Napoleonic Literature
History of the Rocket - 1804 to 1815
by Gareth Glover

HISTORY OF THE ROCKET 1804 TO 1815


 


War seems to bring the inventiveness of the British to the fore. This was just as true during the wars against Napoleon, who was a great tactical innovator, but had a complete distrust of new fangled contraptions. The British forces outnumbered in manpower, sought technical advances in weaponry to give them the edge. This has become a familiar scenario ever since. During this period two major ‘Secret weapons’ emerged; the first, an explosive shell invented by Lieutenant General Henry Shrapnel rapidly proved it’s worth against closed ranks of infantry and cavalry; the second, rocket artillery, struggled to be considered seriously throughout the period. This article is intended to chart this weapons turbulent history.
 

Rockets in Action,

ORIGINS

The successful wars fought by the British against the Indian princes, especially Tipoo Sahib, introduced the British to rockets. The rockets had not proven particularly effective and did not impress a young Arthur Wellesley, who later became the Duke of Wellington, but captured samples were returned to Woolwich Arsenal in 1804. William Congreve was the eldest son of an official at the Royal laboratory at Woolwich. Congreve had served in the Royal Artillery briefly in 1791 before being attached to the laboratory staff himself.[1] Congreve worked on improving the propellants and inventing warheads for the rocket. Congreve’s own story of his work on rockets begins.

‘ In 1804, it first occurred to me that….the projectile force of the rocket…….might be successfully employed, both afloat and ashore, as a military engine, in many cases where the recoil of exploding gunpowder’ made the use of artillery impossible. Congreve bought the best rockets on the London market but found they had a greatest range of only 600 yards. He knew that the Indian princes had possessed rockets that would travel much further than this. After spending ‘several hundred pounds’ of his own money on experiments he was able to make a rocket that would travel 1500 yards. He applied to Lord Chatham to have a number of large rockets constructed at Woolwich Arsenal, these achieved ranges of up to 2000 yards. By 1806 he was producing 32pdr rockets, which flew 3000 yards. The great advantage of Congreve’s invention was that it possessed many of the qualities of artillery but was free from the encumbrance of guns; wherever a packhorse or an infantryman could go, the rocket could go and be used to provide artillery support. [2]
 

TRIALS

The first service trial took place at sea on the night of 7-8 October 1806. Eighteen boats equipped with rockets on launching frames, rowed into the bay of Boulogne to attempt to destroy the French invasion barges within. Two hundred rounds were fired in thirty minutes. The damage to the fleet was minimal but although the damage to the town is not certain, it was probably very heavy as Lord Lauderdale passing through the next day as he returned from a diplomatic mission, was only allowed to proceed through the town in his coach with the blinds pulled down. Further, during his overnight stop in the town, he was confined to his hotel, to stop him observing any of the damage. Napoleon immediately offered a reward to any French inventor to rival Congreve’s rockets, none succeeded.[3]

Rockets were used in further naval attacks.. At Flushing in 1809, they wrought such havoc that General Monnet the French Commandant, made a formal protest to Lord Chatham against their use.[3]

The flamboyant, Captain Lord Cochrane, had rockets sent out onboard the transport Cleveland, to Basque Roads the same year, for his attempt on the French fleet anchored there. These rockets were fired from the rigging of the fire ships when sent in to attack the French fleet, however they endangered the British boats as much as the French fleet and did little damage [4].

Congreve continued his work and fitted out rocket ships with angled troughs in the hull, the rockets firing out through miniature gun ports. His first vessel, the ‘Galgo’ was a converted merchantman, but his next called the ‘Erebus’ was a much more elaborate conversion of a purpose built fire ship. These ships saw service on the American station.
 

Copenhagen

The first use of the rockets by the Army was in the siege of Copenhagen. This enterprise was really a naval operation, as the aim of the expedition was the capture of the Danish fleet. As the Danes stubbornly defended their City, a mass bombardment was decided upon, to pummel the Danes into submission. Rockets were landed and placed in the batteries in an attempt to cause mass destruction and conflagrations within Copenhagen. In this bombarding role, the rockets proved frighteningly successful, killing many and causing numerous serious fires as the Danes found that the combustible material in these rockets was extremely difficult to extinguish. The rockets proved to be a decisive factor in forcing the Danes to capitulate, thus allowing their fleet to be removed to Britain.

An observer at Copenhagen wrote, ‘A new battery was begun, under cover of some houses not far from the sea-shore, from which Sir William Congreve prepared to throw his rockets. Numbers of them were landed under his direction, & we anxiously anticipated the effect of these powerful engines, of which we had heard so much, even at this early period of their invention. ….….The hissing of the Congreve rockets in the air was a sound such as had never been heard before, and the terror they produced in Copenhagen was augmented by the great difficulty of extinguishing the combustible materials of which they were composed. ….….Perhaps the best idea that can be given of the sort of impression produced by these rockets may be extracted from a pamphlet, written by a Dane, in indifferent English, which circulated amongst our troops, shortly after the capture of the place. He speaks of mortars, shells &c. as matters of course……but in mentioning the rockets, he thus expresses himself “ But when I saw the air gingling with the never to be heard of inventions, carrying fire thro’ the air, not to be extinguished, down upon our dwellings, oh Britain, ……is this thy work.”[5]

Following this operation, the usefulness of rockets for bombardment was obvious, but did they have a battlefield role alongside conventional artillery? Congreve thought so and sought trials with the Army. It is estimated by some sources that up to 40,000 rockets were fired at Copenhagen, however this does seem a very large figure.
 

SPAIN

Government was persuaded to give the rockets a trial with the Army and orders were sent to Wellington in Portugal. Wellington ordered for a small detachment of seamen to be landed with a few rockets. They were to attempt to destroy a number of boats collected on the opposite bank of the Tagus to form a bridge. Wellington obviously recognised their use for bombarding towns but was not convinced of their role as artillery on the battlefield.

To Admiral Berkeley 3 Nov 1810

‘…….it is not necessary that I should enter any discussion of the comparative merits of Congreve’s rockets and carcasses[incendiaries]; or that I should enter into any defence of the former, of the merits or demerits of which I have no experience, never having seen them used.

……Captain Beresford having mentioned to me that he had some of them on board the Poictiers. I shall be very much obliged to you, if you will allow some of them, with some seamen of the Poictiers, to be sent over to Major General Fane, in order that they may, at least, be tried against the collection of the enemy’s materials for their bridge at Santarem and Barquina……’[6]

to Admiral Berkeley 6 Nov 1810

‘I have received your letter of 11 AM , the 5th instant. I assure you that I am no partisan of Congreve’s rockets, of which I entertain but a bad opinion, from what I recollect of the rockets in the East Indies, of which I believe those of Congreve are an imitation. It is but fair, to give everything a trial, more particularly as I have received the orders of Government to try these machines.’[6]

Major General Fane was selected to carry out the trial, however more rockets were landed than Wellington wished. The excess was ordered back to the ship for fear of loss to the enemy.

To Major General Fane 8 Nov 1810

‘……..I have desired General Howarth to send over to you a party of British artillery, with a rocket carriage drawn by horses, and some rockets, the whole lately come from England; so that you will be able to try these machines very effectively……..’[6]

To Major General Fane 11 Nov 1810

‘… I observe that the officer of artillery has taken on more rockets than I intended, and than can be of any use for experiments. I desired that he would take one carriage drawn by four or six horses, and I understand that he has taken four carriages drawn by twenty horses and twenty loaded mules. In case it should be necessary to bring you back across the Tagus, it might, in the existing state of the roads, be very difficult to draw off this equipment; and we should then possibly be obliged to leave in the hands of the enemy the means of burning the town of Lisbon. This is a serious consideration. Accordingly, I request that, upon the receipt of this letter, you will investigate this rocket concern. Send down to Lisbon, by water or otherwise, all the rockets belonging to the Poictiers: and desire the officer of the British Artillery in charge of the rockets to keep with you only one carriage, or a few loaded mules sufficient to try the experiment, and to send the remainder of the equipment to the place of embarkation on the left bank of the river……’[6]

It would seem that little came from this trial as the rockets did not stay in Portugal.
 

WAR OF 1812

The ‘Rockets red glare’ is enshrined in the American national anthem, which describes the American defence of Fort Henry against attack by British ships. The attack on Fort Henry proved that rockets were not very effective against hardened defences. However, rockets had quite an impact on this war, but were again supplied by naval units. Rockets proved to be very inaccurate, unpredictable and erratic and liable to misfire or explosion after lengthy storage or transportation. However they had some notable successes. Royal Marines used rockets to great effect when defending a blockhouse in April 1814 against numerically vastly superior forces. At Bladensburg, on the advance to Washington, rockets roaring overhead caused the inexperienced American militia to flee[7]. Some even claim that Washington was burnt down by rocket fire, but simple torches are more likely. Their greatest success however, was in supporting raiding expeditions in the Chesapeake area by Admiral Cockburn. A ships launch with a rocket frame could provide covering fire where no other armed vessel could proceed and often the mere noise and smoke overawed the inexperienced defenders, allowing the British to launch unopposed landings all along the coast, destroying commerce and damaging support for the American war effort.[8]

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION

Finally in 1809, the Army recognised the potential for rocket artillery and two troops of Rocket troops were established under the control of the Horse Artillery and wore their uniform. The Austrian Army also set up a rocket unit using Congreve’s rockets, but there is no evidence that they were ever used in action. The troops were both destined to serve abroad, one troop attached to the Crown Prince of Sweden’s Army fighting with the Allied Armies in Central Germany, the second was ordered to join Wellington in Southern France. Wellington was still not convinced of their capabilities for anything but setting town alight, but he needed the horses!

To Earl Bathurst 22 Nov 1813

‘My dear Lord,

I have received your letter of the 11th, regarding the Rocket brigade. The only reason why I wished to have it was to get the horses; but as we are to have them at all events, I am perfectly satisfied.

I do not want to set fire to any town, and I do not know any other use of the rockets.

Wellington’[9]

The Troops were renamed the Rocket Corps on 1 January 1814 by Earl Mulgrave, Master General of the Ordnance. Congreve was offered the command of the corps but declined. The Command was then given to Lieutenant Colonel Fisher RA.
 

WITH WELLINGTON

Wellington had little time for the rockets, as their main successes had been to bombard towns, causing fires and destroying the morale of the defenders. This was little use to Wellington in Spain, as he could not use such weapons on Spanish towns held by the French for the political fall out from extensive civilian casualties, which were sure to occur. In Southern France, Wellington had successfully fostered good relations with the civilian population and did not want to wreck this work by destroying their towns either.

However, the Rocket troop had one opportunity to show it’s worth. The first battalions to cross the mouth of the Ardour on the bridge of boats were accompanied by rocket units. When the bridge was temporarily broken, stranding this small bridgehead without support, the French counter attacked in overwhelming force to drive the troops into the sea. If there was ever an occasion for the rockets to work, this was it. Witnesses to the action that followed, described the scene.

‘A column of five thousand infantry, with several pieces of cannon, was accordingly formed, and marched in firm array to the attack of only six hundred soldiers of the British Guards, supported by a small detachment of rockets……………the rocket men throwing in their diabolical engines with extraordinary precision………..the confusion in the ranks of the enemy beggars all description. I saw and conversed with a French sergeant who was taken in this affair. He assured me, that he had been personally engaged in twenty battles, and that he had never really known the sensation of fear till today. A rocket, it appeared, had passed through his knapsack without hurting him; but such was the violence with which it flew, that he fell upon his face, and the horrible hissing sound produced by it was one which he declared that he never could forget. It skips and starts about from place to place in so strange a manner, that the chances are, when you are running to the right or left to get out of the way, you run directly against it; and hence the absolute rout, which a fire of ten or twelve rockets can create, provided they take effect. But it is a very uncertain weapon. It may, indeed, spread havoc among the enemy, but it may also turn back upon the people who use it, causing, like the elephant of other days, the defeat of those whom it was designed to protect. On the present occasion, however, it proved materially serviceable, as every man can testify who witnessed the result of the fire.’[10]

A very similar account appeared in the Edinburgh Evening Courant on 11 April 1814.

‘The second [Rocket] that left off carried away the legs of one man, set the knapsack of another on fire, and knocked about many more throwing them into great confusion and wounded several. An old sergeant, whom we made prisoner, said, during all his service, he had not known what fear was before; but these machines were devils, running up and down, and picking out and destroying particular victims……The rockets were discharged at the time when they produced the greatest effect, in a battery ten abreast.’ [11]

This success was however their only opportunity to show their capabilities in Southern France and even the commander of the troops saved by the rockets at the Ardour, Lt General Sir John Hope, gave only guarded support.

‘It appears to me that where the object is near, and the ground not intersected by fences, and upon water, they may be useful, but when they have an elevation given them, they appear a most uncertain weapon.’[12]

GERMANY

The 2nd troop of Rocket Artillery was sent to Germany and saw action at the Battle of Gordhe in 1813, where they contributed to the success of the small British contingent fighting with the Prussians and Swedes, as described by a British foot soldier.

‘The square of French infantry on the left,…..were still firm; but there happened to be two or three of the Rocket Brigade in the field, and the first rocket fired, fell directly in the square, putting them in the greatest confusion; and while they were so, the German Hussars, who had been previously repulsed, charged them again, and influenced by feelings of revenge, cut among them, right and left, giving no quarter.”[13]

However, the supreme triumph of the Rocket troop in Germany was at the ‘Battle of the Nations’ at Leipzig in October 1813. Congreve apparently accompanied the troop to Leipzig. The rockets fired at a column of French soldiers numbering some 2500 men, struck such terror within them that they lay down their arms.

‘Their effect [was] truly astonishing; and produced an impression upon the enemy of something supernatural….a solid square of infantry…after our fire delivered themselves up as if panic struck’.[14]

Wittgenstein, the Russian General remarked ‘They look as if they were made in hell, and surely are the devil’s own artillery [15].’ Tsar Alexander I was so impressed that he removed the order of St Anne from his own breast and pinned it on the Commander, Strangways.[3]  [16]

On13 June 1814, Congreve gave a display of rocket artillery to the visiting Allied sovereigns, Tsar Alexander and King Frederick William of Prussia at Woolwich.

The Waterloo Campaign[27]

The second troop moved from Germany to Belgium at the peace in 1814 and was attached to Wellington’s Army immediately news of Napoleon’s escape became known. However, despite the successful use of rockets at the Adour and Leipzig, Wellington was still not convinced of the possibilities of this weapon. It’s erratic nature and inherent unreliability caused Wellington to maintain his distrust of rockets. Major Whinyates, commanding the Rocket troop in Belgium received orders to furnish his rocket troop with 6 pdr cannon in exchange for his rockets, to ensure his troop’s effectiveness. Whinyate’s pleaded to his superiors who dared to broach the subject with Wellington. Lt. Colonel George Wood, commanding the Royal Artillery in Belgium, pleaded ‘It will break Whinyates’ heart to lose his rockets.’ Wellington’s reply was ‘Damn his heart; let my order be obeyed.’ Eventually, Wellington relented and allowed Whinyates to take 800 rounds of 12 pdr rockets as well as the guns.

The rocket troop rushed to join the Army on the 16th June but only arrived at the field of battle in the late evening, thus missing the Battle of Quatre Bras. During the retreat to Waterloo on the 17th June, the Rocket troop was ordered to retreat with the Army. However, Whinyates who commanded the troop hung back, hoping to get involved in any rearguard action. Whilst awaiting the storm of the French advance, a gunner of the troop was injured. Captain Mercer who commanded ‘G’ Troop RHA, the official artillery support of the rearguard, only now became aware of the presence of the rocket troop.

’It was now for the first time that I discovered the Major and his rocket troop, who annoyed at my having the rear, had disobeyed the order to retreat, and remained somewhere in the neighbourhood until this moment, hoping to share whatever might be going on……..’[17 ]

The French Cavalry started to press forward, the retreat rapidly deteriorated into a race until they had passed the village of Genappe. After a serious clash of cavalry, the French advance was stalled and a standoff ensued.

‘ I proposed to Major Mc Donald making use of the rockets, which had hitherto done nothing. There was a little hesitation about this, and one of the officers (Strangways) whispered me “No, no-it’s too far!” this I immediately told the Major, proposing as a remedy that they should go closer. Still there was demur; but at last my proposition was agreed t, and down they marched into the thick of the skirmishers in the bottom[of the valley].

………..the Rocketeers had placed a little iron triangle in the road with a rocket lying on it. The order to fire is given- a port-fire applied- the fidgety missile begins to sputter out sparks and wiggle its tail for a second or so, and then darts forth straight up the chausee. A gun stands right in its way, between the wheels of which the shell in the head of the rocket bursts, the gunners fall right and left, and, those of the other guns taking to their heels, the battery is deserted in an instant. Strange; but so it was. I saw them run, and for some minutes afterwards I saw the guns standing mute and unmanned, whilst our rocketeers kept shooting off rockets, none of which ever followed the course of the first: most of them, on arriving about the middle of the ascent, took a vertical direction, whilst some actually turned back upon ourselves-and one of these, following me like a squib until its shell exploded, actually put me in more danger than all the fire of the enemy throughout the day. Meanwhile the French artillerymen, seeing how the land lay returned to their guns and opened fire………’[17]

Whinyates described the scene many years later, but does not mention this incident.

‘ With respect to the proceedings of the Troop on the 17th, when the rear was falling back from Quatre Bras to occupy the position of Waterloo, a very few rockets were fired, and those singly on the chausee. I did not consider the rockets bad, for I think they cleared the chausee, but single rockets never have the imposing appearance of ground rockets fired together, when the general effect and mass only is observed, whereas rockets when fired singly have their deviations exposed and visible.[18]

The Troop continued its retreat without further incident. Overnight the troop rested near the farm of Mont St Jean. Initially the troop remained in reserve but was called forward to support the great cavalry charge that repulsed D’Erlon’s Corps just when they appeared to be overwhelming the British left flank. The troop proceeded to the valley floor between the two armies, now cleared of all troops, and discharged volleys of rockets toward the unseen French lines through the head high crops.

‘When the bugles of the Army sounded the turn-out my Troop, with others of the Horse Artillery, assembled on the low ground behind the position on the left of the road leading to La Belle Alliance, and there awaited orders.’

‘I suddenly received a communication that the Cavalry was going to advance, and that I was to move forward [In support] . . . . . At this moment, however, Colonel Macdonald of the Horse Artillery came up, and ordered me to leave my Guns and advance with the Rocket Sections[only], which I did, down the slope in front of the position until the ground on the French side gave a more favourable chance of effectual rocket practice.’

‘On dismounting to fire the ground rockets some very high grain crops interposed and screened the Enemy’s line, and after firing some discharges of rockets I received an order to rejoin the position.’

‘….about five or six years ago I was told that a Major of English Dragoons was left wounded near the French line, and that he had said he heard the rockets passing and the French swearing (in their way) at them, and the English for wishing to burn them alive, and that they did not like them at all.”[19]

‘…….the Mounted Rocket Sections were also Gun Detachments and were not exclusively employed in managing rockets.’

‘ When Colonel Macdonald ordered the advance with rockets all the Gun Detachments (except the two dismounted men at each Gun, who are called limber gunners, and which two are carried on the limbers and have no horses) left their Guns behind them and moved quickly, being on horseback, down the slope in front of their Guns. When halted and brought into action, they dismounted from their horses to fire ground rockets that ricoched along the ground.”[20]

‘I think the advance of the Rocket Troop to the double hedge did not take place until the results of the charge of Cavalry were pretty nearly consummated, and that when the Rocket troop came up very few of the Cavalry remained out in front upon the Enemy’s ground.’[21]
 

The Battle of Waterloo showing Rockets flaring across the sky.

The damage to French morale from the rocket fire is confirmed by French memoirs.

‘ The English Artillery made dreadful havoc in our ranks; we were so completely exposed, that their rockets passed easily through all the lines, and fell in the middle of our equipage, which was placed behind on the road, and its environs.’[22]

The troop now retired to its original position and did not move as a unit for the remainder of the day. Sections were however detailed off to take advantage of troop movements and fire off rockets at the enemy wherever possible. After the capture of La Haye Saint a section of rockets led by Captain Dansey, was brought forward to the area of the abattis on the main road, to support attempts at preventing the French from pushing forward from this bridgehead. The officers of the party were injured early in the advance but the section did not retire. The memoirs of those there take up the story.

‘When I was detached from the Troop, I had two Guns as well as rockets, and I went to the front along the high road to look for a place, or rather to form an opinion as to where it would be best to come to action, and I went near to the abates, and the fire of musketry was very hot, and I resolved not to attempt to bring the Guns up. I went back and ordered the men to get their rockets and follow me on foot with them. Lieut. Wright took a rocket under his arm, and we all went to the front to the abattis and stuck the rockets among the bushes of it. The moment we began firing I was wounded by a musket ball, and Lieut. Wright had some of the buttons knocked off his jacket; we were the only persons of the party mounted, and we were both hit……’

‘I believe that after I went to the rear, Lieut. Wright rejoined the Troop; possibly some of the party may have got separated from him, and, if so, may have been those seen by the A.D.C. of Lord Anglesey……………’[23]

‘About the middle of the Action I was returning…..from the enemy’s position some small distance to the left of our centre, and had arrived at the foot of the rising ground, when I met a non-commissioned officer of the Artillery in charge of a party of about eight or ten men armed with rockets; he was passing to the right of our line. Whether he spoke to me first, or I to him, I do not recollect; but I remember perfectly he in the coolest manner dismounting his men, and firing a succession of rockets into a Column of Infantry on the crest of the French position, each of which seemed to take effect.’[24]

With the officers wounded, the section was commanded by Sergeant Dunnett, who coolly led them to complete their mission and only then retired.

Sergeant Daniel Dunnett ‘on perceiving the advance of the nearest French column towards the farm, dismounted his men as coolly and deliberately as if exercising on Woolwich common, though without any support whatever, laid rockets on the ground, and discharged them in succession into the mass, every one of them appearing to take effect. The advance of the column was checked until Dunnett, having expended all his rockets, retired with his party to rejoin the guns in the rear.’[25]

Sometime later in the battle, a section again moved forward with a bombarding frame, but having fired a few 24 pdr rockets, they were ordered to stop as the friendly units in front were getting nervous!

‘We had with the Troop a great awkward lumbering carriage, with an apparatus called a Bombarding Frame for heavy rockets; my impression is that at the time of our advance with the Guns, this carriage did not go to the front with us, but I recollect our seeing it, with its great long frame cocked up in the air, at an angle of about 45 degs., firing away. …..But I am sure that the non-commissioned officer in charge of it did bring the carriage into action quite of his own accord, without any orders of Major Whinyates, whatever……Major Whinyates ordered him to cease firing, as there were some Foreign cavalry of our side between him and the Enemy.’[26]

Towards the end of the battle, the troop became involved in a duel with a French battery and appears to have given a good account of itself. For this counter battery fire however, it seems that the six pounder cannon were employed, not the rockets.

‘The Brigade of French Horse Artillery in front of the Rocket Troop were, by the guns of the Rocket Troop, totally disabled before five o’clock, and left a wreck upon the ground at eight.’[27]
 

AFTER WATERLOO

Soon after Waterloo, the reduction in the size of the armed services was rapid and the rocket troops were disbanded in 1816. Rockets were used by the Royal Navy in their defeat of the Bey of Algiers in 1816, the rockets destroyed many ships in the harbour. Rocket technology did not move on at any great pace however the Royal Artillery did set up Rocket troops throughout Victorian times whilst they continued experimenting.

It is true to say, that despite occasional spectacular successes such as the Adour, Bladensburg and Leipzig, too often rockets failed because of their erratic behaviour. Even when using volleys of twenty or more rockets, so many soared skywards or to right and left, that it was a rare rocket that actually struck the target aimed at. The additional danger of rockets returning to the sender made them very unpopular! Rockets did succeed occasionally as they were truly frightening weapons for the time and their erratic unpredictable flight proved their greatest asset at times. It proved difficult to predict the path of the rockets, which zigzagged across the fields, in an effort to avoid the rocket units would completely break up, leaving them extremely vulnerable to attack from more conventional forces.It is perhaps not surprising that commanders such as Wellington were unhappy using rocket troops.

Congreve rockets tested contemporary science well beyond its limits and thus failed to achieve its clear potential.

Rocket Troop 1832.

TROOP ORGANISATION[28]

In his treatise on how to use rocket artillery to its best advantage, Congreve first argued on the benefits of rocket artillery over conventional artillery. Two or three volleys of twenty rockets could in theory be carried out by twenty men, cannon although more accurate, would only release three shot with twenty men in the same period. Secondly, rockets were very manouverable, any spot an infantryman could get to, a rocket could also. The weight of the rockets was not exceptional, lighter men than normal for artillery duties could be employed thus easing the recruitment problem. Usually artillerymen were at least 14 stone to cope with the heavy lifting, rocket men could be as light as 10 stone and cope easily.

The Rocket Troop consisted of three divisions, each divided into two subdivisions. Each subdivision consisted of five sections, each of three men. Each subdivision also had two drivers who led four ammunition horses. Each mounted man carried four 12 pounder rockets and each ammunition horse 18 rounds. Therefore the full troop would amount to 102 men, 24 ammunition horses and 840 rounds of ammunition.

Each division was to have two rocket cars attached, one heavy and one light. Heavy cars carried four men with forty 24 pdr rockets. The light car carried two men with sixty 12 pdr rockets, each car could discharge two rockets in each volley.

Attached to each sub division, was a tumbril ammunition cart with two horses, which were designed to carry three of each riders four rockets on the line of march. The tumbril could carry a reserve of 60 rounds in action.

Therefore, in action the troop consisted of 5 officers, 15 non commissioned officers, 90 troopers, 60 drivers, 8 artificers, 3 heavy cars, 3 light cars, 6 tumbrils and 164 horses, all to carry two hundred and sixty 24 pdr rockets and twelve hundred 12 pdrs.

The rocket artilleryman’s equipment

The artilleryman was dressed exactly as the horse artillery, but his equipment differed. The holster on each side of the saddle held two 12 pdr rockets. The holsters removed from the pommel of the saddle easily for transportation by the rider.

 

Rocketeer with and without shabraque.

The four sticks, which were seven feet in length, were collected in a bundle by means of a strap with four loops. The bottom of the sticks sat in a bucket, the sticks then rested across the riders right thigh and then tucked under his arm, protruding behind, without incommoding the rider from the ability of using his sword.

In each section of three, which were accordingly numbered 1-3, number 2 carried the chamber for firing the rockets. It consisted of a small iron trough about one foot six in length with four iron points on its base to fix into the ground. The chamber weighed six pounds and was carried in a small leather case at the back of the valise.

The men were armed with a sword, pistol and a spear head which could be affixed to a rocket stick as a lance.

They did not use slow match but lit a port fire in action which had a pistol lock and pan. The sticks were fixed to the rockets by loops on the rocket case using a pair of pointed pliers or a small hammer with a point in the head. The weight of equipment carried by a troop horse was three stone six pounds.
 

Ammunition horse

The rockets were covered by a painted canvas screen. The saddle was furnished with two iron forks on top to accommodate a leather case, which held the sticks in half lengths. The lengths quickly fitted together using iron ferrules. The rockets were each fitted into a saddle bag, the flaps of which were secured by a chain and padlock for security. The total weight carried by horse the horse was 19 stone.

Rocket Ammunition horse with and without canvas cover.

Rocket cars

The rocket sticks were held in boxes in half lengths. An iron plate trough was fixed between the stick boxes and could be angled from ground level up to 45 degrees.

Carriage on march and deployed at 45 degrees and ground fire.


Bombarding frame.

This was simply a light ladder twelve feet in length, having two iron chambers at the top for rockets, which were discharged by a musket lock, set off by a line held on the ground. The ladder was raised to any elevation by a ‘v’ frame of two legs. This frame was used for larger rockets, with it, 32 pdr rockets with carcasses[Incendiaries] of 8lb to 18lb ranged from 3000 to 2000 yards.

Bombarding Frame in action.


Ammunition.

The 24 pdr rocket was the largest field rocket with a range up to 2500 yards with a warhead of solid shot or case shot. The 12 pdr, the main battlefield rocket had a range of 1000 yards in ground fire or 2500 yards on a frame.

Larger rockets such as the 42pdr and larger 6, 7 and 8 inch rockets carried explosive heads weighing up to 50 pounds. These required four lengths of stick to form a tail, totalling a full twenty eight feet in length. Congreve also experimented with a parachute flare rocket.


As described by Whinyates himself.

‘With respect to the costume and equipment of the Rocket Troop at the Battle of Waterloo, the men were dressed like the horse artillery………… Their appointments ( both of horse and man), however, differed from those of the Horse Artillery. They had a pouch belt, which the Horse Artillery had not. Each mounted man carried a fasces of three or four rocket sticks in a bucket in a manner similar to the mode lances and Dragoon carbines are carried. These sticks were carried on the right side of the horse. Besides these the centre of threes carried a small trough on his saddle bag, in which the rocket was laid when fired, and every man in the Rocket Sections carried rockets in his holsters. Should you entertain an intention of representing the costume of the troops the small flag attached to the rocket stick should not be introduced. It was added by the Captain as an ornament, and was discontinued, and not part of the real equipment.[29]
 

NOTES and SOURCES

  1. The Dictionary of The Napoleonic Wars, edited by David Chandler.
  2. Peninsular Preparation, Richard Glover.
  3. Military Dictionary, Major James.
  4. Nelson’s Navy, Brian Lavery.
  5. Napoleonic War Journal of Thomas Browne, 23rd Regiment, Army Records Society.
  6. Duke of Wellington’s Dispatches Vol. VI, Gurwood.
  7. The Incredible war of 1812, J Mackay Hitsman.
  8. Naval war of 1812, Chatham Pictorial histories.
  9. Duke of Wellington’s Dispatches Vol. XI, Gurwood.
  10. The Subaltern, Gleig (85th Regiment).
  11. Napoleonic Source Book, Phillip Haythornthwaite.
  12. Wellington’s Supplementary Despatches Wellington Vol. VI, Gurwood.
  13. Memoirs of Thomas Morris, 73rd Regiment.
  14. The War in Germany and France in 1813 and ‘14, Lord Londonderry.
  15. Edinburgh Evening Courant, 20 January 1814.
  16. Strangways was only a Subaltern at this time and was not commanding the troop, but may have been commanding a detachment.
  17. Journal of the Waterloo Campaign, Mercer.
  18. Colonel EC Whinyates to Colonel Sir Hew Ross 19 December 1842, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne.
  19. Colonel EC Whinyates to Colonel Sir Hew Ross 10 March 1841, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne.
  20. Colonel EC Whinyates to Colonel Sir Hew Ross 20 November 1842, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne.
  21. Lieutenant Colonel CC Dansey to Siborne 2 February 1843, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne.
  22. A Voice from Waterloo, Peter Heath. A French Officers account (anonymous).
  23. Lieutenant Colonel CC Dansey to Siborne 2 February 1843, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne.
  24. Extract of a letter from Sir Horace Seymour 4 December 1842, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne.
  25. History of the Waterloo Campaign, Siborne.Lieutenant Colonel CC Dansey to Siborne 23 February 1843, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne.
  26. Captain Warde to Siborne 27 May 1840?, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne.
  27. Rocket Troop at Waterloo
Captain Edward Whinyates, wounded at Waterloo, had three horses shot under him and then near end of day was struck by a roundshot on the leg and was severely wounded in the left arm.

Second Captain Charles C Dansey, wounded.

First lieutenant Robert Ord

First lieutenant Amherst Wright, wounded. Had been attached to the Swedish army in 1813-14.

First lieutenant Thomas Fox Strangways, wounded, served as a Subaltern with the rocket troop in Germany, seeing action at Gordhe and Leipsig. Made a miraculous recovery from his wounds at Waterloo.

First lieutenant AdamWard, had lost a leg at TarbesFrom The Waterloo Roll Call, Dalton.
 

  1. Details taken from ‘The details of The Rocket System: shewing the various applications of this weapon, both for sea and land service, and its different uses in the field 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 Rocket Corps, and others whom it may concern. 1814.’
  2. Colonel EC Whinyates to Colonel Sir Hew Ross 20 November 1842, The Waterloo Letters, Major General HT Siborne