The hand-book of artillery

In Short

Designed as a comprehensive instructional guide for the United States Army, this volume acts as a bridge between high-level ordnance theory and the practical demands of the battlefield. It provides systematic, question-and-answer guidance on everything from the specific dimensions of field guns to the chemical composition of gunpowder and the proper heating of iron shot. By compiling authorized manuals into a single, accessible reference, the work solidified training standards for artillery crews, ensuring that soldiers possessed a uniform understanding of the mechanics of destruction and the logistics of fire.

The Story

The narrative arc of the volume begins with the fundamental classification of weaponry, moving from the definitions of a gun, howitzer, and mortar to the precise specifications for each. It treats the equipment as a coherent system, establishing how a battery is organized, the number of horses required for transport, and the specific composition of a field park. As the reader progresses, the focus shifts from the static physical properties of the cannons—such as their length, weight, and trunnion positions—to the dynamic challenges of ballistics. The core of the work explores the "artificial line of sight," the use of the gunner’s quadrant, and the nuanced adjustments necessary when operating on uneven ground or in variable winds.

As the technical depth increases, the argument shifts toward the mechanics of combat. It details the specialized firing techniques required for ricochet fire against fortifications, the proper loading procedures for hot shot, and the chemical composition of matches and incendiary agents like the Valenciennes composition. The middle chapters transition into logistical support, covering the maintenance of artillery platforms and the specific tools required for field repairs. This leads into an examination of the physics governing the flight of projectiles, including the resistance of air, the force of gravity, and the influence of powder charges on velocity.

The concluding sections function as a rigorous scientific appendix. The work provides extensive tables of weights, measures, and formulas, grounding the art of war in the precision of mathematics. From the calculation of the pendulum to the specific mixtures for preserving iron cannon against rust, the text leaves no detail to chance. By the final index, the reader has transitioned from understanding the rudimentary definition of an artillery piece to comprehending the entire lifecycle of a battery, from the manufacturing of powder and the loading of projectiles to the final, calculated discharge of fire across the field.

How It Unfolds

The machinery of war The text begins by defining the anatomy of different ordnance, from the chambered howitzer to the large-bore Columbiad, establishing their physical dimensions and natural angles of sight. It emphasizes the importance of standardization in equipment and the necessity of clear, uniform instruction for the non-commissioned officers tasked with operating these machines.

The logistics of the battery The focus shifts to the organization of an artillery unit, detailing the composition of a field park and the specific roles of horse-artillery in supporting cavalry and infantry maneuvers. It outlines the essential support structures, such as traveling forges and ammunition supply lines, required to sustain long-term operations in the field.

The precision of practice The work progresses into the science of gunnery, explaining how to aim pieces using levels, quadrants, and breech-sights under varying environmental conditions. It addresses the practical difficulties of aiming, such as compensating for the shifting of wheels on uneven terrain and the impact of wind on the trajectory of a projectile.

The physics of destruction The final beats involve the chemistry of combustion and the laws of ballistics, detailing how powder burns, how shells are heated, and how friction tubes have superseded older ignition methods. It concludes with an extensive collection of tables and mathematical formulae, providing the quantitative data necessary for high-accuracy fire in any theater of operations.

The People

The book is not a narrative centered on individuals, but rather a guide for a collective of soldiers: the gunner, the instructor, and the field officer. The gunner is the central actor, tasked with the constant, meticulous verification of his piece. He must be a practitioner of applied physics, judging distances by the impact of his shot and adjusting his aim to account for the "artificial line of sight." He is often acting in the absence of perfect conditions, relying on his own hand or a simple plummet to guide his fire when instruments fail.

The instructor serves as the authority who organizes the chaos of artillery warfare into a teachable, predictable system. This figure is represented by the committee of officers who validated this manual, ensuring that the knowledge drawn from the Ordnance Manual and official tactics is filtered down to the men in the ranks. They stand against the dangers of improper handling and inconsistent results, seeking to replace outdated methods with a coherent, authorized curriculum.

The field officer manages the broader strategy, overseeing the placement of siege pieces on key terrain and ensuring that the battery’s mobility matches the rapid evolutions of the infantry or cavalry it supports. Each of these figures—the gunner, the instructor, and the officer—finds their role defined by the manual’s insistence on discipline and the mastery of the mechanical laws governing their tools.

In Its Own Voice

An instrument made of sheet-brass; the lower part is cut in the form of a crescent, the points of which are made of steel; a small spirit-level is fastened to one side of the plate, parallel to the line joining the points of the crescent, and a slider is fastened to the same side of the plate, perpendicular to the axis of the level.

This describes the construction of a gunner’s level, an essential tool for marking the points of sight on pieces of ordnance.

As the ball increases in size and density, it will overcome with more ease the resistance of the air.

This observation explains the physical relationship between the weight of a projectile and its ability to maintain velocity during flight.

It is used principally for the purpose of retaining fire in the shape of a hard-pointed coal, to be used in firing cannon, fire-works, &c.

This passage clarifies the specific utility of slow-match in a battery, even as the author notes its eventual replacement by more modern ignition systems.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for the professionalization and standardization of artillery warfare. It posits that the lethality of a battery is not merely a matter of brute force, but of scientific application and rigorous maintenance. The text asks how the unpredictability of the battlefield can be mitigated through geometry, physics, and standardized procedure. By providing precise answers to thousands of potential questions, it aims to eliminate human error and ensure that every piece of ordnance behaves as expected under the stresses of combat. It is a work about the victory of calculation over chance, asserting that in the messy reality of war, the highest form of military effectiveness is found in the application of documented, verifiable knowledge.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in military history, engineering, or the history of technology will find this book a remarkable window into the nineteenth-century mind. It offers a rare, granular view of what soldiers actually needed to know to operate the technology of their day. The writing is direct, utilitarian, and entirely devoid of sentiment, reflecting the professional culture of the mid-1800s.

However, the book is a technical manual, not a narrative history; readers seeking a story of battlefield heroics will find instead a systematic list of carriage weights, powder grains, and pendulum lengths. It is best appreciated as a reference work or a primary source for understanding the mid-19th-century reliance on mechanical precision. The period language and the constant, rapid-fire sequence of questions and answers can be daunting, and the reader must be prepared to navigate tables and formulas that assume a degree of basic mathematical and technical literacy. Yet, for those who value the authenticity of period documentation, there is a distinct satisfaction in engaging with the exact instructions that once governed the crews of the U.S. Army. It remains an essential document for anyone wishing to understand the logistical and technical backbone of a mid-nineteenth-century military force.