Page:Brief Sketch of Work of Matthew Fontaine Maury 1861-65.pdf/36

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for this purpose should be used but in an emergency, tin canisters, or other perfectly water-tight cases, will answer. These shells should be one-fourth of an thick to one inch, according to size and probable handling in transportation. They should be spherical only instead of a hole for the fuse as in a hollow shot they should have a neck like a bottle, with a cap to screw over, not in the neck. The case should be charged through the neck, and two holes counter sunk diametrically opposite, the counter sinking being for the purpose of receiving pitch or other rosinous matter to keep the water out. The fuse being adjusted to the wires should be held in place by a string through the neck while the wires drawn out taunt and sealed within and without. Having proved the fuse first fill and then drive in the peg. Then fill the space between it and the screw-cap with red lead and screw down so as to make water-tight. Now secure the tails of the wires so that they will not be chafed or bruised, and the mine is ready for transportation.

They are in general to be used in stone fugassias, the wire being buried at convenient depths and fugassias and trenches removed as completely as possible Any number not exceeding twenty-five or thirty may be arranged in a single circuit for the Ebonite but if the magnetic exploder of Wheatstone be preferred, and the ground be perfectly dry, hundreds may be planted in a latter circuit.

The operator may be at any distance from these primas when he explodes them, provided only he has established some mark or point which on being seen by the enemy should serve as a signal. The area of destruction of fuggassee properly constructed with a a charge of twenty or thirty pounds of powder may be assumed to

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