Chapter I: Preface

In preparing this work it has been my endeavor to place in compact form all the data I could obtain that might prove of service to those persons interested in the subject of light artillery, both in the Regular Army and in the National Guard.

I have held strictly to the lines laid down in Army Regulations, Drill Regulations, Official Reports, etc., as regards the matter extracted from such sources; and such as has not been so obtained has been carefully selected from the best authorities I have been able to consult.

I make no claim to originality in this work. It is drawn on the lines of similar handbooks in foreign services; and a great deal of the matter has been copied verbatim from the works consulted. To the writers and compilers of those works I hereby express my thanks.

While I do not consider that machine-guns are proper weapons for the light artillerist, I feel that occasions may arise when knowledge regarding them may prove of service; hence the chapter pertaining to them.

I express, with pleasure, my thanks to Lieut.-Colonel E. B. Williston, 3d U. S. Artillery, for his assistance.

I am particularly obliged to Captain L. L. Bruff, Ordnance Department, for having permitted me to copy from the manuscript of his work on Ordnance and Gunnery (now being published), and also for the use of many of his cuts. His friendly consideration in so doing is fully appreciated.

I also express my appreciation of the assistance given me by Colonel A. R. Buffington, Ordnance Department; Captain V. McNally, Ordnance Department; Captain J. L. Lusk, Corps of Engineers; Captain James Parker, 4th Cavalry; Captain L. A. Craig, 6th Cavalry; Captain S. W. Taylor, 4th Artillery; Lieut. E. B. Babbitt, Ordnance Department; Lieut. M. M. Patrick, Corps of Engineers; Lieut. E. Russel, 5th Artillery; Mr. J. E. Trautwine, Jr.; Mr. Charles W. Parker; and Mr. L. V. Benet of the Hotchkiss Ordnance Company.

The following is a partial list of the works consulted:

U. S. Army Regulations; U. S. Drill Regulations for Light Artillery; U. S. Drill Regulations for Cavalry; U. S. Drill Regulations for Hospital Corps; Soldier's Handbook, U. S. A.; Reports of the Chief of Ordnance, U. S. A.; Ordnance Notes; Manual of Heavy Artillery Service, United States Army, Tidball; Manual of Guard Duty; Ordnance and Gunnery, Metcalfe; Gunnery for Non-commissioned Officers, Cronkhite; Description and Service of Machine-guns, Mills; Lectures on Explosives, Walke; Modern Explosives, Eissler; Interior and Exterior Ballistics, Ingalls; Preliminary Tactics, Baker; Handbook for Field-artillery, R. A. Service Institution; The Soldier's Pocket-book, Wolseley; Manual of Military Engineering; Aide-mémoire de Campagne; Aide-mémoire, R. E.; Artillerist's Manual and Soldier's Compendium; the handbooks of Trautwine, Haswell, and Kidder; The Future Training and Employment of Mounted Infantry, Parr; The Soldiers' First Aid Handbook, Dietz; Nystrom's Mechanics; Horses and Stables, Fitzwygram; The Veterinarian's Vade Mecum, Gamgee; The Book of the Horse, Sydney; The Mule, Reilly; Special Report on the Diseases of the Horse, U. S. Department of Agriculture; the pamphlets of Hotchkiss, Gatling, Maxim, Driggs-Schroeder, etc. etc.

A. B. DYER,
1st Lieut., 4th Artillery.

WEST POINT, N. Y., March 1, 1896.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

_MOUNTAIN-ARTILLERY._

CHAPTER I.

PAGES

Description of 1.65 inch and 3.0 inch Guns--Carriages
--Ammunition--Packing-outfit--Range Tables
--Organization of Mountain-batteries 1-38

CHAPTER II.

The Pack-train--How Packed 39-48

CHAPTER III.

The Mule--Description--Diseases--Treatment 49-57

CHAPTER IV.

General Instructions for Mountain Artillery--Supply of
Ammunition--Care and Preservation of Harness--Instructions
for Drivers--Marches--Camps--Weights
and Dimensions of Foreign Mountain-artillery 58-71

PART II.

_FIELD-ARTILLERY._

CHAPTER I.

Detailed Construction of Field-guns 72-88

CHAPTER II.

3.2 inch Guns--Sights--Ammunition--Fuzes--Range
Table 89-107

CHAPTER III.

3.6 inch Gun--Sights--Ammunition--Fuzes--Carriages--Range
Table 108-112

3.6 inch Mortar--Sights--Ammunition--Fuzes--Range
Table--Weights and Dimensions of Foreign Field-artillery 113-123

CHAPTER IV.

Wheel--Carriage--Limber--Caisson--Battery-wagon
and Forge--Artillery-wagon--Harness--Water-cart--Revolver
--Hunting-knife 124-160

CHAPTER V.

Care and Fitting of Harness--Care of Carriages--Care of
Guns--Care of Ammunition--Guard Orders 161-187

CHAPTER VI.

The Horse--How Obtained--Description of--Inspection
of--Power of Teams--Weight behind Artillery Teams--Gaits
of Artillery--Dentition--Plate of Diseases--Health
and Disease--Veterinary Medicines--Drugs
and Doses, and How to Administer Them--Mashes--Poultices,
etc.--Veterinary Notes, with Symptoms and
Treatment of Various Diseases--Stables and Stable
Management--Grooming--Feeding--Kinds of Food--Watering--Training
Horses--Rules for Treatment and
Care of Horses--Destruction of Horses 188-260

CHAPTER VII.

Organization of Artillery--Composition of Light
Batteries--Equipment--Equipment and Clothing for
Marches--Marches--Selection of Camps--Making Camp--Breaking
Camp--Allowance of Wagons 261-300

CHAPTER VIII.

Transportation by Rail; by Sea--Embarkation--Care of
Animals--Diseases of Animals at Sea--Disembarkation 301-315

CHAPTER IX.

Machine-guns--The Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon--The
Gatling Gun--The Gardner Gun--The Maxim Gun--The
Metallic Carriage for Machine-guns 316-361

CHAPTER X.

Theoretical Gunnery--Definitions--General Principles--Probability
of Fire--Burst of Shell--Burst of Shrapnel 362-372

CHAPTER XI.

The Causes of Bad Shooting--Estimating Distances--Range-finding--Rule
for Sighting--General Duties
of Artillery Commanders--Target Practice, How Conducted--Projectiles
Used--Kinds of Targets--Night-firing 373-391

CHAPTER XII.
Cordage, How Preserved--Strength--Blocks and
Tackle--Knots, Hitches, etc.--Lashings 392-402

Bridges--Trestles, Piers, etc.--Single-sling and Double-sling
Bridges--Stringer Bridges--Fords--Flying and
Floating Bridges--Rafts and Casks 402-418

CHAPTER XIII.
Hasty Demolition--Gunpowder--Dynamite--How Used
in Blasting--Guncotton--Rack-a-Rock--Handling,
Transportation, and Storage of High Explosives--Charges
for Hasty Demolition--Where and How to
Place Charges 419-430