The hand-book of artillery

About this book

Joseph Roberts’s manual is a practical reference for military readers, covering artillery equipment, ammunition, and the use of guns in the field and in fortifications. It presents much of its instruction through questions and answers, shifting between technical explanation and operational guidance. To test powder, Roberts describes placing samples above water in a covered tub and checking how much moisture they absorb over a day. For breaching a wall, he recommends breaking the masonry in stages, directing fire from the lower sections upward.