The Equipments and

A Rammer and Sponge.
Two Handspikes; (for twelve-
pounder, or piece having
travelling trunnion-plates,

four handspikes.)

A Lint-Stock.
A Portfire-Stock.

A Portfire-Case.

A Priming-Wire.

Implements are,

Tube-Box.
A Finger-Stall.
Lead-Apron.

Four Ammunition-Pouches.
A Water-Bucket.
The Prolonge.

A Portfire-Clipper
Tompion.

The custom of omitting the caisson in the School of Instruction is a bad one. The men are thereby induced to depend solely on the ammunitionbox, which should be resorted to only in cases of necessity, and the ammunition taken from it should be replaced as soon as the caisson comes up. The caisson is therefore represented in Pl. IX. Fig. 2, at its position in battery, forty-five paces in rear, by the man who has charge of it. The men who supply the piece with ammunition must be practised to receive it from the caisson.

In the Manual of the Piece, or School of the Gunner, the piece is supposed to be on its limber, and without horses.

SCHOOL OF THE GUNNER.

MANUAL OF THE PIECE.

THE right and left of the piece, as relates to the station of the men, is determined by the position of a man placed in rear of the gun, and looking to the front, that is, towards the muzzle..

The reverse is the case with the limber, the right and left of which is always determined by that of the driver.

The detachment or squad for the service of a field-piece will be formed in two ranks in close order, thus:

The chief of the piece on the right of the front rank; on his left, matross No. 5; then the gunner of the right; next, matross No. 3; then No. 1. In the rear rank, the non-commissioned officer is on the right; next him, matross No. 6; then the gunner of the left; next him, matross No. 4; and then No. 2.

The squad arriving in line in rear of the gun (in front of the pole), the chief of the piece commands,

1. Squad. 2. Left face. 3. By file right. 4. MARCH. At this, the squad steps off, in the lock step, &c. Having arrived within

ten paces of the gun, the chief again commands,

1. Posts. 2. Right and left oblique. 3. MARCH.

At this command, the ranks oblique to the right and left on each side of the gun, taking their positions as follows:-(Pl. IX. Fig. 1.)

The chief of the piece, on a line with the end of the pole, one pace to the right, and facing the piece.

The non-commissioned officer, at the caisson, if there be one; but should
there be no caisson, his position is on the left, opposite the swingtree-bar
The matrosses Nos. 5 and 6, abreast the naves of the small wheels.
The two gunners, abreast the cascable.

The matrosses Nos. 3 and 4, abreast the naves of the large wheels.
The matrosses Nos. 1 and 2, abreast the muzzle of the gun.

The whole facing the gun and dressing, those on the right by the right, and those on the left by the left; on lines eighteen inches from the ends of the axletrees.

If the squad arrive in front of the gun, (that is, in rear of the pole,) the gunners and matrosses take their positions by the reverse movement, viz facing to the right and filing to the left. (Pl. IX. Fig. 3.)

Nos. 1 and 2 distribute the implements thus :

To No. 1, the rammer, which he places in the sponge-hook.
To No. 2, an ammunition-pouch.

To No. 3, the lint-stock, portfire-stock and portfire-case.

To No. 4, the priming-wire, tube-box and ammunition-pouch

To the gunner of the left, the finger-stall.

To No. 5, an ammunition-pouch.

To No. 6, an ammunition-pouch.

The matrosses attached to the piece have also long bricoles, which are hung from right to left over the ammunition-pouch belt.

To disengage the gun from its limber, the chief of the piece commands,

1. Attention. 2. UNLIMBER.

At this command, No. 5 will move to the middle of the pole, and raise it. The gunner of the right will unhook the lashing-chain, and, aided by the gunner of the left, raise the trail. With twelve-pounders, Nos. 3 and 4 assist the gunners.

When the pintle is out of the lunette, Nos. 5 and 6 advance the limber three paces, to make room for the trail to come to the ground. The gunners then take the ammunition-box from the trail, and place it on the lim ber, between the hounds; which being done, the gunner of the right gives the word MARCH, at which Nos. 5 and 6 remove the limber twelve paces to the rear, inclining to the right, and then wheeling it to the left-about, the pole turned towards the gun, and covering it. (Pl. IX. Fig. 2.) At the same time, No. 4 unhooks the handspikes, passes one to No. 3, and they fix them in the pointing rings. No. 3 then fixes the portfire to the stock. No. 1 takes the sponge from its hook. With the crooked sponge No. 3 takes out the key.

If the piece has arrived on the ground in rear of the line which it is to occupy in battery, the word is given IN BATTERY immediately after the word UNLIMBER.

The limber is withdrawn, as above directed; and, as soon as the ammuni tion-box is placed on it, it is wheeled to the left, and, passing through the interval on the right of its piece, is moved twelve paces to the rear, and is then wheeled left-about. As soon as the limber has passed the piece, the gunners go to the pointing handspikes, and Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 to the wheels. The trail is then turned right-about, the men taking their posts as before ordered. (Pl. IX. Fig. 4.)

The piece is now prepared for firing.

POSITION OF THE GUNNERS AND MATROSSES IN

ON THE LEFT.

BATTERY.

ON THE RIGHT.

The matross No. 2, on a line with The matross No. 1, on a line with the muzzle of the gun, eighteen the muzzle of the gun, eighteen inches without the rim of the inches without the rim of the wheels facing the piece, and hav-wheel, facing the piece, holding the ing an ammunition-pouch slung sponge-staff horizontally with both from right to left. hands; the right hand, with the nails downward, near the rammer head, above the staff; the left hand, with the nails upward, below the staff, about two feet from the sponge. In twelve-pounders, both hands are, nails upwards, below the staff.