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The Daily Dispatch: July 11, 1861., [Electronic resource], Symptoms of reaction at the North. (search)
How gunpowder is made. The first knowledge of gunpowder, among European nations, was in the 14th century, a German monk named Swartz being regarded as the inventor; but that gunpowder was known thousands of years ago by the Hindoos and Arabs, is certain. Ancient writers speak of a people living near the Ganges that attacked their enemies "with thunderbolts shot from their walls;" and "with storms of lightnings and thunderbolts hurried from above." These were as far back as Alexander the Great, 300 B. C. Hindoo annals as far back as the time of Moses speak of it. Gunpowder is composed of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal; and its operation is founded on the rapid combination and consequent expansion of gasses, set free by combustion of its parts. The proportion of the ingredients used differs according to the use to which the powder is put. The United States Government formula 75 parts saltpetre, 12 5 sulphur, and 12 5 charcoal. We give some of the various receipts in a tabl