The picket-line is 15 yards in rear of the caissons; it is either stretched between posts about 6 feet high or between caissons, or laid on the ground and secured by pins. When the ground picket-line is used, the end pins should be at least 1 inch in diameter and 3 feet long, and to lessen the danger of their being pulled up no horse should be tied nearer than 12 feet from them; a sufficient number of smaller pins, about ¾ of an inch in diameter and 2 feet long, are used between the end pins to keep the line straight and prevent it from swaying. The pins should be of iron with steel heads and points. The horses are secured to the ground-line by hobbles, or by hitching-straps if long enough to prevent constraint to the horses. The ground picket-line should not be used unless the earth is sufficiently firm to hold the pins securely.
Fig. 77.
The men's tents are pitched in line, about 30 yards in rear of the picket-line; the first sergeant's tent covers the carriages of the right section; the left guard-tent covers the carriages of the left section; the tents of each section are in the order of their pieces in park, and are closed to the centre, or to the right, so as to have a vacant space between the guard-tents and the tents of the left section. The men's kitchens are in line, 10 yards in rear of the guard-tents, which may be faced to the right, so that No. 1 can overlook the kitchen.
The officers' tents are in line, 30 yards in rear of the battery tents; the captain's tent on the right, covering that of the first sergeant. The officers' kitchens are 10 yards in rear of their tents. The baggage-wagons are in line 30 yards in rear of the officers' tents. The sinks are 50 yards in rear of the wagons; the officers' sink on the right, the men's sink on the left.
When time permits, the rows of tents are ditched, and a shallow ditch 8 inches in depth made around each tent; and these should lead into other and deeper drains or gutters by which the water will be conducted away from the tents. No refuse, slops, or excrement should be allowed to be deposited in the trenches for drainage around tents.
On arriving in camp sinks should be dug at once, unless the march is to be resumed on the following morning; the sinks are concealed by tents or brush when practicable, and must be covered daily with fresh earth. A small sink should be dug near the kitchen as a receptacle for all cooking refuse; the old kitchen sink should be filled up and the earth well rammed down over it, and a new sink opened every two or three days.
Paulins are used to protect the guns, carriages, and harness, and also to serve as cover for the men when necessary. The paulin is 12 feet square, is provided with double cords at each corner and at the middle of each side. Each carriage has two paulins, which are carried on the limber-chests. For protection of material the paulins are placed over the carriage as follows: Tie a corner of one of the paulins over the muzzle, pull the canvas over the gun-wheels and tie diagonal corner to the flask, tie a corner of the second paulin to the flask, pull the canvas over the wheels of the limber and tie the diagonal corner to the pole in front of the harness. The caisson is covered in a similar manner by its two paulins.