Hand-book for active service; containing practical instructions in campaign duties. For the use of volunteers Volume 1 - Softcover
Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ...mortar is thus formed. Excavate a shaft at an inclination of about 45 to the horizon, and about 6 feet deep; at the bottom place a charge of 55 Ibs. of powder,then a strong shield of wood (at least 6 inches thick) in front of the charge; and over the shield throw in 3 or 4 cubic yards of pebbles of not less than half a pound weight each; a sufficient body of earth must be heaped vertically above the charge, and retained over the upper part of the shaft (near the edge) by a revetment of sods, to ensure its effect taking place in the direction required. Twelve men can make a stone fougass in three hours, which, being charged as before described, will, when exploded, disperse the materials over a circle of 30 or 40 yards radius, at about 60 yards from the mouth of the shaft. The usual and most effective position for fougasses is beyond the ditch and over the salients or other weak points of the work; they must be removed in advance of the ditch so far as not to injure the counterscarp by their explosion. A good method of discharging fougasses at the moment required, is to place a loaded musket with the muzzle in the priming and a wire attached to the trigger; the wire can be led in any direction, in the same manner as the hose, and being pulled at the proper moment, the explosion will take place. INUNDATIONS. It frequently occurs in the field that small streams or rivulets are met with, which of themselves offer no impediment to the advance of an enemy, but which, by judicious management, may be made effectually to check his attack on certain points where the water may be collected. An inundation, or collection of water, is produced by forming across a stream one or more dams, which must extend to a certain distance from thence, according to the...
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