CAMPS.
On reaching camp halt the battery, in line, in rear of the ground to be occupied, facing to the front. Indicate the positions for material, etc. The battery is then marched to the site of the gun-park and the guns formed action front, the stores and boxes being piled in rear of each gun. If possible make a foundation of stones, etc., for the piles of boxes to rest on, dig a trench around it, and cover the pile with a paulin firmly secured.
The men's tents are on either flank, the mules being picketed between the lines of tents. The officers' tents are on a line perpendicular to the men's tents, and about twenty-five yards from the end ones, and face inward. The guard-tents are near the flank guns.
After unloading, girths are loosened a little, and are allowed to remain so for fifteen minutes.
If the animals are warm they should be walked around until cool, and may then be watered. As a rule all watering should be superintended by an officer, and no man should be allowed to take more than two mules to water at the same time.
When the mules are put on the picket-line, remove bridles and wipe bits, loosen cincha a little, and place breeching over saddle, and take off breast-strap if one be used. Sponge nostrils and eyes, rub heads with dry wisp, and feed hay or grass. Saddles are only removed by order; and when removed the men must examine shoulders, withers, sides, and docks, and report the result. Backs should be rubbed off until the hair lies smooth.
The saddles are placed on end behind the line, pads facing sun or wind to dry. When dry they should be carefully brushed, beaten if necessary, and all hair removed.
At afternoon stables mules are groomed, watered if necessary, and fed, and the grain for the next morning served out and the outfit arranged for use. In grooming never use a currycomb on the animal's back.
Saddles, back up, are on one paulin spread out between every two mules, with bridles, etc. The other paulin is then placed over the saddles and over the ends of the first paulin, which are turned up, and a strap is passed around it and buckled about two feet above the ground. In wet weather the ground on which the saddles are placed should be raised.
Grooming is the same as with horses; but mules hardly need the elaborate grooming usually bestowed on horses.
The mule's blanket is used for his covering at night, and in hot weather is folded up square on his back and secured there as a protection against the sun.
Gunners will require their detachments of cannoneers to clean up guns, etc., after a march.
All men for mountain-batteries should be picked men.
Troop "B," Fourth Cavalry, while in Arizona kept on hand ready to start on a scouting expedition with its pack-train: flour 500 lbs., hard bread 50 lbs., bacon 350 lbs., sugar 75 lbs., coffee 60 lbs., beans 50 lbs., salt 25 lbs., baking-powder 20 lbs.; 6 camp-kettles, 40 lbs.; 2 mess-boxes, 150 lbs.; 20 mess-pans, 10 lbs.; 1 axe, 1 spade, small coffee-mill, 2 butcher-knives, 2 long forks, 2 long spoons, 3 or 4 tin plates, 3 frying-pans, soap, pepper, matches, and a few farrier's remedies. The baking-pans were circular, 12 inches in diameter at top and 9 at bottom.
The Rule for Making Bread was as follows: Dig a trench a little over a foot wide, a foot deep, and 12 feet long. Build a fire near it. Then mix 40 quart-cups of flour with salt, baking-powder and water in a mess-box; divide dough in ten equal parts and place each in a small mess-pan. Cover bottom of trench with a layer of coals 3 inches; then place on layer the pans of dough and cover same with larger pans so as to protect from dirt, etc. Fill trench and cover tops and sides of pans with coals. Leave for 1ΒΌ hours. Each loaf will make four rations.