THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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the uselessness in attempting to make them, in their present state, move 
rapidly from place to place, which they are frequently called on to do. 
The same description of raid occurred again in 1868, and authority was 
obtained to increase the mobility of the field batteries, by making use of the 
axle-tree boxes for carrying two men of the detachments. Temporary seats, 
therefore, were constructed by one of the batteries, a short description of 
which is here given. 
The present pattern of axle-tree box for the 12-pr. Armstrong gun not 
being sufficiently wide for a seat, the additional width is obtained by a 
wooden movable ledge and extra side, fastened together and strengthened 
with corner plates; it is shaped to fit over the nuts of the bands fastening 
the axle-tree boxes, and two small stop plates let in on the inside to catch 
the box underneath. It is kept tight to the box by an iron retaining band 
passing round both, and screwed to the extra side by nut-headed bolts and 
plates. The ledge, therefore, does not in any way interfere with the lid or 
other part of the box. A guard iron is fastened on outside, of sufficient 
height to allow its being also used as a handle for mounting. An extra 
rail is added, nearly as high as the top of the wheel; this is covered in with 
painted canvas or leather, which supports the arm, and protects it from the 
wheel. A support for the back is given by a wide leather strap, fastened to 
the top of an upright iron rod let into sockets on the side of the gun 
carriage, and passing across to the lower guard iron, to which it is fastened. 
The stirrup is an iron band, secured on one side to the cheek of the gun 
carriage by a nut and bolt, and on the other, to the extra side of the box, 
by a bolt and key on the outside. This description of stirrup is much to be 
preferred to the breast chain of the gun, which is recommended to be used 
for the purpose. The advantages of it are, that it is fixed, and serves also 
as a step for mounting; it does not project below the bottom of the axle- 
tree bed, and cannot touch when going over rough ground. The disadvan¬ 
tages of making a stirrup of the breast chain are, that it sways inconveniently 
for mounting, hangs down below the axle-tree bed, and may touch uneven 
ground. Hand-straps are fastened on outside each cheek of the gun carriage, 
and crossed over the top of the gun, for the inner hands of each man. 
With these appliances nothing short of the gun upsetting could throw a 
man off the seat. A battery has been drilled over rough ground with men 
on these seats, and they are preferred to those on the gun limbers. 
This plan of putting seats on the present pattern of axle-tree box admits 
of the required fittings being removed in a few minutes, which is not 
advisable for many reasons. The box and seat should of course be made all 
complete. The circumstances under which this description was made neces¬ 
sitated it to be movable without interfering with the box. 
It has been the practice of many officers in command of field batteries to 
utilise these axle-tree boxes, in some way or other, for mounting men on the 
line of march; and until new boxes and fittings are issued, the above method 
will be found to answer all purposes, and the workmanship required can be 
easily executed by battery artificers. 
It may be noticed here what great importance is given to these seats in 
the Prussian service. Their field gun carriages, horse artillery not excepted, 
are carefully fitted so as to make the best possible seat for two axle-tree 
gunners. Means are provided to lessen the concussion by buffers, made of 
