HISTORICAL NOTICES OE THE ROYAL ARTILLERY. 
219 
briskly and seizing it with the left hand, and falling back into his Place with the 
Right foot behind the left heel, bringing the spunge to his right Shoulder in a per¬ 
pendicular manner as already directed, gives the word fire immediately, upon the 
Explosion he spunges as before. 
N.B. Those two men, vizt. he who loads and he who rams home are to be 
particularly carefull to keep their Bodies at all times out of the line of 
fire, the man who loads advances with his left foot, upon his right heel 
making a full face to the right, at the same time that the man who 
rams home makes a full face to the left, which motions those two men 
are to do together. 
G. A Man to serve with Ammunition, his post is on the left of the G-un, just 
without the Wheel of the Carriage with his Back to it, he carries a Leathern Pouch 
in which he should never have more at a time than three charges, slung over his 
right Shoulder, securing the Lid of the Pouch close with his left hand, except when 
he hands out a Cartridge to the man who loads, which he is to do while the Gun is 
spunging; and that with great Caution, this is done by his making a half face to 
the right upon both Heels, to meet the man who loads, who at the same time makes 
an Inclination to the right to receive the Charge as has been said before. 
II. A Man to supply Ammunition from the Tumbrel or place where the Ammu¬ 
nition is put, which should be in as convenient a place as can be found, at a proper 
distance from the Gun, he carries a Leathern Pouch slung round his right shoulder, 
which he supplies from the Tumbrels as often as is necessary and changes the pouch 
with the man who serves with ammunition as often as is wanted. 
N.B* In actual Service a Non Commissioned Officer and eight or ten men from 
each Battalion of Infantry are generally attached to its two guns, who 
are to assist in taking care of the Ammunition at the Tumbrel or 
Waggon, the Limbers and the Cattle, and in preventing the Drivers 
from running away while the Artillery are employed on the Batteries. 
Six men for the Dragropes, who lay hold of the wooden pins, three of which 
are fixed at an equal distance in each Rope; in firing standing they draw up 
and dress in a Line with the Axletree of the carriage, and are to be attentive to the 
word of command or Signal to shift the ropes and to advance or retreat. In ad¬ 
vancing the two men who draw at the outside ends of the Ropes should keep well 
extended at Equal distances from the Gun and about three fathoms from each other, 
so as to be Tar enough out of the reach of Explosion ; when the word or Signal is 
given for retreating the two men at the innermost Ends must shift the Ropes from 
the Hooks at the Ends of the Axletree quickly, upon which the two Men who in 
advancing were the outermost, fix their End to the Hook at the End of the Trail, 
always facing inwards, and in retreating they are to keep well extended so as not to 
be in the way of the Recoil. 
When the men exercise without powder, a Large wad of Hay, Straw or Junk 
should be rain’d Home, to save the rammer head, and before Exercise with powder 
or going on Service, the Gun should be well spunged and the Yents and screws 
cleared and Oiled. 
When the men are taught to perform all the motions so perfectly that powder 
may be used, too much care and precaution cannot be observed in the Beginning* 
from firing verry slow, they are to proceed Gradually as they grow more perfect; in 
firing quick as possible never neglect to spunge after each Discharge. 
The men must be made perfect in firing Standing, before they are suffered to fire 
