Linking

[Andrew German]

Greetings:

For dismounted fighting, we are accustomed to linking halter-to-halter, but perhaps that method evolved during the war. Here's how John B. Faull of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry decribed the process to his parents in a letter dated January 18,1862.

“we are counted off before we leave camp in sections of fours then every man knows his number and place then we march most of the time by fours so if we are fired on from the woods we have a ring on the right side of our sadle and a spring hook on the other so when fired on the order is given to hook too we hook this spring hook in the next mans ring on his sadle the[n] pass the reins into the hands of the 4th man and he holds that section of Horses and so over the reg or company then the rest dismounts.”

Has anyone heard of it being done that way?

Andrew German

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Linking

That's a really curious quote. I can't for the life of me understand why that would done. You don't have any control over the horses heads on the linked horses. I'll have to look back in the manual but I believe it is specified to link bit to bit. This makes his quote even more curious.
Dave

[T.Kern]

Re: Linking

That quote makes no sense and would not hold any horses under stress. Linking, for you federals is done bit to halter. I thought you 1st Maine guys had manuals? For the rebs, since the vast majority were not issued link straps, they tie reins into the halter or cheek piece of the bridle of the next horse. I recommend halter, as before the war they were breaking many cheek pieces until they decided the halter would hold better.
Todd Kern

[Alan Lloyd]

Re: Linking

Friends

As I read it, all of the reins go to Number 4 and the link straps hook saddle to saddle in addition. That way number 4 has control of the heads and the saddles are also linked. Might work.

Does anyone have written evidence of linking halter to halter instead of bridle to bridle?

[Andrew German]

Re: Linking

Alan,

I agree. Linking the saddles would keep the horses in ranks, where they were accustomed to be, and passing the reins would control the heads. But this was very early in the war, before dismounted fighting was common--in many units just 10 men per company had carbines. So perhaps as dismounted work became more common it was discovered that linking at the heads was more manageable.

I'm afraid it is one of those details that are more subtle than we have the evidence to reconstruct.

Andrew German

[paul9thky]

Re: Linking

Reguradless of authenticity, for safety I only condone Halter to Halter linking with the #4 man holding the reins of the horse nearest to him.

But that's just me.

[CJSchumacher]

Re: Linking

Todd stated what is written in the manuals. Safety was written into the manuals...without some direct pressure on the mouths of the horses through either tieing reins or bit to halter linking...there is room for error. Not doing so is the breach in safety. Not sure why many fail to understand this??? Have things changed that much over the years? I thought Doug Kidd's "Reenactor Rules" were generally understood by many to be "reenactorisms"?? I've seen multiple times the number of problems when linking any other way than through direct reining pressure.

The original quote is extremely interesting...as it clearly leaves much room for error by todays standards. I can't imagine anything but broken link straps today!! The "those horses were together everyday" argument for the original soldiers could allow for some discretion...and less need for control through direct reining. In other words...more allowable to link halter to halter or saddle to saddle than there would be now because of daily experience. Today, this just isn't acceptable.

Not trying to start a flame war...or be unproductive...just wonder why anyone who owns/deals with/knows horses would think that having less control would be any safer?? Dealing with 1000lb+ animals allows no room for error.

I still greatly enjoy the discussion here and thought this was a place to share knowledge and opinions based on historical fact. I hope this post isn't deleted/edited...as two other posts dealing with an upcoming cavalry event and mounted artillery for another upcoming event...both completely legitimate in regard to a "deficiencies" in authenticity...were zapped even though this is the "authentic campaigner".

Andrew...thank you very much for this wonderful contribution!! I hope my message for real safety in the manuals helps.


Circling my wagons...and hoping my account isn't suspended by the heavy hands that be....:(