272 



MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



The horses are usually purchased for each regiment. 



The animals in the Crimea, in the fall of 1855, were mostly, I believe, remount horses, sent 

 out during the spring and summer ; they were generally excellent animals, of great power and 

 weight, but, although in fair effective condition, they were hardly in the state that might have 

 been expected, considering the small amount of work they were required to j^erform. They 

 were encamped upon broken ground, where but little regularity could be perceived in their 

 arrangement. 



The men were under canvas, the horses generally blanketed at the picket ropes ; in some 

 few cases, exceptions to the rule, rough stables had been constructed. 



The picket ropes were about 2' from the ground, and fastened to stakes some 20' apart ; the 

 horses secured to them by the halter chain or rope. 



The camp equipage, cooking utensils, &c., do not differ materially from those of the infantry, 

 which will be described in their appropriate place. 



TRANSPORTATION BY SEA. 



The Himalaya was regarded as the most perfect horse transport ; the following description is 

 based upon notes taken during a visit to that vessel in the harbor of Balaklava : 



She is an iron screw ship of 3,000 tons and 700 horse power, and can carry 380 horses, as 

 follows: on the spar deck 200, main deck 130, orlop deck 50; the corresponding number of 

 troops can be carried at the same time. 



The Himalaya was purchased by the government, and commanded by Captain Priest, K. N ; 

 to the courtesy of that very intelligent officer we are indebted for the details contained herein. 



Fig. a. Fig. 2 Fig. 1. 



SO" 



> 



^ 



27~t\,tn"_ 



Slv'p's side 



—7 -K 



\ 



n 



4' 



S'W 



Fig. 1 is a section through the side boards of a stall. 

 Fig. 2, a longitudinal section along the axis. 

 Fig. 3 is the plan of stall. 



A, are the halter rings. 



B, the hook to which the sea halter is hung when not ia use. 



