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| The Capture of a French Battery by the 52nd Regiment at Waterloo Ernest Crofts (Source) |
But seriously, Joe Lovell mentioned this video in the comments yesterday, I watched it, enjoyed it, so decided to share it with you. I mean we're all about education and entertainment here at The Chant, right?
Following the video Joe mentioned, I included another one of some Napoleonic reenactors and their cannon.
Yes, the gym teacher is still in the house ...
What? You don't like videos?
As a preview of things to come, John Blackshoe sent me a three-parter which takes a look at the man who was the inspiration for The Chant, Captain Carroll F. LeFon, Jr., US Navy (Retired) aka Neptunus Lex. I haven't gone over it yet, but anything Lex wrote is interesting in and of itself. Might start that Sunday, but will probably wait until Tuesday.
So there you have it, hopefully I can get the Muse back in shape this week, she has a cuppla ideas I want to explore.
Stay tuned ...
A Napoleon reference in the title of your blog is always a good thing! Have a good weekend....
ReplyDeleteYou too, Rob!
DeleteThanks for the mention, Sarge.
ReplyDeleteThe #1 on that French gun made me cringe when he sponged the piece. He put too much of his body in front of the muzzle.
Artillery drill hasn't really changed much in centuries. Aiming methods and technology have changed, and write load from the back instead of the front, but it's about the same.
That was a British gun crew, the Royal Artillery wore blue. But yes, way too much of his body covering the muzzle. I've been there, done that and was always very cognizant of how much of me was in front of the muzzle, the correct answer being as little as possible!
DeleteA classic from the Redleg:
ReplyDelete“Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl”
– Frederick the Great, king of Germany, 1740 to 1786
Old Frederick knew his stuff. (King of Prussia, ever the pedant ...)
DeleteThose were really neat videos, Sarge. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe slow motion camera stuff was pretty incredible. Even I am forced to admit technology is occasionally useful.
I really enjoy his videos, I always learn something.
DeleteCompletely off topic, but in my Art of Manliness newsletter this week something came up which might be of interest:
Delete"The Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger. Maybe you’ve seen a movie and read a couple books about WWI. You think you know what it was like for the soldiers who fought in that war. Then you read The Storm of Steel and realize you truly didn’t grasp it at all. German officer Ernst Jünger’s book, which was drawn from his journal entries, drops you right into the trenches and offers the reader a visceral, unmatchable look into what it’s like to constantly face a gruesome death and kill other men. Jünger has sometimes been criticized for glorifying war, and while he does find glimmers of honor in the conflict (largely in the fidelity of his men) to a greater extent than many of his more cynical contemporaries, his detailed accounts of death and destruction leave no doubt as to war’s horrors and absurdities. Sometimes his reports of one attack and casualty after another become a little redundant, but overall, this is a compelling read that will leave you amazed as to just how unbelievable an experience WWI really was."
I'll add that book to my list.
DeleteGreat vids to post Sarge, thanks! Couple of the neighbors had their trees tapped back in late February.....that's the lack of winter we had here.
ReplyDeleteThat seems early. Mild winter?
DeleteKnew some fellows who went to Cannon School (fer those out there who don't know, a school usually required to participate in cannoneering at reenactments, you gets a certificate and such, all due to some idjit making a field goal with his arm at a football game while on the field with... a cannon.) They would describe, with much gusto and panache, every field cannon incident with reenactors, size gun, size charge, body parts, distance, spread, audience involvement and other property damage. Very fascinating in a dark and macabre way, you know, in a guy way.
ReplyDeleteKey takes were: Don't stand or put any part of your body directly in line with the bore of the gun. Swab generously. Make sure the gunner has his finger over the primer hole. Don't stand or put any part of your body directly behind the carriage when it could be loaded. Swabber gets to hit people with his poofy swab if they don't follow the rules. Make fun of people with giant dirty Q-tip marks on their clothing or face.
Looks like fun. Always wanted a nice field piece. Ah, yet another hobby denied by lack of funds and wifely unacceptance...
I spent a summer on a gun crew, much fun, very dirty, very loud. A great time!
DeleteThe year we went to Gettysburg, 145th anniversary, the guy who was the artillery safety officer had one and a half ears, massive facial burn scars, two and a half fingers on one hand and burns up that arm. Insisted that everyone crewing a gun wear a wool jacket because he was convinced his jacket had saved his arm when the gun he was ramming discharged.
DeletePeriod reports I've read from the Ordnance Department investigating why Parrots were exploding suggest that the sponge should be almost dry rather than sopping wet. Seemed that too wet a sponge would partially dissolve leftover powder in the bore, glaze over, and eventually detonate along with the powder charge.
Well, that's not good.
DeleteYour safety guy sounds like the artillery version of Fire Marshal Bill!
Not to brag, but I've fired probably close to a quarter million cannon rounds. Kinda fun. Especially when the target you're shooting at blows up. That is, assuming that you pull up in time to avoid the debris field, of course.
ReplyDeleteHey! They don't call it High Explosive Incendiary for nothing.
Just sayin' ;-)
juvat
Apples and oranges, juvat. But your way sounds fun too!
DeleteImagine firing a cannon in the close quarters of a gun deck of a frigate. And hoping the tackle limiting the recoil travel holds.
ReplyDeleteAnd praying an enemy ball doesn't come through your gunport at the same time.
DeleteWooden ships, iron men.
Indeed, Sarge! And trying not to think of the sand spread on the deck to keep from slipping in blood and the surgeon waiting with his saw and hot pitch to cauterize the amputations.
DeleteA trip to the orlop is to be avoided!
DeleteGreat vids and discussion.
ReplyDeleteI have a soft spot for the guns.
Deleteat least I'm in good company; 81's UP!
DeleteStand by for fire mission!
DeleteUltimata Ratio Regum.
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about the naval version of artillery is that it comes with a salvo warning alarm.
The fun part was doing gun mount power checks 30 minutes before dawn and disturbing all the chiefs sleeping in forward CPO berthing every morning underway in the Gulf.
Now that sounds awesome. (Especially awakening the slumbering chiefs!)
Delete