粘土彈的作用

The soldier could thus snap his piece without wasting valuable sparks. Dummy bullets ir the form of clay balls were, no doubt, used to give the early infantry soldier practice in loading his musket. These were rammed down the barrel during drill and removed afterward by crushing with the ramrod, a much simpler procedure than the use of the worm screw which had to be employed to withdraw an unfired service cartridge and lead ball. The above theory is advanced by the author after finding many clay balls, caliber .69, on the site of old Fort Atkinson, Nebraska (then Missouri Territory) which was garrisoned by the 6th U. S. Infantry from 1819 to 1827. The Model 1842 percussion musket was furnished to the army only in limited quantities, much to the delight of the old soldiers, who preferred the flintlock for its simplicity.