The Details of the Rocket System. Sir William Congreve
that maxim which I have laid down as the fundamental principle of this system, I will confidently pledge myself that it will never disappoint him, either as to the physical or moral effect which he may calculate on producing upon his enemy; since, he must recollect, that for this latter effect, it adds all the terrors of visibility to every species of that destructive ammunition introduced by the use of gunpowder, but by every one admitted hitherto to have been qualified, as to moral effect, by its invisibility.
25th October, 1813.
W. CONGREVE.
Note.—All the cases of service referred to in the above instructions, will be found particularly detailed in the following plates.
CONSTITUTION AND STRENGTH OF A TROOP OF ROCKET HORSE ARTILLERY.
A Troop is proposed to consist of three divisions.
Each division to be divided into two sub-divisions.
Each sub-division to consist of five sections of three men each, and two drivers leading four ammunition horses, each mounted man carrying into action four rounds of 12-pounder Rocket ammunition, and each ammunition horse eighteen rounds; thus:
Each section carries 12 rounds of ammunition into action, and one bouche a feù, and, consequently, each sub-division will have five bouches a feù, and 140 rounds of ammunition: so that the whole troop, consisting of six of those sub-divisions, will amount to 102 mounted men, and 24 ammunition horses, and will take into action, without any wheel carriage, 30 bouches a feù, and 840 rounds of ammunition.
It is, however, further proposed to attach to each division two Rocket cars, one heavy and one light, the first carrying four men with 40 rounds of 24-pounder Rockets, armed with cohorn shells, the latter carrying two men, and 60 rounds of 12-pounder ammunition. Each of these cars is capable of discharging two Rockets in a volley.
It is proposed, also, to attach to each sub-division a curricle ammunition cart, or tumbril, for two horses, to carry, in line of march, three rounds out of four of each mounted man’s Rockets, to ease the horse: and, in action, when every man carries his full complement of ammunition on horseback, these cars may contain a reserve of 60 rounds more for each sub-division, making the whole amount of ammunition, for each sub-division, 200 rounds. With this addition, therefore, the whole strength of the Rocket troop will stand thus:
| Officers | 5 | |
| Non-commissioned Officers | 15 | |
| Troopers | 90 | |
| Drivers | 60 | |
| Artificers | 8 | |
| Cars, heavy | 3 | |
| Cars, light | 3 | |
| Curricle ammunition carts, or tumbrils | 6 | |
| Bouches a feù | 42 | |
| Ammunition, heavy shell | 260 | |
| Ammunition, light shell, or case shot | 1200 | |
| Making a total of | ||
| Ammunition of all sorts | 1460 | rounds. |
| Battery of | 42 | bouches a feù. |
| Cars, tumbrils, and forge cart | 13 | |
| Officers, staff artificers, troopers, and drivers | 172 | |
| Troop, ammunition, and draft horses | 164 |
The number of sections in a sub-division may vary according to the actual effective strength of the troop at any time; so that the distribution may be accommodated to the numbers, without departing from this principle of constitution. The number of men and horses above stated is precisely the same as that of a troop of horse artillery.
The reserve of ammunition is supposed to proceed with the park.
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