Section VIII
Infantry Ammunition Standards

A.  Blank Cartridges

In deference to National Park Service personnel we will be using cartridges that contain no wadding of any type whatever.  Fortunately, there is a period answer for this situation.  The 1861 Ordnance Manual gives dimensions for and describes the making of blank rounds for firing practice

MATERIALS. - No. 2 paper; paste; powder.

Cut the paper into trapezoids as for the ball cartridges; roll the trapezoid on the former, one turn; fold down this much of the paper on the head of the former with the left hand; roll the rest of the paper; fold down the rest of the paper; touch the fold with a little paste on the finger; press the end of the former on a ball imbedded in the table for the purpose; remove the cylinder from the former; place in a box to dry.

Fill the cylinders as described for ball cartridges. [i]

Cartridge Bundling Box: As the main purpose of this device is to hold ten cartridges in position for wrapping, the parts need not be made to precise dimensions in order to function properly.  Two parallel rails 2-5/8" long and 1-3/16" high attached to a board at a distance of 2 7/8"apart will do the job quite well.  

C.  Method of Rolling Blank Cartridge Tubes:

        1.           Cut the cartridge paper to the required size. 

        2.           Place the paper on the table in front of you with the oblique edge away from your body and sloping off to the right.  This leaves the shortest side closest to your right hand.  Place the .58 caliber former on the bottom edge of the paper parallel to your body and with the tapered end pointing left. Starting at the bottom of the sheet, roll the paper around the former.

        3.           Slide the paper down so that about 3/4 on an inch projects off the left hand side of the former.

        4.           Fold the projecting paper against the flat face of the former.

        5.           Apply a dab of past to the inside of the folds then press down them tightly.

        6.           Set aside and allow to dry.

        7.     Once dry, fill the tubes with sixty grains of powder.

Folding the tubes.

        1.     Fold the excess tube over at a right angle to the rest of the tube.

        2.     Flatten this tail portion and then fod the edge of it towards the middle.  Make sure you press the flaps down tightly.

        3.     Now fold the tail back over the section you previously folded so the tail is doubled over itself.  Don't worry if the tail doesn't stay down against the body of the cartridge.

Rolling cap tubes

        1.     Roll a piece of trapezodial cartridge paper around a 1/2 former or dowel.

        2.     Slide partway off the dowel and twist one end closed.

        3.     Place 12 percussion caps inside the tube and twist closed the open end of the tube.

Bundling the tubes

The ordnance manual does not give dimensions for the bundling paper.   We will use the same size paper and cap tube as is used for bundling the 1861 pattern round. 

        1.            Place the folding box in front of you with one open end facing you.

        2.            Place a bundle wrapper in the folding box with the long dimension parallel to the side rails.

        3.            Set five cartridges in a line across the box.  The tails of the cartridges can be kept in place by placing the rounds on their sides such that the tails are wedged between them.

        4.            Place five more in line on top of these.  Existing specimens of blank ammunition exist which show the cartridge ends alternating within each row of five. 

        5.            Set one tube of percussion caps in the bundle so that it sets against the ends of the cartridges.

        6.            Fold the right and left side of the wrapper over the middle of the bundle.

        7.            Fold the excess material down to form a flap on either end of the bundle.

        8.            Fold the outside corners of each flap towards the center.

        9.            Fold the flap back up over the bundle.

        10.        Close the bundle using a single length of linen thread wound first lengthwise then widthwise and tied in a bowknot. 

        11.        Trim off the excess twine.