THE ARTILLERY-WAGON.
Fig. 66.
Weight complete, 1868 pounds.
This wagon, on the canvas cover of which is painted its name and the designation of the battery, is made of white oak, and is for carrying the knapsacks, ammunition for small-arms, spare small-arms, and spare intrenching tools of the battery. It has the same track as the other artillery-carriages, and the axles are self-oiling, one filling lasting a month.
The capacity of the interior is for 120 knapsacks, weighing about 3000 pounds.
The rear wheels are 57¾ inches in diameter; the fore wheels are smaller, in order to turn under the body of the reach.
The driver's seat is a lock-box of three compartments, the two end ones being for spare revolvers and revolver-cartridges. The middle compartment is for the following articles, viz.: 1 wheel-grease can and spatula; 1 self-oiling axle-grease syringe; 1 hand-hammer; 1 wrench.
On the rear of the wagon is carried a 25-gallon water-keg, fitted with bronze screw-bung and a spigot. Under the body of the wagon and above the reach and rockers are carried the spare double (1) and single (2) trees, and the following intrenching-tools, viz.: 2 long-handled shovels, 2 spades, 2 pickaxes, 2 axes.
To the foot-board is attached a dash-board lamp, which when not in use may be carried in the compartment under the driver's seat.
A boot to protect the driver is also provided.
The wagon has a double cover; the first, of water-proof canvas, covering the top only; the second, of cotton duck, extends down the sides and far enough in rear to lace at the ends. A stout canvas cover in rear of the driver's seat prevents the load from being thrown to the front.
No special place is provided for the two canvas water-buckets, which should be carried where they can readily be gotten at.
To fill the axle with oil remove the screw-washers and fill the spindles by means of the axle-grease syringe.
THE WATER-CART.
Nothing of this kind is supplied; but battery commanders can readily improvise one for field marches and encampments and find it exceedingly useful. Obtain two good substantial wheels and an axle; attach shafts; build a suitable framework thereon to sustain a large barrel, which should have a faucet in the rear end and an opening for filling it on top.
LIGHT-[ARTILLERY HARNESS].
The harness is made of black leather, black buckles, and without ornaments other than black leather rosettes. In connecting the principal parts of the harness and in attaching the horse to the limber hooks, hooking into rings or links only at the point where a depression is made in the ring or link, are used.
The Bridle (a) is similar to the regulation cavalry bridle except that it has black buckles and black rosettes. The coupling-rein of the off horse can be lengthened or shortened as desired, and has a snap-hook for attaching the end to a ring on the saddle of the near horse. The lash end of the reins of the off horse passes through a roller on the pommel of his saddle and falls to the left, convenient to the driver's hand, so that by pulling it the horse is set back in his harness directly to the rear.
The Halter is of leather, with leather halter-strap.
The Saddle.
Nomenclature.—(A) pommel; (B) cantle; (C) side-bar; (D) quarter-straps, front, spider; (E) quarter-straps, rear, spider; (F) quarter-strap ring or spider-ring; (G) cincha; (H) cincha-strap; (I) cincha-ring; (K) stirrup-loop; (L) stirrup-strap; (M) stirrup-tread; (N) stirrup hood; (P) rings; (R) cantle-staple; (S) saddle-bag stud; (aa) (bb) coat-straps or thongs; (ii) cincha-ring safes.
Fig. 67.
The regulation McClellan saddle, with saddle bags (b), [Fig. 68], is used. Some batteries are supplied with fair-leather seats which are to be preferred to black leather ones. Leather-covered wooden stirrups for officers; enlisted men use brass stirrups. Saddles of horses in harness have a pommel-ring to which the collar-strap (v) is hooked; and saddles of wheel-horses have, securely fastened to them, cantle-hooks (k), which serve to hold the single-trees (i) when detached from the double-tree. These hooks can be removed and attached to another saddle, if necessary, in the field. A loop is placed on the hair cincha to support the martingale (n). There are three sizes of cinchas, viz., 16-inch, 18-inch, and 20-inch.
Fig. 68.
The Draught-harness.—This consists of the locking-collar (c), with hames permanently attached. The trace-tugs (d), permanently attached on either side of the collar, terminate in a ring (e), through which the toggle (f) of the trace passes.
The trace (g) is made of two thicknesses of leather and has a D ring at either end to which chains are attached. The front chain (f) is short with a toggle at the end. The rear chain (h) is 24 inches long with a hook at the end; each link has a depression in it over which the hook can pass. Mogul springs (l) are used on the trace-chains of wheel-horses.
The trace-chains (y) of lead-horses terminate in a ring which passes over the toggle of the trace in rear; the hook-end is then passed through the ring at the end of the trace and hooked in any link of the chain.
The Breeching.—In this connection it should be stated that the neck-yoke (o) is attached to the wheel-horse by means of a breast-strap (r) which passes through the ring on the neck-yoke and hooks on either side of the collar to a ring.
The breeching consists of a broad breech-strap (m), supported by hip-straps (s, s′), with rings at either end; a back-strap (t), with crupper (t′) attached, hooks to the saddle, and also has a loin-strap (u) for supporting the traces.
The martingale (n), of heavy leather with folded edges, is attached to the neck-yoke (m) by means of a cinch-strap sewed to a ring in its front end. It passes between the fore legs of the horse and through the loop on the cincha, and the D ring at its rear end should be near the middle of the horse's belly. Attached to the ring on either end of the breech-strap is a side-strap (s") bearing a hook which hooks into the D ring at the rear end of the martingale.
Fig. 69.
- b′, breech-strap
- s", side-straps
- n, martingale
- m, neck-yoke
The martingale and side-straps, being under the body of the horse and connected with the breeching and neck-yoke, the horse is not only held up, but uses his weight and strength to the best advantage when holding back.
The breech-strap, hip-strap, side-straps, martingale, and breast-strap are omitted on lead-horses.
The blanket is of wool, dyed scarlet.
The dress saddle-cloth is of heavy cotton canvas, bright scarlet, bound with black leather. It is easily cleaned by scrubbing with soap and water. The leg-guard, whip, watering-bridle, surcingle, nose-bag, and when required lariat and picket-pin. Surcingles are of three sizes, viz.: No. 1, 76½ inches; No. 2, 84 inches; and No. 3, 96 inches.
The collar now used is a hinged steel locking-collar.
This steel collar, weighing about 15 pounds, consists essentially of two plates, pressed in U shape, hinged together at the top, and closed at the bottom by a spring latch. One side of the plate is fitted to the animal's shoulder; the other side carries the trace-hooks, under which are placed U-shaped plate-springs, which are held in place by the same bolts as are the trace-hooks.
All parts of the collar and its fittings are put together with bolts, and can be quickly taken apart when necessary, the only tool needed being the wrench that accompanies each collar. The parts of the collar that rest on the neck and shoulders are galvanized, which prevents galling in warm or wet weather, and conduces to the healing of sores. The collar is opened by pressing a spring latch at the bottom, and is thus easily put on and taken off without forcing it over the horse's head.
The collar being such an important part of the harness, directions for fitting it are given as indicated in the circular of the Steel Horse Collar Company, of Fitchburg, Mass.
Collar-sides, pads, and connections are made in different sizes to suit the number of collar. All the other parts will fit any collar.
DESCRIPTION OF PARTS OF COLLAR.
Fig. 70.
and the bolts for top connection, bottom of collar, extension, and trace-plate.
The table of dimensions at the top of next page gives the largest size to which each number of collar can be adjusted. Each collar can be made 1½ inches shorter and 1¼ inches narrower than the dimensions given. Sizes 5 and 6 are used in the U. S. service.
To shorten the collar, take out the bolt that fastens the extension to collar-side, and press the extension down into the collar-side one or two holes as desired, and replace the bolt.
DIRECTIONS FOR FITTING COLLARS.
TABLE OF DIMENSIONS.
| Length of Collar. | Width 1/3 Down from Top. | Width at Widest Part. | |
| No. | Inches. | Inches. | Inches. |
| 1 | 16½ | 5⅝ | 7½ |
| 2 | 18 | 5¾ | 8 |
| 4 | 19½ | 6 | 8⅜ |
| 5 | 21 | 7½ | 9¼ |
| 6 | 22½ | 7½ | 9¼ |
| 7 | 24 | 8 | 10 |
The width is changed at the top by using the different pads and connections. Each pad has its own connection, which forms the hinge at the top of the collar.
The collar is taken in at the bottom by shifting the bolt that holds the buckle in the side having the three holes. Each pad, connection, and collar-side has the number denoting its size stamped upon it. Any reference to the collar-side hereafter will mean collar-side and extension put together, which form the collar-side complete.
When it is necessary to put a No. 3 pad, the largest size, in the top of the collar, and adjust the bottom to the middle or smallest size, the collar-sides will have to be bent at the top under the eye enough to allow the collar to close easily at the bottom, and when the reverse is wanted the collar-sides can be straightened. In making these irregular changes be particular to get both sides of the collar the same length, so that it will close at the bottom. The sides can be easily twisted to make them come together evenly.
When it is necessary to bend the ends of the pads to make them fit closely to the collar-sides, use a wooden mallet. If a hammer is used, it will break the zinc on the galvanized parts.