REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. MTLELLAN. 247 



For a small horse, the pins are placed in the holes nearest the axis of the saddle ; for a large 

 horse, in the outside holes; if a horse is narrow in the withers and hroad at the loins, the pins 

 are placed in the inside holes in front, and in the outside holes behind, and vice versa. 



The tree is covered with leather, and has the ordinary skirts. The girth, as adopted, is of 

 black leather, and in two parts. 



The upper part is 4" broad, is screwed to bars, passes over the tree, under the cover, and 

 projects equally on each side below the bars ; at each end of this piece is an iron pin with a 

 ^'^'^AAAA^ brass roller, as shown in the annexed figure. 



The other portion of the girth is a simple strap, 3" broad, with a large buckle at 

 one end, and a tongue at the other. The tongue of this strap is passed downwards 

 behind the roller on the near side of the horse, then upwards through the roller on the 

 off side, and buckled on the near side. 



Captain Cogent prefers extending the saddle skirts, attaching the rollers to them, and using 

 the girth just described. 



The saddle blanket (which is also the horse cover) is of thick felt cloth ; it is attached to the 

 pommel by a small strap passing through holes in the blanket, which is thus prevented from 

 slipping back, and at the same time raised so as to keep a free channel for the circulation of 

 air over the horses spine. 



The valise is shaped on a former, hollowed out and covered with stiff leather where it crosses 

 the spine, so that it cannot touch ; there are pockets on the ends of the valise for the spare horse 

 shoes and nails. 



The jjouches are as usual ; the holster is of wood, covered with raw hide, and is set inside of 

 the left pouch. 



The saddle is not blackened. 



The new equipment weighs 15 lbs. less than the old. 



I am not positive as to the bridle which has been adopted ; that proposed by M. Cogent, and 

 which I think has been accepted, is as follows : 



There is a snaffle bit, with branches ; the mouth piece in three parts. 

 The curb has a cross bar, and presents two striking peculiarities : 



1st. The curb chain acts upon the nose, instead of the chin ; to accomplish this, a ring is 

 sewed to each side of the nose band, close in front of the cheek pieces ; the chain, resting on the 

 nose band, passes through these rings, and then forward to the branches of the bit ; the requisite 

 levearge is thus obtained. 



2d. The mouth piece is longer than the interval between the branches, the latter sliding 

 through holes in the mouth piece ; the projection of the mouth piece beyond the branches has 

 a neck and head ; a ring catch at the end of the cheek piece goes over this neck, and keeps the 

 mouth piece in its proper position ; by raising these ring catches, the mouth piece is freed and 

 may be slipped down to the bottom of the branches, so that the horse can feed freely. 



This arrangement did not strike me so favorably as the Kussian ; the latter is simpler, and 

 cannot get out of order. 



There is in the possession of the War Department a pamphlet of Captain Cogent's, giving the 

 drawings of his bridle and bit. 



UKIFOEM. 



This is so well known in our service that only a few remarks will be necessary. 

 The frock-coat has not been adopted for the cavalry. 



