SHORT NOTES ON PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS. 
75 
58. Experiments carried on at Woolwich, as to the question of 
issuing Shells filled and plugged, or empty, with Fuzes screwed 
in, for Land Service.* 
The following are the results of a trial made to ascertain whether, in the 
event of ignition of the gun cartridges in a limber box, either by accident or 
design, the danger to the gunners and troops in close proximity would be much 
increased if the surrounding shells were carried filled, and plugged, instead of empty 
and the bursters in the cartouch. 
Two 40-pr. limber boxes, packed as for service, as regards their ammunition, 
the one having its shells loaded and plugged, the other empty and the bursters in 
the cartouch, were first travelled fifty miles (it being considered that the 
travelling might possibly loosen the plugs), and then without being opened were 
exploded by firing into them with Metford’s bullets, in the exact condition in 
which they were returned from travelling. 
(1) The 40-pr. limber box carrying the loaded shell was first exploded. 
It was fired the first round. None of the loaded shells exploded; the lifting 
straps round them were not even injured. The shells were dispersed within a 
radius of six yards. The top of the limber box was blown to a distance of 
nineteen yards. 
(2) The 40-pr. limber box carrying empty shell and the bursters placed in 
the cartridge cartouch as at present obtains in the service, was next fired; it was 
exploded at the fourth round. 
As was anticipated the explosion was much more violent, the quantity of 
powder in the cartouch being increased from 25 lbs. to 37a lbs. 
The shells and wood splinters were blown to distances varying from 25 to 80 
yards. 
The straps round the shells were blown away and completely charred. 
From these results it has been ordered that the shells of field artillery and 
batteries of position shall, in future, be carried in the limbers loaded with plugs in 
their fuze holes. 
59. Notes on Field Artillery. f These few remarks are offered to the notice 
of my brother officers with considerable diffidence, as they are merely notes made 
on the part played by our own arm, in the Campaigns of 1859 and 1866. 
In considering the influence exerted by artillery in the war of 1859, it must be 
borne in mind that the whole of N. Italy from the Po is a genuine plain; the 
ground is marshy, the roads are raised on causeways, the whole face of the country 
is densely cultivated, the soil is rich, and the roads quickly become impassable, 
hence the action of cavalry and artillery is alike incommoded. 
The French artillery was organized in batteries of 6 guns each, one per brigade; 
on the whole say 8 guns per 2000 men. The entire force of the arm was 288 
guns, 18 guns were attached as a reserve to each corps (equal to 3 divisions of 
infantry and 12 squadrons of cavalry), and a general officer commanded the 
artillery on the staff of every corps. The gun itself was a rifled 4-pr. ranging 
about 3000 yards. 
The Piedmontese adopted the arrangement of eight guns per battery, two being 
howitzers, about two guns per 1000 men. Two batteries were allowed per 
division, equal eight battalions and four squadrons. 
* O.S. Committee Extracts, Part 1. Vol. VI. p. 104. 
t Some notes on Field Artillery. Campaigns 1859 and 1866. By an Officer, E.A. 
12 
