BALLS, LIGHT.
Light Balls are thrown from mortars at night, to discover the operations of the enemy’s working parties, &c.
Light balls burn from 10 to 20 minutes.
| Composition. | |||||
| lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | ||
| Saltpetre, pulverized | 6 | 4 | Rosin, pounded | 1 | 14 |
| Sulphur, ground | 2 | 8 | Linseed oil, boiled | 0 | 7½ |
BALLS, SMOKE.
Smoke balls are fired from mortars to suffocate the men in mines, &c., or to prevent them continuing their work. They are also used to conceal manœuvres, &c., from an enemy.
Smoke balls burn from 25 to 30 minutes.
| Composition. | |||||
| lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | ||
| Corned mealed powder | 5 | 0 | Swedish pitch | 2 | 0 |
| Saltpetre, pulverized | 1 | 0 | Tallow | 0 | 8 |
| Sea coal | 1 | 8 | |||
To construct hollow Globes, or Cases for Light Balls, &c.
The canvas, or paper, may be formed in the following manner, viz.:—With radius of half the intended calibre, describe the circle A B C D (vide Figure 20, Practical Geometry), and divide the same into four equal parts. From B with radius A B describe arc A E, from A with radius A B describe arc B E, and from E with radius E A describe arc A B. Eight pieces, as E A B, will form a ball nearly, the edges being brought close together.
CARCASSES.
Carcasses, a species of shell, are filled with composition, the flame from which is extremely powerful, and nearly unextinguishable. They are much used in bombardments of towns, setting fire to shipping, &c., and are discharged from guns, mortars, and howitzers, similarly to common shells; from which, however, they differ, in being made thicker, to enable them to withstand the intensity of fire; and in having three fuze holes instead of one.
Carcasses burn from 8 to 10 minutes.
Common shells may be made to produce effects similar to carcasses, by filling them with a proportion of Valenciennes composition, and bursting powder.
All carcasses have three holes; and, from guns and howitzers, are fired with sabots.
| Carcass Composition. | Valenciennes Composition. | ||||
| lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | ||
| Saltpetre, pulverized | 6 | 4 | Saltpetre, pulverized | 6 | 4 |
| Sulphur, sublimated | 2 | 8 | Sulphur, sublimated | 2 | 8 |
| Rosin, pounded | 1 | 14 | Rosin, pounded | 1 | 4 |
| Antimony, pounded | 0 | 10 | Antimony, pounded | 0 | 10 |
| Tallow | 0 | 10 | Linseed oil, 6 oz. 14 drams. | ||
| Turpentine | 0 | 10 | |||
| Weight, and Dimensions of Carcasses. | |||||
| Nature of Carcass. Land Service. |
Exterior Diameter. |
Weight, empty. |
Weight, filled. |
||
| inches. | lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | |
| 13 Inch | 12·84 | 220 | 0 | 234 | 8 |
| 10 Inch | 9·84 | 97 | 0 | 104 | 0 |
| 8 Inch | 7·86 | 52 | 4 | 57 | 0 |
| 5½ Inch | 5·59 | 15 | 8 | 17 | 1 |
| 4⅖ Inch | 4·45 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| 42 Pr. | 6·85 | 28 | 14 | 30 | 10 |
| 32 Pr. | 6·1 | 23 | 3½ | 24 | 8 |
| 24 Pr. | 5·54 | 15 | 6 | 16 | 9½ |
| 18 Pr. | 5·04 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 7½ |
| 12 Pr. | 4·4 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 13 |