The Details of the Rocket System

In this early nineteenth‑century manual, a British artillery officer lays out the principles behind the newly formed Rocket Corps, a weapon that promised to change both land and naval warfare. The text opens with a formal dedication to the Prince Regent and explains why rockets, unlike conventional artillery, can be launched in massive volleys with minimal equipment. Readers get a sense of the optimism and technical curiosity that surrounded this emerging technology during the Napoleonic era.

The guide then moves to practical instructions: how to construct makeshift launch pits, arrange batteries of embrasures, and fire rockets both in field battles and siege bombardments. Detailed plates illustrate the rockets, their cases, and the various setups used on the plains of Leipzig and the banks of the Adour. Alongside tactical advice, the author includes a brief cost comparison, showing why the system was seen as an economical addition to the army’s arsenal.