CHAPTER SIXTH.

HORSE EQUIPMENTS FOR THE CAVALRY SERVICE.

Head-Gear
    BRIDLE
    WATERING BRIDLE
    HALTER

Saddle
    SADDLE-TREE-WOOD
    SADDLE-SKIRTS
    STIRRUPS
    GIRTH
    COAT-STRAPS
    CARBINE-THIMBLE
    SURCINGLE
    CRUPPER

Saddle-Bags
Saddle-Blanket
Spurs
Horse-Brush
Currycomb
Picket-Pin
Lariat
Link
Nose-Bag
Inspection of Harness and Horse Equipments
Cavalry Equipment Measurements

A complete set of horse equipments for cavalry troops consists of 1 bridle,
1 watering-bridle, 1 halter, 1 saddle, 1 pair of saddle-bags, 1 saddle-blanket, 1
surcingle, 1 pair of spurs, 1 curry-comb, 1 horse-brush, 1 picket-pin, and 1
lariat; (1 link and 1 nose-bag, when specially required.)

Head-Gear.
All the leather is black bridle-leather, not less than 0.1 inch thick, and the buckles are malleable iron flat bar-buckles, blued.

BRIDLE.

It is composed of 1 headstall, 1 bit, 1 pair of reins.

HEADSTALL.--1 crown-piece, the ends split, forming 1 cheek-strap and 1 throat-lash billet on one side, and on the other 1 cheek-strap and 1 throatlash, with 1 buckle No. 11 A; 2 chapes, and 2 buckles No. 10 A, sewed to the ends of cheek-pieces to attach the bit; 1 brow-band: the ends, doubled and sewed, form 2 loops on each end, through which the cheek-straps, throatlash, and throat-lash billet pass.

Bit, (shear steel, blued.)--2 branches, S.shaped, pierced at top with an eye for the cheek-strap billet, and with a small hole near the eye for the curb-chain, terminated at the bottom by 2 buttons, into which are welded 2 rings No. 5 for the reins. The lower curve of the branch is tangent to the line through the axis of the mouth-piece and the centre of the eye. 1 mouth-piece, curved in the middle: its ends pass through the branches, and are riveted to them; 1 cross-bar, riveted to the branches near the lower ends; 2 bosses, (cast brass,) bearing the number and letter of the regiment and the letter of the company, riveted to the branches with 4 rivets; 1 curbchain hook, steel wire No. 10, fastened to the near branch; 1 curb-chain, steel wire No. 11, curb-chain links 0.7 inch wide, with 1 loose ring in the middle, fastened to the of branch by an S-hook, cold-shut; 1 curb-strap, (leather,) fastened to the curb-chain by 2 standing-loops.
1 curb-ring for bit No. 1 replaces the curb-chain and curb-strap. They are of 2 sizes: No. 1, interior diameter 4 inches; No. 2, 8.75 inches,-the number marked on the outside of the swell. Three-fourths of the bits of this kind to have the large ring, one-fourth the small ring.
There are four varieties of bits; they are all alike below the mouthpiece.

No.1. No.2. No.3. No.4.
Height of arch 2.25 2. 1.5 0.5
Opening of arch 0.8 1.1
Distance of eye from axis of mouth-piece... 1.5 2.25 2.25 2.25
Diameter of mouth-piece at shoulder 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.65
Distance from axis of mouth-piece to axis of cross-bar, 5 inches.
Distance from centre of button to the axis of cross-bar, 0.5 inch.
Length of mouth-piece in all bits, 4.5 inches; square tenon of mouthpiece, .85 inch.
At centre of arch, .325 inch vertical thickness, 0.45 inch horizontal. Thickness of branch at mouth-piece, 0.225 inch.

REINS.--2 reins, sewed together at one end,-the other ends sewed to the rings of the bit.

WATERING-BRIDLE

The watering-bridle is composed of 1 bit and 1 pair of reins.

BIT, (wrought iron, blued.)-2 mouth-piece sides, united in the middle by a loop-hinge: their ends are pierced with 2 holes to receive 2 rings No. 1 for the reins; 2 chains and toggles 8 links, each 1 inch x .55 inch, welded into the rein-rings.

REINS.--2 reins, sewed together at one end,-the other sewed to the rings of the bit.

HALTER

2 cheek-pieces, sewed, one end to 2 square loops No. 2 A, and the other to
2 cheek-rings No: 1 A; 2 standing-loops for the toggles of the watering-bridle, sewed to the cheek-pieces near to the square loops; 1 crown-piece, sewed to the off cheek-ring; 1 buckle No. 7 A and chape, sewed to the near cheek-ring; 1 nose-band, the ends sewed to the square loops; 1 chin-strap, the ends sewed to the square loops, and passing loose through the hitching-strap ring; 1 throat-strap, folded on itself, making two thicknesses, and forming at top a loop for the throat-band to pass through, and embracing in the fold at the other end 1 bolt, which holds 1 hitching-strap ring; 1 throat-band passes loose through the loop in the throat-strap, and sewed to the cheekrings; 1 hitching-strap, 6 1/2 feet long; 1 buckle No. 6 A, and 1 standing-loop; 1 billet, sewed to the buckle end by the same seam which holds the buckle.

Saddle

All the leather is black bridle or harness leather, and the buckles are malleable iron blued.
The SADDLE is composed of 1 tree, 2 saddle-skirts, 2 stirrups, 2 stirrup leathers, 1 girth and girth-strap, 1 surcingle, 1 crupper.

SADDLE-TREE.-WOOD, (beech.)-1 pommel, made of 2 pieces framed together at top and glued; 1 cantle, formed of 2 pieces, like the pommel; 2 side bars, (poplar,) each made of 3 pieces glued together: they are glued to the pommel and cantle, and fastened by 2 rivets No. 1, 2 burrs, and 4 nails,--the burrs let in on the under side; 1 strap-mortise in the pommel; 8 strap-mortises in the cantle.
There are three sizes of trees, varying in the length of the seat:
No. 1, 11 inches length of seat, 15 per cent.,
No. 2 11 1/2" 50% to be marked on the  pommel-ornament.
No. 3 12 35%

IRON.--1 pommel-arc, .1 inch thick, with 3 small holes on top, fastened to the side bars by 4 rivets No. 1; 1 pommel-plate, .1 inch thick, semi-circular, fastened to the front of the pommel by 4 rivets No. 1; 1 cantle-arc, .1 inch thick, with 3 small holes on top, fastened to the side bars by 4 rivets No. 1; 1 cantle-plate .1 inch thick, fastened to the rear of the cantle by 4 rivets No. 1; 2 stirrup-loops, hinged in 2 iron strap., which are fastened to the side bars by 6 rivets No. 1.
The tree is painted with one coat of white lead. It is covered with raw hide, put on wet and sewed with thongs of the same, and held in place by stitches through the wood along the junction of the pommel and cantle with the side bars. The seams are made on the edges of the side bars, where they will not chafe the horse nor rider.
2 rings, held by staples driven into the front ends of side bars; 2 footstaples for coat-straps, fastened to the front of the pommel by 4 brass screws No. 6, inch; 2 crupper-rings, (japanned black,) fastened by staples driven into the rear ends of side bars; 2 foot-staples, fastened to the rear of cantle by 4 brass screws No. 6, inch; 1 guard-plate; 1 pommel-ornament, shieldshaped, (sheet brass,) fastened to the pommel, each by 8 brass screw-pins; 6 guard-plates, fastened to the cantle by 12 screw-pins; 2 foot-staples, fastened on the back strap by 4 brass screws No. 6, inch; 1 saddle-bag stud, fastened on the back strap to the cantle-arc by 2 copper rivets No. 4 C.

2 SADDLE-SKIRTS, (thick harness-leather,) fastened to the side bars by
38 brass screws No. 6, 3/4 inch; 2 stay-loops for the saddle-bag straps, sewed to the rear edge of the skirts.

2 STIRRUPs, (hickory or oak,) made of one piece bent, the ends separated by 1 transom and fastened by 2 iron rivets No. 2 B, 4 burrs each; 2 leather hoods, (thick harness-leather,) fastened to the stirrups by 12 copper rivets No. 4 and burrs,--distance of hood from rear of stirrup, 6 inches; 2 stirrup-straps-2 buckles No. 5 A; 2 sliding-loops--pass through the stirruploops and through a hole cut in the skirt; 2 stirrup-leathers, (thick harnessleather;) 2 standing-loops.

GIRTH.--2 girth-straps pass over the pommel and cantle-arcs, to which they are fastened by 4 copper rivets No. 4 C and 4 burrs: they are fastened to the side bars by 4 brass screws No. 6, inch: the ends are sewed into 2 D-rings No. 1 A; 2 girth-billets, sewed to the straight side of the D-rings;
1 girth, 4.5 inches, (blue woollen webbing;) 1 chape, 1 buckle No. 2 A, 1 standing-loop and 1 safe on the off end, and 1 chape, 1 buckle No. 4 A, 1 D-ring No. 1 A, 1 standing-loop, and 1 safe on the near end; 1 standing-loop on the middle.

6 COAT-STRAPS, 6 buckles No. 11 A, 6 stops: they pass through the mortises in the pommel and cantle and the foot-staples.

CARBINE-THIMBLE.--1 strap; 1 buckle No. 10 A sewed to the socket: the thimble is buckled to the D-ring on the off side of the saddle.

SURCINGLE, 8.25 inches, (blue woollen webbing. )-1 chape, 1 buckle No. 4 A, and 1 standing-loop on one end, and 1 billet on the other; 1 billet-lining, sewed over the end of webbing to the billet; 2 standing-loops near the buckle end.

CRUPPER.--1 dock, made of a single piece and stuffed with hair, the ends sewed to the body of the crupper; 1 body, split at one end, has sewed to it 1 chape and 1 ring No. 8 A; 2 back-straps: each has 1 buckle No. 10 A and 2 sliding-loops: they pass through the rings of the side bars and the ring on the body of the crupper.

Saddle-Bags

The saddle-bags are composed of 2 pouches and 1 seat, the ends of the seat sewed to the pouches. Each pouch has 1 back, sewed to the gusset and upper part of inner front with a welt; 1 gusset, sewed to the back and to 1 outer and 1 inner front with a welt; 1 flap, sewed to the top of the back and to the seat by 2 seams; 1 flap-billet, sewed to the point of the flap; 1 chape and 1 buckle No. 11 A, sewed to the outer front; 1 billet and 1 buckle No. 11 A, sewed to the chape. The seat is sewed to the pouch by the same seams which join the flap to the back of the pouch. It has 2 holes for the foot-staples, and 1 hole for the saddle-bag stud; 2 keystraps, sewed to the seat near its ends; 4 lacing-thongs for the pouches.

Saddle-Blanket

To be of pure wool, close woven, of stout yarns of an indigo-blue color, with an orange border 3 inches wide, 3 inches from the edge. The letters U. S., 6 inches high, of orange color, in the centre of the blanket. Dimensions, 75 inches long, 67 inches wide. Weight, 3.1875 lbs.; allowance in weight, 0.1875 lb.

SPURS, (brass.)-2 spurs; 2 rowels; 2 rivets; 2 spur-straps, 19 inches long;
2 roller-buckles No. 11 B; 2 standing-loops.
Length of heel-For No. 1, 3 1/2 inches; for No. 2, 3 1/4 inches, inside mea. Width of heel " 1, 3 1/4 " " 2, 3 " sure.
Length of shank to centre of rowel, 1 inch.
Diameter of rowel, 0.85 inch.
Weight of pair of spurs and straps .57 lb.

HORSE-BRUSH.--1 body, (maple;) Russia bristles; 1 cover, glued and fastened to the body by 8 screws No. 8; 1 hand-strap, (fair leather,) fastened to the sides of the body by 6 screws No. 5; 2 leather washers under the heads of screws.
Dimensions.--Body, 9.25 inches long, 4 inches wide, .5 inch thick; cover, 0.1 in. thick; bristles project .9 in.; hand-strap, 2 in. wide. Weight, .67 lb.

CURRYCOMB, (iron, japanned black. )-1 body, (sheet iron, 0.4,) the top and bottom edges turned at right angles, forming 2 rows of teeth; 8 double rows of teeth riveted to the body by 6 rivets; 1 cross-bar, riveted across the top by 2 rivets; 1 handle-shank, riveted to the body by 8 rivets; 1 handle, (wood,) turned and painted, passes over the shank, and is held by the riveted end of the shank; 1 ferrule, sheet iron.
Dimensions.--Length 4 inches, width 4.75 inches, thickness .75 inch; length of handle, 4 inches. Weight .75 lb.

PICKET-PIN, (iron, painted black.)-.The parts are, the body, the neck, the head, the swell, the point, 1 lariat-ring around the neck, S-shaped, the larger opening for the lariat.
Dimensions.--Length, 14 in.; diameter at swell, 4 in. from point, .75 in.; at neck, .5 in.; at head, 1 in. Lariat-ring, .2-in, wire, welded. Int. diameter, 1 inch. Weight of pin, 1.25 lbs.

LARIAT.-Best hemp 1 1/4-in. rope, 30 ft. long, of 4 strands, an eye, spliced in one end, the other end whipped with small twine. Weight, 2.88 lbs.

LINK.-1 strap, embracing in the fold at one end 1 spring-hook, and at the other 1 buckle No. 10 A and 1 billet. Weight, .2 lb.

NOSE-BAG, same as that described page 150.

to section 2 (Inspection and Chart of Measurements)