23. Describe the prairie carriage.
The necessity for a small carriage for the mountain howitzer when used on our western prairies, has led to the adoption of a special carriage for that service, with a limber attached as in a field-carriage. This renders the carriage less liable to overturn, and preferable in every respect to the two-wheeled one. The limber is furnished with two ammunition boxes, placed over the axle-tree, and parallel to it, and just wide enough for one row of shells and their cartridges.
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24. How many kinds of siege-gun carriages are used in our service?
Three; one for the 12-pound gun; another for the 18-pdr.; and the third for the 24-pound gun and 8-in. howitzer.
25. In what respect are they similar?
They are all constructed in the same manner, differing only in their dimensions. All the limbers and wheels are the same, so that they can be used in common.
26. Describe this gun-carriage.
It is similar in its construction to the field-carriage, but is joined to the limber in a different way. Projecting upwards from the limber and in rear of the axle-tree, is placed a pintle, which enters a hole made in the trail from the underside, and a lashing-chain and hook keep the two parts together when once in position. The weight of the trail resting on the rear end of the tongue keeps this nearly horizontal, and relieves the horses of the weight of it, which, as it must be both long and heavy, is too much for the horses to carry.
The splinter-bar is, as in field carriages, stationary, but the traces of the next team are attached to a movable bar which is connected with the end of the tongue. The tongue is furnished with pole-chains, but no yoke, and the rest of the teams are harnessed as in field-artillery. The axle-trees are of iron, with axle-bodies of wood; which last, by its elasticity, renders the shock from the piece less direct and violent.