USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Salisbury > Salisbury Connecticut cannon, revolutionary war > Part 3
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The figuring out of what quantity of powder should be allowed for a gun not truly bored depended upon what was found to be the thinnest part of the metal at the breech of the gun, and the results 12 Capt. Samuel Sturmy's Magazine.
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SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
of this computation were supposed to have been recorded (the gun numbered or otherwise identified by a "mark" corresponding to the record), and furnished with each gun, after proving.
As to proper size for shot it was quite generally the practice for gunners to allow about 1/4 inch leeway between the diameters of shot and bore to provide for sufficient vent and easy ramming and wadding, or an average of 1/20 of calibers for safety.
Cartridges were usually made of canvas for the larger guns, and of paper for the smaller ones. In the making, the diameter of the bore of the gun was first taken and 1/22 part of the diameter was allowed for vent; the length was about three diameters of the bore including the pasting. A form or pattern of wood turned to the proper diameter and length of the cartridge plus sufficient length to turn in before pasting the paper on the form was provided. The pattern was first tallowed so the paper would slip off without tearing. When dried and ready for the powder they were each marked with red lead to indicate how high they ought to be filled, after which the end was carefully folded over to make the desired capsule or cartridge, which, when rammed home, would readily be punctured by the priming iron through the touch-hole.
Gunners were supposed to know how to trace, cut out, make up and finish copper ladles (used some- times in lieu of cartridges), also sponges and ram- mers, and to provide and properly fit their staffs.
34
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
The head of the ladle staff was made nearly the diameter of the shot. For sponges, their bodies were made of soft wood, such as willow or birch, one diameter and a quarter in length, and one quarter less than the diameter of the shot, and covered with sheepskin with its wool outside, nailed on with copper nails.
The heads of the rammers were of hard wood, the same dimensions as the body of the sponge. They were so turned to receive a ferrule of brass to reinforce the head, which was bored 2/3 of its length to receive its staff properly fastened therein. The staffs for the ladles, sponges and rammers were each made a foot longer than the bore of the gun.
The "matches" were made of tow twisted into strands as big as a man's little finger and a little longer. They were boiled in strong lye ashes and a little saltpetre, and when dried were lashed to the end of the linstock, which was usually made of an iron rod about 2 feet long. They were lighted from a candle "lanthorn" and were applied to the priming powder on the touch-hole of the gun when firing, by the gunner or his mate in charge of the piece.
The following table of gun sizes, weights, powder charges and point-blank distance capacity has been discovered, as an interesting adjunct, showing in a rough way approximate figures that were considered as near enough for all practical purposes in the bygone days of "cast-iron" gunnery.
-- ------
-
P
Fig. 8
R
ADIH
1.
A
1
---
:
A
1
C
- -
A SHIP'S GUN AND ITS CARRIAGE
35
1771779
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
Diameter of Bore, inches
Length of Gun
ft., inches
Weight of Gun
pounds
Diam, of Cart-
ridge, inches
Length of Cart-
ridge, inches
Weight of
Powder, pounds
Diameter of
Shot, inches
Weight of
Shot, pounds
Point Blank
Distance, feet
1.2
4.6
200
1.0
4.0
0.8
1.1
0.5
180
2.2
6.0
400
2.0
7.4
1.4
2.1
1.5
270
3.0
7.0
750
3.0
8.4
2.8
2.8
3.4
360
3.6
8.0
1400
3.5
10.4
4.0
3.5
6.0
480
4.2
9.0
1900
4.1
12.0
6.4
4.0
9.0
525
5.3
11.0
4400
5.2
16.0
11.6
5.0
18.0
550
The above figures include standard full-size cast- iron ordnance from swivel guns to 18 pounders, for military or field use. Those intended for naval use would be about 2/3 the length, and in some instances where the guns were to be used in cramped deck quarters, 1/2 the length specified, with consequent lighter weight and carrying capacity, and all assum- ing the guns were "true-bored.".
The qualifications of the 18th century gunner might have been lacking and probably were, in many respects to begin with, especially in the American sea-service and privateering; but as experience produced knowledge of his equipment and how to use it, skill was gradually acquired. The seaman gunner's knowledge naturally was more difficult to absorb than that of the land artillerist, due to unsteady conditions on ship board, and the handling of his gun in a rough sea-way. His accessory equipment consisted of practically the same kind of tools or implements as those used in shore batteries,
1
-------
36
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
including rammers, sheepskin sponges, linstocks with their "matches," priming irons, quoins or wedges for use in elevating the piece, and copper ladles when required for handling loose powder charges. The ammunition consisted of solid shot, double-headed and cross-bar shot for tearing sails and rigging, canvas or paper cartridges, budge barrels for loose powder, baskets and tubs for bringing shot to the piece, and water buckets. His crew readily gained familiarity with their duties, and were usu- ally made up of a gunner, a sponger, a loader, two "in-and-out-men" and a powder boy. Two guns were oftentimes handled by the same gun-crew. He was supposed to know the names, length, weight and "fortification" of every piece in his battery, and be able readily to tell how much powder was a sufficient charge, what shot was fit, and the limit of charge by the use of the ramforce ring on the gun, and the limit of the gun's outboard exposure by the use of the cornice ring, if his guns were so marked; also to use the utmost care in the selection of a sober, honest and reliable man for the yeoman of the powder, who was never allowed to beat in the head of his powder barrels with an iron tool, but with a wooden mallet. He was also expected to know whether his guns were true-bored or not and to proportion his charge according to the thinnest side of the metal, and accordingly take his direction or aim at the breech of the piece just over that place where, by his knowledge, he located the middle of the bore within the piece, enabling him to make a good shot with
-
-
-
BORING MILL
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON 37
a bad piece. He also knew it was important to wad his shot and to ram it home close to the powder or cartridge, for if it should not be close, the gun would break in the vacant place when firing. Con- cerning gun breeching and tackles, the seaman gun- ner measured the length of the gun and allowed four times its length for tackle, and for breeching twice the length, and if the rope was suspected of not being good or of sufficient strength, quoins were fastened to the deck forward of the fore trucks of the carriage, that they might have no play ; and if the breeching, tackles and quoins gave way in foul weather, the gun was dismounted from its carriage, stowed and lashed.
Concerning the system or method of mechanics used in the drilling or boring of cannon, research develops that during the 18th century and about the time of the American Revolution the boring consisted only in the enlargement of the "founded" bore, conformable to the caliber desired to attain. In some of the cannon foundries, particularly in Penn- sylvania, it was the practice to "found" the cannon over the "core" (as it was termed) or with the bore, which afterwards was regulated to caliber by means of the borer. In other foundries the cannon were cast "massive" or solid, and bored afterwards in the boring mill,-and from what can now be discovered, this latter method prevailed at Salisbury. By a care- ful review of what few references there are extant on this mechanical subject, as applying to those times, it is found that the boring mill worked vertically, the
.
38
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
machine being constructed according to the old and imperfect system whereby the cannon rested station- ary in a vertical position, muzzle down, fastened or wedged with wooden wedges or forms, into a heavy wooden sledge-like receptacle, which moved up and down in the greased furrows or run-ways of two heavy wooden vertical side beams, which sledge, with its cannon therein, could be moved up and down by means of blocks and falls from overhead. Beneath the cannon and in the direction of its axis, was the boring spindle, arranged to turn around in a heavy wooden greased frame-work, attached to the bottom of which spindle was a heavy iron base-ring, and bolted to that were wooden cross-beams of consider- able weight and length, by which means the boring spindle was turned around by a horse walking about in a large circle. The pressure required while boring was effected by the weight of the sledge and cannon, which pressure was regulated by counter- balances. But as the borer must have had some scope or "play," and was thus brought out of its exact vertical position, and as the cannon itself must not have been always fastened firmly and exactly in its perfect vertical axis, it is easy to understand why, by reason of these rather crude mechanics, the finished bore of the gun was not perfect to the axis line. By the process of gearing at the base-ring of the machine, the speed of the borer might have been increased at the end of the horse walking-beam without increasing the speed of the horse, and doubtless this was done. The lubrication of the
H
SWIVEL PATTERNING
39
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
boring tool must have been quite crudely performed, requiring the stopping of the mill at frequent intervals to "grease up," by wadding the hole or bore started in the gun, with enough grease to last until the next stop. These boring mills might have been arranged in batteries of two or more mills in one building, so that more than one gun could be undergoing this process at a time. The boring-point or tool itself at the end of the spindle was the most important part of the equipment, as it necessarily must have been made of steel properly hardened; and as the refining mill, taken over by the State, was at Colebrook, and many references appear relating to this other important plant as existing not far distant from Salisbury, although perhaps a day's journey in those times, it is quite probable that the necessary "temper" required for the tools came from that plant.
Occasional references exist concerning the "pat- terns" for the casting of cannon at Salisbury, but the patterns themselves have long since become extinct, unless the cannon that were cast from the patterns may form sufficient evidence of all of the intricacies, designs, rings, etc., that may have been made for their ornamentation. What few of them remain as trophies of the past, are so corroded and wasted by the elements of time that it is difficult now to gain any accurate idea of their original appearance. From the letters of Capt. John Deshon of Groton, found in the Huntington Papers relating to the casting of guns of the frigate Con-
-
40
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
.
federacy, it would appear that the pattern for those 12 pounders was very elaborately designed. It is quite possible that some of the guns that were cast at Salisbury for naval use, were copies of some of the guns captured from British privateers and used as patterns, barring any regal ornamentation or mot- toes that many of them must have displayed in relief along their barrels and supplanting them by United States or State Arms. An 18th century naval gun, discovered stored away in the basement of the Connecticut State Armory in Hartford and por- trayed herein, has the Arms of the State and its name "HANKS" appearing just forward of the touch- hole. The 18th century naval guns were gradually reduced to two types,-the long (18 to 25 calibers) and short (about 15 calibers). Near the end of the century carronades began to be used, particularly for upper deck guns. They were very short and light, but fired large projectiles, with low velocity. Naval actions were usually fought at such very short ranges that a gun of this type was often exceedingly effective. The heaviest naval guns were usually about 32 pounders, which were carried by the largest ships. The gun carriages were constructed with heavy oaken sides called "brackets," joined by smaller flat timbers called "transoms," the whole supported by heavy wooden trucks or wheels six inches to a foot in diameter. The trunnions of the gun rested in trunnion sockets in the tops of the brackets. Carriages of carronades were differently constructed. They were not in evidence during the Revolution,
-
1
P.e.t.
TRUNNIONS AND PATTERNS FOR ORNAMENTATION
-
41
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
not having been designed or cast until about 1779 in Scotland. There appears to be no record of them being patterned or cast at Salisbury during this period.
An account13 rendered by Col. Joshua Porter, manager of the Salisbury Furnace, for a seven- months blast, ending December 31, 1776, discloses the following items, which give an interesting and fair idea of the material supplied during 1776 alone : tons cwt. qrs
116 17 0 Cannon-9 pdrs-12 pdrs- 18 pdrs-
£8179-10-0
40 1
1 do-3 pdrs-4 pdrs-6 pdrs & swivels 3205-1-5
38 3
2
Shot and Ball
1527 -- 5-4
0 15 3 Grape shot
37-6-1
0 3 2 Hand Grenades
19-10-0
0
3 2 Hollow ware (iron pots) 6-11-4
8 9 2 Castings
254-8-8
80 2 0 Pig iron
600-15-0
7 4 0 12 cannon, 6pdrs on hand 576-0-0
0 7 2 1 cannon, 6 pdr, light 30-0-0
0 17 2 1 cannon, 9 pdr, short at muzzle 52-10-0
1 10 0 3 cannon, refused, different sizes 7-10-0 4 19 1 Pig iron ; Forge Hammers, etc. on hand 46-10-0
£14,542-17-10
Sundry deductions for charges in the ac- count against the first blast, for a Boring Mill, Cannon Patterns & Tubs to cast the Cannon in, left on hand, with an old moulding house, and sundry articles, pro- visions &c., supplied for the second blast, £334-19-0
13 Papers of Malcolm D. Rudd.
-
42
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
Voluminous contracts, records, agreements, account books and other papers pertaining to the operation of the Salisbury Cannon Foundry are on file among the State Archives at Hartford. A review of some of these interesting documents indicates that while many consignments of cannon were "on Colony Account" and charged to the selectmen of various towns, there were also depot agents who were authorized to receive, receipt for and distribute a large number of guns that were cast for the naval and military service, as called for by the several organizations and ships that needed them throughout the State and on the seaboard. Gen. Philip Schuyler appears to have received many cannon from this foundry. New London, New Haven, Milford, Strat- ford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich received these "protectors of the . coast" quite abundantly. Andrew Huntington and Capt. Jabez Perkins of Norwich are frequently mentioned in the books as receiving swivels, 4 and 6 pounder guns for ships and privateers; and for the Connecticut River towns, Capt. William Tiley of Hartford was generally the one who received the many and various team deliveries of cannon and shot for the use of those privateers hailing from the River ports. Dudley Case of Simsbury and Maj. Mark Leaven- worth of New Haven were the authorized appointees to receive the guns and their supplies for the army.
The force of men employed at the Salisbury Furnace during the Revolution changed as time went on, and there must have been a good many of them
43
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
first and last by a review of the papers, records and pay vouchers. The master-workman seems to have been Lemuel Bryant. The first Clerk of the Works was William Whiting, and afterwards when Benja- min Henshaw of Middletown and William Whiting were appointed to succeed Colonel Porter, who was called into the military service, we find Benjamin Prime acting as Clerk of the Works and Officer of the Guard. The Watchman was David Oldham. One of the "clay-spankers" was David Dunbar. Jonathan Washburn and Solomon Keith were rated as moulders. Others employed were Zebulon White, Ariel Crouder, John Pumpelly, Thomas Tomlinson, John Bush, Duncan Campbell, Philip Aspel, Mur- dock MacLean, John MacLean, Nicholas Porter, John Welsh and Zacheus Owen.
The List of the Government Guard during the months of May and June, 1777, was as follows :-
Benjamin Prime, Officer of the Guard.
Anable, Abraham
Landon, Asa
Bates, Martin
Mallet, John
Beebe, David, Jr.
McLean, Jacob
Beebe, William
Moore, Alexander
Berry, James
Oldham, David
Bethrong, Abraham
Owen, Aaron
Betts, John
Pierpont, Samuel
Bignall, Richard
Pinkerton, William
Bissell, Asahel
Simmons, Perez
Bissell, Joseph
Smith, Elijah
Bliss, Timothy
Strong, Simeon
Capen, Purchase
Swetland, Aaron
44 SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
Chapman, Titus
Tousey, Matthew
Crane, Ezra
Tubbs, Martin
Evarts, John
Wheeler, Eliphalet
Ficks, Thomas Whitcomb, Edward
French, Ichabod
White, Joel
Grinnell, Noah
Williams, Benajah
Hall, Slias
Williams, Prince
Hall, William
Other men are recorded as additions to the Government Guard. The following names appear as doing duty at various times :- John Knickerbocker, Absolom Taylor, Noah Lyman, Jared Everest, Elisha Everest, Samuel Knight, Robert Street, James Holmes, Daniel Bostwick, Abijah Washburn, George Marsh, Stephen Maples, Negro Liester, Abel Oldham, Ebenezer Merriam and James Landon, 3d.
Patrols of four men were selected or billeted as guards each night out of this company under the command of Benjamin Prime, who, in addition to his duties as Clerk, acted as Captain or Officer of the Guard. Many records appear showing the names and dates of these patrols, one of which is given herewith as a specimen, viz :----
Furnace Guard, Wednesday Night, June 25, 1777 William Beebe Matthew Towsey Martin Bates David Beebe Jr.
ORDERS :
To patrol from Furnace Barn to Col. Porter's corner, by and in the Bridge House & to the Upper Dam. If any disorderly person or persons appear that cannot
45
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
give a good account of themselves and are unknown, they are to be kept under guard till morning.
Countersign-"Stratford."
Per order Benjamin Prime.
There were numerous orders issued similar to the above with different patrol assignments and different countersigns, as shown by the "returned" Orders amongst the papers of the Salisbury budget. One of them, bearing date September 1, 1777, has but two guards posted for the night, viz: Purchase Capen and Aaron Swetland, the countersign being "Washington"., - Endorsement on these Orders being as follows:
"Thursday night, Asahel Bissell, Noah Grinnell and Asa Landon were relieved about nine o'clock. Abraham Bethrong was hailed by the centinel but passed him and came up toward the Guard House, the centinel calling to the guard. They turned out, and one of them laid hold of Bethrong, who struck Bissell, the man who endeavored to secure him. Bethrong having a horse with him to return, which he had borrowed, and being known was dismissed to be enquired of concerning his affray tomorrow morning."
There was a general store at the Furnace, and the accounts and day-books are replete with entries of sales of every character and description, all of which shows that the Furnace was a busy locality and quite well guarded during the entire period of the War.
The countersigns were evidently selected with unusual care during the entire period of service when the Salisbury Furnace was in operation.
46
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
From the many orders on file a few of them are given as follows :
Colonel Warner
Genl. Fellows
Salem
Lee
Thomas and Betts
Lainsborough
Arnold
Maryland
Alonso
Scrub
Fairfield
Washington
Baltimore
Stockbridge
Springfield
Rockingham
Seabrook
Islington
Huntington
Manchester
Bellamy
Trumbull
Bidwell
Woodbury
Annapolis
Scarborough
Williamsburgh
Fort Edward
Pomfret
Effingham
Skenesborough
Columbia
Crown Point
America
Congress
New London
Anchorite
General Assembly
Henshaw
Milford
Norfolk
Furnace
COLONEL JOSHUA PORTER
Colonel Joshua Porter of Salisbury, Connecticut, whose miniature portrait is herein reproduced, was one of Connecticut's most active men during the whole period of the critical existence of the nation. He was born at Lebanon, Connecticut, June 26, 1730, educated at Yale College, being graduated in 1754; engaged for a short time afterwards in teaching school in North Carolina. He became a resident of Salisbury in 1757 and lived there for the rest of
COLONEL JOSHUA PORTER
Superintendent. Salisbury Cannon Foundry during Revolutionary War
Courtesy of Peter A. Porter, Esq., Buffalo, N. Y.
-
47
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
his life, and was a practicing physician there until about 1797. During the Revolutionary War he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 17th Regi- ment of Connecticut Militia, being in command of a regiment at Peekskill, at the burning of Danbury, . and at the Battle of Saratoga; and was particularly active during the war as Superintendent of the Cannon Foundry and Furnaces at Salisbury. He was also a member of a group of patriots who advanced the prosecution of the expedition to Ticon- deroga, led by his townsman, Col. Ethan Allen; and was a member of the Connecticut Council of Safety. In civil life he was Judge of Probate for the District of Sharon (which included several towns) from 1774-1812; Judge of the Litchfield County Court, 1791-1808; and a member of the Connecticut Legis- lature from Salisbury some forty sessions between 1765 and 1801. Colonel Porter died at Salisbury April 2, 1825.
The following sketch of a regulation six-pounder iron gun cast at Salisbury Furnaces was made from the gun itself which, until recently, was located on the stone retaining wall south of the State Armory in Hartford. While pitting and corrosion had made deep inroads on this gun, there yet remained enough of its original appearance to show the various rings around the barrel of the piece. The two rings of the most importance were the "cornice" and "ram- force" rings. The "cornice" ring, a short distance from the muzzle, was intended as an approximate limit mark for running out the gun through the
48
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
gun port on shipboard, for if for instance all of the guns of the starboard (or port) battery exceeded the limit mark when run out, there would be a pronounced "list" to the vessel on that side. The "cornice" ring, therefore, was intended to provide the gunner with knowledge for a proper curtailment for the outboard exposure of the guns. The other important ring was what was termed the "ramforce" ring which indicated the safety limit of charge for powder, wadding and shot, when measured by the sponge or rammer. But guns cast from other foundries did not always bear these markings.
-cascabel
base-ring
framforce
Ting
TO _trunnion
f-trummion
ring
cornice
ring
muzzle
ring
4-8
6-pounder
Ca th fil
G
S t( to tl
-
٠٠٥
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON 49
The Connecticut ship Defence, commanded by Capt. Samuel Smedley, was equipped with guns of this kind as evidenced by the following papers on file in the State Library :-
Order from Gov. Trumbull
Gent :---
Please to Deliver Colº Noah Phelps or order Sixteen Six pound cannon, cast at your Furnace and belonging to this State to be by him Convey'd according to order to Boston for use of the State Ship Defence, lying in that Harbour.
Given under my hand at Hartford ye 23 of Jany 1778. Jonth Trumbull Govr
To Messrs
Henshaw & Whiting
Managers of ye Furnace-Salisbury.
Dr. State of Connecticut to Colº Noah Phelps Cr.
1778
March 28 To Transporting 16 Cannons 6 pounders from Salisbury to Boston for ship Defence belong- ing to this State commanded by Saml. Smedley Esqr as Contract £569:1:6
1778
Jany 23. By Order from Comtee of Pay Table on Treasr.
£160:
March 24. By Ditto on ditto in full £409:1:6
£569:1:6
Recd March 24, 1778 an ordr on Treas' for £409 :1:6 in full of this Ordr
Daniel Humphrey Conductor of the Teams.
.
50
SALISBURY CONNECTICUT CANNON
Received Boston February 25th 1778 of Mr. Dan1 Umphrey Sixteen Pieces of Six Pound Cannon Belong- ing to State of Connecticut one of which Being Ren- dered Unfit for Service by having one of the Trunnions Broke of, for ship Defence.
Sam1 Smedley.
(It took about a month to deliver these guns, prob- ably by ox-sleds-one gun per sled. )
6
4%*
3;
' - Ili
FROM AN 18"" CENTURY CONNECTICUT SHIP'S GUN DISCOVERED AT HARTFORD DIAMETER OF BORE 3
-
-
-
-
--
IRON SWIVEL GUN-REVOLUTIONARY WAR Length 30" - Bore 114"
T HE small pieces or ordnance, or miniature cannon as herein shown, used quite extensively, especially on shipboard during the Revolution- ary War, were termed "swivel-guns," sometimes referred to as "rabinets," and by some of the old- time mariners as "jingals." They were sometimes made of brass, but more generally of cast iron, and were equipped with trunnion crutches or brackets with shanks or "stalks" made to fit into holes that were sometimes lined with bushings. These holes were provided in the gunwales along the tops of the bulwarks at intervals, to enable the guns to be unshipped and transferred to different places. They were handy little weapons, easily carried, and were used to repel boarders, as well as in the bows of boats.
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