DRAWN UP BY
COLONEL CONGREVE
1814.
Reproduced from an original editionmade available by the Library of theRoyal Artillery Institute, Woolwich, towhom British Aircraft Corporation wishto express their appreciation.
BRITISH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION GUIDED WEAPONS DIVISION
THE DETAILS
OF
THE ROCKET SYSTEM:
SHEWING
THE VARIOUS APPLICATIONS OF THIS WEAPON,BOTH FOR SEA AND LAND SERVICE, ANDITS DIFFERENT USES IN THEFIELD AND IN SIEGES;
ILLUSTRATED BY
PLATES OF THE PRINCIPAL EQUIPMENTS, EXERCISES,AND CASES OF ACTUAL SERVICE,
WITH
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR ITS APPLICATION,
AND A DEMONSTRATION OF THE COMPARATIVE ECONOMY OF THE SYSTEM.
DRAWN UP BY
COLONEL CONGREVE,
FOR THE
INFORMATION OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ROCKET CORPS,AND OTHERS WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
London:
PRINTED BY J. WHITING, FINSBURY PLACE.
1814.
i
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to whosegracious patronage the Rocket System owes its existence,having been pleased to command the formation of a RocketCorps, on the 1st of January, 1814, by augmentation tothe Regiment of Artillery, as proposed by his Lordship,the Earl of Mulgrave, Master General of the Ordnance;I have thought it my duty to draw up the following detailsof the System, for the Instruction of the Officers of theCorps, for the information of the General Officers of theBritish Army, and that of such departments as it is importantfor the good of the service, to make acquainted with theprinciples of this new branch of our naval and militarymeans of offence and defence.
I have, indeed, conceived it the more incumbent uponme to prepare such a document for the use of the RocketCorps, with as much expedition as possible, that nothingmight be wanting on my part towards its completion,having been induced to decline the offer graciously mademe of commanding it, with rank in the Regiment ofArtillery; a decision, in which I trust I have sufficientlyproved myself to have been actuated by the most sincereiiidesire of manifesting my attachment to that Regiment; as,however flattering the offer, it was sufficient gratificationto me to have brought my labours to a consummation,which enabled me to leave the undivided benefit of this newCorps in their possession: and to have succeeded in puttinginto their hands a weapon, which it is my greatest pride tohave already seen adding to their laurels, in the Plains ofLeipsic, and on the Banks of the Adour; a weapon, whichhas so early given them pledges of future and greatersuccesses, and which I ho