Instruction of Musketry 1856

Book excerpt: Published in 1857, at the time of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, this is the official manual on musketry training and tactics used in British infantry units. The book includes sections on the duties of musketry instructors; drill; and the manufacture of cartridges (this latter section is particularly interesting in that it specifies that the paper cartridges should be greased in a mixture of tallow candle wax and bees' wax; rather than the animal fats, rumours of which offended Hindu and Muslim sepoys alike, and were a major contributing cause of the Mutiny). There are chapters on file and volley firing; skirmishing; target practice and judging distance. With well executed drawings and diagrams.