time of flight and distance, by the above rule, for every bomb that is fired, and likewise note when the report is not heard from the bursting charge.

473. When going into action for a bombardment, the fore-rigging must be come up on the side where the mortar is to be used, the fore-topmast sent down, foresail unbent, boom and gaff laid on deck, rigging lashed in close to the mast, head-sails to be thoroughly wetted, spring on the cable, boats lowered from the side davits, and all the hatches covered with tarpaulins.

474. The broadside-guns must be kept ready for action, and muskets loaded and at hand, in case the squadron should be attacked by the enemy's gunboats.

475. Besides bombs, various other projectiles are fired from mortars, such as carcasses, which are shells having three holes of similar dimensions to the fuze-hole, pierced at equal distances apart in the upper hemisphere, with their exterior openings touching the great circle which is perpendicular to the axis of the bore.

476. These carcasses are placed in the mortar in the same manner as the bomb, and are filled with inflammable mixtures, and should be transported in a vessel by themselves, as they are dangerous companions. Thirteen-inch carcasses weigh 194 pounds each.

477. Bombs are sometimes fired with a port fire stuck into the fuze-hole, which is an almost certain mode of igniting many kinds of buildings.

478. Mortars can also be fired with a bag of one-pound balls, or ordinary grape-shot, with very reduced charges, and a wad between the powder and the balls. One pound of powder will project a 200-lb. bomb 302 yards; the same weight of grape-shot thrown in among boats would prove destructive; and especially a lot of canister fired in this manner would cause great havoc.

479. It is not expected, however, that much execution could be done after the first discharge in a fleet of boats moving rapidly; but combined with the batteries of the Squadron, it is presumed that an enemy would be deterred from an attempt to capture a vessel by boarding.

TAKING THE DISTANCE.

480. An inexperienced officer will find difficulty in estimating distances by the eye alone, as it requires long practice and studied observation. The sextant, however, offers a surer method of approximately fixing a position by taking the angles between any three points, which are generally found to be accurately laid down on the Coast Survey charts; then plotting the angles with a horn protractor, or working them out by the three-point problem, which is given in all surveying books.

481. If the object to be assaulted is a large one, a practical man can, by the exercise of moderate judgment after two or three fires, throw the bombs near the work; but, at the same time, the sextant is the more certain means for determining the true distance, and the Officer in command should make himself acquainted with the simple manner of measuring horizontal angles.

482. If points are not visible in line, then measure a base on shore, angle on the object to be aimed at, and from the angles of the base-line, you can fix the position of the mortar-vessel.

483. When a vessel once gets her position accurately determined, and it becomes necessary after a bombardment to remove out of the line of battle, a small buoy with the vessel's name or number should be dropped under foot, so that the same position may, if necessary, be resumed.

LOADING MORTARS.

484. After the powder has been emptied through the funnel out of the cotton bag into the chamber, the bomb, loaded and fuzed, is to be carefully lowered into the bore by the hooks, and allowed to rest upon the charge.

485. The friction-tube is not put into the vent until the piece is about to be fired.

FUZES.

486. The wooden fuzes used at present for the 13-inch bombs are in sections, and marked according to the estimated distance in practice, viz.:

Seven inches extreme length; and each section one inch, giving a flight for every section of seven seconds, and a total of forty-nine seconds.

487. The plugs are of the proper size for the fuze-hole; the axis bored cylindrically from the large end down, to within a short distance of the small end, which is left solid; the orifice is filled with composition pressed hard and evenly as possible. At the large end a cup is hollowed out and filled with mealed powder moistened with alcohol.

488. The rate of burning is ascertained by experiment, and marked on a water-proof cap, which is tied over the cup.

489. A fuze-saw must be at hand during practice to cut the fuze the required length.

490. Fuzes for sea-coast mortars are also driven in a conical paper case, which is inserted in a metal or wooden plug previously driven in the fuze-hole and accurately reamed out.

491. The paper-case fuze is marked with the number of seconds it burns per inch, and it may be cut, where no danger from ignition can take place, with a sharp knife.

PROCESS OF FILLING BOMBS.

492. Having been inspected to see that they are clean and dry, place the bombs on a block made for the purpose, or on grommets of rope, or on the ground, with the eyes up. The charge, having been carefully measured, is then poured into the chamber through a funnel, while, at the same time, the fuze is cut to the proper length by resting it on a groove made in the block, and sawing it across. The fuze is then tried in the hole, and should enter 3/4ths of its length; if it does not, it must be reduced by rasping.

493. The head of the fuze having been covered with tow to prevent breaking the composition, the fuze-setter is placed on it, and the fuze driven with the mallet until the head is about 2/10ths of an inch above the surface of the bomb.

POINTING MORTARS.

494. First give the elevation by applying the quadrant to the face of the piece, and adjusting the quoin or ratchet until the required number of degrees is obtained.

495. In pointing mortars on shore, it is an easy matter to get the direction, because the mortar is stationary; but on shipboard, owing to the motion, it is attended with difficulty, especially when the vessel is rolling and the line of fire can only be approximate.

496. On shore, the plan of giving the direction is to determine practically two fixed points, which shall be in a line with the piece and the object, and sufficiently near to be readily distinguished by the eye. These points being covered by a plummet, is the vertical plane including the line of metal, which becomes the plane of fire.

497. In mortar-vessels other expedients are resorted to, such as trunnion-sights, or a white line painted on the mortar-bed parallel to the axis of the bore when level; but the first plan is preferable.

498. The circles on which the mortars stand being fitted with eccentrics, are made to revolve so as to point the mortar at the object without the trouble of swinging the vessel or moving the mortar round with handspikes.

499. Before firing, care must be taken that the eccentrics are thrown out of gear, and the circle flat upon the platform on which it revolves.

TABLES OF CHARGES, ELEVATIONS, AND RANGES FOR 13-INCH MORTARS.

500. CHARGES FOR 13-INCH MORTAR-BOMBS.

- - Charge. 13-Inch. - - lbs. oz. Of shell filled 11 0 To burst shell 6 0 To blow out fuze 0 6 Ordinary service-charge 7 0 Incendiary, match, or other composition 0 8 - -

501. RANGES WITH SEA-COAST 13-INCH MORTARS, 20 deg. ELEVATION.

-+ Charge. Mean Time of Least Greatest Mean Flight. Range. Range. Range. -+ + + + + Lbs. Seconds. Yards. Yards. Yards. 4 8. 840 877 869 6 9.5 1209 1317 1263 8 11.66 1653 1840 1744 10 12.50 2010 2128 2066 12 14.25 2369 2688 2528 14 15.25 2664 2780 2722 -+ + + + +

502. RANGES WITH 13-INCH MORTARS, AT 45 deg. ELEVATION.

Weight of Shell, 200 lbs.

+ + + -+ + CHARGE. FLIGHT. FUZE. RANGE. + + + -+ + Lbs. oz. Seconds. Inches. 10ths. Yards. 7 21.4 4 2-2/3 2190 7 8 22.4 4 4 2346 8 23.2 4 6 2480 8 8 23.8 4 7-1/2 2600 9 24.4 4 8-3/4 2734 9 8 24.9 4 9-3/4 2853 10 25.4 5 1 2958 10 8 25.9 5 1-3/4 3026 11 26.3 5 2-1/2 3150 11 8 26.7 5 3-1/2 3246 12 27.0 5 4 3327 12 8 27.4 5 4-3/4 3404 13 27.7 5 5-1/2 3470 13 8 28.0 5 6 3552 14 28.3 5 6-1/2 3617 14 8 28.5 5 7 3681 15 29.0 5 8 3739 15 8 29.1 5 8-1/4 3797 16 29.2 5 8-1/2 3849 16 8 29.4 5 8-3/4 3901 17 29.6 5 9 3949 17 8 29.8 5 9-1/2 3997 18 29.8 5 9-3/4 4040 18 8 30.0 6 4085 19 30.2 6 0-1/4 4123 19 8 30.3 6 0-1/2 4160 20 30.5 6 1 4200 + + + -+ +

503. TABLE OF ALLOWANCES.

Subjoined is a list of articles which are indispensable for the service required, and must be kept in readiness at or near every mortar, in some secure position:

Tube-boxes 4 Straps for boxes 4 Quill-tubes 400 Friction-tubes 600 Fuze-composition for priming 12 lbs. Powder-bags 250 Port-fires 100 Port fire-sticks 4 Rasps, half round 4 Cotton wick 4 lbs. Hand-hatchets 2 Sheep-skins 6 Diagonal scale 1 Compasses 2 Copper funnel, 13 in. 1 Wood mallets 2 Fuze-extractor 1 Iron pincers 2 Augurs 2 Cutting-knives 2 Scissors 2 Thread 1 lb. Brass quadrants 1 Sponges with staves, 13 in. 2 Handspikes 6 Claw-hammers 1 Lead plummets 3 Tallow 20 lbs. Shell-hooks, 13 in. 2 Shell-hooks, with thimbles 2 Cotton quick-match 6 Punches for mortar-vents 2 Corkscrews 2 Blocks for driving fuzes 2 Drifts of iron tapped with copper 4 Copper ladles for fuzes 2 Leather buckets 3 Elm plugs 60 Brass pickers 2

SPARE ARTICLES.

Cap-squares Eye-pins Keys for pintles, large 2 Keys for pintles, small 2 Washers 2 Bolts, traversing 4 Bolts, dog 4

FOOTNOTES:

[44] If the Spirit-Level should be damaged, he will apply the Gunner's Quadrant to the face of the mortar.

[45] To lessen the shock of the discharge and the concussion on the ear, the crew should be instructed to stand on their toes at the moment of firing, keeping at the same time their mouths and ears open.



CHAPTER VIII.

MISCELLANEOUS OPERATIONS.

GETTING IN GUNS ON COVERED DECKS.

504. After bracing the yard over the port through which it is intended to take the guns, secure the lizard round the yard five or six feet outside of the ship, and hook the top burtons just outside of the lizard.

Haul taut, and bring an equal strain on the burtons and lifts. Hook a rolling-tackle on the opposite side of the yard, bowse it well taut, and the trusses also, if they be of rope. Pass the end of the pendant of the gun-purchase through the thimble of the lizard; take the end up and make it fast round the top-mast, just above the lower cap. Have the port lined with pine boards, to keep it from being chafed.

Bore a hole in the deck or decks through which it is intended to pass the garnet, as nearly as possible over the rear end of the gun-carriage, and as near in line with the centre of the port into which the guns are to come as the beams will allow. Pass the upper end of the garnet through the hole, and turn in the thimble, to which hook the pendant-tackle. Place a tackle across the deck ready for bowsing the gun into its carriage through the port.

Bring the gun under the yard and sling it as follows: place one bight of the slings under the neck of the cascabel, and pass the lashing which is attached to the slings round the chase, at such a distance from the trunnions as will allow them to go into the trunnion-holes without bringing too great a pressure of the slings against the upper port-sill. Then toggle or hook the gun-purchase to the outer bight of the slings, and sway away. When the breech of the gun is above the port-sill, hook the garnet and the thwart-ship-tackle to the cascabel, and bowse on both. When the slings bear hard on the upper port-sill, lower the gun-purchase, and bowse on the garnet until the breech is high enough for the trunnions to clear the cap-square bolts in the carriage; then bowse on the thwart-ship-tackle until the trunnions are over the trunnion-holes, lowering the purchase as required to bring the gun into its place.

As each gun is mounted unhook the purchase and garnet, take off the slings, run the carriage to its proper port, and place another for the next gun.

TAKING IN GUNS OVER ALL.

505. Sling the gun slightly breech-heavy, to render it more manageable. If it is to be mounted on the spar-deck, place the carriage in the gangway; if on the main-deck, close to the main hatchway on that deck. In place of the garnet, hook the stay-purchase for lowering the gun into its carriage.

GETTING OUT GUNS THROUGH PORTS.

506. Secure the yard as in getting in guns, and sling the gun in the same manner. Hook the garnet and haul it taut, so as to raise the breech of the gun as much as the port-sill will permit; hook or toggle the gun-purchase, and sway away. As soon as the trunnions are clear of the carriage haul it from under the gun, ease away the garnet, and let the gun go out the port. As soon as the gun is perpendicular to the purchase, unhook the garnet and lower the gun into the lighter, or on the wharf, as the case may be.

If the gun is to be taken out over all, the stay-tackle is to be substituted for the garnet, only it is to be hooked to the same end of the slings as the gun-purchase, and the lashing on the slings is to be passed around the chase of the gun, as near the trunnions as possible, without being in the way of the brackets.

MANNER OF USING THE GRIOLET PURCHASE FOR DISMOUNTING OR MOUNTING GUNS ON COVERED DECKS.

507. In practice, guns are rarely shifted from one carriage to another during action: it is only during a cessation of firing. While the action is going on, the crew of a disabled gun are more usefully employed in replacing the killed and wounded. Furthermore, spare carriages are not so numerous as to permit this operation to be performed frequently. Nevertheless, each gun's crew should be thoroughly exercised, in order to develop their strength and skill.

508. The gun is to be run in, in the direction required to bring the muzzle under the housing-bolt, and the breech under the hole bored in the deck to receive the screw-bolt of the upper block of the breech-purchase. This hole should be bored through the plank in the deck, as nearly abreast the middle of the port as the beams will allow, giving the block room to play clear of the beams and carlings.

With a gun's crew of twelve men the operation may be performed as follows:

At the word "Stand by to dismount!" the Quarter-Gunner of the division on the deck above that in which the gun is to be dismounted removes the screw-tap, and stands ready to place the washer, key and un-key the bolt of the breech-purchase block.

All the numbers, except 1, 2, 3, and 4, man the train-tackle.

No. 1 gives the word "Run in!"

While the gun is coming in, Nos. 1 and 2 remove breeching from jaws of cascabel, and 7 and 8 remove it from side-shackle. Nos. 1 and 2 throw its bight over the reinforce. No. 1 removes sight-bar and screws up the thumb-screw firmly.

When the gun is in position—Nos. 1 and 2 adjust upper and lower block of breech-purchase and secure the latter with the cascabel-pin. Nos. 3 and 4 chock fore-trucks, provide muzzle-purchase, and, assisted if necessary by 5 and 6, adjust its upper block. Nos. 5 and 6 unshackle breeching from ship's side, and shove toggle-block of muzzle-purchase into the bore and back it to the breech-purchase.

Nos. 7 and 8 un-key and throw back cap-squares and choke luffs of side-tackles, or, if rolling deeply, hitch them round the straps of the blocks.

Nos. 9 and 10 provide breech-purchase and assist 1 and 2 in adjusting it.

No. 11 chokes luff of train-tackle, or hitches it, if required; provides and hooks tackle of muzzle-purchase; belays and lowers.

No. 12 provides and hooks tackle of breech-purchase; belays and lowers.

These preparations made, all the numbers man the breech-tackle fall, or divide themselves to bowse upon both falls together, as the position of the gun in the battery may render either mode most convenient.

At the word "Dismount!" the gun is swayed out of the carriage.

Nos. 3 and 4 attend chocking-quoins, and 11 attends train-tackle, if required.

All the numbers, excepting 11 and 12, who attend purchase-falls, move up to their ordinary stations for serving the gun, unhook side-tackles, and remove the old carriage, under the direction of No. 1: and—

At the word "Mount!" the same men bring the new carriage into position for mounting.

At the word "Lower!" Nos. 11 and 12 lower the gun into its place; all the numbers then proceed, respectively, to reverse what they had done in dismounting.

Guns on covered decks may also be dismounted by means of a muzzle-lashing, the runner and the train-tackles, assisted by the handspikes.

The gun is run in and laid square under the housing-bolt, the bed and quoin removed, the muzzle elevated and secured as in the housing position; then, after un-keying and throwing back the cap-squares, the breech is bowsed up clear of the carriage by means of the train-tackle, hooked in the eye of a runner, the block of which hooks in an eye-bolt in the beam over the gun. If preferred, this mode of dismounting may be adopted by substituting the muzzle-lashing for the toggle-block of the griolet, and toggling the runner-block in the hole made in the deck for the breech-purchase of the griolet.

THROWING GUNS OVERBOARD.

509. The gun's crew being assembled at Quarters, remove the pin and chock from the cascabel, into the jaws of which place a selvagee strap; hook the double block of the train-tackle into the housing-bolt over the port, and its single block into the selvagee strap; remove the cap-squares, and place a round block of wood on the sill of the port, high enough to let the chase bear on it when slightly depressed; raise the breech as much as possible, without lifting the gun out of the carriage. When all is ready man the train-tackle well; have the handspikemen also ready to assist in raising the breech; and if the vessel is not rolling, it will be well to have additional handspikes under the rear of the carriage to lift it also, so as to give free egress to the gun. When all is ready, give the order: "All together—launch!" In a gale of wind advantage should be taken of a favorable roll to give the word, that the action of the sea and of the men at the guns may be simultaneous.

If the guns are to be thrown overboard for the purpose of lightening a ship which is aground, they must be buoyed, and care is to be taken that each buoy-rope is of a proper length and strong enough to weigh the gun. The best mode of securing the buoy-rope to the gun is to form a clinch or splice an eye in the end which goes over the cascabel, and take a half-hitch with the bight around the chase of the gun, and stop it with spun-yarn.

The buoy must be sufficient to float the rope when saturated; or, in deep water, a smaller line may be used for the buoy, and attached to the rope intended for weighing the gun, that it may be hauled up when wanted.



PART II.

EQUIPMENT AND MANOEUVRE

OF

BOATS.



EQUIPMENT AND MANOEUVRE

OF

BOATS.

EQUIPMENT OF BOATS.

WHEN DIRECTED TO BE MANNED AND ARMED FOR SERVICE.

1. Boats must be provided according to the time of absence and nature of the service they are to perform, keeping in view the details prescribed in Table (Article 5).

The number and class of Boat-Howitzers are assigned by the Bureau of Ordnance.

2. When boats manned and armed are ordered, the Officers detailed to command them will see that they are thus furnished, and report when the boats are ready. They will also see that all articles are safely returned, or duly accounted for, when the boats return to the vessel.

If the boats are directed to assemble alongside of any particular vessel, the officers must report as they arrive there. If signalled alongside of the ship of the Commander of the Squadron for exercise or for inspection, they are to be inspected, if he shall so direct, by an Officer appointed by him, whose duty it shall be to report those which may be particularly well prepared, and those which he may find deficient in equipment or arrangement, specifying particulars.

3. Whenever the Howitzers are to be used in boats they must be fitted for the purpose as directed in "EXERCISE AND MANOEUVRE OF BOAT-HOWITZERS;" their crews being armed with swords and revolvers.

4. Boarding-parties are to be supplied with swords, revolvers, and rifles loading at the breech, with filled cartridge-boxes.

EQUIPMENT OF BOATS ARMED FOR SERVICE.

5.—TABLE OF BOAT EQUIPMENTS, ARMS, AND STORES FOR EXPEDITIONS

KEY: A: LINE SHIPS AND 1ST CLASS SCREW FRIGATES. B: ALL OTHER FRIGATES. C: RAZEED FRIGATES AND 1ST CLASS SCREW SLOOPS. D: ALL OTHER SLOOPS AND BRIGS. E: LAUNCHES F: 1st and 2nd CUTTERS. G: 3rd and 4th CUTTERS. H: 1st CUTTERS. I: 2nd and 3rd CUTTERS. J: 3rd CUTTERS.

- -+ A B DEPARTMENTS. NAMES OF + - - ARTICLES. E F G E F G - - - - - - - Boat-Carriage, complete 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 to 1st Field-Carriage, complete 1ea 1ea Ammunition-Chests Either one or all, as the (various in size nature of the service may & contents) require. Ammunition-Pouches One for each man of the field-howitzer's crew, except Nos. 1 & 3. Match-Rope (lengths) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Primers (tin-boxes) 2ea 2ea 2ea 2 to 1st Spare Lock, complete 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. GUNNER'S. Haversack for Captain of Howitzer One for each field gun. Swords One for each man in the boat. Breech-Loading Arms One for each man of the boat's crew. Minie-Rifles When extra men in the boat, one for each. Revolvers One for each man of the boat's crew. Cartridge-boxes, filled One for each rifle, breech-loading gun, and revolver. Empty Powder-Tank, as a Magazine. 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Boat Arm-Chest 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea - - - - - - - Masts and Spars (set) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Cranes for Spars and Spare Oars (set) 1ea 1ea Set of Oars 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea CARPENTER'S Spare Oars for one Thwart (set) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Boat-Hooks 3ea 3ea 3ea 3ea 3 ea. 3ea Tools and articles for repairing damages (set fixed) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Bucket 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Tarpaulin 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea - - - - - - - SAILMAKER'S. Sails (set) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Awning 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Tent-Awning (see drawing) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea - - - - - - - BOATSWAIN'S. Thrum-Mats for muffling oars (sets) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Hand-Grapnels 2ea 2ea 1ea 2ea 2 ea. 1ea Anchors 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Chain or Rope for Anchor (15 f'ms long) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Marlinspike 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Spun-Yarn (balls of) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Grease (lbs.) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Fishing-Lines and Hooks Three lines for the larger boats and two for the smaller, with 1 dozen assorted hooks per boat. - - - - - - - MASTER'S. Boat-Compasses 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Lead and Line 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Signals (sets) One for the senior officer of the boats belonging to each ship. Spy-Glasses One for the senior officer of the boats belonging to each ship. Ensign 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Lantern 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Candles (lbs.) 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea Tinder-Box, with Flint and Steel 1ea 1ea 1ea 1ea 1 ea. 1ea - - - - - - - YEOMAN'S. Boat-Stove and utensils for cooking (set) 1ea 1ea - - - - - - - MASTER'S. Fuel (quantity) As may be judged necessary. Breakers of Water (number) To be regulated, like the fuel, according to the nature of the expedition and ballast required. - - - - - - - PAYMASTER'S. Provisions To be regulated, like the fuel, according to the nature of the expedition and ballast required. - - - - - - - SURGEON'S. Articles for treatment of To be regulated, like the sick and wounded fuel, according to the nature of the expedition and ballast required. - - - - - - -

[Part 2]

-+ C D DEPARTMENTS. NAMES OF + - ARTICLES. E H I E F J - - - - Boat-Carriage, complete 1 1 1 Field-Carriage, complete 1 1 Ammunition-Chests Either one or all, (various in size as the nature of & contents) the service may require. Ammunition-Pouches One for each man of the field- howitzer's crew, except Nos. 1 & 3. Match-Rope (lengths) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Primers (tin-boxes) 2 2 2 Spare Lock, complete 1 1 1 GUNNER'S. Haversack for Captain One for each of Howitzer field gun. Swords One for each man in the boat. Breech-Loading Arms One for each man of the boat's crew. Minie-Rifles When extra men in the boat, one for each. Revolvers One for each man of the boat's crew. Cartridge-boxes, filled One for each rifle, breech- loading gun, and revolver. Empty Powder-Tank, as a Magazine. 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Boat Arm-Chest 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 - - - - - - Masts and Spars (set) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Cranes for Spars and Spare Oars (set) 1 1 Set of Oars 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 CARPENTER'S Spare Oars for one Thwart (set) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Boat-Hooks 3 3 3ea 3 3ea 3 Tools and articles for repairing damages (set fixed) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Bucket 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Tarpaulin 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 - - - - - - SAILMAKER'S. Sails (set) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Awning 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Tent-Awning (see drawing) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 - - - - - - BOATSWAIN'S. Thrum-Mats for muffling oars (sets) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Hand-Grapnels 2 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Anchors 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Chain or Rope for Anchor (15 f'ms long) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Marlinspike 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Spun-Yarn (balls of) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Grease (lbs.) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Fishing-Lines and Hooks Three lines for the larger boats and two for the smaller, with 1 dozen assorted hooks per boat. - - - - - - MASTER'S. Boat-Compasses 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Lead and Line 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Signals (sets) One for the senior officer of the boats belonging to each ship. Spy-Glasses One for the senior officer of the boats belonging to each ship. Ensign 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Lantern 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Candles (lbs.) 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 Tinder-Box, with Flint and Steel 1 1 1ea 1 1ea 1 - - - - - - YEOMAN'S. Boat-Stove and utensils for cooking (set) 1ea 1ea - - - - - - MASTER'S. Fuel (quantity) As may be judged necessary. Breakers of Water (number) To be regulated, like the fuel, according to the nature of the expedition and ballast required. - - - - - - PAYMASTER'S. Provisions To be regulated, like the fuel, according to the nature of the expedition and ballast required. - - - - - - SURGEON'S. Articles for treatment of To be regulated, like the sick and wounded fuel, according to the nature of the expedition and ballast required. - - - - - -

DETAILS OF THE FOREGOING TABLE.

FIXTURES IN BOATS FOR BOAT-GUNS.

6. Two eye-bolts on each bow, to receive the hooks of the skid; two cross-pieces, of yellow pine, to bear the carriage, so as to carry the muzzle of the howitzer just above and clear of the gunwale and stem.

One piece of yellow pine scantling, placed lengthwise and amidship, mortised into the rear cross-piece to sustain the carriage in sweeping.

MOVABLE PIECES.

7. Six pivot plates and bolts—one at the stem, one at the stern, one at each bow, and one on each quarter; two light wooden tracks to lay along the thwarts for the wheels of field-carriages and the slide of boat-carriage; one midship wheel-track for the trail of field-carriage; two stout skids, each fitted at one end with two hooks, and connected at the shore end by an iron brace.

The chocks with rollers at the stem and stern posts of launches, are arranged to be removed when the gun is used.

8. Implements for Shifting the Howitzer from Boat to Field-Carriage.

One muzzle-block. One selvagee strap. One shifting-spar. One short iron or wooden bolt, to keep the piece on the right slue.

9. Implements, complete, for Serving and Working the Howitzer.

Breeching for boat-gun, if deemed necessary. Lock with lock-string. Elevating screw. Sight. Priming-wire. Boring-bit. Vent-cloth. Sponge and rammer. " " spare. Spring-spike. Rat-tail file. Haversack, with strap, for Captain of howitzer, to contain a supply of primers, spare fuzes, spare lock, vent-bit, vent-cloth, and implements for spiking; leather ammunition-pouches for each of the men of the field-gun, except Nos. 1 and 3, to be supplied by the Quarter Gunner, with one round of ammunition each, and two primers, when the order to land is given. Drag-rope, fitted with hooks and handles. Trail handspike. A rope, or chain, to lock the wheels in descending slopes. Transporting-boxes.

10. AMMUNITION.

A chest containing shrapnel. A chest containing shell. A chest containing canister.

These chests are of two sizes; the single, holding nine, and double, eighteen rounds.

A key is becketed to each box for unscrewing the lid.

Cutting-tool for opening the Bormann fuze, one in each box of shell and shrapnel.

FOR SMALL ARMS.

11. Cartridge-boxes and belts, furnished with cartridges and percussion-caps, screw-driver, cone-key, and wiper.

An empty powder-tank for magazine, to contain filled cartridge-boxes and spare cartridges.

SMALL ARMS.

12. Breech-loaders, in loops or brackets, under the gunwale of the boat, protected by a water-proof canvas covering, running round the rising of the boat.

Rifles. Revolvers. Swords. Boat arm-chest. A good tarpaulin to cover ammunition.

13. PROVISIONS.

Pork. To be cooked if there be time. Bread, in water-proof bag. Cheese, or canned meats. Fresh water, in breakers; always to be used for ballast when ballast is required. Fuel and kindling.

14. UTENSILS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR COOKING.

Launch-stove and utensils. Mess-kettle. Tin pots and spoons. Funnel. Bucket.

15. TOOLS AND ARTICLES FOR REPAIRING DAMAGES.

Axe, One for each boat. Hatchet, One for each boat. Hammer, One for each boat. Hand-saw, One for each boat. Nails, 2 pds. for each launch; 1-1/2 pds. for each large cutter; and 1 pd. for each of the rest. Sheet-lead, 3 square feet for each launch; and 2 square feet for each cutter. Tacks (number), 100 for each launch; 75 for each large cutter; and 50 for each of the rest. Marlinspike. Spun-yarn. Grease.

16. MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

Boat ensign. Set of signals for boat of Senior Officer. Boat-compass. Spy-glass. Lead and line. Lantern. Candles. Tinder-box, with flint and steel. Fishing-lines and hooks.

17. FOR TREATMENT OF SICK AND WOUNDED.

Tourniquets. Bandages. Lint. Medicines. Surgical instruments.

18. BOAT-GEAR.

Masts. Spars. Rigging. A set of oars, fitted with trailing-lines long enough to allow them to trail alongside in the water. Three boat-hooks. Spare oars, with trailing-lines, for one thwart. Cranes on the gunwale to hold spars and spare oars, raised sufficiently high above the gunwale (9 inches) to allow the oars to be got out or trailed. The spars thus arranged form a considerable protection against musketry. Small thrum-mats for muffling oars when required. Anchor. Chain or rope.

Hand-grapnels, fitted with a fathom of light chain, and five fathoms of line. Sails. Awning and stanchions. Tent awning. (See Drawing.)

N.B.—In order to avoid delay and confusion when boats are called away for service, it is recommended that the articles required by the foregoing lists should be kept separately in the store-rooms, in convenient packages for stowage in the boats and protection against the weather. The contents of each package must be marked on it, together with the name of the boat for which it is intended. Particular attention should be paid by the Executive Officer of the vessel to the best and most compact stowage of all articles required for boat expeditions, which will, necessarily, vary according to the size of the boat and the nature of the service she is to perform. The occasions will be very rare when all of these articles are required at the same time.

FORM OF EXERCISE AND MANOEUVRE

FOR THE BOAT-HOWITZERS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

NOMENCLATURE.

19. THE CASCABEL is the part of the gun in the rear of the base-ring; and is composed of—

The breech-plate. The knob. The neck. Base-ring. Cylinder. Chase. Loop, with hole for bolt. Lock-lugs. Mass-sight. Mass for breech-sight.

The BORE includes all the part bored out, viz.:

Cylinder of bore. Chamber.

These guns must not be polished bright.

BOAT-CARRIAGE COMPLETE, consists of—

Bed. Slide. Compressor-plate. Compressor-bolts. Compressor-handles. Lugs for loop.

FIELD-CARRIAGE COMPLETE, consists of—

Axle. Trail. Braces. Supports for transporting boxes. Lugs for loop. Trail-wheel or runner. Bolt for trail-wheel or runner. Socket for handspike. Elevator. Disk of elevator. Box for elevator.



EXERCISE OF THE BOAT-HOWITZER.

20. While preparations are in progress for clearing out the boats, the Officer of each boat will see that the howitzer, and its various equipments, are also in readiness. The Junior Officer or Officer of the piece will attend to the gun itself and its carriages.

The Quarter Gunner will get up the ammunition from below; also the lock, sights, sponges, spare fuzes, ammunition-pouches, and primers. Spare article box.

This will be the proper time for examining the shrapnel and shells, which must receive the particular attention of the Officer who is to command the boat.

The Captain of the gun will look after the traverses, tracks, and pivot-plates.

The Coxswain will have ready the thwarts, oars, masts and sails.

When the boat has been cleared for hoisting out, lay the thwarts and traverses, and bolt the pivot-plates on the bows and quarters; if the stem and stern pivot-plates interfere with the purchases, they can be secured after the boat is in the water. If the field-carriage is to accompany the gun, lay the wheel and trail tracks.

In a sea-way, it may be better to place the howitzer in the launch, laying it athwartships, and bolting the two ends of the slide into the bow pivot-plates, which will hold it perfectly firm.

As a general rule, the howitzer is not to be handled separately from one of its carriages. It may be hoisted into the launch on either field or boat carriage, as circumstances may dictate.

When the boat-carriage is preferred, sling it with a stout strap passed through the loop-lugs and brought up round the gun, into which hook the purchase; previously shove the bed a little towards the rear end of the slide, so that the carriage will hang square, and set the compressors tight.

When the boat has been hoisted out, the howitzer, its ammunition, and equipments, should be stowed in it conformably to the requirements of the occasion.

Ordinarily, the howitzer may be placed in the bow on its boat-carriage, bolted to the stem-pivot; the field-carriage aft, with its wheels resting on the floor of the stern-sheets and bearing against the after thwart; the trail laid over the quarter-rail, so as not to interfere with the steering; and the ammunition stowed in the stern-sheets, or elsewhere, as may be most convenient for trim of boat, or for its own preservation.

These arrangements can be subsequently changed as circumstances may require.

The Captain of the howitzer slings his haversack and deposits in it a supply of primers, a vent-bit, and vent-cloth, which are handed to him by the Quarter Gunner.

The equipment of the boat will be much facilitated by assigning to each man special duties of preparation and providing articles.

As the bow-oars cannot well be pulled when the howitzer is mounted in the bow, Nos. 1 and 2 do not ordinarily assist at the oars.



STATIONS.

21. For 20 men the stations in the boat and at the howitzer will be as follows; if fewer are employed, the higher numbers are to be omitted:

BOAT. HOWITZER. Stations. Duty. Quarter Master, Stern-Sheets. Signals and assists with ammunition. Quarter Gunner, Ammunition. Ammunition. Cockswain, Helm. Chief of Piece, Bow. Superintends the firing. Port. Starboard. 1. Bow-oar. Captain of howitzer, points and fires the If the lock and sight are on gun, superintends orders, and gives left side Captain will take orders in absence of an Officer. station on port side. 2. Bow-oar. 2d Captain, tends vent and primes. 3. 2d oar. Sponger, sponges and pushes home charge. 4. 2d oar. Loader, receives and enters ammunition. 5. 3d oar. Tends forward compressor. 6. 3d oar. Tends after compressor. 7. 4th oar. Train rope. 8. 4th oar. 9. 5th oar. 10. 5th oar. 11. 6th oar. 12. 6th oar. 13. 7th oar. 14. 7th oar. 15. 8th oar. 16. 8th oar. 17. 9th oar. Runs field-carriage forward when landing. 18. 9th oar. Runs field-carriage forward when landing.

Officer of boat directs the whole of the operations, or may take especial charge of the howitzer.

Officer of the gun is in command of the piece, unless otherwise ordered by the Officer of the boat.

(Preliminary Order)—"MAN THE HOWITZER!"

22. The Captain of the gun sees that the elevator, sight and lock are in order for firing.

Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Trail oars.

No. 3 goes to starboard side of muzzle, having the sponge and rammer ready.

No. 4 goes to port side of muzzle, takes out tompion.

No. 5 to starboard side, near forward compressor.

No. 6 port side, near after compressor.

No. 7 after-end of slide, and hooks training-rope.

No. 2 tends the vent and puts in primer.

If the gun is unloaded, it must be run in.

I. "SPONGE!"

23. No. 2 closes vent, (a)

No. 3 enters the sponge, and, pressing it firmly to the bottom of bore, turns it round and withdraws it. (b)

Quarter Gunner takes a round from the ammunition-box, and, if shell or shrapnel be used, holds it for the Officer in command of gun to adjust the fuze.

II. "LOAD!"

24. Quarter Gunner passes forward with the fixed charge, protecting it under his jacket, (c)

No. 4 receives the charge from Quarter Gunner and enters it.

No. 3 pushes home to the mark on rammer-handle, (d)

No. 2 puts in primer and covers it with his hand until Nos. 3 and 4 are clear of the gun. (e)

III. "POINT!"

25. Nos. 5 and 6 ease compressors. (f)

All six men and Captain of gun run out the howitzer, (g)

Nos. 5 and 6 then tighten compressors.

Officer of gun puts up the sight as directed by Officer of boat. (h)

Captain of gun brings the elevation within the limits of the boat's motion, and causes No. 7, with the assistance of some others, to train nearly to object if the boat is under way.

IV. "FIRE!"

26. If the boat has motion, or is under way, a discretionary execution of this order is necessarily implied.

The assumed elevation having been given by the elevator, a slight motion of the helm is made to sweep the piece laterally, so as to cross the object.

The Captain of the gun closely watches this movement, with his eye down on the sights, and holding the lock-lanyard firmly, draws it as soon as the sights coincide with the object.

Immediately after firing he coils up the lanyard and pulls from the vent any pieces of the quill that may remain, and also enters the bit to clear it entirely through, (i)

NOTES TO THE FORM OF BOAT EXERCISE.

27. (a) The necessity for closing the vent is a mooted question; but as the operation itself is a slight one, having no appreciable effect in complicating or delaying the manoeuvre of the gun, it is not deemed advisable to omit it in this "Form." An equally sure method, is merely to lay a piece of untwilled woollen cloth over the vent, and press it down with the hand; or else turn the lock on it, and hold that down.

(b) Too much care cannot be used in sponging, as a premature explosion endangers life and limb. A moist sponge is to be preferred, for contact with it must surely extinguish every trace of fire in the bore.

It may be considered as a safeguard against accident, for during many years' practice, in proving pieces and exercising the men to fire rapidly—ordinarily, seven or eight times in a minute—not a single instance of premature explosion has occurred.

(c) The head of the fuze-composition must be guarded against moisture from the fingers, rain, or spray of the sea; otherwise, there will be a failure to ignite.

(d) The ammunition is never to be struck with the rammer-head, but pushed home, and with very moderate force; particularly omitting a very common practice of forcing the charge after it reaches the bottom of the bore. In pushing home the charge, No. 2 should always keep his body at the side of the chase, and not before the muzzle.

(e) It is not necessary to pierce the cartridge when percussion-primers are used; their fire being always sufficient to pass through it.

(f) It is only necessary to give the compressors a turn, or a part of a turn; this will relieve the nip completely, and time is saved subsequently in compressing.

(g) Some will take hold of the standard of the carriage-bed that receives the loop of the piece, others of the breech or bed, as may be convenient, to run out the gun.

(h) In tightening the thumb-screw that holds the breech-sight in position, do not turn it too hard; the thread may be stripped by continuing to do so. The sight may descend by the shock of the discharge, but this is of no moment.

In point-blank firing, the breech-sight is not required; the eye must then range along the cylinder and muzzle-sight.

(i) The charge may not be fired; if this arises from not properly drawing the lock, it will be evident at sight, as the wafer of the primer will not flash; in this case No. 2 throws back the lock.

If the primer explodes without acting on the charge, care must be taken not to approach the piece too soon, as it may only hang fire, and the recoil will injure any one in the way of it. After a seasonable pause, the Captain of the howitzer will remove the residue of the primer, pass the bit down the vent, and insert another primer.

PIVOTING THE HOWITZER.

28. The sweep allowed by the stem-pivot is about one point and a half, starboard or port; if this is not sufficient to train the piece on the object, without diverging too much from the course or position of the boat, then the bow-pivots may be used.

The Officer of the boat gives the order—

"PIVOT ON THE PORT (OR STARBOARD) BOW!"

29. No. 7, with the assistance of the others, trains the rear end of the slide into the bow-pivot which is not to be used. No. 2 bolts it in. No. 3 draws bolt out of stem-pivot, and, with assistance, draws round the forward end of the slide into the pivot to be used; drops in the bolt. No. 2 withdraws the bolt from rear end of slide.

The sweep on the bow-pivots includes an arc of about 120 degrees.

It is not advisable to train the howitzer more than a point abaft the beam if forward, or more than a point forward the beam if aft; as the accidental explosion of a shell near the muzzle, and even of a shrapnel, might be dangerous to those in the boat.

On the bow-pivot, the piece may be pointed nearly from the direction of the keel to a little abaft the beam.

SHIFTING THE HOWITZER.

30. If the howitzer does not bear on the object with such assistance as is admissible from the helm, then the Officer in command may direct it to be shifted to the other end of the boat.

The light 12-pounders, with their boat-carriages, average 660 pounds each; and can be transported by hand from one end of the boat to another.

With their boat-carriages, the 12-pounders of 750 average 1,200 pounds each; the 24-pounders about 2,000 pounds, and will probably be more conveniently managed, especially if the boat has motion, by placing rollers 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 inches in diameter on the tracks laid for the field-carriage. On these the boat-carriage can be shifted from one end of the boat to the other, using light falls to keep it under command.

DISEMBARKATION OF THE HOWITZER.

I. "PREPARE TO LAND!"

31. The Quarter Gunner fills the pouches with one round each, and passes them to the men, each of whom, except Nos. 1 and 3, slings a pouch over the right shoulder, and buckles the strap as short as possible, so as to keep the ammunition clear of the water when leaving the boat.

The Captain of the gun also shortens the strap of his haversack.

"TRAIL BOW AND STROKE OARS!"

32. Nos. 1 and 2 adjust the bed of the boat-carriage to its proper place on the slide for shifting; place the muzzle-block, and make the muzzle bear on it by means of the elevator; pass the strap around the neck of the cascabel and put the shifting-spar through the strap; the Quarter Gunner, assisted by the men from the after oars, raises the field-carriage up on the tracks.

II. "TRAIL!"

33. The boat being beached in season, the men trail oars and jump to their stations.

Nos. 3 and 4 over the bow to adjust the skids, which are launched by Nos. 5 and 6.

No. 2 attends the elevator.

No. 3 attends the muzzle.

Nos. 8, 10, 11, and 13, the shifting-spar, assisted by as many of the crew as can take hold.

No. 7 draws the loop-bolt.

The Stroke Oarsmen run the field-carriage forward, the Quarter Gunner guiding it on the track by the trail.

III. "SHIFT THE HOWITZER!"

34. Nos. 1 and 2 clear the elevator; heave up the breech of the gun by the spar; Nos. 5 and 6 back the bed on the slide; run the field-carriage a little forward, so that its lugs come under the loop of the howitzer; lower the piece; put in the loop-bolt and elevator; hook on the drag-rope and ship the trail-handspike in its socket.

IV. "LAND!"

35. Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8 now jump out of the boat, and, with Nos. 3 and 4, divide to each skid; not standing between them, but keeping outside of them. The Stroke Oarsmen wheel the piece up to the gunwale by the spokes, the Quarter Gunner guiding the trail by the trail-handspike, and the rest of the crew take hold of the drag-rope to ease the gun down from the bow, the Quarter Gunner still guiding it down the skids.

When down off the skids and on the bottom, the drag-rope is hooked around the axle, and the howitzer run up on the beach.

The Captain of the howitzer superintends and assists whenever it may be necessary.

The sponges and rammers are now to be attached in their places on the trail.

The transporting-boxes will also be filled.

EMBARKATION OF THE HOWITZER.

36. When the howitzer is to be embarked, the transporting-boxes should be taken off and put in the boat separately.

The men unsling the ammunition-pouches, and pass them into the boat, which is to be brought to a convenient distance from the beach, and the skids laid and secured.

The field-carriage is then pointed with the trail towards the boat, and drawn down to the skids, with a wheel resting on each.

Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 divide at the wheels, and take hold of the spokes, so as to assist the carriage up. No. 14 ships the trail-handspike and tends it with No. 15. The rest of the men get into the boat and take hold of the drag-rope. At the word "HEAVE!" the men at the wheels bear the carriage up on the skids, those in the boat haul on the drag-rope, and the two at the trail bear it up, so that the Quarter Gunner, who stands at the bow, can get hold of the trail-handspike and guide the carriage fairly.

When the howitzer is in the boat, the skids are unhooked and put in the boat by Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The howitzer may now be shifted to the boat-carriage, by reversing the process already described in orders Nos. 1, 2, and 3, for shifting to the field-carriage.



37. EXERCISE WITH HOWITZER ON FIELD-CARRIAGE.

GUN'S CREW.

STATIONS. DUTY. Quarter Gunner Charge of ammunition and spare equipments. No. 1. Captain, rear of breech, to Captain of piece points and fires the right (or left, depending the howitzer, superintends orders, on the position of lock and and gives orders in absence of an sight). officer. 2. Rear to breech, to the left. Closes the vent, put in primer. 3. Right side of muzzle. Sponges and rams home. 4. Left side of muzzle. Receives and enters ammunition. 5. Rear and outside of right Assists at right wheel. wheel. 6. Rear and outside of left Passes ammunition, assists at left wheel. wheel. 7. Five yards rear of right Assists at right wheel, attends bolt wheel. of trail-wheel and trail-handspike. 8. Five yards rear of left Passes ammunition, assists at left wheel. wheel. 9. With No. 7. Assists at right wheel. 10. With No. 8. Assists at left wheel.

(Preparatory Order)—"MAN THE HOWITZER!"

38. The men go to their stations as above designated, the Captain of the howitzer with his haversack, previously supplied, and all the men, except Nos. 1 and 3, with one round in a pouch.

No. 3 takes the sponge and rammer.

No. 6 unbolts trail-wheel, and ships handspike in its socket of trail.

The transporting-boxes, if there be any with the howitzer, are to be deposited about twenty-five yards in its rear, in charge of Quarter Gunner.

The drag-rope is deposited with the ammunition-boxes.

I. "SPONGE!"

39. No. 3 enters the sponge, and, pressing it firmly to the bottom, turns it round and withdraws it. No. 2 serves the vent.

Quarter Gunner takes a round from the ammunition-box, or from the pouch or passing-box of one of the men; and, if shell or shrapnel be used, holds it for the Officer in command of the piece to adjust the fuze.

II. "LOAD!"

40. The charge is to be passed along by the Quarter Gunner to No. 8, and by No. 8 to No. 6, and by No. 6 to No. 4, who enters it into the muzzle.

No. 3 pushes home to the mark on rammer-handle.

No. 2 puts in primer, and covers it with his hand until Nos. 3 and 4 have withdrawn to their stations outside the wheels.

III. "POINT!"

41. Officer of gun puts up the sight, as directed by Officer in command.

The Captain of the gun gives the piece the proper elevation with the screw, and causes No. 7 to train the gun with the trail-handspike to the desired direction. He then withdraws as far as the lock-lanyard permits, standing on the quarter of the breech, and outside of the wheel.

No. 2 stands outside of the left wheel. Nos. 3 and 4 fall back, and the remainder of the gun's crew take the stations first assigned them.

IV. "FIRE!"

42. The Captain of the howitzer instantly draws the lanyard at the word.

No. 2 closes the vent.

Nos. 4, 6, and 8 go to the left wheel; 5, 7, and 9 to the right wheel, taking hold of the spokes, ready to wheel the carriage forward, as may be directed by the Officer in command.

(Concluding Order)—"SECURE THE HOWITZER!"

43. The Quarter Gunner secures the transporting-boxes, and gets ready the lashing.

The Captain of the howitzer coils the lanyard around the lock.

No. 7 bolts the trail-wheel.

No. 3 may carry the sponge in his hand if the fire is merely suspended.

No. 7 may also carry the trail-handspike.

Nos. 8 and 9 hook on the drag-rope, and lead its parts fair for taking hold.

Wheel the piece to the ammunition-boxes, and place them on the axle.

The piece is now ready for any change of position.

REMARKS ON THE USE OF NAVAL LIGHT ARTILLERY.

44. The facility with which the Naval Howitzers are handled is apt to cause a misconception of the purposes for which Naval Light Artillery should ordinarily be used on shore; which are, to be landed from boats in such numbers as may be required, or admitted by circumstances, supported by the seamen and marines of a squadron, and not to be assembled as a battery, to replace, or be substituted for, regular field-artillery.

45. The force landed should be handled as light infantry, for which the individuality of sailor-life so well fits the men; while the character of the gun, and the usually broken nature of the shore-line renders this formation necessary.

46. Open order in approach, in landing, in motion, and in action, is therefore advisable; because a compact formation requires too much attention to position, distances, and alignments in any of them, with more perfect drill than can well be obtained; and which, under fire, exposes too much of a mark to every shot fired.

47. The evolutions in the field should constitute but a small part of the general system of drill, either with a single howitzer or a battery, and should be assimilated to those of light infantry,—that is, the most extended order that the ground admits of,—never massing the guns in close order, but habituating the seamen to open out with them in skirmishing order, keeping on their flanks, never in their rear, using every cover of ground, trees, or, if time will admit, throwing up some earth as a protection against riflemen or the wide-spread fire of shrapnel,—while at the same time the fire is concentrated to prevent attack on the pieces in detail, or is dispersed, as may be required.

48. Such a drill will best develop the scope and efficiency of the gun as a naval arm, and will render most effective the peculiar advantages of its lightness and mobility in rapid movements.

49. Evolutions in action, or preparatory thereto, should always be performed with the ammunition in the pouches; it being a common error in the service to use the ammunition-boxes at such times, when they are only designed for service out of action.

50. If liable to be attacked, all the ground within musket range, especially if it is broken by ravines, should be reconnoitred, particularly on the flanks; and, if possible, all the approaches by which the enemy, and particularly cavalry can approach, should be obstructed; and all obstacles to a retreat or change of position removed.

51. Although commanding positions are to be preferred, the top of a hill should not be chosen where the men and pieces are relieved against the sky, forming a much better mark.

52. Shell and Shrapnel produce a greater moral effect than grape or canister, and in general a greater real injury, as the latter are generally fired at too great distances.

NOTES ON THE USE OF BOAT-HOWITZERS.

53. N.B.—Before equipping boats with howitzers, notice attentively the Hints for General Service, commencing at page 146, Boat Armament of the U.S. Navy, and Suggestions for Landing, of that system, which relate more especially to the condition and management of boat-guns.

54. Too much care cannot be taken to be fully provided, and to have each detail in good condition; for, after the boat has left the ship, it may be impossible to compensate for failure in some seemingly trivial article.

55. The chief purposes of naval light artillery are:

1. To attack small vessels that are lightly armed, and furnish but slight protection to the crews.

2. To contend with other armed boats.

3. To cover the landing of troops.

56. The landing of seamen is rather a remote contingency in the naval service, and should never be resorted to when opposed by good infantry, or when the object to be attained would take the seamen too far from their boats, which should be the base of operations.

57. BOAT-GUNS.—No tackles are required to run out 12-pdrs.; but 24-pdrs. may possibly require them.

58. The hole in the cascabel for reeving a breeching has been purposely omitted in howitzers, as hitherto the use of a breeching has not been found necessary. Should one be required, a thimble may be fitted to the neck of the knob to serve in place of this hole.

With a breeching, the piece may be fired as if on an ordinary carriage.

59. The recoil is controlled by compressing the slide between the bed and the lower plate. It is necessary, however, that the surfaces of the carriage in contact should be plane. If they are not so, dismount the gun and examine them, and where the wood is worn smooth, remove it in the slightest manner, and correct the surfaces generally. In making the surface plane, it is by no means necessary that it should be rendered smooth. It ought to be as little so as possible for the present purpose.



60. FIELD-CARRIAGE.—In order to moderate the recoil on smooth ground, take out the axle or pin of the trail-wheel and turn the wheel up on the trail.

For using the howitzer on shore, two transporting-boxes are supplied, placed on a support and lashed to the axle of the field-carriage. When more than a single piece is landed, it may be found convenient to secure the trail of one field-carriage to the axle of another, and then, by means of pieces of stuff, or boat's spars, secured from axle to axle, to place the ammunition-boxes, provisions, and pouches upon them.

61. Shrapnel may be effectively used where the dispersion of common canister becomes too great and its effects feeble. It takes the place of common shell, to a great extent, when uncovered masses of men are in view, and is designed to burst in front of troops, at just such a distance and height as to disperse the balls among them.

62. Similar terms are used in marking the sight and the fuze. Thus, if the fuze be adjusted to 2 seconds, and the piece elevated by the sight raised to the line on it marked 2 seconds, then the shrapnel will burst about 500 yards from the piece, and spread its balls from that point to a considerable distance further—effectively at least 150 yards.

The adjustment of the fuze to the distance and the altitude of explosion are regulated to the elevation; and, therefore, the three conditions to good effect may be said to depend mainly on a correct knowledge of distance.

63. The 12-pdr. shrapnel contains 80 musket-balls, and if its explosion occurs at one hundred or one hundred and twenty yards in front of and fifteen to twenty yards above the object, one-seventh of the number of balls may be relied on to take effect upon an object 20 by 10 feet in size.

64. Shells may be advantageously substituted for shrapnel when the hostile force is sheltered, especially by such quarters as small craft or merchantmen afford, or when material of any kind is the object of the fire.

65. At two hundred yards canister, only, is required.

In case of a want of canister, the shrapnel or common shell furnishes an excellent substitute by cutting into the magazine of the Bormann fuze, which will cause it to explode at the muzzle.

66. When provided with the Bormann fuze, the shrapnel, or shell, as issued, is complete. The upper surface of this fuze is graduated into seconds and fourths of seconds; and it is only necessary to lay bare the composition contained in the fuze, by the cutting-tool, to prepare the projectile for instant use. In this respect the Bormann fuze has an advantage over the ordinary fuze. The length of the fuzes limits the distance within which the fire of these guns is considered as effective.

67. The introduction of the 12-pounder rifled howitzer has greatly extended the accuracy and effective range of the boat and field artillery.

Solid shot and shell have sufficient penetration to be effective against ordinary wooden vessels at any distance which the elevation allowed by the respective carriages will reach. See TABLE OF RANGES.

The shrapnel has sufficient velocity at 2,000 yards to disable men and horses.

Hitherto no certain or efficient time-fuze has been adopted for rifled howitzers.

There are objections to firing grape and canister from rifled guns, as the grooves are injured thereby, and the rotary and irregular motion given to the mass diminishes its effect. If used, the balls should be of lead or zinc.

68. Fixed ammunition is preferable, on the score of greater convenience, and of avoiding difficulties.

* * * * *

For MANOEUVRES OF BOATS ARMED FOR SERVICE, see "Naval Howitzers Afloat;" by Commander Foxhall A. Parker, U.S.N.

LANDING SEAMEN, MARINES, AND HOWITZERS

FOR EXERCISE OR SERVICE ON SHORE.

69. As the efficiency of seamen when landed in any considerable number depends most materially upon a proper system of organization and training previous to their being landed, and without which they are inefficient, the following system is recommended:

70. The small-arm men are to be formed into companies of 80 men, with four petty officers. Each company to be commanded by a Lieutenant, with two other officers. The company to be subdivided into two platoons, and each platoon into two sections, and to be exercised in such movements as are absolutely necessary to manoeuvre as a company and in battalion, by the officers who are to command them.

71. Small vessels should furnish a platoon of 40 or section of 20 men, that the companies formed by their aggregation may be of equal strength.

72. The companies when landed are to fall in, and number from the right according to the seniority of the Captains of their respective ships, so that they at once will fall into their places according to their number when landed.

73. Each ship landing two companies is to be prepared to land with the small-arm men six Pioneers—2 with a saw and axe each, 2 with a pickaxe and spade each, 2 with a small crowbar and sledge-hammer, or such intrenching or other tools as the nature of the expedition may require; the tools to be slung on the men's backs; smaller detachments a proportionate number.

74. The ship's bugler, if she have one, or drummer, will be sent with the men. He is to be able to sound the "Assembly," "Retreat," "Close," "Extend," "Commence Firing," and "Cease Firing," which sounds the men are to be accustomed to on board ship.

75. If the men are likely to be on shore during the night, they should have a haversack and blanket slung across their shoulders.

76. As muskets are apt to miss fire the first time if not properly clean, the greatest precaution is to be taken to see that the nipple is perfectly clear before loading; first, by blowing down the barrel and placing the finger before the nipple, to feel that the air passes through it, and afterwards snapping a cap off to dry up any oil or moisture that may be in the barrel. To avoid accidents, it is better not to cap the muskets until after landing.