The tip of a US Revolutionary Artillery Worm

A worm is a device used to remove unspent powder bag remnants from a cannon or other piece of muzzle-loading field artillery.[1] It usually took the form of a double or triple [2] corkscrew-shaped piece of iron on the end of a long pole that could be twisted down the barrel to pick up any debris left over from the previous firing of the weapon [3][2] or used to extract a misfired charge.[2] It was usually turned twice before being pulled out.[3]

The worm during the civil war was either on its own pole hanging from the artillery carriage or attached to the end of the sponge. [2]

References

  1. ^ "Artillery Worm". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Speir, William (2011). "WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF THE CANNON CARRIAGES USED DURING THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES?" (PDF). artilleryreserve.org. The Artillery Reserve Organization. p. 4. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Positions on the Gun". www.jeffdavisartillery.org. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
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