GENERAL ORDERS, ' 
No. 45. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, February 16, 1863. 
REGULATIONS FOR THE CARE OF THE FIELD WORKS, AND TIIE 
GOVERNMENT OF THEIR GARRISONS. 
1. It will be tbe duty of the commanding officer of each work to 
provide for the care of the armament, and the safety and serviceable 
condition of the magazines, ammunition, implements, and equip- 
ments ; and, by frequent personal inspections, to secure the observance 
of the rules prescribed for this purpose. 
2. The fixed armament, consisting of the heavy guns, and those 
whose positions are prescribed, will be numbered in a regular series, 
commencing with the first gun on the right, as you enter, of the main 
gate. The ammunition will be kept in the magazines, with the excep- 
tion of a few stands of grape, canister, and the solid shot, which will 
be piled near the guns. 
3. The gun-carriages will be kept clean; they will be traversed 
daily, and never be allowed to rest for two successive days on the same 
part of the traverse circle. If the gun-carriage does not move easily 
on the chassis, the tongue will be occasionally greased. The gun- 
carriage should not rest habitually on one part of the chassis. 
4. The elevating screw and its box will be kept clean and well 
greased. When the guns are not in use, the screw will be run down 
as far as it will go, the breech of the piece being raised until the 
muzzle is sufficiently depressed to prevent water running into it, and 
kept in that position by a wooden quoin or block. The tompion to be 
kept in the muzzle, and the apron over the vent. 
5. The piece is not to be kept loaded. It will be time to load when the 
enemy appears, or when special orders to load are given. 
6. The commanding officer will see that a shed is constructed for the 
implements and equipments. For each drill these will be issued to 
the gunners by the ordnance sergeant or other non-commissioned 
officer acting as such, who will receive and put them away after the 2 
drill is over, and be at all times responsible to the commanding officer 
for tbeir safety, and that the supply is adequate. Until sheds are pro- 
vided, the implements will be kept near the pieces. The equipments 
(haversacks, tube pouch, &c.) may be kept at the entrance of the 
magazine, where they will he sheltered. Platforms for projectiles will 
be laid near the guns; for canisters a couple of pieces of scantling for 
skids will answer. A water shed, made by joining two boards together 
at the edges, should he placed over them. When the wooden sabots 
get wet, they swell and burst the canisters, so that they cannot be put 
into the gun. When this happens, dry the canister until the block 
shrinks sufficiently, and tack the canister edges together. 
7. When not furnished by the Engineer Department, materials for 
constructing the sheds and for skidding will he furnished on requisi- 
tions made to the Chief of Artillery. 
8. The magazines must in dry weather be frequently aired. For 
this purpose, the ventilators and doors will be opened after nine A. M., 
and must be closed, at latest, two hours before sunset. The ammuni- 
tion for different classes of guns will be carefully assorted, and the 
shelves, boxes, or barrels containing each kind plainly marked. When 
there is more than one magazine, the ammunition will be so distributed 
as to be nearest to the particular guns from which it is to he used. 
Cartridges must be moved, and, if necessary, rolled once a week, to 
prevent caking of the powder. Friction primers will be carefully dried 
in the sun once a week, and always after a day’s or night’s rain. At 
least two lanyards for each gun will be kept in store. As soon as 
received, their hooks will be tested, to see if they are sufficiently small 
to enter the eye of the primer and yet strong enough for use. 
9. No person will be allowed to enter the magazines except on duty, 
and then every precaution against accidents will he taken. Lights 
must always be in glass lanterns, and carried only by the person in 
charge of the magazine. Swords, pistols, canes, &c., will not he 
admitted, no matter what may he the rank of the person carrying 
them. Socks or moccasins will be worn, if they can be procured. No 
fire nor smoking will be allowed in the vicinity when the doors or 
ventilators are open. Too much pains cannot possibly be taken to avoid 
the chances of an explosion. 3 
10. Companies will be assigned to guns in such proportions as will 
furnish at least two, preferably three, reliefs in working them, and 
sufficient men, in addition, for the supply of ammunition from the 
magazines. From fifteen to tw-enty men should therefore be assigned 
to each gun, and instructed in its use. Companies should habitually 
serve the same guns; each man being assigned a special number at 
the gun, and thoroughly instructed in all its duties, and, as occasion 
offers, in the duties of all the numbers. Every night, at retreat or 
tattoo, the men who are to man the guns in case of a night attack 
should be paraded at their pieces and inspected, to see that all their 
equipments, implements, and ammunition are in good order, and the 
gun in serviceable condition and easy working order. The men so 
stationed should “call off” their numbers before being dismissed, and 
in case of alarm repair at once to their posts, equip themselves, and 
await orders. 
11. Each gun should be under charge of a non-commissioned officer, 
and every two or three guns under a Lieutenant, who will be respon- 
sible to the Captain for their serviceable condition at all times. The 
Captain will be responsible to the commanding officer for the condition 
of the pieces and the instruction of the men of his Company. Artil- 
lery drills will be frequent until all the men are well instructed, and 
there will never be less than one artillery drill a day when the weather 
•will permit. For action, all the cannoneers not actually serving the 
guns will be provided with muskets, and will be stationed next the 
guns to which they belong. 
12. Each company should be supplied with three copies of the 
Tactics for Heavy Artil ery, and rigidly adhere to its directions. 
Tables of Ranges will be found in the work. One copy of “Instruc- 
tions for Field Artillery” should be supplied each company. They can 
be obtained on written application to the Chief of Artillery, who will 
obtain them from the Adjutant General of the Army. The books so 
drawn are the property of the United States for the use of the company; 
they will be borne on the muster-rolls. 
13. The commanding officer will make himself acquainted with the 
approaches to his work, the distance to each prominent point com- 
manded by his guns, the nature of the ground between them and his 
post, and the most probable points of attack upon it. 4 
Tables of ranges or distances for each point, and the corresponding 
elevations in each case, according to the nature of the projectile, with 
the proper length or time of the fuze when shell or case-shot are used, 
will be made out for each gun, and furnished to the officer and non- 
commissioned officers serving it. As these tables differ for different 
kinds of gun, the same men should be permanently assigned to the 
same piece. 
14. The projectiles should be used in their proper order. At a dis- 
tance, solid shot; then shells or case-shot, especially if firing at troops 
in line. Canister or grape is only for use at short ranges. When 
columns are approaching, so that they can be taken in direction of 
their length, or very obliquely, solid shot is generally the best projectile, 
because of its greater accuracy and penetrating power. If the column 
consists of Cavalry, some shells or case-shot will be useful from the 
disorder their bursting produces among the horses. As to the absolute 
distances at which the projectiles must be used, they vary with the 
description and calibre of the gun, and can only be ascertained by 
consulting the Tables of Ranges. The prominent parts on the ap- 
proaches to the works should be designated, their distances noted, and 
directions drawn up for the different kinds of ammunition to be used at 
each gun when the enemy reaches them. During the drills the atten- 
tion of the chiefs of pieces and gunners should frequently be drawn to 
this subject. 
15. Commanding officers will pay special attention to the police and 
preservation of the works. All filth will be promptly removed, and 
the drainage be particularly attended to. No one should be allowed 
to walk on the parapets, nor move or sit upon the gabions, barrels, or 
sand bags that may be placed upon them. When injuries occur to the 
earth-works, they should be repaired as quickly as possible by the 
garrison of the work. If of a serious nature, they should at once be 
reported to the Engineer officer in charge of the work. All injuries to 
the magazines or platforms of the guns will be promptly reported as soon 
as observed. 
16. Special written instructions as to the supply of ammunition at 
the different posts, and the proportion for the different classes of guns, 
will be furnished by the Chief of Artillery to the commanders of posts at the earliest period practicable. Instructions will also be furnished 
as to the special objects of each work. 
17. No persons not connected with the garrisons of the field-works 
will be allowed to enter them except such as visit them on duty, or 
who have passes signed by competent authority; nor will any person, 
except commissioned officers, or those whose duty requires them to do 
so, be allowed to enter the magazine, or touch the guns, their imple- 
ments or equipments. 
18. The garrison can greatly improve the woTk by sodding the 
superior (upper) slope of the parapet, and also the exterior or outer 
slope, or by sowing grass seed on the superior slope, first covering it 
with surface soil. The grass-covered or sodded portions of the parapets, 
traverses, magazines, &c., should be occasionally watered in dry 
weather, and the grass kept closely cut. 
19. As a great deal of powder is wasted in unnecessary salrrtes, 
attention is called to paragraph 268 of the Army Regulations, edition 
of 1861. 
Paragraph 268.—A general officer will be saluted but once in a year 
at each post, and only when notice of his intention to visit the post 
has been given. 
20. The practice of building fires on the open parades for cooking 
and other purposes is prohibited, as it endangers the magazines. 
21. The armament of a fort, having been once established, will not 
be changed except by authority of the commander of the district, 
geographical department, or army corps. 
22. The machinery of the Whitworth guns will not be used except 
by special orders from the commanding officer of the post. There shall 
be at each fort and redoubt at least one drill a day as artillery, and 
one as infantry. 
23. Particular care must be taken to keep the bores of the rifled guns 
free from rust, and always well oiled. 
24. The forts will be inspected at such times as the Chief of Artillery 
may direct, and a full report of their condition will be made. Par- 6 
ticular attention will be paid to the drill and police of the work in each 
case, as also to the condition of the armament, ammunition, and 
magazines. 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIRING 
1. The firing1 in action sliould be deliberate, never more than will 
admit of accurate pointing. A few shots effectively thrown will pro- 
duce more effect than a larger number badly directed, although the 
larger number may have killed the most men. 
It is not so important to kill as to inspire terror. The object of 
killing a portion is to so frighten the rest as to cause them to run; and 
to inspire this terror, precision of fire and consequent certainty of exe- 
cution, is of infinitely greater importance than a great noise, rapid 
firing, and less proportional execution. 
2. To secure accuracy of firing, the ground in the neighborhood 
must be well examined, and the distance to the different prominent 
points, within the field, covered by each gun, noted. The gunners and 
cannoneers should be informed of these distances, and in the drills, the 
gun should bo accurately pointed at one or the other of them in suc- 
cession, the gunner designating the spot, calling the distance in yards, 
and the corresponding elevation in minutes and degrees, until all the 
distances and corresponding elevations are familiar to the men. 
When shell or case-shot are used, the time of flight corresponding to 
the distance must be given to the man who goes for the projectile. 
He tells the ordnance sergeant, or person who furnishes the ammuni- 
tion, and the latter cuts the fuze to bum the required time. 
3. The gunner is responsible for the aiming. He must, therefore, 
know the distance to each prominent point in the field covered by his 
gun, the elevation required to reach that point, and the time of flight 
of the shell or case-shot corresponding to each distance or elevation. 
He must have a table of these ranges taken from the Heavy Artillery 
Tactics, pages 265 to 269.* 
* Note.—(Ihe last table on page 269 should read: 8-inch seaooast howitzer, on 
barbette carriage, instead of 8-inch seacoast mortar.) 7 
For example: The cartridges for the 24-pounder guns all weigh six 
pounds as issued to these works. The table, (page 265,) therefore, 
applies as follows: 
Twenty-four-pounder Gun on Siege or Barbette Carriage. 
Cartridge. 
Ball. 
Elevation. 
Range. 
Lbs. 
Shot. 
o t 
Yds. 
6 
“ 
0 0 
412 
That is, the bore (not line of sight) being level, a range 
of 400 yards. 
ll 
it 
1 0 
842 
1 degree elevation, range about 850 yards. 
ll 
it 
1 30 
953 
1£ do. do. do. do. 950 do. 
ll 
ll 
2 0 
1147 
2 do. do. do. do. 1150 do. 
ll 
ll 
3 0 
1417 
3 do. do. do. do. 1400 do. 
it 
4 0 
1666 
4 do. do. do. do. 1660 do. 
5 0 
1901 
5 do. do. do. do. 1900 do. the extreme 
range of 24-pounder round shot. 
Thus, if the enemy appears at a point 1,000 yards distant, look at 
the table—950 yards requires 1° 30' elevation; 1,150 yards requires 2°; 
therefore, elevate a very little, say 5' to 10' over 1° 30', or simply give 
1° 30' full. 
In the same way, for each 8-in. seaeoast howitzer, make out a table 
from page 269, noting, however, that only 6 and 8-pound cartridges 
being now issued for them, and of late only 8-pound cartridges, it must 
first be ascertained what the cartridges in your magazine weigh, and 
then make out the table accordingly. 
4. These tables will be promptly prepared under the direction of the 
commanding officer, and copies furnished for each gun, and used 
habitually in the drills. They will be examined and verified by the 
Chief of Artillery. 
5. The attention of all officers in charge of artillery in the works is 
directed to the articles in the Tactics on “ Pointing guns and howitzers,” 
pages 85 to 88. 8 
6. Commanding’ officers of the works will keep themselves accu- 
rately informed of the amount and kinds of ammunition in the maga- 
zines. The supply should be kept up to 100 rounds per gun. When 
it is less than that amount, a special report will be made of the fact to 
the Chief of Artillery, with requisitions for the amount necessary to 
complete the supplies. They will also see that the necessary equip- 
ments are always on hand for the service of all the guns, as follows: 
For 24 or 32-pdr. guns, the articles named on pages 47 and 48, 
Article 97. 
For 8-in. seacoast howitzers, the articles named on page 58, Article 
117; and for other guns, according to the tables as prescribed in the 
Tactics. 
Note.—Two lanyards and at least 150 friction primers for each gun 
to be kept on hand; one lanyard and a very few primers to be kept in 
the tube pouch, the others in the magazine. 
One globe or dark lantern for every three guns. Two globe lanterns 
for each magazine. 
By command of Major General Halleck: 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General.