Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-05-23
FL ON Wahdn's Treatise ON Field F0rtifcations.
TntY0dnct0ru Cb0Dter

Introductory Chapter.
On the Effect of Musle,ry and ARTILLERY, and the
Mean. of Directing sheir Fs.e to obtain the Best
Results
As the object of all defensive arrangements-whetber
artificial objects be raised or the natural features ony of
position be seized upon for the purpose-is to place
troops under cover from the enemys fire. and to enable
them to deliver their owu With effect some knowledge
OF the chances Of hitting aark of given dimensions
at various distances well the influences which the
undulaons and character of the ground and the phys
cal and mental state of the party firing may have upon
their aim essential elements estimating the advan
tages which they present the object of this is to present.
from the aud authentic sources some of the
facts ARMED at By experiment which bear the ques
tiOn
There is fact striking than the great dispro-
portion between the number OF combatants put hor de
combat and the amount of ammunition expended even
IN the most bloody engagements Hundreds of instances
might be cited n support of this.
Military writers estimate that not than ball
out of ten thousand attains its mark aud it is estma
ted for example, that in the expedition of the French to
Agiers in 1880, which lasted but fifteen days upwards
of three millions of cartridges expended The
OF this disproporonae application of to end,
may be found partly IN careless use OF his ammunition
by the soldier partly ID the want of good instruction
and frequent practice particularly in those who
have not been familiar with the use of firearms from
their youth partly in the haste with which fire
against enemy is delivered which destroys calmness
AID good Order and mpairs the aim but chiefly by the
estimation of the distance caused by fear smoke
the movable character of the mark. Much depends up
on the attention paid by the officer to his duties to pre-
vent this.
The men should be frequently practiced at target
firing, and be taught to note the influence which the
rmDess with which the piece is pressed against the
shoulder, its depression elevation according TO the
distance of the target and the character OF the ground
both to the hardness OF its surface and its uLduations
have upon the accuracy Of the aim. This practice
should not be confined TO the open field but be also ex
tended to the various positions in which soldiers may
be placed behind breastWOrks and other Shelters such
palisades, stOckGdts lOOpholed walls abats arranged
for defence, &c. in order that the soldier may tee him
self at home under all circumstances and not be called
upon to cast about for the best way of managing bis
piece in every emergency. SO far from urging the
men to load and fire rapidly, every pains should be
taken by the officers to impress upon them the necessity
of not hurryng, of keeping perfectly cool, of loading
steadily, and aiming deliberately. Voley firing is
admirable practice Tor this purpOse that by files is apt
to give slovenly and hurried action 10 the soldier.
The fire of troops in line should be kept, as far as
possible, under the control OF the officer. His position
and means of estimating distance enables him far better
20 judge of the proper moment than the men generally
can. 1t is generally admit ed that not than four
or FIVE rounds be fired in two minutes, allowing the
men time to aim deliberately three may be fcel in one
minute, but at the expense o good aim.
AS all infantry instructed as we'll in the duties
OF Sklml6herS as In the Ordinary service or the ne the
should be practised at firing both at small mark like
the ordinary round target, and at large square, with
black bands made It, showing the ordinary rOunC
target, and at large square, with black bands made
across it, showing the ordinary height Of the knees cen
ire Of the body the breast, shoulders bead and top
the cap.
AS the point blank Of the musket. fired with the bay
onet off, is at about 20 to 1870 yards, to attain poin
at this distance it must be directly aimed at when it il
at distance short OF this the aim must be beolu it
when at this the aim must be obOre it. Witt
the bay0net fixed the musket has point blank and tt
hit point the aim must always be above It, The to
lowing rules for aiming given by Robert, recen
French author of high standing, in a work artillery
as drawn from the practice of the French
To hit the centre of the body at all distances, up t
l1U yards, avth bayonet fred, aim at the breast,
TO hit the same point from l10 to $50 yards distance
aim at the shoulders.
To hit the same point from 90 to 200 yards distance
aim the he'd.
To bit the same point from 200 to 22O yards distance
. aim at the top OF the cap.
TO hit the same point from 220 to greater distances
aim according to circumstances.
r u-PROBABLE EFFECT SMALL ARMS.
Beyond 22O yards the effect of the fire is very un
certain. Beyond 45O yards, the ball seldom gives
dar gerous wound, although the musket fired under
elevation of degrees will carry from 600 to 10
yards and under greater elevations 1000 yards.
The nature of the surface OF the ground as has al
ready been stated has considerable influence upon th
efficacy OF the fire. In broken poughed grounC
fire is less effective than even, firm surface, sine
in the former the balls that strike it embedded
whereas the latter they ricoce and thus attain thei
mark ; it being estimated that, undel favorable Gil
cumstances about oneeventh OF the balls produce thei
e effect in this way.
TABLE OF FIRE ON TARG EFT FIVE FEET MN
l INCHES AND ,NINETYFIvE FEET IN LENGTH.
NO. OF BALLS OUT OF 100 1STANoE The
II HIT THE MARK. YARDS