Front matter
Reading edition
GUNPOWDER AND AMMUNITION
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
STRAY MILITARY PAPERS. With 2 Plates. 8vo, 7s. 6d LUCIAN, THE SYRIAN SATIRIST. 8vo, 5s. net. THE OUTLINES OF QUATERNIONS. Crown 8vo, 10s. LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. LONDON, NEW YORK, AND BOMBAY
GUNPOWDER AND AMMUNITION THEIR ORIGIN AND PROGRESS
BY LIEUT.-COLONEL HENRY W. L. HIME (LATE) ROYAL ARTILLERY LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON NEW YORK AND BOMBAY 1904 All rights reserved
CONTENTS
PART I
THE ORIGIN OF GUNPOWDER
CHAP.PAGE
I.Introduction3
II.Saltpetre12
III.The Greeks29
IV.Marcus Græcus57
V.The Arabs90
VI.The Hindus105
VII.The Chinese124
VIII.Friar Bacon141
PART II
THE PROGRESS OF AMMUNITION
IX.Analytical Table of Ammunition165
X.Hand Ammunition:—
Fire-Arrows and Fire-Pikes168
Hand Grenades169
XI.War Rockets172
XII.Gunpowder177
XIII.Shock Projectiles:—
Darts, &c.199
Round Shot200
Case207
Shrapnel208
XIV.Igneous Projectiles:—
Hot Shot217
Incendiary Fireballs217
Incendiary Shell220
Carcasses224
Explosive Fireballs224
Explosive Shell225
XV.Igniters:—
Hot Wires, Priming Powder, Matches, and Portfires228
Tubes230
Time Fuzes231
Percussion and Concussion Fuzes244
XVI.Signals246
TABLES
TABLE PAGE
I.Methods of Refining Saltpetre27
II.Greek Fires32
III.Sea Fires41
IV.Analytical Table of Ammunition167
V.Price of English Powder at Various Times184
VI.Connection between Size of Grain, Muzzle Velocity, and Pressure195
VII.Composition of English Powder at Various Times197
VIII.Composition of Foreign Powder at Various Times198
IX.Price of Metals in 1375 and 1865204
X.Comparative Cost of One Round fired with Shot of Different Materials, cir. 1375205
XI.Comparative Pressure on Bore when firing Shot of Different Materials, cir. 1375206
XII.Composition of Matches at Various Times229
XIII.Composition of Time Fuzes at Various Times243
XIV.Composition of Signal Rockets at Various Times246
XV.Fixed Lights246
XVI.Fireworks247
Index249
BOOKS OFTEN QUOTED
The following works are frequently quoted, and are only designated by the author’s name. Thus, “Elliot,” ii. 75, means Sir H. M. Elliot’s “Hist. of India, as told, &c. &c.,” vol. ii. p. 75.
Bacon, Roger, Opera quædam hactenus inedita, ed. by Professor Brewer; Rolls Series, 1859.
Berthelot, M. P. E., La Chimie au Moyen Age, Paris, 1893.
Brackenbury, Lieut.-General Sir H., G.C.B., “Ancient Cannon in Europe,” in vols. iv. and v. of Proceed. Roy. Artillery Institution, Woolwich, 1865-6.
Elliot, Sir H. M., “Hist. of India, as told by its own Historians,” ed. by Professor J. Dowson, M.R.A.S., London, 1867-77.
Jähns, Oberst-Lieut. M., Handbuch einer Geschichte des Kriegswesens, Leipsig, 1880.
Napoleon III., Études sur le Passé et l’Avenir de l’Artillerie, Paris, 1846-71.
Nye, Master-Gunner N., “Art of Gunnery,” to which is added a “Treatise on Artificial Fireworks” (separately paginated), London, 1647.
Reinaud (Professor) et Favé (Capitaine), Du Feu Grégeois, &c., Paris, 1845.
Romocki, S. J. von, Geschichte der Explosivstoffe, Hanover, 1895.
Whitehorne, P., “Certain Waies for the ordering of Souldiers in Battelray,” London, 1560.