Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

The drivers as soon as dismounted are directed to unhitch, and if the animals are sufficiently cool they should be watered and fed.

Examine feet, sponge eyes and nostrils, remove harness, and tie to picket-line. As soon as the harness has been removed pass the hand carefully over the horse's shoulders and back, and if there be any indication of a hard lump it should be at once hand-rubbed. Horses should be permitted to roll if backs be dry, as it is very restful to them. Leave blanket, secured by surcingle, on horse's back until dry if necessary. After two hours sound stables, at which the battery and platoon commanders should be present, and let the men get to work on their horses; a good rubbing-down is all that is necessary, without the elaborate grooming required in garrison.

Collar-galls and girth-galls should be kept wet with salt and water, and saddle-galls have a cloth wetted in the same manner kept on them. Or wash the galled spot and then cover it with a powder formed of 1 part iodoform and 3 parts sulphur. When the animal has to be used, cover it after dressing with a piece of old-fashioned sticking-plaster.

Should a riding-or draught-horse get a sore back, he may be used as an off leader or swing-horse. The saddle should be removed and the crupper connected to the collar by a back-strap. Breast-harness may be used on a horse with a collar-gall.

As a rule, horses should not be unharnessed at night in the presence of an active enemy; they should be tied closely together, tails to the wind, and should be shifted day or night to prevent their being head to the wind.

To Unharness in the Field.—If harness-racks be not used, the pole-prop is placed under the end of the pole; the single-trees are left attached to the double-trees; the wheel-traces are unhitched from the collars only, and laid over the chest from front to rear, or on the foot-board; the collars of the wheel-team on top of the limber-chest (paulins having been removed) next to the rail on the near side, the swing-collars in the middle, and the lead-collars next to the off-side rail; the collar of the off horse is placed on top of that of the near horse of the same team; the remainder of the harness is placed on the pole, that of the near wheel-horse next to the double-tree and as close to it as possible, next that of the off wheel-horse, and then the swing-and after that the lead-harness, both in the order laid down for the wheel-harness; the traces of the lead-and swing-harness (folded once) are laid over the pole; then on top of them the saddles with the attachments over them, so as not to rest on the ground. The neck-yoke is placed on the foot-board.

Figs. 77 and 78 represent the ordinary methods of encampment. These methods are modified to suit the circumstances and nature of the ground.

First Method.—The battery is parked with 15 yards interval between carriages. The extra caissons, the battery-wagon and forge, and the artillery-wagon are in a third line behind the caissons.

The harness of each team is arranged on the carriage.