118 MILITARY SCIENCES. 



with the flint, and thereby the firing rendered more certain. The disk was 

 at the same time placed higher, and was thus less liable to become foul from 

 the burning of the powder. The cock also was provided with a spring, 

 which, when the flint was once brought in contact with the disk, kept it there 

 firmly during the whole revolution. The trigger was easily arranged, but 

 the disk was wound up by a particular key for that purpose. 



MoDRRN Times. 



The more evident became the great advantages to be derived from the 

 use of artillery in the field, and that to employ it there effectually it must 

 have the utmost possible lightness and mobility, the more entirely were the 

 fcrmer enormous calibres abandoned (for the earlier cannon threw 56, 48, 

 and 36 pounds of iron), and a lighter artillery created, in which the loss of 

 weight in the shot was compensated by greater rapidity in the shooting. 

 Gustavus Adolphus, Louis XIV., Frederick II., who created the flying 

 artillery^ Napoleon, who by the employment of artillery in large masses 

 decided his battles ; are names which designate whole epochs, at once in the 

 history of war and artillery, 



1. Artillery and Carriages. 



At present the artillery in common use is composed of cannon, howitzers, 

 and mortars, which diflfer from each other in outward appearance and still 

 more in internal form. Gannon have a length of from 16 to 20 times the 

 diameter of their ball or their calibre ; howitzers are from 4^ to 6, and mor- 

 tars from 3 to 4 calibres in length. From cannon, balls are thrown in a 

 direction nearly horizontal ; from howitzers, shells, at a small angle ; and 

 from mortars, bombs, at a great elevation. The internal form of mortars 

 and howitzers differs from that of cannon by their being made with a 

 chamber, that is a part smaller than the bore of the gun, in which the com- 

 paratively small charge is placed {pi. 36, figs. 19, 20, 24, 26, 28). In 

 modern times it has been discovered that howitzers can be used without 

 chambers also with equal effect. Particular kinds of gun are the unicorns, 

 schuvaloffs, and carronades, of which we shall speak hereafter. 



a. Cannon. Cannon are distinguished from each other by the weight of 

 the ball which they throw, and these are, 1-, 3-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 12-, and 24- 

 pounders. The inner cavity of the gun (fig. 14, ah cd) is called the bore, 

 and at the part where the charge rests, the base or breech c d, it is more or 

 less rounded. The hinder part of the cylinder, a b c d, is called the first rein- 

 force ; the middle part, c d e f, which contains the dolphins and the trunnion 

 L l', the second reinforce ; e f g h, the chase ; g h i k, the muzzle with the 

 mouth. The thickness of metal decreases from the breech to the mouth, 

 from one calibre to half a calibre, and this diminution is by stages ; each 

 reinforce is connected with the adjoining by some architectural member 

 which is called a frieze (moulding), and distinguished according to its 

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