Chapter XXXII: Appendix: B.--No. X

It being of great importance to know the endurance of guns in service, Commanding Officers are directed to fill up the blanks of the annexed Circular issued by the Bureau of Ordnance, November 5, 1863, as far as in their power, and forward it to the Bureau at the expiration of every quarter.

When the "total number of fires to date" cannot be ascertained, the number since the vessel has been in commission is to be stated.

Column A. Class of Gun Column B. Register No. Column C. Foundry Column D. Date of Fabrication Column E. Charge of Powder Column F. Shot Column G. Shell Column H. Shrapnel Column I. Grape Column J. Canister Column K. No. of Fires During Quarter Column L. Total No. of Fires to Date

NAME OF VESSEL. STATION.

---------------------------- ----------------------

+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

--------------, 186-. --------------, _Commander._

The object of this circular is to enable the Bureau to know, _at all times_, how many rounds have been fired _from every gun in the service_; and the following directions are to be observed in making the quarterly return of firing:

"CLASS OF GUN."--Under this head give the kind of gun; if rifled, state it; and if a 32-pounder or 8-inch, give the _weight_. It is not necessary to give the position of the gun in the vessel.

"REGISTER NO."--Be careful to give the register number correctly, as this is most important.

"FOUNDRY,"--Under this head give the initials on the base-ring.

"Date of fabrication" will be found on the right trunnion.

"Charge of powder" in pounds.

"Projectiles" to be entered under their appropriate heads in the blank.

"Kind of fuze" to be stated.

"Number of fires during quarter," must be given _for each gun separately_.

"Total number of fires to date," must include _all rounds fired from each gun separately_; and each succeeding quarterly report must have the "total number of fires to date" from the report next preceding (a copy of which is always to be kept on board the vessel) brought forward, added to the total for the quarter, and the aggregate placed in the last column.

The Bureau often receives reports _with the last column left blank_, or with "not known" written therein. Reports sent in this way are of no value whatever to the Bureau.

If a record of the total number of fires of any gun has not been kept, or if it cannot be ascertained from the Log, then vent-impressions of such gun are to be taken; and the Commanding Officer must determine, as nearly as possible, judging from these impressions, the total number of fires, and enter the same on his return. (_See_ ORDNANCE INSTRUCTIONS, Part III.)

The Bureau expects that all Commanding Officers will, in future, have this return _carefully made out_; and that they will not sign or forward one of them without first being satisfied of its correctness.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] By Lieutenant W.P. Buckner, U.S.N. See a pamphlet "On the Determination of Distances at Sea," by Captain A.P. Ryder, R.N., for more extended tables of this and other methods.