How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

[PvtEasley]

How would one go about authentically wrapping a .58 minie ball in the cartridge (Enfield) for use in display at living histories? Should they be above or below the powder, point up or down, separated by a twist in paper or by string tie or some other? Thanks, John Easley

[coffey]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

I would think that the minie ball would go in first upside down then the powder on top, so that when you rip it and turn your cartridge upside down it will go in correctly.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

The key is defining whether you intend to have an import British Enfield Cartridge or a domestically produced Enfield Cartridge (there can be a difference in procedure).

This topic has been discussed a couple times on here...and sometimes with the use of sketches/diagram.

I believe the typical domestic round (if a conical ball), would have the point facing downwards, below the powder...while the typical British Enfield imported round, would have the point facing upwards, sitting above the powder. The powder charge in either case should be seperated from the lead projectile by means of a powder casing.

For a starting basis for making authentic cartridges, refer to the following article by Patrick Reardon of the Lazy Jacks Mess:

http://www.lazyjacks.org.uk/cartrdge.htm

Paul B.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

Hallo!

In addition to the SEARCH feature, there are also online articles on cartridge making at different unit's sites, and is also covered in the Columbia Rifle's Research Compendium(s)

The "Minie ball" cartridge was made with a slightly pointed former rod that the Minie sat on when making the cartridge (and as shared, the "Enfield" cartridge was "upside down" which is said to given some Confederates grief when they loaded them based upon their "Minie" cartridge experience.)

Instructions are given in the ORDNANCE MANUAL, pages 267-268:

To Make the Cartridge.

Workmen.-- 1 master, 10 boys
Implements for each boy.-- 2 boxes to hold cylinders, 20 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 4 inches high, in the clear, made of 1/2-inch boards, without a cover: they are placed on their sides, their backs inclined against the partition in the middle of the cartridge-table, the front resting on cleats nailed to the table; 1 former, cylindrical, of hard wood, of the same diameter as the ball, 6 to 7 inches long, on end pointed, almost as much as the ball, and marked with a shallow groove 4.0 inches from the end; 1 sabot or frame, tacked to the table, to hold balls, placed at the left hand of the boy; 1 spool of thread, turning on a vertical spindle fixed in the table near the balls; 1 choking-string, made of 4 or 5 cartridge-threads twisted together, about 9 inches long, with a wooden toggle at the end,-- fastened to the edge of the table at the right hand of the boy; 1 knife-blade, 1 1/2 inch long, hooked, driven into the front of the table below and near the choke-string.

To Form the Cylinder.-- Lay the trapezoids on the table with the side perpendicular to the bases toward the workman, the broad end to the left.
Take the former in the right hand and lay it on a trapezoid, the groove in the former against the right edge of the paper, bringing the pointed end 1/3 inch from the broad end of the paper; envelop the former with the paper, turn the former and roll all the paper upon it; hold it with the left hand, and, with the choking-string in the right, take one turn around the cylinder at about 1/3 inch from the end; hold the former firmly in the left hand, and draw gently upon the choking-string, pressing at the same time with the left forefinger upon the projecting end of the cylinder, this folding it neatly down upon the end of the ball. Having choked the cylinder close (sic), carry it to the rigth side, and, with the thread in the right hand, take two half-hitches firmly around the part that has been choked; cut the thread on the knife- blade, and press the choke in a cavity in the table; place the former, with a cylinder on it, on a second trapezoid; put a ball over the end of the former; roll the paper on the former and the ball; hold the cylinder in the left hand and choke and tie it as just described for the inner cylinder; withdraw the former, pressing the cylinder with the left hand, and place it in the box.
A day's work.-- A boy can make 800 cylinders in 10 hours.

To Fill the Cylinder.

Implements.-- 1 charger, made of a cylinder of wood or brass pierced with two holes through its length, holding the exact charge of powder; a funnel attached to one end of the cylinder, and a discharge-pipe to the other. The holes in the cylinder are made to communicate and shut off, alternately, from the funnel holding the powder, and the discharge-pipe at the lower end, by a reciprocating motion given to the cylinder by the hands.
Fill the funnel with powder; insert the discharge-pipe in a cartridge, holding the charger in both hands, and turn the cylinder; the charge of powder is deposited in the cartridge: insert the pipe in the next, and turn the cylinder in the opposite direction; and continue in the same way for all the rest.
Cartridges may be filled with a copper charger made to hold the exact charge, pouring the powder by means of a small funnel which is inserted into the cartridge.

To Pinch the Cartridge.- Take the cartridge in the right hand, strike it lightly on the table to settle the powder; flatten the empty part of the cylinder, and bend it, flush with the top of the powder, at right angles to the cartridge, the oblique side of the trapezoid on top, the cartridge standing vertical on the table; fold the flattened part in the direction of its length with two folds from the exterior, meeting in the middle; bend this folded end back on itself, and strike it on the table top to set the folds.

Some lads use cotton balls to simulate the presence of the Minie ball, and some place a small amount of silvery duct tape at the top so that it peaks out of the small opening sometimes left by the cylinder choking and gives the illusion of a lead ball inside.

Curt

[-Jesse-]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

ball first and then powder.. of course.....you can also use a cotton ball for reenactments to simulate a round ball at the bottom of the cartridge

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

Hi,

I have found that tissue paper works well for making 69 caliber round ball cartridges. It also works pretty well for taking up the space where the Minie ball should be in a Enfield cartridge.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

Hallo!

Rereading the original question...

"I would think that the minie ball would go in first upside down then the powder on top, so that when you rip it and turn your cartridge upside down it will go in correctly."

The thinking is correct, the "Minie" cartridge has the bullet point at the choked end, the powder cylinder resting on the skirt cavity, and the folds torn off to expose and dump the powder followed by the bullet "point up" into the bore.

However, the suggestion about sites and references are still a help in answering the question (if it is not just a statment).
(He wasn't really asking about reenacting cartridge simulations.. ;) :) )

Curt

[lukegilly13]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

Here's a .58 cal federal minniball

Bullet with pointed end facing away from powder.

Here's another:

Again, judging by the rounded nature of the tied end of the paper cartridge, the rounded end of the bullet is away from the powder charge.

Third time's the charm:

Note the unique way that this cartridge is tied off...tied at the bottom and leaving the tail of the knot to tie to the folded end of the paper cartridge.

It seems to me that these are wrapped as they would be inside the bore after loading....powder, then the bullet standing up. I believe it is safe to say though that different cartridges were rolled in different ways..some unique to those creating the cartridges. However, the examples I posted seem to all be rolled in the same fashion.

Just for the fun of confussion, here is an enfield .577 cartridge rolled with the bullet on bottom with the rounded portion pointed toward the powder (opposite those .58's above).

Happy rolling!

[lukegilly13]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

Woops, sorry...all images taken from the Horse soldier website:

https://www.horsesoldier.com

[erik]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

For references to the British manufacture of cartridges for the Enfield arms you could read "Regulations for Conducting The Musketry Instruction Of The Army," 1st February 1859, if you happen to own a copy or "The British Soldier's Firearm, 1850 - 1864," by C.H. Roads.
Further recourse can be made to the reproduction of "Rifle Ammunition being Notes on the manufactures connected therewith. As conducted in The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich" produced by Thomas Publications and bought by me in Gettysburg.
The lubricant used on the enfield cartridge was changed to beeswax only prior to the Indian Mutiny, 1857, replacing combinations of beef tallow and wax or as spread by some Muslim Sepoys, pig fat. The act of biting off the cartridge was discontinued in favour of tearing with the fingers.
Therefore one would tear the powder end, pour in the powder, reverse the cartridge, insert the lubricated end and ram.
It is as much about the proper size of the, hopefully Pritchet, bullet and wooden plug as it is the lube.
The books are there.
Reference can also be made to "Percussion Ammunition Packets" again by Thomas Publications.

Erik Simundson

[Marc29thGA]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

John,

Here is a link that got me started making my own Enfield Cartridges: http://www.researchpress.co.uk/firea.../cartridge.htm

I added "Rifle Ammunition" that Mr. Simundson mentioned to my library a while ago, and it is a great resource.

In my profile are some pictures as well as within this thread (pg 11) : http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...eld+cartridges plus lots of other good information.

Y.O.S,

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: How were minie balls wrapped in cartridges?

Hallo!

In 1857, Boxer had proposed that the Enfield cartridge lube be pure beeswax but was overuled with the decision to go with a 5:1 wax to tallow ration to ensure ease of loading.
However, it was discovered that in cold weather the lube would become brittle and flake off. So, in January of 1858 the ratio was changed to 4:1.
But problems with the tallow reacting with the lead bullet and the lube melting in hot climates and getting to the powder saw some experimentation with 5:1, 2:1, and 1:4 mixes.
Unsatisfied with the results, Boxer then proposed a reduction in the bullet size to prevent its stripping the lube from the paper. Reducing the bullet size slightly, in 1859, allowed them to change over to pure beeswax as a lube.

Curt