Handbook for Light ArtilleryDyer, A. B. (Alexander Brydie)
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Handbook for Light Artillery
Dyer, A. B. (Alexander Brydie)
Artillery, Field and mountain
Other oils may be usefully employed, as whale-oil, when they can be
gotten pure; this is not easily done, it being hard to detect the
frauds.
Vegetable oils are very hurtful.
As good oil cannot always be had, a mixture of three quarters of melted
lard and one quarter of whale-oil may be used in emergencies; it should
be spread over the leather with a piece of woollen cloth, and well
rubbed in.
Blacking for harness and dressings are given under "Mountain
Artillery," p. 61. The prepared harness-oil manufactured at Rock Island
Arsenal is packed in tins 4½ × 4½ × 8½ inches, each containing 6 pounds
of oil. Twenty-five tins are packed in a box.
Kerosene is good for cleaning rust from iron parts, and then use
sperm-oil.
To paint metal parts, use asphaltum paint. Before applying care should
be taken that every particle of rust is removed; then give two light
coats, allowing plenty of time for the first coat to dry. Colgate's
black harness soap and Frank Miller's harness soap No. 2½ are
excellent for keeping harness clean and soft with little trouble.
Frank Miller's harness soap and asphaltum paint can be obtained from
the Ordnance Department.
Recent orders from the War Department forbid the use of any dressings
other than those furnished by the Ordnance Department.
In the field there will not usually be much time or many materials
available for cleaning harness. Rust should be cleaned off ironwork
with sand, kerosene, etc., the ironwork being then oiled. Leather
should be kept soft and pliable by having a small quantity of soft
soap, if proper oil be not on hand, worked into it, mud and sweat being
first removed with as little water as possible.
The blanket must be kept clean, and folded to lie perfectly smooth on
the horse's back. Inspect the collar and see that its bearing surface
is free from dirt, dried hair, etc., before putting it on the horse,
and at every opportunity. The necessity for repairs will be reported
immediately, and the repairs will be made by the saddler at the
earliest practicable moment.
In garrison harness is wiped off after each drill, and is carefully
cleaned once a weak. A good driver should clean his harness thoroughly
in from 1 to 1½ hours, especially if provided with a trestle on which
to spread it out. First remove all dust and dirt with a damp cloth,
disconnecting all of the parts for that purpose. Then apply either soap
or dressing with a sponge, wetting the sponge with water when using the
soap.
=Harness-pegs.=--Harness-pegs for each pair are arranged in the
walls of the harness-room or in the heel-posts of the stalls. There
should be three pegs for each double set of harness, the upper one for
the pole-yoke, with the martingales attached, the bridles, and collars;
the next for the off harness, and the lower one for the near harness.
ARRANGEMENT OF HARNESS ON PEGS.
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