IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k /.Q y 1.0 ^ 1^ 11112.2 I.I 1.25 1.4 1 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 # L1>^ CJ^NA.T>i:.A.lS[ WfAuwUm' §iMd-§00fe: A COMPENDIUM OV MILITARY FACTS AND SUGGESTIONS ADAPTED TO FIELD SERVICE. BY J. H. SIDDONS, (Formerly qfthe H. B, I. Co.U Artillery) PEOPESSOB OP ET^OCUTIOy, THE MODERN I,A.NGUAQES, All) MIL. BY SCIENCES. TORONTO : ROLLO * ADAM, GENERAL BOOKSELLERS AND IMPORTERS ; AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. 18(»3. TORONTO : TEIKTED BY LOVELL AND GIBSON, YOXOE STfiEET. •^1 I f i PREPACE. I The thoroughly independent and honourable course of Great Britain in reference to the internecine war now devastating the American continent, has raised up a host of enemies to the British flag in the Federal and Confederate States. The Northern and Eastern States condemn what they call the inconsistency of England in withholding her cordial sympathy in behalf of an earnest endeavour to crush out Slavery in the South ; — the Southerners are astounded and annoj'ed that Eng- land has not recognized the ©mnipotence of King Cot- ton and proceeded to open the ports of Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, &c. These men cannot com- prehend that public virtue which prefers heavy com- mercial loss and immense douiestic sacrifices to a de- parture from moral obligations and a settled policy. Thus, we have no friends among the belligerents, and can entertaivi little doubt that the menaces of the North, that when th^^s loar is ove?; they will turn their glorious arms towards Great Britain^ and chastise her neutraliti/y will be fulfilled. An iiivasion and appropriation of the Canadas will be the first hostile step. Hence the necessity for preparation in Canada. Ifc is just possible that, worn out and inipoverialied, dis- gusted with war, and apprehensive of furtlier calami- ties, the Federals will be rather disposed to return to their ordinary peaceful occupations than confront fresh. * IT disciplined armies defending the territorial possessions of a beloved monarch. But we have no right to calculate on this forbearance. Every anticipation formed of the North and South has, hitherto, been falsified by events : we may be equally erroneous in indulging favourable conjectures, for it is as probable that those who have been engaq^ed in the war may have acquired an insatia- ble passion for military enterprise, as that they will convert thei;' swords into ploughshares and pruning- hooks. The Ancients always kept themselves prepared against their neighbours. Minerva, the gocidess of Wisdom, was represented with a helmet, shield and spear. ''Eeady, aye ready," was considered the height of practical sagacity. Let us not forget the teaching. At this date twenty-ilve thousand Volunteers have been accepted. It is a large number in proportion to the population, but thd volunteering has not reached its maximum : there will be no difficulty in doubling or quadrupling the number if emergencies should arise. Slere numbers, however, are of little avail if they be not well drilled and officered, and the science of war — at all events of that part of it which the French call la petite guerre — carefully studied. The breaking out of the war in the Crimea ; the Indian Mutiny ; and the sudden formation of Volunteer associations all over England, proved the signal for the publication of an infinite number of books, treating of *' la petite (j/uerre ;" the only misfortuno attending wbich, was that when they appeared, there was little tin\e to digest their con- tents. Canada has not the same excuse. Slie is enjoy- ing a profound calm, and cannct better employ it than in the pursuit of the theory of war. THE VOLUNTEEUS' HAND-BOOK. »> Next in importance — if ic really bo secondary- -to drill and field mancjou'^Tes, is that description of knowledge which renders the Volunteer in the field independent of all tho auxiliaries jn'ocurable with a regular army, or in home quarters. Before the American Civil War broke out, tho Militia of the United States believed that it was invincible, because some attention had been paid to marching and counter-marching, and steadiness on parade ; but as soon as these Volunteers found themselves vis-d-vis an enemy who had studied the science of Avarfare, knew how ta throw up entrenchments, reconnoitre, and bivouac, they discovered their woful inferiority, and submitted to be frequently beaten. At Big Bethel, in 1861, they learned their first lesson — at Fredericksburg, in 1863, they received another — the intermediate j)eriod being occupied in similar melancholy experiences. It is to prepare the Canada Volunteers against such dis- asters and disgrace i-hat the following pages have been written. It is belie\ed that they will be found no unim- portant addendum to the Regulation Drill Book. DISCIPLINE. "'vVTiatever may b^ the notions of a young man for becom- ing a member of the Active Force, — whether they be founded in patriotism, military ardour, a passion for display, or a desire to quit home for active occupation elsewhere, he should carefully bear in mind that from the moment he becomea a soldier, he parts, for a time, with the privileges of citizen- ship, and must be the obedient servant of the State, having no will of his own, no liberty of action, no unrestrained freedom of speech. This is a severe trial to begin with. But it must be endured. Rigid discipline and perfect steadiness are indispensable in the ranks, and these can only be assured through the prompt resignation on the part of Volunteers of all the license they may have enjoyed before they entered the force. In our free and happy country, youth are accustomed to so wide a latitude of Mction, and are so little habituated to veneration, that they find it a hard matter to curb their own restlessness, and place their every physical movement under the restraint imposed by military obligations. Uneasy on parade they are prone to resent, by unbecoming language or offensive gesture, the re- bukes their superiors are occasionally necessitated to ad- minister ; and some few dishonourable soldiers have even been known to manifest, when off parade, a disposition to avenge the reproval addressed to tlieir carelessness or dis- obedience in the execution of a duty. All this is as dan- gerous as it is reprehensible. Let the Volunteer then learn that subordination, in th > most exact signification of the term, is as ru(j[uisito and be- coming in a patriotic Boli'' r as piety in a minister or skill in a surgeon : that it is his first and greatest obligation, as, without it, he is more dangerous and vexatious to his friends than to his enemies ; degencRites into a brigand and an outlaw, and controverts th' fundamental principles that gave him professional existence — the peace and safety of the commonwealtli. By subordination, as by a imiversal intelligence, parts apparently the most averse and discord- ant are operated on and combined in the strictest unison, with ease and advantage. The submission of individuals through every rank, produces uniformity and energy in the whole, and enables the directing power to work for the public benefit. By, and under, its incalculably beneficial influence immense muliitudes of undisciplined warriors have been overthrown and destroyed by comparatively insignificant bodies of better instructed men. These facts are patent to the scholar and even to the cursory reader ; but they are either ' caviare' to our Volunteers, or have been forgotten by them. These latter are not alive to tlie lessons taught by the histories of old Greece and Rome. They know nothing of ,ve even Militiades and Marathon, Leonidas and Thonnopylro, nor have tliey hoard how Hannibal's chances of making Car- thajjje snperior to Rome were destroyed* by his allowing his soldiers to indulge in luxury and efFemiiiacy. Even the story of the indiscipline of the Iraelites, which cost them a sojourn of forty yeat*a in the desert, under every eartlily privation, is a sealed book to thousands. The philosophy of these valuable examples should not bo lost, oven though the details of the narrative may be forgotten or unknown. The modem system of warfare exacts even a greater de- gree of subordination than was necessary in the armies of old times, because, in consequence of the weapons at pre- sent used, less scope is allowed to, and less benefit derived from, personal prowess or individual exertions than from the connected and complicated movements of large bodies impelled so as to effect the desired end. The Regulations of every civilized military power denounce the ntmost ven- geance against the violators of them, and surely none but the most infatuated can feel repugnance at obeying instruc- tions calculated to ensure at once safety and conquest. " Nothing so much embarrassed Washington, at the time he took the command of the Continental army, as the insub- ordination of the soldiers. In the ardour of their patriot- i&m, they had rushed nobly out to defend the liberties of their country, but they were rendering their services nearly useless by their reckless disregard of obedience. Not accus- tomed to the duties of the camp, they could see no reason why they should be subjected to, what seemed to them, a senseless routine, and implicit submission to orders, without a why or wherefore. It was only by the sternness and re- solution peculiar to the great commander, that they were ever brought into a state of discipline that rendered them efficient for duty. No military achievement ever was ac- complished, or ever will be, unless there is a perfect and ready obedience on the i)art of the soldiery.'' DRILL — THE RIFLE. No time is lost after a soldier has joined the force in put- ting him through his drill. He is first taught to carry him- self erect — head well up and square to the front ; the chin near the stock ; heels on the same line, the feet turned out 8 equally, forming, in that position, somctliing Icfs than a right angle ; knees stniight, without stiUncss ; the body erect on the hi[»H, inrlining a littlo forward ; the shonlders squaro, and failing o(iually ; the aims han^inj;; naturally ; the elbows near the body ; the pahu of the hand turned a littlo to the front, the little finger behind the seam of tho pantaloons ; tho eyes fixed btraight to tho front, striking tho ground about tho distance of three pacers. This, with many young men, is a constrained attitude at first, but it noon becomes habitual and easy. Its value is considerable, for, unless all the soldiers in a rank stand equally upright, tho alignment cannot bo preserved. More- over, attention to a good erect carriage, and to tho drill "which follow.^, has much influence in improving tho health of a soldier by expandi?)g his lungs, strengthening his limbs, and keeping him in frequent out-door action. After a good military carriage is obtained, the soldier is taught to face to tho right, and face to the left, and face about, taming on his right heel, and completely changing his front. Ho is next taught to raise liis arms above his head, and place them behind his back (the palms meeting) without altering the erect position of his body. From this he proceeds to the balance step, raising one foot and keeping it in that position for some time, before it is advanced. All this is preparatory to learning to march, which he subse- quently does at four different paces ; marching in slow or common time, then quick time, next double quick (which is Blow running), and finally running as fast as his legs, and the weight he may bear, will allow. The common time re- quires a pace of twenty-eight inches ; ninety paces being marched in one minute ; quick time requires that one hun- dred and ten steps of the same length shall be taken in tho same time ; and the double quick sometimes exacts one hun- dred and eighty steps in a minute. When a soldier can march well, he is put to the use of the mushet or rifle, or, in the instance of artillery, he is taught the various parts and uses of a gun — a term exclusively ap- plied in the army to cannon — and then he is placed, with others, to serve a gun, which means to sponge out, ram home cartridge, place the cartridge in the mouth of the piece, serve the vent (in other words, stop the touch-hole with the left thumb while the sponging and ramming goes on) firing, pointing the cannon, and bringing the cartridges from (ho ammunition hox on tho Umber or carriago. Tho cavjil'y soldier is ])iit totlio riding school and sid)se(Hicntly to the l)ro{id Hword a:id rific exerci.so. It is dilliiMilt to (lescril)e on paper and \vitho\it tho Jiid of diiigranis and other illnstrations, the various branches of the nninuid exercise. TheHo are ])etter ac(iuired in the bjirrack yard or (hill room. In bke manner all the movements and evolutions of every arm of the service are more easily learnt on the parade ground or in the field. Ibit nuuih nniy bo said of tlie musket and ri(le ai)art from the drill. Tw<» descriptions of lirelocks arc still in use — tho one with a Rmall bore or tube and the other rijUd. Rilling is effect- ed by cutting the inside of a barrel in furrows running in a screw-like or spiral direction, which gives to tho bullet in its exit a twist, and causes it to spin through tho air on an axis coinciilent with its curve of flight, by which means very great precision of aim is accjuired. The end of tho bullet which first emerges from a rifle, strikes the object first, — in other words, so long as the spinning motion of the bullet continues tho axis of rotation of tho Imllet does not chang(;. Taking advantage of this princii)le, rifle bullets aro now generally made of a conical or pyriforni shape, by which means an increased weight of metal can be fired from a boro of given diameter. A conical rifle ball will always strika tip foremost, and if tho tip be made of steel the penentrat- ing effect of the missile is terrific. The old smooth-bore muskets, called familiarly White-Bess or Brown-Bess ac- cording as the barrel was polished or bronzed, was a very useless machine for distant tiring. It never could bo de- ? ended up(m at a greater range than one hundred yards, n fact, it has been demonstrated by a simple arithmetical process (dividing the number of bullets consumed by an army by the number of the enemy ascertained to have been hit), that it took several hundred bullets to kill or wound one man ! The reasons for the ineffectiveness of the smooth-bore were manifold. In the first place, the powder being very coarse, and too great a proportion of the cartridge being used by the soldiers in hastily firing, much less was ignited than re- quired to propel the bullet ; 2ud, the soldier from nervous- ness, or blinded by the smoke, or ignorant of the principles of firing, took an unsteady aim ; 3rd, the windage of th^ n I 10 piece — ^tliat is to say the difference between the diameter of the bore and that of the bullet, which allowed of the ex- plosion of powder elswhere th£»,n below the ball — caused the latter to deviate or deflect as it left the muzzle. Rifles are now constructed to send a bullet incredible dis- tances, say one thousand two hundred or one thousand five hundred yards. But the utility of this flight, except when masses of artillery are known fco be in certain directions rather than distinctly seen, is questionable. As stated else- where (see artillery section of tJiis brochure), a man cannot be very accurately covered by a rifleman's pirn beyond two hundred and fifty yards. It has been laid down, therefore, by Captain Thackeray of the British Militia, an able officer who has paid great attention to the subject, that the follow- ing rules will alone ensure success to the marksman. At one hundred and twenty-five yards and any shorter distance near to it, aim at the centre of the soldier. At one hundred and fifty yards, aim at his breast. At one hundred and seventy-five yai /'.s, aim at his head. At two hundred yards, aim at the top of his cap. If a cavalry soldier is the object of the rifleman's attention, let liim at one hundred and twenty-five yards, or a little less, aim at the horses' chest ; at one hundred and fifty yards, at his head ; at one hundred and seventy-five yards, at the breast of the rider ; at two hundred yards, at the rider's head ; at two hundred and fifty yards, at the top of his helmet. The reason for thus accommodating the aim to the dis- tance is, that the trajectory or curve of the ball in its flight, rises above the line of vision, within one hundred yards of the barrel, and falls below, within, or beyond it. The rifle or musket should be held firmly to the shoulder of the marksman, that he may take the surer aim, and also escape the consequences of a recoil. Let time be taken in aiming. " It is better to fire one shot in ten minutes with good effect, than to fire ten ineffectual shots in ii minute." There are various methods of judging distances. Those which science has suggested or may suggest, should be shown to the soldier as part of the field or target drill. We will confine ourselves to the * ' rough and ready '^ mode recom- mended by Thackeray. The soldier is supposed to have his rifle and sword bayonet fixed. 11 Let the soldier place his left foot square, and take one step with his right foot forward, to the extent, as nearly as may be, of twelve inches. Let him place his rifle firmly on the ground, touching the point of his right toe, the rifle being placed so as to place the shank, or foot of the bayonet, parallel with his front. Having ascertained by a sufficient number of experiments what would be the apparent height of an object placed at any given distance, as shown by his bayonet, let his bayonet, if need be, be slightly marked with a file, as a graduated scale for shewing distances of one hundred^ two hundred yards, &c. , this being done pretty accurately, he would be able to use his bayonet, as a stadium, which would, for all practical purposes, enable him to judge sufficiently nearly of distances, and would correct or aid his judgment formed from mere sight. There is another essential point connected with distances, to which it is necessary to direct particular attention, which is, the firing at an object in motion. A foot soldier gets over in a minute at a quick march about 7 2yards, at the pace of a cliarge about 88 yards. A horse walks over about 433 yards in four and one-fourth minutes, trots over the same distance in about two minutes, and gallops over the same distance in about one minute. A foot soldier occupies in rank a width of about two feet ; a trooper about three feet. Now, suppose that a cavahy soldier be moving to or from the point of the line of vision, which is at point-blank range ; it is clear that if the rifle be fired to strike at point-blank range, the ball will either fall short of, or go beyond the cavalry soldier, by the distance that will be passed by him daring the time taken in the flight of the ball. Allowance must therefore, in such circumstances, be made for this dis- tance. Suppose him to be coming nearer, in a direction perpen- dicular to the 'ilane of projection, and to be at the point of point-blank rai.ge when aimed at, allowance must be made for his being somewhat nearer wben the ball shall reach him, and an aim must be taken accordingly below the line of vision, or in other words, at the feet of the horse. By such means the ball would strike the head of the horse or the ri'^^r. to appose, on the other hand, the cavalry soldier be riding 0-iiSm0m»miiSSfSS*im 111' i ! ! lii; !(fi III 12 away in the same plane of projection, allowance must be made for his being more distant when the ball reaches him, and an aim must then be taken above the line of vision, or, in other words, at the head of the cavalry soldier ; the ball would strike the body of the horse or the rider in such case. Allowance must also be made in case of his moving* to the right or to the left ; but as in this case his distance would be nearly the same, it will only be necessary to direct the rifle to the right or left, so as to compensate the probable dis- tance in either of such directions that he may pass over. In being engaged with an enemy, it will always be desir- able, in estimating' the distance, to fire the first round rather before than beyond him, since this will lead to a more just appreciation of the distance than could be obtained by firing beyond him ; besides which, there would be the chanc< that the fire would not bo thrown away, since the ricochet or bound of the balls may do him as serious an injury as a fire directed exactly into his ranks. The just appreciation of distance is of the highest im- portance. Well skilled in tiiis, the soldier seldom throws away a shot ; and this has a double etlect — the saving his ammunition, and the intimidation or destruction of the ene- my. The value of his ammunition can never be too highly estimated, since nothing inspires more confidence in him than that he has a cartouch box well i^rovided against every emergency. One single charge of ammunition may be the means, under a variety of circumstances, of saving his life, or of turning the tide of victory in his favor. The effect, too, of a well-directed fire on an enemy is not con- fined simply to his destruction ; it distracts him, and throws him into disorder, and nothing makes so strong an impres- sion on him as the having his raiaks thinned by every dis- charge, whilst, on the other hand, it tends to animate and encourage the troops who are opposed to the enemy, and opens to them the chances of victory, not only by the cutting lip of the enemy's ranks, but by introducing among them that fear of the skill and coolness of their opponents, which has a great moral influence in favor of the latter. Nothing, moreover, affords so favorable an opportunity for a success- ful charge as the effects produced by a steady and well di- rected fire. On the other hand, a hasty and ill-directed fire leads an enemy to hold iiis opponents in contempt, and 13 creates in him such confidence, as once felt, seldom quits him during the combat. Finally — if a piece misses fire and a second cap does not produce a discharge, let the nipple be carefully cleaned out, taking care that the muzzle be elevated, lest any of the de- tonating powder which may remain, should, by the friction, accidentally explode and discharge the piece. If the piece will not go off after the third cap has betn used, the cartridge must be withdrawn, and the barrel be well cleaned. The duties of a soldier are generally performed in concert with others, and thus become simple and regular. But there is one important duty which devolves on every single soldier, isolated from his companions, and upon the correct performance of which, the safety of an entire regiment and sometimes of a whole army depends. This is the duty of the sentry. In that capacity it is demanded of a soldier that he shall be vigilant, steady, and rigid in the fulfilment of his orders, not allowing any one to approach within the length of his musket and fixed bayonet, nor to speak to him. An enemy, or spy in the service of an enemy, will seek every opportunity of getting into conversation with sentries, drawing away their attention, and perhaps ulti- mately disarming them and killing them on the spot. Even the ofiicers and non-commissioned officers (sergeants and corporals) of the soldiers' own regiment should not be allow- ed to approach without giving the parole or countersigrbj "which is a word arranged on the morning of every day by the officers commanding a garrison or regiment.* GENERAL HABITS OF SOLDIERS. Steadiness J under all circumstances is an indispensible •quality in a soldier. To ensure this, he is earnestly advised to abstain from spirituous lic^uors of all kinds. After the first cup has been diank — and even that is often too much for some young heads — it is difficult to say where intoxication begins, and if the soldier is found in a state of ebriety, how- * There arc several anecdotes on record of Frederick of Prus Bia, Napoleon IJonapiirtc and the Duke of Wellington having been stopped by sentries and refused leave to pasi becauso they could not give the iujuntersign or pass-word. u ever slight, he is subjected to military penalties and his pro- motion is retarded. Drunkenness brings many crimes in its train. A soldier out of his senses •will forget to salute his superior officer when he meets him — that is a crime, — he will make insolent replies to the questions of his officer and non-commissioned officer — he cannot stand steady on parade — all these are militiiry crimes — he has been known, when drunk, to assault not only his brother soldiers but his super- iors, and even to commit murder in a paroxysm of violence ! Let no man, therefore, "put an enemy into his mouth to steal away his brains. " The importance of Cleanliness cannot be too forcibly im- pressed on the soldier's mind. It used to be said that the cleanest soldier was the dirtiest man, because the operation of cleaning his musket and bayonet, blackening his boots, pipe-claying his belts, polishing the brass ornaments of his cap, his breast plate, musket band;-, &c. , and brushing his clothes, covered his hands and face and often the rest of his body with dust and dirt. But there is no excuse for the continuance of the old saying. Water is always at hand — soap is in the knapsack, and ample time is allowed for ab- lution. Health is wonderfully promoted by frecjuent wash- ing of the body. Much water is not needed for the opera- tion. A wet sponge passed over the body every morning, followed by a good, hard dry-rubbing will open the pores eflfectually, give free circulation to the blood, vigor to the muscle, and elasticity to the spirits. Soldiers who attend to this injunction will march better and longer than those who neglect it, their appetites will always be good, their sleep sound, and they will rarely be found within the walls of an hospital or infirmary. A Colonel of one of the British regi- ments in India, used to have the bugle sound for washing five minutes after the reveillee and it was the duty of the subalterns to see that each man sponged himself. That regi- ment was more effective than any other in the army. Ventilation of the barracks or tents is another source of health, and especially the ventilation at night. There is a foolish prejudice against night air. W]iy so ? As Water- ton justly writes, "it i« nature's overflowing current, and never caiTit s the destroying angel with it. See how soundly the delicate little wren and tender robin-red-breast sleep under its full and immediate influence, and how fresh and vigorous and joyous they rise amid the surrounding dew- i 15 drops of the morniDg. Although exposed all night long to the air of heaven their lungs are never out of order ; and this is acknowledged by the daily repetition of their song." One man, sleeping or waking, will by his inspiration and res- piration poison ten cubic feet of air in one hour. Judge, then, what must be the result of a number of men sleeping together in the same room for seven or eight hours, inhaling one anothers' pestilential atmosjDhere. The soldier rises from his uneasy bed, under such circumstances, neither re* freshed nor invigorated but languid, stupified and sick ; and he often ascribes to some accident or some over indul- gence of the previous day what is but too generally the result of slumbering in a close tent or barrack room. Let any one enter such a room early of a morning after it has been slept in by two or three, or even by one individual — and his nasal organs will at once convince him that he is inhaling poisoned air. Take as little physic as possible . If the head or the stom- ach are affected, instead of going to the hospital or troub- ling the surgeon of the cor^Ds, ask leave to remain in quarters off duty — abstain from eating or drinking anything unless it be cold water, and in less than twenty-four hours Nature will have administered relief. Half of our complaints spring from a disordered or exhausted stomach. Give it a day's re- pose — let it have nothing to do in the way of taking in food and digesting it, and the machinery will soon get into good working order again. The great Napoleon Bonaparte had great faith in what he called the equilibrium of Nature. If he had been partaking too freely of the "flesh pots," he would abstain from animal food for several days together: if he had been taking violent exercise in the field, he would follow this" activity by some days of perfect repose. In this v/ay he was always up to his work. One word more in respect to health. Abstain as much as possible from tobacco. Whether smoked or chewed it is ex- ceedingly pernicious in the long run. It injures the sight and enfeebles the nerves. ^ o men can be good riflemen who use much tobacco. It is unnecessary to discuss its hy- geinic value ; — this fact is patent to all the civilized world, that inveterate smokers are no match at target shooting for those who abstain altogether from the drug, and it has also been established that when those who smoke or chew tobacco are so ill, from any cause, as to be obliged to go into hospital 1:11 1 BiMWiaWfll 16 it takes them a much longer time to recover than it would have done had they avoided using the article. Of course it does not act upon all men in the same manner, but this is the average result after a great many experiments have been made. Finally, do not fold up j^our bed, whatever it may be, as soon as you have risen, bul. throw it open to the air that the perspiration absorbed by the sheets and blanket may have time to evaporate. What with insensible perspiration, in- halation and respiration, a healtliy man loses three pounds weight in the course of a single night, and as a great deal of perspiration remains in the ])ed clothes opportunity should be given for its disappearance. This is what is understood by airing the bed. THE SOLniER IN THE FIELD. The equipment of a soldier is entirely regulated by the go- vernment, and he has neither the means nor the opportunity of procuring many articles which are peculiarly suited to field service. The militia, in like manner, dresses and equips it- self according to the will of the supreme authority in that department. But sometimes a discretion is allowed in the choice of articles of clothing and other necessaries, while vol- unteer corps have often the opportunity of selecting what they shall wear in undress and carry to the field. A few hints, therefore, on these points may not be irrelevan\,. Beginning with the head, it is advisable to select that kind of cap which will bear the roughest treatment without dam- age and which is equally suited to all weathers. The bear skin shakos worn bv the British Guards and the French Im- perial Guards and Pioneers, are very agreeable in winter time and make excellent pillows when placed on tlie knap- sack. They are, however, very hot in warm climates and summer time even when covered witli cottoi. cloth. The light kepi or fatigue cap, in g^'ieral use, is, agreeable to the head, but it affords no shade from the sun nor protection from snowstorms. Probably, the slouch felt hat is on all ac- counts, the most desirable. It is light, easily folded and stowed away, forms an apology for a pillow, a protection from the sun's rays, and may be converted, at a pinch, into a wash basin ! 17 In addition to the jacket which may constitute the uni- form of a corps, two or three red or bhie woollen or flannel shirts are very desirable. They are good working and marching garments, because they absorb the exhalations from the body and do not readily i^how the dirt. Loose, bagcry trowsers of the same material for general and fatigue pur- poses, and for protection to the lim'os at night, are also to be commended. A broad flannel bandage to be woin constantly round the loins and the aV)domen, is a most important addi- tion to a soldier's comfort. Besides being an excellent protec- tion from cold of any kind, it sustains a man upon duty or the line of march whether on foot or on horseback. Oocton socks are more to be recommended for use on the march than woollen socks. They keep the feet cooler, are less liable to chafe the wearer, and do not retain moisture so long. At the same time it is very desirable to have a pair of woollen or worsted socks in the knapsack to substitute for the cotton, if a man comes off" a march or guard wet-footed. A half boot, covernig the ankle easily, or shoes with leathern gaiters attached to them, which slip on without oc- cupying time in buttoning or otherwise making fast, consti- tute the best covering for the foot. The leather gaiters keep out rain and prevent the legs from being scratched by brambles, dry grass, and sharp pieces of rock. But by all means let the soles of the shoes be thick and well sown. In the common army shoes the water finds easy entrance to the foot. The shoes should have low heels, and be kept constantly greased. Sore feet are common. The best cure for them is said to be this ; get a little common spirits — drop into it some tallow from a lighted candle ; rub the feet well with this. If done at night put on a pair of socks. The feet Y/ill probably be all right in the morning. When good shoes are not to be had the best substitute that can be found for them is that of the ancient pandours, often adopted by the French soldiers during their long expedition in Algeria. It consists in binding round the foot linen rags wiapped up in a piece of skin freshly cut off and laced Mdth small stripes of the same. Much difference of opinion and diflerence of usage prevails respecting the best kind of great-coat for the soldier. Some- thing may be said in favour of each kind of outer covering. From the experience of the author of this little book he is in favour of a cloak with arm sleeves and a hood. A cloak 18 of this kind worn by the French troops during the campaign in the Crimea and Italy and cdlled a capote, was found to be far superior to the ordinarx' gveat-coat. The cloak or coat ought to be lined with India-rubber at the back, because it will protect the wearer when lying on the ground, from all risk of rheumatism, cold, sciatica, &c. The knapsack is the soldier's wardrobe, his escritoire, hia tool box, his plate chest, and his larder ! Its capacity, how- ever, is limited and the weight of the articles put \/ithin it must be carefully considered. Tlie articles of clothing are not numerous, but how many other things a soldier must carry to ensure him health, comfort and sustenance ! Places should be found for all the articles — or as many of them as can be stowed away — enumerated in the following list : — A clothes brush ; a small brush for polishing metal ; a comb ; a pair of scissors ; a housewife, containing needles and cotton thread ; a piece of cobler's wax ; some twine ; some salt ; some nails ; a hammer ; a piece of sponge ; a piece of flan- nel ; two or three pieces of soap ; a small Bible and Prayer- Book, with linen covers ; a blank memorandum book and pencils ; three or four odd pieces of gray or blue cloth where- with to patch clothes ; two or three cakes of chocolate, (a capital substitute for hard biscuit or dry meat, chewed en route) ; a lancet ; a few bandages ; a piece of diachylon plaster ; a little lint ; (a non-commissioned oflicer wr uld do well to carry a little telescope, for he may be sent oui on re- connoitring expeditions). The knapsack itself should be made of the skin of the goat, calf or cow, the hairy side outwards ; and instead of the com- plication of straps which cut the arms, impede respiration, and require, in packing and suspension, the aid of a soldier's comrade, it ought to be supported on the shoulder by brass elastic bands. The shoulder and the upper part of tl.J back are intended by Nature for the support of weights. Porters and milk maids think nothing of carrying two or three hun- dred pounds weight across the shoulders, and even bear heavy weights in the shape of knots and yokes as supports to other and greater weights. (t 19 in on re THE MARCH — CROSSING RIVERS, ETC. The whole secret of war consists iii Marching, or as Mar- shal Saxo says, "in the legs," iVf arc7it'« prepare victories, battles decide them, pursuit completes them. The soldier is now perfectly eijuipped. Each company, divided into platoons or sections, according to the breadth I of the road to be traversed, sets forth, the mnskets either shouldered or eased (that is, carried across the shoulder, sloping behind the back) or trailed. All forms of carrying the musket are adopted (at coi aiand) to relieve the soldier as much as possible. With his arms, his knapsack, his am- munition, two or three day's rations, and his great coat, a soldier carries from sixty to eighty pounds weight. If the knapsack be well slung and adjusted, this is not much, and use reconciles the feeblest m jii to the burthen. In peace time, troops are seldom, required to march more than fifteen miles a day, frequently twelve miles is the dis- tance, but eighteen miles, where the climate is mild, and the roads tolerably good, may be accomplished without diffi- culty. A halt of seven miinites should take place at the end of each hour and a half. In time of war when forced marches are resorted to, either to reach a given point before the enemy, or to afford reinforcement to troops beset by a superior enemy, or to enable a general to execute some grand special move- ment, or to relieve a fortress, or get away from a larger and hostile force, as much as forty to fifty miles has been accom- plished in a single day. The records of forced marches are numerous. The Roman infantry in Scipio's time frequently marched twenty miles in five hours : Caesar is reported to have accomplished four hundred and fifty leagues in twenty- three days. This would have been at the rate of sixty miles a day ! The Roman league must have been shorter than ours. The league in the countries of Europe is not uniform in its length. On this principle, it is less difficult to under- stand that Napoleon's army in 1797 marched in the moun- tainous parts of Italy, nearly fifty leagues in four days, which was about thirty-eight miles a day. In 1800 Marshal Mac • Donald retreated forty miles in one day, crossing rivers, " climbing mountains and glaciers." In 1808 the French troops pursued Sir John Moore's little army at the rate of twenty miles a day in the depth of winter, and in 1812 Gen- ral Clausel fled from before the troops of Lord Wellington 20 W I at the rate of forty milos in twelve hours. In 1814, Bona- parte's army inarched ten lengnos a day besides lighting a battle every twenty four hours. But peiliJins the grandest instance on record within ^Jie hiBt few yi .as Havelock's march over tlie bi. ruing >hiins of India to rescue tlie sukliers and familv^s surrounded at Cawnpore and Lucknow ])y thou- sands of infuriated Sepoys. The 04th foot, 7Hth Highhind- ers and artillery did not cover less than forty miles in each twenty-four hours with the thernn)nieter at 110° in the sun ! But, however important it may be to be able to make forced marches in extremities, it is of much more conse- quence that an uniform cadence should be observed by tho whole Volunteer Force in ordinary (|iiick inarching. If every regiment had its own peculiar pet pace — one i)luming itself upon an amble and another upon a stride, it would be quite impossible for any General Ofticer to compute the time when corps on active service would arrive at a given point. To strike t. prompt blow, or maintain iu\ efhcient defence in any given position or locality, the sudden concentration of troops from different quarters is often a matter of vital im- portance. If there were not a nnif orm pace - throughout the service how could a commander direct the hours of de- parture from different quarters, so as to be tolerably certain (regard being had to the quality of the ground to be passed over) of their arriving j ust at the moment when they might be wanted. Napoleon's anxiety for the arrival of Grouchy on the plains of Waterloo, and the Duke of Wellington's cry, " would to God the night or Blucher were come," are strik- ing instances of the value of the opportune arrival of re-in- forcements. Could the Emperor have insured the combined operations of all the divisions of the army of the Rhine against Ulm (in 1805) if there had not been a regulated pace for marching i Just see what a wonderful difference a slight variation in paces will make. Thirty six paces are equal to 30 yards. There are 1,760 yards in a mile. Three miles, say, are generally accomplished in an hour. Now if one regiment marches but 30 paces, while another accomplishes 36 paces, it follows that the first is one yard behind the other at the end of every 30 yards, or 38 yards in every mile. Thus, at the end of a march of 15 miles, one regiment is nearly half a mile behind the other — a distance which might not be covered until the regiment first reaching the ground has been compelled to giv-e way before superior numbers. In ■'ii^i 21 Bona- ting a juidcsfc clock's olcUera yf thou- jhljind- u each »e sun ! make coiise- by the lig. H liiming )\ild be lie time point, defence itration ital im- vighout J of de- certain passed might Lichy on n's cry, e strik- »f re-in- nibined Khine ed pace slight qual to les, say, jgiment paces, * at the hus, at rly half not be md has In a the course of last year, Colonel IMacMurdo, the inspector of the British Voluntuors, dwelt emphatically upon the vast importance of a uniform cadence in marching. It is a lijird thing to be obliged to fight a battle, witliout resting, after a march, but it is a mucli harder one to be obliged to march with an enemy on both flanks and the rear lighting with you all the time. Such, however, may be the case, and the true soldier will compoimd witli the harassments for the wake of the diversion. Xenophon's retreat with his 10,000 Greeks, was a continual series of combats ; — so was the retreat of the poor French from Mos- cow, in 1812 ; — the Cossacks allowed them no repose. Masscna's army was awfully cut up by the English divisions as it retired from Santarem into Spain, in 1811, and the British troops, in marching through the Cabul Mountains in 1841, on evacuating the country in deep snow, were literal iy cut to pieces by the Aflghans. Against these mis- adventures, incidental to war, there is no possibility of guarding, nor can any other advice be offered to the soldier than to ' ' bear a stout heart, trust in Providence, and keep his powder dry." One of the greatest inconveniences attendant upon a march, whether during peace or war, is the fording of rivers, of otherwise effecting their j)assage where bridges do not exist. When the depth does not exceed two and a half feet, infantry can ford, and four feet in the instance of cavalry or artillery. The river is forded generally near its elbow. Stakes are placed in the direction of the ford by the advanced or recon- noitring parties, to shew its width, and poles cautiously placed in advance of the waders determine its depth and safety. It is of importance that the bottom of the river be examined. Solid ground is preferable :o any other. Mud, covered with stones, is impracticable for artillery and wag- gons. When a river is frozen hard it will allow of the passage of detachments ; but the ice must be three inches thick for infantiy, and six inches for cavalry and artillery. If the river be too deep to be forded, bridges must be con- structed of boats, pontoons, or rafts. The india-rubber pontoons are the most portable and quite as efficacious as the iron or copper pontoons. They are a scientific elabor- ation of the system of crossing on inflated skins, adopted by the ancients, and still in use on the rivers of the Punjuab. In the absence of pontoons, bridges of rafts of simple con 'H (. '- 22 stniction arc the best tliat can be used, and in America thcHO ar«) readily formed out of tlio abundance of wood generally found on or near the border of rivers. Artillery, as wo said, can cross a river about three and a-half feet deep, though nuich depends on the strength of the current. The aniniunition boxes are so well made that the water will seldom penetrate through them, particularly if the river be narrow, and the guns pass (|uickly. The gun's canvass cartouches ali'ord additional protection, and they may be taken out if necessary. When the water is deep, and the current strong, great attention must be paid to fording. If there has been no previous reco^itioissahce or preparation, guides are sought. The person condncting the column over a direct ford, shonld keep his eye steadily on an object on the opposite bank, which points ont where the ford is ; he must never look at the scream, which would de- ceive him, and would appear to carry him down, and he would endeavor to keep too high up the stream, and miss the ford. All those in the rear should keep their eyes on those in front ; every indiv .lual should wade rather against the stream in order to resist its power. Troops should al- ways cross a ford with the largest possible front, for the same reason. In fording, the horses should neither be allowed to trot, halt, or drink. Great attention and caution are required in passing over pontoon bridges, the vibratory motion of which is very dangerous, and should be lessened by every possible means. The troops in passing should not preserve an equal pace. There should be no halt on the bridge. As soon as the bridge is perceived to rock, the pas- sage of the troops must be stopped. The greatest precau • tion is necessary to prevent accidents in tide at low water. The horses often have the greatest difficulty in keeping their feet, and the men must therefore always assist ; holding on when going down, and manning the wheels of the guns when going up. The drivers must in some cases dismount, and an interval must be left between the carriages equal to their own length ; they must be passed over gently. It may sometimes be necessary, unless the bridge be strong, to pass the carriages and horses over separately. In passing over a flying bridge, it may occasionally be advisable to take the horses out ; and in boisterous weather, or at night, the wheels should be locked. Should it be necessary to cross a broad rivulet formed by groui It men banc erect] 600 s have in or ment an ac panie facing thed anotli. runs the of thi right compj panieif right 23 nenca wood 50 and yth of lo that jularly The ►n, and rater is )0 i^aid attce or ;ing the Lclily (>n cro the jukl de- and he tnd misa eyes on • against ould al- for the ;ther he caution ibratory lessened onld not ; on the the pas- t precaU' \v water. )ing their holding the gnna lismount, eqnal to It may ig, to pass ing over a ■) take the light, the :ormed by the recent melting of snow, and the water be rushing with great impetuosity, a direct lino across the stream should not bo attempted. A zig zag, or oblii^ue course is then the safest, going at first in the direction of the stream, and as the legs become accustomed to the resistance of the water, gradually moving up and thou giving way a little, with the feet, however, always planted as lirmly as possible on the ground. The point of egress, or intended landing place, must always be steadily kept in view. If the river be deep, and no means at hand for construct- ing bridges or rafts, swimming and other contrivances must be resorted to. If one good swinuner is in the party he may carry a rope, made of lariets in the al)sence of hemp, fastened to the shore, and fixing it fairly on the opposite side, it will protect those who may find it necessary to cling to it while working across the passage. THE CAMP. Let us suppose the march to have been conducted and to terminate agreeably, and the halt to 1)0 made on pleasant ground. It is the business of the Quarter-Master General's depart- ment, to see to the encampment of the soldiers, but all hands, not on guard or other special duty, readily assist in erecting their temporary home. Suppose a regiment to be 600 strong. A camp for such a body of men would require to have a front of GOO ft. and a depth of 810 ft. It is arranged in order of battle, that is to say, the portion of the regi- ment which would be in the front at the commencement of an action occupying the front line. The tents of the Com panics are arranged in streets, one half of them on each side, facing inwards. The distance between each tent is two feet, the distance between the tents of one company, and those of another is four feet. Down the centre of the camp runs a street forty feet in width, and in the centre of this is the marquee or tent of the commanding officer. The tents of the other officers face to the front — the captains on the right flank, the lieutenants on the left. The sergeants of companies occupy the first tent on the right of their com- panies. The company kitchens are placed — those of the right wing in a line with the right of their companies ; 24 f m. those of the left wing on a line with the left of their com- panies ; they face towards the centre. The kitchens are constructed by digging a trencli two feet deep, three feet broad, and ten feet long, in a line with tlie front of the mens' tents ; the earth which is excavated is thrown two feet back, so as to leave room for the construction of the flues t'liid furnaces, on wliich the tire is to be phiced for cooking. These furnaces are made by perforating holes horizontally in the bank, about six inches from the bottom of the trench, of a circular form, eight inches in diameter, and one foot deep, where they are communicated with by similar holes perforated from the top. The wood cut into small pieces, is placed in the lower holes, and the kettles placed over the top holes raised on three stones. If the weather be rainy, or likely to be so, prudent sol- diers will cut a little trench around their tents, eight inches from the bottom of the tents, that the water may run off, and they will also take measures to ensure to themselves a dry habitation and a bed. If there be much grass on the ground, it will be as well to cut it, and some of the grass around the tents. Expose it to the sun for two or three hours, and it may then be strewed over the ground within the tent, and oft'er at once a soft bed and protection from the nocturnal exhalations of the earth. If an encampment continues on the same ground for some time, it will be very desirable that the tents be struck on some very fine sunny days at intervals of three or four days, that the earthen floor of each tent may be dried, and the tent itself purified by the exposure to the exterior air. Camp tables and chairs are carried by a regiment in time of peace, and likewise in time of war, if there be no risk of any necessity for advancing far into an enemy's country and becoming surrounded. In the absence of these imple- ments of civilization, large mess tables may be made out of the earth, even as furnaces are constructed. When General Lord Hill, one of Wellington's Lieutenants, was about to bid farewell to the division he had long and ably commanded, the officers gave liim a dinner, and as they were without a table, a large circular trench was dug, three feet and a half in depth and four feet in breadth, leaving a level mass of earth in the centre forty feet in diameter. Within the trench the earth was not excavated entirely, but a bench two feet in breadth, and two and half feet in depth, was left 25 on the outer circle, and there the officers sat, having their im promptu table reaching to the chest. After this, smaller ta bles were frequently improvised when the army lialted for some considerable time. Earth is a great friend to the soldier on the field, although she is trampled upon by him iu an angry spirit, and often saturated with the blood of com- batants. Among the other services to which earth is appli- cable, (not to speak of field fortifications, which will be hereafter treated,) may be mentioned, its depurating pro- perties. Prudent and cleanly soldiers, having a regard to the health of a camp, will take care tliat the privies estab- lished in the rear frequently have earth thrown into them to prevent the diffusion of oflensive and poisonous odours. The old warriors who figure in Scripture taught this valuable lesson, (see Numbers.) Cavalry encampments do not differ much from those of the infantry. The horses are picketed in a line parallel to the tents, and twelve feet from the tent-poles, with their heads towards them. Artillery camps necessarily cover much ground. They are so arranged that the batteries may get quickly into action in the event of a sudden surprise. There is little difterence between the duties in a camp and those of a ^^arrison. The drums beat the same signals ; the bugle sounds for the same operations. There is the reveille (often corrupted to revally) from the French verb, *'to awaken," which is beaten at day-break: the troop which summons the men to mount guard for twenty-four hours ; the retreat at sun-set ; the taptoo to wind up the day. All absentees from camp or garrison after taptoo are liable to punishment. The general beats when the whole army is to march — the assembly is the signal for falling in— the march for the whole to move. The long roll is only beaten when the troops are suddenly called to arms. The stable-callj which is sounded three times a day, summons the cavalry to attend to their horses. The roll is called im- mediately after the revclUey before the retreat, and after taptoo. The number of guards in a camp depends upon the strength of a force, but the smallest always has its camp and quarter guard and itKS outpost guard. Encampments usually take place on ground in the vicinity of water— the greatest necessary of military life. As soon, herefore, as the tents have been pitched, the men should fill tllejr several tins and other vessels for holding water, and while tliey are engaged in this occupation, they should not lose the opportunity of having a good wash. A march is a very dusty and dirty affair at the best of times and over .the best roads. J THE BIVOUAC. l^n many armies, and on many occasions with all armies, tents are not carried : the troops depend for shelter upon the towns or villages through which they may pass — some- times a forest or grove offer protection — and very often no other habitation is available but such as the troops can make themselves. Huts, composed of the branches of trees and brush wood interlaced, are rapidly constructed. Straw, bound in sheaves, is often resorted to if abundance of corn is found standing in a hostile country. Some troops carry tentes iVahri — little square j)ieces of canvass with buttons on one side and button holes on the other, which, when united, and placed in a direction sloping inwards, will furnish a little protection to the back and head. Three or four mus- kets, or branches of trees, jailed or stacked, forming angles with broad bases, and covered with the great coats or cloaks, are effective shelter from sun and rain. Napoleon Bona- parte was a great enemy to tents. " Tents," said he, "are not wholesome. It is better for the soldier to bivouac, because he cau sleep with his feet towards a fire ; he may shelter himself from the wind with a few boards and a little straw. The ground upon which he lief: will be rapidly dried in the vicinity of the fire. Tents involve carriage. Those for each battalion load five pack horses, which are much better employed in carrying provisions. Tents are a subject of observation for the enemies' spies and officers of the si^ff ^ they give him an insight into your numbers, and the position that you occupy. An army ranged in two or three lines of bivouac, is only to bo perceived at a distance by the smoke which the enemy may mistake for the vapour of the atmos- phere. It is impossible to count the number of fires — it is easy to count the number of tents, and trace out the posi- tion that they occupy." Take care that your own fires are kept as much out of view as possible. It is related by a traveller that some Red 27 Indians, with whom he came in contact, made a practice of digging holes in the earth, having carefully removed tho turf in a circular clump; then, depositing leaves, <^c., in the excavation, and lighting tlie fire, they partially cov- ered it with the turf, and sitting by its side, with their cloa! s completely enveloping the smoke, they concealed tho presence of fire while they enjoyed the warmth it diffused. Some care is reqnisite in picketting horses and mules en bivouac. If they are placed too near to each other, or are not sufficiently secured by head and heel ropes, they cause, by their neighing, quarrelling and restlessness (if tht^y do not happen to be very much fatigued), a noise which seriously interferes with the repose of the entire camp. It is a good plan to encircle each animal with branches of trees, a little embankment of earth, or any other available protection. Accustomed to the stable, animals do not relish exposure during the night until they become accnstomcd to it. A little enclosure is a tnal'c-bellcve stable — the horses feel more independent, and the small wall thus raised around them protects their loins from the wind, and prevents their grass and forage from being blown about. Too much care cannot be bestowed on the means adopted for procuring water. It is to be supposed that water in lakes, ponds or running streams, is in the immediate vicinity of the camp. Should the reservoir consist of a running stream, let the men be careful to draw their supply above tho part of the stream where animals are taken to water. Ani- mals render water turbulent, muddy, uncleanly. If tho stream contains, as is too often the case, many leeches — it is a mercy to give the horses, mules, and cattle their draught from a leathern bucket after the leeches are taken out. Many a fine animal has been destroyed, or rendered very sick, by swallowing those troublesome but often serviceable, little creatures. If the water available for the camp is only to be found iii a pond or ponds, care should be taken to filter it before drinking — unless the pcnd be unusually clear. Filtrating may be effected through a sponge, a little charcoal or sand. Put either of these filterinj-ftvQ men. — Twenty-five pounds of mutton, veal, beef, or pork cut into pieces six inches square, four pounds of onions, eight pounds of potatoes, four table- spoonfuls of salt, o: J of pepper ; add eight quarts of water. Cook it from one to two hours slowly, thicken the gravy with flour mixed into a smooth paste with water, or potatoes mashed fine. Tea for twentij-five men. — Allow twelve quarts of water; put the rations of tea — a large teaspoonful to each — in a cloth tied up very loosely, throw it into a boiler while it is boiling hard for a moment. Then take off the boiler, cover it, and let it stand full ten minutes, when it will be ready to use ; first add milk and sugar, if to be had, at the rate of three pints or two quarts of milk, and a pound or a pound and a half of sugar. Porky with Peas or Beans for twenty-jive men. — To four- teen pounds of pork add six pounds of peas or beans, put them in a cloth to boil, tying it very loosely, place them both in the boiler ; let them boil about two hours. Then take out the pork, add some flour to the gravy, and put the peas or beans in it with two or three onions cut up line ; let it boil a little longer, mash up the vegetables very finely, and serve them round the dish with the meat. Plain stewed meat for twenty -jive men. — Take fourteen pounds of mutton, beef, veal, or pork, cut it into chunks and 35 ho past. lolesomo ^ipts for beiiefi- i.'irta of Icspoon- iiniils of or pro- of cold Eins, two a half. iinds of I square, ir table- :' water, ivy with potatoes water ; h — in a ilo it ia , cover L'cady to rate of ^ pound Co f our- ,ns, put CO them Then put the ine ; let f finely, 'ourteen nks and put it in the boiler. Add four quarts of water, two quarts to a tcaspoonful of Halt and half a teaspoonfiU of pepper, eight or ten onions cut in pieces ; let it boil half an hour, then let it stew slowly from half an hour to an hour longer, adding one pound of rice, potatoes or any vegetable that can bo ob- tained ; thick(3n the gravy with Hour mixed to a smooth paste in cold water. Stewed salt Pork or Uecf for twenty-five men. — Wash the meat well, let it soak all ni«^ht, wash out the salt as much a3 possible ; eight pounds of salt beef, five pounds of salt pork, one-third of a pound of sugar, two pounds of sliced onions, six quarts of water, and a pound of rice ; let it simmer gent- ly for two or three hours. Salt Fork with Potatoes and Cahhage for twenty-five mcv. . — Take fifteen pounds of poik, extract the bones, three pounds of potatoes, two winter cabbages, let it boil for two hours ; ten quarts of water. Serve the meat with vegetables round it. The gravy will make a good broth with peas, beans or rice added, also a little onion. Siiip biscuit broken into the broth makes a very nutritrious soup. To fry any kind of meat. — Get your frying-pan very hot, put in some hot pork, which will immediately melt, then put in the meat you wish to fry, (a small teaspoonful of salt and a quarter of a teaspoonful of pepper to eveiy pound of meat). When done lay the meat on a dish, add a pint of water to the fat in the frying-pan, a few slices of onions, or two teaspoonsfnl of vinegar, thicken it with a little flour and pour it over the cooked meat. Any sauce or a few chopped pickles may be substituted for the vinegar or onions. Coffee for twenty-five men. — Take twelve quarts of water, when it boils add twenty ounces of coftee, mix it well and leave it on the fire till it commences to boil ; then take it oflf and pour into it a little more than a quart of cold water ; let it stand in a warm place full ten minutes ; the dregs will Bottle at the bottom and the coffee be perfectly clear. Pimr it then into another vessel, leaving the dregs in the first ; add sugar, four teaspoonsfnl to the quart. If j^ou can get milk leave out five quarts of water in the above receipt, and put milk in its place. Peas or Bean soup for twenty five men. — Take fourteen pounds of pork, eight quarts of paas or beans, twenty quarts of water, 25 teaspoonsful of sugar, twelve of popper, and 36 Beveral largo onions ; boil gently till tho vegetables are soft, from fuur to tivo liourH. Receipt for a small quantity of ha.shcd meat. — Cut tho meat in very snuiU pieces ; heat tho frying-pan ; put into it half a pint of water, half ateaspoonful of salt, and a tea8i)Oon- ful of tlour, and lot it cook fifteen minutes. Salt meat can bo cooicod the samo, omitting the salt, in its place putting a small spoonful of sugar, spices or pickles cliopped iino, dish it on to some ship biscuit. Steak, chops, sausages, bacon, slices of ariy kind of meat can bo cooked in a frying-pan, with a little melted fat at the bottom. Salt meat should always be soaked. t>tewed salt Beef (Htd Pork. — Put into a canteen saucepan about two pounds of well soaked beef, cut in eight pieces j half pound of salt pork, divided in two, and also soaked ; half a pound of rice (or six tablospoont'uls), half a pound of onions, or four middle sized ones, peeled and sliced ; two ounces of Ijrown augar, or one large tablespoonful ; one- quarter omice of pepper, and live pints of water ; simmer gently for tliree hours, remove the fat from the top and serve. This disli is enough for rich people, and if the receipe be closely followed, you cannot fail to have an excel- lent food. London salt meat will require only a four hours soaking, bemg only slightly pickled. Mnttoit f:^oup. — Put the rations of six into a pan (one-half pound of mutton will make a pint of good family soup), six pounds of mutton, cut in four or six pieces ; three-quarters of a pound of mixed vegetables or three ounces of preserved ; three and a half teaspoonfuls of salt ; one teaspoonful of sugar, and half a teaspoonful of pepper, if handy ; six ounces of barley or rice, or five tablespoonsf ul of either ; eight pints of water ; let it simmer gently for three hours and a half, remove the fat, and 3erve. Bread and biscuit may be add- ed in small quantities. Flaiti Pea Houp. — Put in a pan two pounds of pork, well soaked, and cut into eight pieces ; pour six quarts of water ; one pound of split peas ; a teaspoonful of sugar ; half a teaspoonful of pepper ; four ounces of fresh vegetables, or two ounces of preserved, if handy ; let it boil gently for two hours, or until the peas are tender. When the pork is rather fat as is generally the case wjish it only ; one-qnarter of a pound of broken biscuit may be used for tho soup. Salt beef, when rather fat and soaked, may bo used for pea soup» ro soft, Uut tho ; into it iispoou- uat can ittiiig a le, dish bacon, tu, with always .iicepan pieces ; oaked ; pound :l ; two I ; one- ijiinmer ;op and [ if the L excel- houra ne-h; If p), SIX larters erved ; iful of ounces t pints I half, J add- well vater ; lialf a eSj or II' two ;athei* of a Salt soup^ Fi'fiiwh Beef i^oxp, or Pot aufen^ (camp fashion). — Put in the kettle six pounds of beef, cut into two or throe pieces, bones included ; one pound of mixed green vegetables, or half ft pound of preserved, in cakes ; four teaapoonfuls of salt, if handy ; one teaspoouful of pepper, one of sugar, and three of cloves, and eight pints of water. Lot it boil gently three hours ; remove some of the fat and serve. Tho addition of a pound and a half of breiid cut into slices, or one pound of broken biscuits, well soaked, will make a very nutritious soup. Skimming is not required. Tho above three recipes are applicable to hospitals. liuw to stew fresh Beef Pork, Mutton and Veal. — Cut or chop two poiuids of fresh beef into ten or twelve pieces, put these into a saucepan with one and a half teaspoonfuls of salt, one and a half teaspoonful of sugar, half a teaspoonful of pepper, two middle-sized onions sliced, half a pint of water. Set on the fire for ten minutes until forming a thick gravy. Add a good tablespoonful of flour, stir on the fire a few minutes, add a quart and a half of water, let the whole simmer until the meat is tender. Beef will take from two and a half to three hours, mutton and pork about two hours, veal one hour and a quarter to one hour and a half ; onions, sugar and pepper, if not to be had, must be omitted ; it will even then make a go'>d dish ; half a pound of sliced pota- toes or two ounces of preserved potatoes ; ration vegetables may be added, also a small dumpling. Plain boiled salt Beef. — For six rations put in a canteen sauce -pan, six pounds of well soaked beef, cut in two, with three quarts of cold wator, simmer gently three hours, and serve. About a pound of either carrots, turnips, parsnips, greens or cabbages or dumplings may be boiled with it. Plum-puddiiLg. — Put into a basin one pound of flour, three-quarters of a pound of raisins (stoned, if lime be al- lowed), three-quarters of a pound of the fat of salt pork (well washed, cut into small pieces or chopped), two table- spoonfuls of sugar or treacle ; add half a pint of water, mix all together ; put into cloth tied tightly ; boil for four hours, and serve. If time will not admit, boil only two hours, though four are preferable. How to spoil the above : — add anything to it. 38 THE HORSE* Although the cavalry and horse artillery soldiers have more Interest in the care of horses than the infantry and engi- neers, the latter are not altogether independent of these use- ful animals ; on the contrary, they continually avail them- selves of their services for the transport of baggage and pro- visions. To all, therefore, a few hints may be addressed res- pecting the care of horses, their power, their speed and their general value. A pack horse can carry from two hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds, twenty miles a day. This is the maximum. A heavy dragoon horse in European armies ac- tually carries, man and appoi?itments, two hundred and six- ty-three pounds ; the day'^s rations — horse, twenty pounds ; man, six pounds ; total, two hundred and ninety-two pounds. a rider is much less distressing to a horse than an equal dead weight. A draught horse can draw l,6001bs a day, carriage included. A load on the back is the worst application of the strength of a horse. A horse equals five to seven men at a pull. He moves four hundred yards, at a walk of 3 5 miles an hour, in 3 '9 minutes ; at a trot of seven miles an hour, in two minutes ; at a gallop of eleven miles an hour, in 1'4 minute . The rations of a horse should not be less than ten pounds of oats, twelve pounds of hay, eight pounds of straw in sta- bles ; away from them, eight pounds of oats, eighteen of hay, and six of straw ; and when neither oats nor bran can be obtained, thirty-two pounds of hay. A horse requires aoout four gallons of water. Six horses can drag a nine-pounder gun four miles in an hour and a half ; eight miles in four liours, and sixteen miles in ten hours, allowing for halts. With liglit loads a horse walks frori three and a half to four miles an hour. We have oftered in a previous page a few remarks on tho value of water to horses, and the inipoitance of enclosing them in little embankments of earth or bushes. A word or two on sore bucks will not be out of place. The great security against sore backs is good saddling, full and well stufild, and not nsinj^f the surcingle to keep on the blanket without a full and well stuffed pad under it. Blankets under the saddles only cause festatory withers, from the improbability of their being jiroperly adjusted. ^ ■■ 39 Horses backs should bo examined not only in taking off the saddles, but more particularly on saddling, — the least flinching on the i^art of the animal should be taken notico of, and be sufficient cause to stop him from work, or having anything to put on his back ; hot fomentations and poul- tices should be applied constantly, if there is much tumefac- tion and pain, so as to arrest and check the deep seated in- flammation, suppuration, and the formation of sores, i guns. twelve, nine, and sis pounder, is three hundred yards, and from wliicli to seven hundred yards every quarter degree elevation increases tho range ono hundred yards ; from seven hundred to ono thousand every quarter degree, increases ifc Gcventy-iivo yards, and from one thousand to one thousand two hundred yards every quarter degree increasss it fifty yiirds. The point blank range of brass twelve, six, and three pounders is two hundred yards, from which to six hundred and one t d 'dnancQi loleon'a . in the through )arts of nips of lis used posses- )rass or I better some of VG been ng ren- of brass 3 cflect, on why is, that it of the r causes t gun, a every range twelve ed and to one asured a gun, about iindred quar- The nd slK seven ?es tho to ono ty-ijvo uidicd The nndera id ouo 61 thousand yards, an increase takes place with every quarter deproe of elevation.* Tho missiles projected l)y guns are varied in their charac- ter, size, force, eflect and denoniinatioiis. They are general- ly called shells^ carcases, shrapnclUy common case or canister f grape shot and I'oiind shot. tShdls are hollow spheres of iron with a hole at ono part of the ball for the reception of a fuze or tube of wood tilled with a composition of saltpetre, sulphur and mealed gun- powder, forced with an iron driver into a loaded shell. Tho fuze is of such length as to continue burning while the shell is in its range and to set fire to tho powder as soon as it touches the ground, which occasions the shell instantly to burst into many pieces. It follows that tho preparation of a fuze recpiires very great care and conscientiousness, for if the mateiial is not driven into it so as to form a compact or concrete mass, which cannot be i -pulverised by any other action than its ignition within a gun, it would bo very liable to explode the shell before the time required, and thus fail of etl'ect and perhaps kill or injure the persons concerned iu working the gun. Shell fuzes burn at the rate of ono inch in five seccmds. Shells themselves aro half filled with gun- powder. The broken fragments of the shell and not its con- tents form the destructive power. Carcasses are a species of shell, filled with a composition of xmlverized saltpetre, sublimated sulphur, pounded resin, pounded antimony, batton and turpentine, the flamo from which is exti cmely powerful and nearly unextinguishable. Carcasses burn from eight to ten minutes, and having three holes are sure to touch some object when they reach their goal. Shrapncll shells, or spherical-caso shot, are shells filled with musket balls, having a bursting charge of powder mixed with them. Their fuse is shorter than the common shell in order that the shell may bm'st in the air before the comple- * Point blank range is the distance from the muzzle of the gun to the first point at which the sliot strikes the groimd ; it being supposed that the latter is parallel to the axis of the bore. If the gun is pointed at an object, by looking along the upper surface of it through the two sights or elevated notches, it is said to be laid by the line of metal, and it gives the gun an elevation of about one degree, the breech being wider than the muzzle. 52 tion of its range, scattering the nmsket balls and the splin- ters of the shell among a body of troops at a distance of 1,200 yards. These shells were invented by Gen. Shrapnell of the Royal Britisn artillery. He received a pension of £1200 per annum for his invention. Commotio case or cannister shot consist of a nnmber of balls packed in tin canisters of a cylmdrical form, the balls being of different weights according to the size of the gun. These shot are seldom used at a greater distance than three hun- dred yards, and even at that range they scatter so much as to be nearly unserviceable ; but from (^ne to two hundred yards they are very destructive. Grape shot are a combinatioj* of balls, eitlier put into a thick canvass bag and corded strongly together with a plate at the bottom so as to form a kind of cylinder resembling a bunch of grapes whose diameter is equal to that of the ball which is adapted to the cannon, or they consist of a succes- sion of plates, between every two of which is a tier of balls. They are very eflfective at a distance of two hundred yards. Hound shot are solid balls of iron ci various weights chiefly serviceable against masses of ini^n+ry and cavalry and field artillery. They are either used for diret . fire or for ricochet- ing, i.e., making several bounds m ./jeir course, striking dif- ferent objects in their flight. In the latter instance they are serviceable in clearing a parapet of its defences, dismounting guns and in throwing a column into confusion. Round shot are capable of being made red hot, and are in that condition used to destroy magazines, buildings, the interior of forts, barracks, shipping, f forts, Dt shot, Bnt any ore the d for a nuzzle, d. 5S used ich are owder, tallow, mines, ey are Smoke i balls like- wise thrown from mortars at niglit to discover the operations of the enemy's working j/arties. They burn from ten to twenty minutes. Guns are fired from batteries — a term of varied significa- tion, but generally meaning a number of pieces of ordnance placed behind an elevation of earth, or even without such covering, accordhig to the circumstances under which the guns may be used. A breaching battery, for instance, is one which may be placed at a certain distance from any wall or rampart in order to demolish it. An enjilading battery is one whose front is perpendicular to the protruding line of the enemy's rampart so that the shot from the guns may en- filade the interior side of that rampart or its parapet in the di- rection of its length. When shot are discharged from a rico- chetj as above described, the battery is a ricochetting battery. A gun or howitzer battery is one in which guns are only em- ployed temporarily in the field, without breastwork defences, and can be moved about at pleasure from one part of a scene of action to another. A gun is said to be in battery when it is unlimbered, that is, separated from the ammunition car- riage generally attached to it, and placed in position to do execution upon the enemy . When the battei-y is mounted on a natural or artificial eminence so as to allow the guns to be pointed downwards to make a plunging fire against or into the works of an enemy, it constitutes a cavalier battery, and when elevated on a platform or on tall carriages so as to be enabled to fire over the superior surface of the parapet or ^paulementy it is said to be en barbette. In fine, the term * battery' refers to " a permanent organi- zation of a certain number of cannon with the men and' other accessories required to serve them. This is the unit of force in this arm. The regiinental organization is a mere nominal arrangement, for in actual service artillery acts by batteries and never by regiments. Its strength is, therefore, invariably estimated by the number of its batter- ies." A battery, in this interpretation of the word, is com- posed of six pieces, two of them being howitzers. Each piece is attended by a caisson mounted on a separate car- riage. The caisson is, in the British army, called the am- munition wagon. It follows the gun and limber. Gun lim- bers carry material for the immediate service of the guns, Buch as case shot, round shot, cartridges, files, funnels, Jmlves, mallets, setters, needles, pincers, saws, scissors, wor- B 64 sted, portfires, water buckets, lanyards, pickaxes, carbines, bill-hooks, &c. The caissons carry shot, shell, cartridges, camp kettles, tent pegs, poles and tents, horse shoes, blan- kets, and corn sacks. The artillery is divided into horse and foot brigades, and into light and heavy artillery ; the latter comprehending the pieces used in sieges, and garrison and seacoast fortifications. From eight to ten men are required to serve each gun as soon as it gets placed in position. One points (aims) and gives the word of command ; a second sponges the gun and rams home the cartridges ; a third places his i humb on the vent or touch hole of the piece while these operations are going forward to prevent the admission of air and thus ensure the extinction of eveiy s\)ark of ignited powder that may have been left in the gun a /ter its discharge ; a fourth artilleryman fires the piece ; a fifth places the cartridge within the bore ; a sixth brings the cartridges from the limber ; a seventh has charge of the limber ; an eighth takes care of the ammunition wag- gon, &c., &c. Artillery is so formidable an arm of warfare that every effort is made to " take the guns," and then to render them temporarily unserviceable by spiking them. Often, however, the possessors of the guns, seeing that they will inevitably fall into the hands of the foe, and be turned against their original owners, will spike them of their own accord. This is immediately done when a fortress or battery is abandoned, always supposing that there is time for the operation. The process of spiking is simple and may be performed quickly. A favorite mode of spiking is by driving a rat-tail tile into the vent, and breaking it off. If the spike be an ordinary nail, made of soft iron, the drill will readily remove it ; while the hard steel of the file will require far greater time and labor. The steel spike, rough and jagged, with a soft point is also used. If broken off even with the surface of the gun, and the point clinched inside by the rammer, re- moval is made more difficult. If the spike happens to be BO small as to fit loosely, it may be driven out by gunpow- der ; but if it be made of hardened steel, with an accurate fit to the vent, and driven in with great force, neither driU nor powder will remove it. A patent spike was brought out in England during the Crimean war, which claimed to make a gun permanently unserviceable. It consisted of a rod of finely -tempered steel, turned to fit the vent but to move 55 mary i it ; time soft Lce of freely in it, and terminating in a forked spring in the bor© of the gun. It was contended that this spike could not bo drilled out, because it would turn with the drill. But though this were true, yet its inventor forgot the important fact that the forked points in the bore could be cut oflF by a single blow on a cold chisel. When a spike is so j&xed aa to render extraction "very difficult, the remedy is to drill a new vent, which may be done without impairing the useful- ness of the gun. To do this a competent machinist will require some three hours, or more or less according to the size of the gun. But all spiking at the vent is admitted to be only a temporary expedient to render artillery unservice* able at the moment. Yet even this has often been found productive of the most important results. When time is afforded, such as the deliberate abandon- ment of a military work, spiking at the muzzle is sometimes adopted, and when thoroughly done, with far greater embar- rassment to those who subsequently come into possession. A shot is driven into the bottom of the bore by wrapping it Tfith felt, or using iron wedges, and employing an iron ram- mer to drive the ball home. When this is done to an iron gun, the only method of unspiking it is to bore a hole in the breech and drive the ball out, closing the hole with a screw. To do this, the gun, in most cases, must go back to the foundry. In brass guns, which usually have vent- pieces, these can be taken out and the ball expelled by wedges. Various modes for destroying cannon are adopted. Shells are sometimes exploded in them, while heavy charges are put in others, over which sand or shot is rammed to the muzzle, and bursting follows. One piece is sometimes fired against another, muzzle to muzzle, or the muzzle of one to the chase of the other. In iron guns the trunnions are broken off ; with brass ones, a fire is lighted under the chase, and when struck with a heavy sledge while heated, the gun is bent and disabled. Had time been allowed Colonel Anderson to destroy the cannon in Fort Moultrie before abandoning it, there can be little doubt, from his long ex- pei'ience as an artillery officer, that he would have left to the rebels a legacy of crippled guns unfit for anything but the foundry. When guns have been recovered from the enemy, or are captured in a spiked condition, the following methods of unspiking them are recommended by Major Griffiths of the British Artillery, in his Artillerists Manual^ a work of such high repute, that it is, by command of the military authori- ties, the text book of the army. Ijf a gun has been spiked with a common steel spike j load with a charge of powder equal to half the shots' weight ; lay a leader of quick match along the bore, and double shot the gun, introducing the shot, however, -very carefully. By affixing a portion of slow metal to the end of the quick metal, which reaches to the muzzle, the gun may be easily and safely fired. Should the spike not be removed the opera- tion may be repeated. WTien brass guns have been spiked^ it would be advisable, a day or two before making the above experiment, to scratch round the spike with a graver, and pour a few drops of sulphuric or nitric acid into the circle, which, being repeated, will find its way down between the spike and the metal, particularly if the former is not perfectly round. When the gun cannot be unspiked by the above mentioned operation, make a large fire round the breech to soften the spike, and after the gun has been gradually cooled the spike may generally be removed by using the drill. When a gun cannot be unspiked, the only means of ren- dering it serviceable is to drill another vent, about half an inch from the original one. To drill a new vent will require about an hour per inch. Care must be taken that a very small drill is first used, and afterwards one rather less than the diameter of the vent, otherwise the vent will run the risk of being too much enlarged. RBCONNOISSANCB AND SURVEZING. It is impossible to over-estimate the value of a careful reconnoissance. No commanding officer is justified in grop- ing in the! dark. A hundred instances might be cited in which troops have fallen into an ambush, or been stopped in defiles, or suddenly brought into the presence of a superior enemy, or baited in localities where there was neither wood, nor water, nor grasS; to say nothing of the absence of villa- ges, farms, or any other means of supply. *'Look before you leap," is a capital adage at all times, and peculiarly susceptible of application when marching in a hostile country. 57 of such uthori- ;e, load \reight ; )le shot y. Bv 3 quick aily and I opera- sable, a scratch Irops of jpeated, I metal, hen the eration, ike, and ke may of ren- half an iv inch, ed, and e vent, muoh careful n grop- ited in )ped in iperior wood, f villa- before uliarly liostile Reconnoissanoes are general and special. General if it is to embrace a large tract of country, and for an entire camp- aign ; special if made for collecting detailed information re- specting a proposed line of march, the passage of a river, the position of a foe, &c. In the case of special reconnoissance, very great caution is requisite. An officer in command will if possible make this himself accompanied by a strong body of cavalry, but the occasion will frequently arise when the wnole survey of the ground in front requires to be surveyed by single individuals disguised. Woe be to them if they be caught — for then the dignified office of a surveyor becomes metamorphosed, by hostile intepretation, into that of a common spy, and the un- lucky individual is often rewarded for his zeal by sits per col. Wellington, during his five years' campaign in Spain ancl Portugal, was often obliged, before he advanced or retreated, to make himself well acquainted with the country he had to traverse, for little information on this head had been given by travellers, and the people of the villages were not to be reHed upon ; they were too often in the interest of the French. Wellington generally depended on the Officers of the Quarter Master General's Department, and when they were not available, intelligent regimental officers were em- ployed, and their promotion to the Staff was the immediate result of their success. A Colonel Grant was peculiarly for- tunate in his reconnoissance. He was^ aman of great courage and sagacity. Upon one occasion being desirous of counting the number of French batteries in position, he rode as near as possible to the right of the French line. A vidette fired upon him ; he immediately threw his body forward on the neck of his horse, as if wounded or killed, and immediately giving it the spur, rode at a full gallop along the whole line, keeping his left eye above the horse's mane, and counting the corps as he passed along. When he reached the left of the line he turned off towards the British position. A French chasseur a cheval on outpost duty, now rode after him to catch, as he thought, the stray horse, but, to his sur- prise. Grant rose up and wounded him with a shot from his pistol. Upon another occasion, Grant was sent out but was captured by the enemy. Wellington, however, never despaired of his escape and return, for his absence had been frequently prolonged, and sure enough, after the lapse of two years he walked into his Commander's tent, after endur- 58 Sng many hardships, and being exposed to many perils. In India reconnoissances were often made by officers disguised as natives. For perfect accuracy of reconnoissance certain scientific instruments are necessaiy. The theodohte or pocket sex- tant, the prismatic compjiss, or the reconnoitring protractor, are all valuable adjuncts if their true purpose be under- Btood. But we will suppose a ca.^e in which the person em- ployed is without surveying iLstruments of any kind, excepting perhaps, a telescope and a watch. The latter is of great utility in determining distances, by the flight of sound, and the former in seeing what occurs in the distance. To jmch an individual, the following hints gathered from tho works of Lieut. Colonel Basil Jackson, Major Griffiths, Captain Younghusband, and others, may prove of utility. A reconnoitring officer should direct his attention to 1. THE PARTICULAR NATURE OP EACH DISTRICT, until he lich dia- At five coloured i well as ) cau be [red and the de- e officers particles cause of ricles are 3tion, as e, every extent. by Dr. •ugh the le hund- bt a me- ng or a hundred difiereni >ne hun- th^rmo- may be i4, or a tipjyine [lui^di'ea rds, or seventy |ng uni- at the Jition in Iwill be dnd is veloci- afFect- |)idly as seconds hear- «3 ing the report by one thousand one hundred, and the pro- duct will be the distance in full, witli sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. If greater accuracy be required, this rule must be modified, on account of tlie velocity, and direc- tion of the wind and state of the thernionieter. Sound vnll he louder in proportion to the condensation of the air. Water is one of the (jreatest conductors of sound : it can be heard on water nearly twice as far as upon land. The sounds which are most commonly heard by recon- noitring parties in the vicinity of farms, villages, woods, camps, barracks, factories, iOn. — A box attached to a gun carriage for the conveyance of ammunition, tools, . to mil- [^ 3 O B ^ o H er ct-CP CT-1 =•1 O O H o 2: H o 525 er- O CD ct- CD O 5* CB !-*• 3 •O 5* 3 3 3 o ■< a> 3 o »^> CO ;.^:XT 4. f r (A P ■M«a 9 & I I < <- ^^' H o P- o a. a i o O ;? P \ S^ A ? \