Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

When the roads are good, or even tolerable, the artillery is always obliged to wait for the infantry, which is attended with much additional fatigue to the horses, from having the harness so much longer on them. Likewise, when the roads are at all bad, artillery can only keep up with cavalry, when the latter are marching at the ordinary rate, by forcing their horses too much and wearing them out very rapidly. When, therefore, there is no danger, the artillery should be allowed to march by itself so as to regulate its own rate of march.

Chiefs of section should carry nippers in their saddle-pouches to cut wire fences if necessary.

ACCIDENTS TO CARRIAGES.

When an accident happens to a carriage, it is pulled out of the column, if possible, so as not to interrupt the march; otherwise the carriages in rear pass it by the most convenient flank, and close to proper distance. The disabled carriage resumes its place as soon as the damage is repaired. If the road be narrow, it must fall into the first interval it finds, and regain its proper place as soon as the ground permits. If a field-piece is disabled, the cannoneers left to repair it, who cannot be carried on the limber-chest, mount on the axle-seats and off horses whenever the piece takes the trot to regain its place. If a caisson is disabled, the caisson corporal and the men necessary to repair it are left with it.

When a piece and its carriage are overturned, it is better to disengage the piece by letting the breech rest on the ground, or on a block of wood, and then raise the muzzle with a handspike while the cap-squares are taken off; the carriage is then righted and the piece mounted.

To right the carriage without disengaging the piece, detach the limber, secure the cap-squares, and lash the breech to the stock; place the middle of a rope over the nave of one wheel, pass the ends of it downward between the lower spokes of that wheel, then under the carriage, through the corresponding spokes of the other wheel, and then upward over the wheel and across the top of the carriage to the side where it was first attached. The ends of the rope and the wheel to be raised are then manned and the carriage pulled over, two men being required to steady the trail. If necessary, the ends of the rope may be fastened to the limber, and horses used to assist in righting the carriage.

Light carriages may be righted by hand without using a rope.

To Remove a Gun and Carriage; Carriage Disabled.—Dismount the gun; remove the horses and run the limber over the gun, so that the breech may be towards the pole and the trunnions under the pintle-hook; place a handspike in the bore and raise it; sling gun with prolonge; carry prolonge in rear of one trunnion, and in front of the other, round the pintle-hook, and pass the end forward; take a half-hitch round the breech and secure firmly around the fork, bearing down on the muzzle until the breech is secured. Replace cap-squares; remove wheels; turn over carriage and place it on the limber-chest. This is done by having trail, pointing towards the limber, lifted up from the front. Place wheels, dish down, on top of carriage, and lash all firmly together, the trail being lashed to a handspike in the bore of the gun.

If the caisson be present, place the carriage on it, removing the spare wheel and raising the carriage, trail first, from the rear.

To Disable a Field-gun.—Open the breech-block and then break it with a heavy hammer; or load the piece, close the breech without locking it, and fire the piece; or place two or three blank cartridges in the gun, close and lock the breech-block, ram in from the muzzle a ball of clay or sod; then unlock the breech-block and fire; or fire a shotted gun with its muzzle against the chase of another.