4. Sharp's Breech Loading Cavalry Carbine. (Long.) Number of grooves, 3 spiral, 1 turn in 6 ft. 6 in. Bullet (Pritchett's) Diameter Charge, 2 drams. Number of grooves, 3 spiral, 1 turn in 6 ft. 6 in. Bullet (Pritchett's) { Charge, 2 drams. Weight Diameter Arm complete {Weight 6. Cavalry Pistol. (à Tige.) { Length Number of grooves, 5 spiral, 1 turn in 6 ft. 6 in. 19.15 in. ⚫577 in. 1842 Pattern. Percussion musket, Rifled with 3 or Bullet with iron f Weight 390 gr. •568 in. 152 in. 3 lb. 3 oz. grooves. 848 gr. ⚫746 in. MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES. 1. Every recruit is to be instructed in the method of manufacturing cartridges for his rifle in the following manner : 2. Having cut the paper according to the size and patterns shown in plate, for cartridges for the rifle-musket or carbine, Pattern No. 2. 358 14% 1. Form the powder-case. Roll the stiff paper, pattern No. 1, tightly about 23 times round the "mandrel," which is to be laid on the side opposite the acute angle, or AB, with its base coincident with the broader side, or AD; then place the "inner envelope" paper, pattern No. 2, on the top of the stiff paper, with the side opposite the acute angle, or AB, of the former about 3 of an inch from the acute angle, or CD of the latter, and roll said envelope tightly on the stiff paper and mandrel; after which slightly twist the end that overlaps about of an inch, or AC, and fold it into the hollow at the base of the mandrel, making use of the point of the "former," to close the folds and adapt the paper to the cavity, which is to receive the point of the bullet, being careful to secure the bottom of powder-case, so that no powder can escape therefrom. وو 2. Unite the bullet with the powder-case. Put the point of the bullet well into the cavity of the powder-case, and place both so fixed on the side of" outer envelope" paper, pattern No. 3, opposite the acute angle, or AB, and about an inch from the broader side, or AC; roll the "outer envelope tightly round bullet and powder-case with the mandrel still in it, then twist or fold the paper that overlaps, and tie it as close as possible to the base of the bullet; after which place the base of the cartridge on the table, and withdraw the mandrel with care, by pressing the powder-case with one hand while raising the mandrel with the other, so as not to separate the powder-case from the bullet, both of which must be kept as close as possible to prevent any play at the juncture, which would soon render the cartridge unserviceable. 3. Charge the powder-case.-Place a funnel into the mouth of the powder-case and pour 2 drams of powder (represented by sand) or a less quantity, according to the arm used, into it; remove the funnel, being careful that none of the powder or sand escapes between the inner and outer envelopes; and secure the charge by squeezing the tops of the two envelopes close to the stiff paper of powder-case, and giving them a slight twist with a pressure inwards, laying. the ends on the side of the cartridge. The slits in the outer envelope are made to facilitate its detachment from the bullet when fired. 4. Lubricate the cartridge. The cartridge being completed, dip the base up to the shoulder of the bullet, into beeswax, melted. LOADING WITH BLANK CARTRIDGES. Blank cartridges are composed of the same number of parts as the Service ball cartridge, viz., an inner bag, containing the powder, a mock bullet consisting of a paper bag, with a muslin bottom filled with fine-grain powder, and an outside bag to contain both. In order to insure the flash of the discharge igniting the powder in the mock bullet, and to prevent its being projected from the musket entire, a portion of the bottom of the outside bag is cut away. The operation of loading with the blank cartridge is to be performed in exactly the same manner as with the ball cartridge. Care must be taken that the cartridge is reversed after the powder is poured into the barrel, and that the mock bullet, which occupies the portion covered with beeswax, is alone rammed home upon the powder, the empty powder-bag being detached in the usual way before the ramrod is inserted. INSTRUCTIONS FOR BROWNING GUN BARRELS. The following ingredients for the browning of arms are to be mixed, and dissolved in one gallon of soft water, viz. : ounces of Spirits of wine "" Tincture of steel ,, Corrosive sublimate Sweet spirits of nitre 29 Nitric acid The mixture is to be kept in glass, not in earthenware, bottles. Previous to commencing the operation of browning, it is necessary that the barrel should be made quite bright with emery or a fine smooth file (but not burnished), after which it must be carefully cleaned from all greasiness; a small quantity of pounded lime rubbed well over every part of the barrel is best for this purpose: a plug of wood is then to be put into the nose of the barrel, and the mixture applied to every part with a clean sponge or rag. The barrel is then to be exposed to the air for twenty-four hours; after which it is to be well rubbed over with a Steel scratch-card, or Scratch-brush, until thẹ rust is entirely removed; the mixture may then be applied again, as before, and in a few hours the barrel will be sufficiently corroded for the operation of scratch-brushing to be repeated. The same process of scratching off the rust and applying the mixture is to be repeated twice or three times a day for four or five days, by which the barrel will be made of a very dark-brown colour. The barrel is then to be exposed to the air in a warm room for twelve hours, after which time it is to be well rubbed over with a hard hair-brush, or armourer's brush, until the rust is entirely removed. The mixture is then to be applied again in the same manner as before, and in six hours the barrel will be sufficiently corroded for the operation of scratch-brushing. The process of scratching off the rust and applying the mixture is to be repeated twice or three times a day for four or five days, by which time the barrel will be of a dark-brown colour. The rust which is raised by each successive application of the mixture is always to be removed at first with the hair-brush previously to using the scratch-card, as the latter is otherwise found to remove the browning. The operation of scratch-carding is only to commence after the second application of the mixture. When the barrel is sufficiently browned, and the rust has been carefully removed, it is to be placed in boiling water for three or four minutes, in order that the action of the acid mixture may be destroyed and the rust prevented from rising again. The barrel while warm is to be rubbed over with sweet oil, or common olive oil. The operation for browning should be conducted in a dry and warm room; a temperature of about 70 degrees is the most favourable. The locks are on no account to be made of the hardening colour, as the repetition of the operation of hardening has a very injurious tendency. FIELD EXERCISE, AND EVOLUTIONS OF INFANTRY.* MARCHING. PART I.-S. 7. Length of Step. In slow or quick time the length of a pace is 30 inches, except in "stepping out," when it is 33 inches, and in " stepping short" 10. In double time" the length of the pace is 36 inches. The length of the side step, which is always taken in quick time, is 10 inches. N.B. When a soldier takes a side pace to clear or cover another, *Note. In consequence of the limited size of this Manual, extracts only have been taken from "THE FIELD EXERCISE AND EVOLUTIONS OF INFANTRY," the matter selected being that generally required in the field. The PARTS and SECTIONS are numbered in conformity with the authorized publication. |