AMMUNITION-BOXES: Packing-boxes for field ammunition are made of
well-seasoned stuff (generally white pine), 1.25 inch thick, dovetailed with
the tenon on the ends. The top of the box is fastened with six 2-inch
screws; the box has two handles of 1 ¾ inch rope, attached to brackets at
the ends. The boxes are painted on the outside different colors to indicate
the contents of the box. Those containing shot are painted olive; shells,
black; spherical case-shot, red; and canisters, a light drab. The kind of
ammunition is marked on each end in large white letters. The place and date
of fabrication are marked on the inside of the cover. The boxes are packed
as follows: For Smooth-Bore Guns. – Shot,
spherical
case and canisters, fixed. – Laid in two tiers across the box, the shot or
canisters alternating with the cartridges at each side. The shot or
canisters of the upper tier rest on those of the lower and not on the
cartridges. Canisters are packed in the same manner, omitting the strips of
wood in the bottom of the box.
For 12-pounder Mountain-Howitzer. – Shells and case-shot, fixed. – Placed
upright, the balls down, resting on strips of wood as for the other
howitzer. Canisters are packed in the same manner, resting on the bottom of
the box.
For Rifled Funs. – Shells and case-shot. – Placed upright, the balls
down, resting on strips of wood as for the howitzer. The iron part of the
balls rest against strips of wood 4 inches wide and .25 inch thick, nailed
to the side and ends of the box at the bottom, and similar strips placed
between the rows of the balls to prevent the soft metal cups from bearing
against the box or against each other and being bruised; the cartridges are
placed on top of the projectiles. Canisters are packed in the same manner as
the case-shot, omitting the strips of wood on the bottom of the box.
In all the boxes the small stores are placed in the vacant spaces on top
of the ammunition. A layer of tow is placed in the bottom of each box, and
the whole contents are well packed in tow, filling the box so as to be
pressed down by the cover. About three pounds of tow are required for a box. |