350 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The cartouche is divided into two compartments and has a leathern sling 
to hang on the gunner's shoulder. 
The knee-cap is used to protect the right knee of the pointsman, as he 
has to kneel on his right knee to lay the gun, in consequence of its being 
so low off the ground. 
The recoil-ropes are used for checking the recoil; they are 57" long, and 
are fitted with hooks and rings. 
The handspike is used in lading and unlading the gun off the pack- 
saddle; it is 31"’! long, and in travelling is carried in the bore of the gun. 
Among other articles of equipment of the mountain battery is a 
portable forge, represented in Tig. 19. It consists of an iron hearth-plate 
and fire-box Ji , four iron feet cylindrical bellows iron blastpipe r , two 
connecting rods and blast lever d . To load the bellows a stone of from 
5 to 7 lbs. in weight may be used. 
The mountain forge weighs 79 lbs. and the iron anvil appertaining to 
it, 72 lbs. 
Tor transport the forge is taken to pieces, the pieces being packed in 
special bags for lading. In taking the forge to pieces, the blast lever and 
connecting rods are first unshipped, then the blastpipe is unscrewed, the 
bellows and bellows support are removed, and finally the four legs are taken 
out of the clamps on the fire-box. 
The forge is put together in the reverse order. 
Mule equipment, 
7. As already mentioned, the guns, carriages, and ammunition-boxes of 
the mountain guns, as well as the men's kits, forage, field stores, and other 
necessaries, are carried on mules equipped for that purpose with pack-saddles 
and other gear. 
The pack-saddle is fitted differently, according as it is intended for gun, 
gun-carriage, ammunition or baggage and other matters. 
The gun pack-saddle (Tig. 20) is composed of: an iron bound saddle-tree 
(consisting of 2 arches, 2 side-bars, 2 trunnion cheeks and transom forming 
the cradle), 2 cross-girths or luggage straps, 2 hair girths with 2 saddle 
straps each, 2 breeching and 2 breast collar buckling straps, 2 gun straps, 
and 2 gun straps with buckle ends. 
The gun-carriage pack-saddle (Tig. 21) differs from the above in so far 
that the saddle-tree has no cradle, and instead of the 2 gun straps, and 
2 gun straps with buckle ends, it has four belaying straps. 
The ammunition and baggage pack-saddle (Tig. 22) consists of an iron- 
mounted saddle-tree (2 arches and 2 side-bars) 2 cross girths, 2 girths 
each with 2 girth straps, 2 side-chafing pieces, 2 breeching and 2 breast 
collar buckling pieces, and 4 suspending hooks. 
The saddles are made of three sizes (large, medium, and small). 
The equipment of each mule consists of 1 black horsecloth, 1 pack- 
saddle pad, one 4" saddle girth, 1 cavalry bridoon, 1 head-stall and halter, 
2 leading reins, 1 breast-collar (consisting of 1 sweat piece or neck strap, 
2 straps, 2 shoulder straps, and 1 rosette), 1 breeching (consisting of 
1 sweat piece or breech strap, 2 straps, 2 hip straps and 1 loop); in 
addition to the above the gun-carriage pack-saddle has, 1 wanty, 1 wheel 
