Captain Midnight Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 Ahoy mates! I need help finding authentic 18th century artillery commands for naval combat. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks for your help. "Now then, me bullies! Would you rather do the gallows dance, and hang in chains 'til the crows pluck your eyes from your rotten skulls? Or would you feel the roll of a stout ship beneath your feet again?" ---Captain William Kidd--- (1945)
Hawkyns Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 http://www.hmsrichmond.org/images/Gun%20exercise.pdf This is the one I use for later period, with, of course, modifications for modern safety regs. Hawkyns Cannon add dignity to what otherwise would be merely an ugly brawl I do what I do for my own reasons. I do not require anyone to follow me. I do not require society's approval for my actions or beliefs. if I am to be judged, let me be judged in the pure light of history, not the harsh glare of modern trends.
Captain Midnight Posted April 26, 2011 Author Posted April 26, 2011 That is a great one, thank you Hawkyns! I wonder if any exist that have pictures or diagrams of the various movements and positions? "Now then, me bullies! Would you rather do the gallows dance, and hang in chains 'til the crows pluck your eyes from your rotten skulls? Or would you feel the roll of a stout ship beneath your feet again?" ---Captain William Kidd--- (1945)
michaelsbagley Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 I know "The Compleate Gentleman Soldier" which has been linked here before has details on infantry drill, and is dated to 1703... but since I generally haven't been interested in artillery I have no recollection if it is discused in there or not. It would likely be worth your time to dig that up and check there. I'd help find the link, but searching with the pocket device is annoying to say the least
Fox Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 Is this what you're looking for? The Master Gunner Commands Silence Handle your rope spunge Put your Spunge into your Gun Take of your Apron Stop your Vent with your Thumb Put home the Spunge to the Breech Turn it about thrice Draw forth the Spunge. Keep it turning Strike it on the Muzzle Exchange the Spunge for the Rammer Handle your Cartridge Put it into the gun Handle your Wadd Put it into the Gun Handle your Rammer Put it into the Gun Ram home Wadd and Cartridge Give three strokes Examine with your Priming Iron Withdraw your Rammer Handle your Shot Strike it on the muzzle of the Gun Put the Shot into the Gun Handle your Wadd Put it into the Gun Ram home Wadd and Shot Give too strokes Draw forth your Rammer Lay down your Rammer Handle your Priming Iron Prick or break your cartridge Withdraw your Priming Iron Handle your Powder Horn Unstop your Powder Horn Hold up your Horn Prime your Gun, carrying the powder forward Stop your Powder horn Join your left hand to the small end Bruise your Powder Return your Horn Cover the Priming with the Apron Your Guns are now loaded, and ready to fire at Command. The Gunner says, Man your Tackles Handle your Crows and Hand Spikes Hall up the Ports and Belay them Run out your Guns Lay the guns to pass in the Ports Point straight Point to Dismast Point to Wind and Water [presumably either this command or the previous - Ed.] Handle your Match Blow your Match Take of your Apron See all things clear of the Reverse Fire. From Francis Povey, The Sea Gunner's Companion (London, 1702) pp. 43-44 Foxe"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707ETFox.co.uk
Red_Dawn Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 Point to Dismast Point to Wind and Water [presumably either this command or the previous - Ed.] I can guess that "point to dismast" means aim for the mast, but what does "point to wind and water" mean? I'm embarrassingly under-researched for have a master gunner in my stories.
Captain Midnight Posted April 26, 2011 Author Posted April 26, 2011 Is this what you're looking for? The Master Gunner Commands Silence Handle your rope spunge Put your Spunge into your Gun Take of your Apron Stop your Vent with your Thumb Put home the Spunge to the Breech Turn it about thrice Draw forth the Spunge. Keep it turning Strike it on the Muzzle Exchange the Spunge for the Rammer Handle your Cartridge Put it into the gun Handle your Wadd Put it into the Gun Handle your Rammer Put it into the Gun Ram home Wadd and Cartridge Give three strokes Examine with your Priming Iron Withdraw your Rammer Handle your Shot Strike it on the muzzle of the Gun Put the Shot into the Gun Handle your Wadd Put it into the Gun Ram home Wadd and Shot Give too strokes Draw forth your Rammer Lay down your Rammer Handle your Priming Iron Prick or break your cartridge Withdraw your Priming Iron Handle your Powder Horn Unstop your Powder Horn Hold up your Horn Prime your Gun, carrying the powder forward Stop your Powder horn Join your left hand to the small end Bruise your Powder Return your Horn Cover the Priming with the Apron Your Guns are now loaded, and ready to fire at Command. The Gunner says, Man your Tackles Handle your Crows and Hand Spikes Hall up the Ports and Belay them Run out your Guns Lay the guns to pass in the Ports Point straight Point to Dismast Point to Wind and Water [presumably either this command or the previous - Ed.] Handle your Match Blow your Match Take of your Apron See all things clear of the Reverse Fire. From Francis Povey, The Sea Gunner's Companion (London, 1702) pp. 43-44 Yes! That is precisely what I am looking for, Mr. Foxe! Is there any chance a .pdf could be found that illustrates these commands? Thank you for your help! "Now then, me bullies! Would you rather do the gallows dance, and hang in chains 'til the crows pluck your eyes from your rotten skulls? Or would you feel the roll of a stout ship beneath your feet again?" ---Captain William Kidd--- (1945)
Capn Bloody Sam Rackham Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 Commodore, I just copied an' pasted to a word doc. Can ye use that? 'Til the Morrow,Cap'n Bloody Sam RackhamCaptain o' The Cursed FewCo Organizer o' The Southern Pirate FestivalShip's Carpenter o' The Atlanta Pirates & Wenches Guild Member of Order of Leviathan 2nd Generation
Dutchman Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 foxe, thanks for posting- good stuff I suspect point towards wind and water is some form of allowing for windage and rock of the ship.
Captain Midnight Posted April 27, 2011 Author Posted April 27, 2011 Captain Rackham, thank you for your help, brother. I was hoping I could find an illustrated version of these commands which show the positions and movements of each command. Foxe nailed the info I was searching for on the head; now if I can just find illustrations of them. I was thinking that perhaps that book, being as old as it is, might be found in a downloadable form which would allow me to print just that chapter. "Now then, me bullies! Would you rather do the gallows dance, and hang in chains 'til the crows pluck your eyes from your rotten skulls? Or would you feel the roll of a stout ship beneath your feet again?" ---Captain William Kidd--- (1945)
Fox Posted April 27, 2011 Posted April 27, 2011 The book only lists the command, no illustrations I'm afraid. Since each command is an action, as opposed to infantry drill in which many commands are postures, I don't know how much use illustrations would be. Half of them could use the same illustration of a guy with an unidentifiable gun tool down the barrel. Most of the commands are pretty self-explanatory if you've ever fired a gun, or even just understand the principle. Foxe"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707ETFox.co.uk
Capt. Sterling Posted April 27, 2011 Posted April 27, 2011 (edited) Construction des vaisseaux du Roy, 1695 L'exercice du Canon. - [page 132] Cannoniers prenez garde vous. Silence. tapez vos Canons. D' acute;marez vos Canons. Prenez la Platine. D"acute;couvrez la Lumiere. Prenez la Sonde. Mettez-lagrave; dans la Lumiere. Crevez la Gargousse. Hors la Sonde. Passez-la; sur la main. Prenez le Poulevrin. Haut lePoulevrin. D'acute;bouchez le avec les dents. Emorsez. Bouchez le Poulevrin. Joignez la main gauche au Poulevrin. Ecrasez la poudre. Pendez le Poulevrin la ceinture. Prenez la Platine. Couvrez la Lumiere. Prenez vos Pinces Anspects. Canonniers pointez. ~ Pointez en avant. Pointez en arriere. [Page R:133] Pointez en belle. Pointez agrave; d'acute;macircter. Pointez agrave; couler bas. Pointez agrave; l'horison. Posez vos Pinces Anspects sur le pont. Prenez le Boute-feu Prenez la Platine. Souflez la meacuteche. Boutez le feu. Piquez le Boute-feu sur le Pont. Mettez la Platine sur le Canon. Prenez l'Escofilon. Passez le pied gauche par dessus les Palans Brague. Mettez l'Escofilon dans le Canon. Mettez le pouce sur la Lumiere. Poussez l'Escofilon au fond du Canon. Virez-le trois fois. Hors l'Escofilon en virant. Frapez-le sur la bouche du Canon. Acourciss l'Escofilon. Chargez s l'Escofilon. Prenes la Gargousse. Mord la Gargousse. Mett la grave; dans le Canon. Pren le valet. Mett le sur la Gargousse. Mett le refouloir dans le Canon. Pousse la Gargousse au fond du Canon. [Page R:134] Frape trois coups. Sond eacute;s la Gargousse. Hors le refouloir. Pren la bale. &Mett dans le Canon. Pren le valet. Mett sur la bale. Mett le refouloir dans le Canon. Pouss la bale sur la poudre. Frap un coup. Hors le refouloir. pass le pied gauche par dessus les Palans Brague. Change l'Escofilon. Pose sur le Pont. Prene la Platine. Couvre la Lumiere. Rangez-vous sur les Palans. Pousse le Canon au Sabord. FIN Translation Cannoneers take guard position. Silence. Remove the Tampion from your Guns. Unmoor your Guns. Seize the Lock. Uncover the Light (touch hole). Take up the Probe. (priming wire) Put it there in the touchhole. Burst the Cartridge. (make a hole in the cartridge with the piming wire down through the touch hole) Take out the Probe. Place it there in the hand. Take up the Powder horn. Present the Powder horn. Uncork it with the teeth. Fill the measure. Cork the Powder horn. Place the Powder horn in the left hand. Place the powder in the lock/touchhole. Hang the Powder horn on the belt. Close the Lock. Cover the touch Hole Present your Grips (Handspikes. ) Canonniers aim. -Aim forward - Aim aft [ Page R:133 ] -Aim carefully. -Aim for dismasting. -Aim low. -Aim even with the horizon. Restore your Grips (Handspikes to the Deck.) Prepare the linstock. (or) Preparet the lock. Blow on the slowmatch. Light the linstock. Put the Linstock on the deck. Place the Lock on the Gun. Present the Linstock Move the left foot over the Hoists and Tackle. Place the linstock in the Gun.(fire) Place the thumb on the touchhole. Shove the Ramrod Swab to the bottom of the Gun. Swab it three times. Remove It each time while swabbing. Tap it on the mouth of the Gun. Wipe the Swab. Present Ramrod. Present Cartridge. Cut the Cartridge. Place it in the Gun. Present the servage (wadding.) Mettes it on top of the Cartridge. Put the rammer in the Gun. Seat the Cartridge at the bottom of the Gun. [ Page R:134 Hit the cartrdige with three blows of the rammer Sound the Cartridge. (feel for it to see if seated properly) Remove the rammer. Present the cannon ball. Start it in the Gun. Present the wad. Start it atop the ball. Start the rammer in the Gun. Press the ball down on the powder. Give it a blow. Remove the Ramrod. Move the left foot over the Hoists and Tackle. Present Ramrod Place it on the deck. Present the Lock Cover the touchhole. Take up the Hoists. Pull the Gun to the Gunport END found this here.. http://www.chesapeakepicaroons.org/DailyLife/weapons.html interesting... excerpt from the fifth edition of Construction des vaisseaux du Roy, 1695. [in French] Edited April 27, 2011 by Capt. Sterling "I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers Crewe of the Archangel http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel# http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/
Elena Posted April 27, 2011 Posted April 27, 2011 I took them over here, giving direct link to this page and credits to both of you. Thank you very much, we have master gunners both French and English (pirates, privateers too) and it comes very handy. -A swashbuckling adventures RPG, set in 1720 in West Indies; winner of Distant Fantasies& RPG-D Member's Choice Award; RPG Conference's Originality Award; 2011 & 2012 Simming Prizes-
Daniel Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Point to Dismast Point to Wind and Water [presumably either this command or the previous - Ed.] I can guess that "point to dismast" means aim for the mast, but what does "point to wind and water" mean? I'm embarrassingly under-researched for have a master gunner in my stories. "Point to wind and water" means to aim at the enemy ship's waterline, that is, to sink her.
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