MENU
Gun Captain's Powder Horn
During action seamen were assigned to gun crews, the size of which depended on the size of the gun. For example, a 12-pounder gun was served by a crew of 10, a 24-pounder by a crew of 14 and a 32-pounder by a crew of 14. Each gun crew served two guns - one on the larboard (port) side of the ship and the opposite gun on the starboard side. If the ship was engaged on one side, the full gun crew would serve their gun on that side. If the ship was engaged on both sides, half the crew would serve each gun.
Within each gun crew, members were assigned specific tasks, including sponging the barrel to extinguish any remaining embers from the previous shot, loading the gun with a cartridge, wads and shot, and hauling the gun back into the firing position. The operation was overseen by the Gun Captain, who pricked the cartridge, primed the gunlock, directed the pointing (aiming) and fired the gun. The lock was primed with fine-grade pistol powder from a powder horn slung from a cord over the Gun Captain's shoulder.
The Fall of Nelson, Battle of Trafalgar,
21 October 1805
Painted by Denis Dighton 1825
NMM (BHC0552)
On the right, Nelson is portrayed at the moment he falls on his left side. Captain Hardy, with his back to the viewer, advances to assist Royal Marine Sergeant Secker, who is already at Nelson's side.
At bottom left of the painting,
a gun captain primes his gun. This is shown
in larger detail at the top of the page.
HMS AJAX
1767-1785
Launched in 1767 at Portsmouth, she saw extensive action in the War of American Independence, taking part in battles under Admiral Rodney at Cape St. Vincent (1780), Graves at the Chesapeake (1781), Hood at St Kitts (1782) and Rodney and Hood at the Saintes (1782). Sold for breaking up in 1785. [1]
HMS AJAX
1798-1807
Launched in 1798 at Rotherhithe, she saw action in the Basque Roads (1799), participated in the Egyptian operation (1801), engaged Villeneuve's fleet in Calder's Action (1805), in Nelson's Weather Column at Trafalgar (1805). Burnt by accident off Tenedos in the Aegean, grounded on the island and blew up with a loss of 250 souls (1807). [2]
HMS AJAX
1809-1864
Launched in 1809 at Blackwall Yard, she served in Henry Blackwood's squadron off Toulon and the attack on Palamos (1810), With the Unite, took the French Flute Le Dromodaire off Elba (1811). Took the French 16-gun L'Alcion (1814). Sailed to America with troops (1814). Paid off in 1816. Converted to a blockship at Cowes. Broken up in 1864. [2]
HMS AJAX
Three Royal Navy ships of the period were named HMS Ajax, on any one of which the powder horn could have sailed (though I'm thinking that the odds are that it was the last of the three). All were 74-gun third-rate ships-of-the-line:
Date: 18th - early 19th century
Length:
Width:
Weight:
Materials:
This powder horn is typical of the Royal Navy style of the period. The cow horn is sealed by a wooden disk at the wide end, fitted with a screw stopper for filling.
At the narrow end a brass pourer, fitted with a sprung stopper, allows the amount of powder poured into the lock to be controlled. Two metal lugs are fitted for attaching a shoulder cord.
The horn is inscribed in paint with the ship's name 'Ajax', followed by additional lettering which is now illegible.
DESCRIPTION
NOTES [1] National Maritime Museum [2] British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793-1817, Rif Winfield (Seaforth Publishing), 2005/2014