content_output-061_2 (Q6371)

leading to the interior of the shell. Senfftenberg states that there was one drawback to this shell, viz. in making night attacks the burning tow on the shell lit up the surrounding country and showed to the enemy the position of the besiegers. Shortly afterwards oval bombs were successfully used, and shells made in two or more pieces and bolted together. Mortars were affixed to stands capable of firing a bullet at any elevation between 40 degrees and the perpendicular.