Handbook for Light ArtilleryDyer, A. B. (Alexander Brydie)
History
Handbook for Light Artillery
Dyer, A. B. (Alexander Brydie)
Artillery, Field and mountain
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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