Chapter I: Preface: Seventh Edition

Similar to each of the preceding editions of “THE ARTILLERIST’S MANUAL, AND BRITISH SOLDIER’S COMPENDIUM,” the present work contains much additional matter; and notice has been taken of the subjects in which improvements, or alterations have been adopted. To those Officers, and Non-commissioned Officers, who are in possession of the 6th edition of The Manual, it is advisable that I should specify the chief additions, &c., in the present edition, viz.:—

ALTERATIONS:

Percussion small arms.
Manufacture of cartridges.
Ball cartridge barrels, and boxes.
Carcasses.
Quick match.
Shells, weight, &c.
Ordnance, length, weight, &c.
Service, and management of heavy ordnance.
Wads for heavy ordnance.
Charges for the Royal Navy.

ADDITIONS:

Manual, and platoon exercise of Riflemen.
Instructions for aiming with the rifle musket.
Light infantry signals, and sounds.
Fusil exercise.
Instructions for pitching, and striking tents.
Lights, long. Lights, signal.
Parachute light ball.
Water fuze.
To extricate a shot when jammed in a gun.
To ascertain if a magazine is damp.
Detail for active service of 9-Pounder Troop of Royal Horse
Artillery.
Reserve of gun, and small arm ammunition.
Detail for active service—18-Pounder Field battery.
” ” ” 9-Pounder Ditto.
” ” ” 32-Pounder Howitzer Ditto.
Small arm ammunition reserve.
Exercise of rockets.
To estimate distances in the field.
To find the distance from an object, height known.
Instructions for the exercise, and service of great guns, and
shells, on board Her Majesty’s ships.
Instructions for landing seamen, and marines, with Field pieces.
Charges for the Royal Navy, for boats.
Proportion of charges, for a 51-screw steam frigate.
Ditto Ditto 50-gun frigate.

_Also_—1 New Plate.
2 ” woodcuts.
1 ” diagram.

In the publication of each edition my object has been the same—to render _The Manual a Compendium_ of all that can be required by Officers in the Field; and if I may be allowed to judge by the gratifying manner in which the work has been received by the Officers of the United Services, my humble exertions have indeed been successful, ten thousand copies of The Manual, including the present edition, having been printed.

The extensive circulation of “The Artillerist’s Manual, and British Soldier’s Compendium,” is no doubt, however, chiefly to be attributed,—

1st. To the highly favourable notice of the Military Authorities,
as evinced by the GENERAL ORDER of the Master-General of the
Ordnance, dated 25th April 1840, and by the MEMORANDUM, dated Horse
Guards, 10th December 1840.

2nd. To the considerate notice of The Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, a copy of the work having been ordered to be included in
the libraries of all Vessels of war.

3rd. To the liberal distribution, by the Honourable Court of
Directors of the East India Company, of copies of each edition to
the military authorities at the several Presidencies in India.

In conclusion, I have to express my grateful feelings to His Royal Highness the General Commanding in Chief, who has been graciously pleased to promulgate the MEMORANDUM, dated Horse Guards, 13th October 1856;[1] and my warm thanks are also due to the Officers of the various Departments at Head Quarters, for the kind manner in which they have invariably assisted me in the revision of the work, in order that each succeeding edition may keep pace with the improvements, alterations, or requirements of the United Services.

_F. A. GRIFFITHS._

_Putney, October 13th, 1856._

(Copy.)

_Horse Guards_,
_Memorandum._ _13th October 1856._

His Royal Highness, the General Commanding in Chief, strongly recommends to the Officers, and Non-commissioned Officers of the Army, the Revised edition of a Work, entitled “The Artillerist’s Manual, and British Soldier’s Compendium,” a work replete with the most useful Military information, and of which Major Griffiths, R.F.P., Royal Artillery, is the author.

By command of
His Royal Highness,
The General Commanding in Chief,
(Signed) G. A. WETHERALL,
_Adj.-General_.

GENERAL INDEX TO THE SUBJECTS.

PAGE

Preface iii

_Memorandum_, dated Horse Guards, 13th October 1856 vi

General Index to the subjects vii

Plates viii

Detailed Index to the subjects ix

PART. I. Infantry Exercise, Movements, &c. Sword exercise.
Pitching, and striking tents 1

II. Carbine exercise. Cavalry sword exercise 43

III. Ordnance. Carriages, &c. 48

IV. Ranges. Charges. Elevations. &c. 70

V. Stores. Implements. Combustibles. &c. 83

VI. Field battery Exercise. Detail for active service of a
Troop of Horse Artillery; Field batteries, &c. Interior
management of a Battery. Embarking, and
disembarking. Application of Field artillery. Encamping,
and picketing. Tents. Horses. Forage.
Veterinary directions. Congreve rocket exercise 100

VII. Serving, and working heavy Ordnance 173

VIII. Gunnery 195

IX. Batteries. Fortification 223

X. Bridges, and Pontoons 250

XI. Fireworks 254

XII. Mathematics 265

PLATES.

PAGE

1. Brass Gun, with Names of principal parts 48

2. Field Gun Carriage. Elevation 102

3. ” Plan 103

4. Horse with harness 134

5. Harness. Description 134

6. Garrison Gun Carriage 173

7. Loading, &c. Naval Service 212

8. Vauban’s First system (Plan) 240

9. Do. do. (Profile) 242

10. Modern system of Fortification 243

11. Field Fortification 246

{ Mechanics }
12. { } 294
{ Heights, and Distances }

13. Surveying, and Reconnoitring 307

{ Heights, and Distances }
14. { } 310
{ Practical Geometry }

15. Practical Geometry 324

16. Do. 325

17. Do. 327

INDEX TO THE SUBJECTS, ETC.