THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
181 
On the 4th of the same month, 18 sleds were ready for the “left- 
half” of “G” Battery, and the half-battery including harness and 
stores of every kind, was packed on the sleds in a day. In like manner 
the right-half-battery was packed on the 5th; the “left-half” started 
on the 6th, the right following the day after. 
Before attempting to describe the way the various carriages were 
packed on the sleds, it will be necessary to give some description of the 
nature and construction of the sleds furnished by the contractors. 
They were the common sleds of the country such as are used for farm 
purposes or for heavy loads of any description, and are well adapted 
for the purpose for which they are used. They are drawn by a pair— 
or as it is called in the country—a “span ” of horses, and can convey a 
load of nearly 2 tons in weight. They can be had in any numbers, 
so that as far as the mere transport of artillery is concerned, it appears 
very unnecessary to attempt to construct sleds in England, for use in 
New Brunswick or Canada. The inhabitants of these provinces are 
more likely to be able to furnish sleds such as will suit their own roads, 
and of which the draught will be easy, than any artificer, however 
skilled, can hope to do at home in England. 
These sleds vary in almost all their dimensions, except their width, 
which in New Brunswick never varies more than two or three inches. 
If a sled were constructed very much wider or narrower in the 
“runners” than usual, it is manifest that the “runners ” would not 
run in the hardened snow track on each side of the central of the roads, 
but in the soft snow inside or outside it, increasing thus the weight of 
the draught immensely. The general width of the sleds used on the 
New Brunswick roads is 4 ft. 2 in. to 4 ft. 4 in. In Canada where the 
government can afford to send the snow-plough and roller over the 
roads, a greater latitude can be allowed. 
In the contracts entered into at St John, no regulations whatever, 
as to dimensions were specified, only the “ common bench sleds ” of 
the country were called for. Hence many of the sleds varied in 
dimensions very considerably, but all with the exception of one, 
carried their loads through to Biviere-du-loup. This one was about 4" 
further apart in the “runners” than all the others; and although the 
“ shoes ” of the “ runners ” were polished by long wear as smooth as 
possible, the team drawing it was knocked up and unable to go on, at 
the end of the third day's march, and a fresh sled had to be provided 
and the load shifted. 
The principal parts of the “ common bench sled ” are,— 
(1) The “runners,” generally constructed of the black birch, and shod 
with iron or steel. In wild districts where no iron or steel is to be had, 
the runners are sometimes constructed of beech alone without any shoes, 
and the wood of that tree being so smooth and hard, makes a tolera¬ 
ble substitute for iron-shod runners. The runners average in length 
eleven feet, and are generally five inches wide and about two thick. It 
is of great consequence that they be constructed of good, sound tim¬ 
ber, as they are liable to be split sometimes, in “ slews ” on the road, as 
will be afterwards explained. Only those of the more finished sleds 
Packing of 
“G” Bat¬ 
tery. 
Description 
of the sleds 
used. 
All of the 
same width 
to suit the 
roads. 
Parts of the 
common 
bench sleds. 
The “run¬ 
ners.” 
