The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-19 00:00:00

Description of Experiment.

Sixty rounds of Minie cartridge
(greased as received from the Ord-
nance) fired from a Minie musket at
a target. Distance, 200 yards
Sixty rounds of Minie cartridge,
wetted with the mouth (the grease
having been scraped off), fired from
a musket at a target at 200 yards
Sixty rounds of spherical ammunition;
fired from a common musket. Dis-
tance, 200 yards*
Sixty rounds of spherical ammunition,
fired from a Minie musket, cartridge
reversed, and the bullet wetted -in
the mouth, at 200 yards•

* Seven shots jammed hard in the barrel,
down with great difficulty.
t Loaded easily up to 30 rounds, after which it fouled
considerably.

and rammed

" NOTE.—In order to enable you the better to under-
stand the nature of the " hits" as they are called, in the
above form, I wish to explain—first, a " bull's eye" is
different from what a Cockney sportsman is in the habit
of regarding as one. Military " bull's eye" is supposed
to be a man's chest, within the vicinity of his heart ;
" centres" are those which strike a man, either below or
above the chest ; and " outers" are those which strike a
man either in the head or legs.

" MEMORANDUM.

" The following additional rules are suggested to. be
attended to in the use of the Minis musket :

" 1. It is desirable at a firing in the ranks (file firing
or volleys) the men should be taught to use their fire-
locks without raising the flat of the sight ; as, arranged
for 100 yards, it will be necessary to make allowances
for the increased elevation requisite for greater distances
by aiming according to the following rules :
"At 150 yards, take-the sight full.
" At 200 yards, allign the point of the foresight with
the bull's-eye or mark, and see the barrel over the top
of the back sight, as far as the second loop.
" At 300 yards, allign the point of the foresight with
the bull's-eye or mark, and see the barrel over the top
of the back sight as far as the third loop.
" At 400 yards, allign the point of the foresight with
the mark, and take the elevation from the top of the
nose of the lock, when at full cock.
" At intermediate distances the soldier must be guided
by his own judgment in obtaining proper elevation.
" 2. The greatest attention must be paid to the clean-
liness of the pouches, in the insides, especially when the
ammunition is in the pouch loose, that no dirt or dust
may adhere to greased part of the cartridge, which
would cause the bullet to stick to the barrel in loading.
" 3. Whenever the grease around the bullet appears
to be melted away, or otherwise removed from the
cartridge, the base and sides of the bullet should be
wetted in the mouth before putting it in the barrel.
" 4. In loading the Minie musket with the common
spherical ammunition, shake out about one-third of the
powder, reverse the cartridge, and tear off the paper as
if loading with the Minie cartridge, and wet the bullet
in the mouth before putting it in the barrel.
"5. The greatest attention should be taken, in clean-
ing the arms, that the 'point of the foresight is not worn
or damaged.
"6. As the range of the spherical bullet, when fired
from the Mime musket, is shorter than that of the
Minie bullet (for which the sights are arranged), allow-
ances must be made by aiming as follows, viz. :
" At 500 yards, use the, 200 yards' sight full.
"At 300 yards, use the 300 yards', sight full, aiming
a little high.

" 7. 'Whenever the barrel gets ,so full that the bullet
is crammed home with difficulty, pour a few drops of
water (if any at hand) into the barrel after loading.
(Signed) "A. LANE Fox,
" First Instructor, School of Musketry."

THE MILITIA.
The 28 days' training of the Essex Rifles commenced
yesterday at Colchester. On Saturday the work of " bil-
letting" the men at the various public houses in the town
was completed. On Monday the Colchester men were
marched to the bath-house, Osborne-street, to undergo
the customary ablution previous to being served with
their regimentals. After the arrival of the countrymen
next day they were also to be marched to the bath, and
then furnished with their dresses. The total strength of
the regiment is said to be 846, but in consequence of
many having enlisted into the regulars, some deserted,
and others having removed from their parishes, and not
receiving their notices, it was thought likely that there
would be numerous absentees, and the regiment very far
short of its complement. Last year the regiment was
brought to a state of great military efficiency, principally,
by the valuable services of a detachment of the 2d bat-
talion of the Rifle Brigade, but, the gallant fellows
being now ordered to the seat of war in the East,
it is expected that the instruction will devolve
upon the officers and the regimental staff. The
eight Colchester corporals, who were a short time ago
at Dover, being thoroughly initiated in the routine of
discipline and duty as riflemen, will also act as instructors
of their comrades. We are happy to hear that arrange-
ments are being made for instructing the men in reading
and writing, as last -year ; and that the public hall will
be fitted up as a reading-rooria for the non-commissioned
officers and privates..
The Royal Dorset Regiment of Militia will assemble
for exercise at Dorchester on the 2d of May next. The
period appointed for their training is 28 days, during
which time they will be under the command of Colonel
Bingham. The conduct of the men on the last occasion
of their assembling at Dorchester has been such as to
call forth the special approbation of the Mayor.
The 3d West York Militia, under the command of
Colonel Ferrara Loftus, assembled at Doncaster for 28
days' training yesterday. The full complement of the
regiment amounts to' 1,030, but, owing to enlistments
iuto the line and other causes, the present strength of the
corps is, we understand, about 200 short of that number.
It may be mentioned, however, that the deficiency is not
so great this year as it was last, and that several of the
recruits who for various reasons failed to present them-
selves at the last training have turned up on this occa-
sion. The regiment is called up two months earlier this
year than last, in order to avoid training the men under q
the oppressive heat of summer. The list of officers
posted in the regimental order-book includes, be ides the
colonel of the regiment,- Lieutenant-Colonel John Bar-
nett, of Kirk Hammerton, Boroughbridge ; Major
Ralph Creyke, Rawcliffe-hall, Selby; Adjutant Prothero,
Doncaster, 10 captains, 11 lieutenants, and 9 ensigns.
Wilinhceheslitear Sdeamysb'letdraiant-
ing under the command of Colonel the Marquis of Win-'
chester. moofni‘thli.ifiotria224B
chester. During the short period that has elapsed since
have improved
wonderfully. commencement of the drill the men
wonderfully. It cannot be expected that in so short a
period as 2.8 days a body of men could attain a great de-
gree
of disidipline, but in 6 months this regiment, to all
appearance, would be very efficient, and produce, if re-
quired, good and effective men to serve in the line.
Yesterday morning 1 sergeant and 14 corporals be-
longing to the Monmouthshire Militia, who have been
at the infantry barracks, Windsor, for the last 3 weeks,
and have been regularly
_drilled with the recruits of the
97th, left by the Great,Western Railway for Monmouth,
where the regiment' assembles for training mad exercise
on Thursday nut 24th inst.'