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Here is your chance to read an article that I researched on that will be published in the CCG about the U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon of 1861.
The Six-Mule U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon of 1861
By: J.K. Rayfield
Although several styles of wagons were used during the Civil War, the U.S. Army had specifications for just one. Wagons like the Conestoga, the Buck Board, Spring, etc. saw service because they were practicable and easy to get their hands on. The wagon that this article will cover was merely the common six-mule covered wagon.
The front wheels of the six-mule U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon were three feet ten inches high with hubs that were ten inches in diameter and fourteen and a quarter inches long. The rear wheels were four feet ten inches high with hubs measuring ten and a quarter inches in diameter with a length of fourteen and a quarter inches. The felloes were two and a half inches wide and two and three quarters inches deep. The pipe boxes were made from cast iron that measured twelve inches long. The large ends of the pipe boxes were two and a half inches with the small ends measuring one and seven-eighths inches. The tires on the wheels were two and a half inches wide by five-eighths of an inch thick and were fastened with one screw bolt and a nut to the felloe. The hubs were made from Gum with the felloes and spokes being made from White Oak that was free from any defects. Each wheel had a band and linchpin band measuring two and three quarter inches wide consisting of No. 8 band iron. The wheels also had two driving bands. The outside driving band was one and a quarter inch by one quarter inch thick, and the inside driving bands measured one inch by three-sixteenth an inch thick. The rear wheels were made and boxed accordingly so that they measured six and a half inches from the inside of the tire to the large end of the box. The front wheels were done so and measured six and one-eighth inches in a parallel line with each axle being three feet eleven and three-eighths inches from the outside of one shoulder washer to the outside of the other. This was done so as to have the wagon to track five feet from the center to center of the wheels.
The axle trees were made of the best quality refined American iron. They measured two and a half inches square at the shoulder and tapered down to one and a half inches in the middle with an eleven-eighths inch king bolt hole in each axletree. The axle trees also had washers and linchpins for each. The sizes of the linchpins were one inch wide and three-eighths of an inch thick and had a hole in each end. The specifications also called for a wooden stock to be four and three-quarter inches wide and four inches deep. These were fastened substantially to the axletree with clips on each end with two bolts that measured six inches from the middle and fastened to the hounds and bolsters with four half inch bolts. The bolster was four feet, five inches long by five inches wide, and three and a half inches deep.
The tongue for the U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon was ten feet eight inches long, four inches wide, and three inches thick at the front end of the hounds. The measurements of the tongue at the front end are two and a quarter inches wide by two and three-quarter inch deep. The arrangement of the whole was meant so that the tongue would lift up. When the tongue would be standing at rest on a level surface, the front end was meant to hang within two feet from the ground.
The front hounds of the wagon were to be six feet two inches long, three inches thick, and four inches wide over the axle tree. It was to retain that measurement all the way to the back of the tongue. The front end of the jaws of the hounds were to be one foot eight inches long and three inches square with a plate of iron that would measure two and a half inches wide by three-eighth of an inch thick. The plate was fastened to the top of the hounds over the back end of the tongue with one half inch screw bolt in each end. Another plate of iron of the same size was turned up one and a half inches at each end. This second plate was used to clamp the front of the hounds together. It was fastened on the under side and at the front end of the hounds by a half inch screw bolt that went through each hound. Through the tongue and hounds in the center of the jaws passed a seven-eighth inch bolt. The tongue was secured in the hounds by the use of a plate of iron that was three inches wide, one-quarter inch thick and one foot eight inches long. This plate of iron was secured on the inside of the jaws of the hounds with two rivets and a plate of the same dimensions on each side of the tongue where the tongue and hounds ran together. A brace of seven-eighths on an inch round iron was extended from under the front axle tree and took two bolts in the front part of the hounds. The same brace measuring three-quarters of an inch round was to continue to the back pan of the hounds. This brace was to be fastened by two bolts. One of the bolts passed through near the back end of the hounds and the other through the slider and the hounds. There was a brace that went over the front bolster measuring one and a half inches wide, one-quarter of an inch thick, and took a bolt in each end so as to fasten it to the hound. The opening between the jaws of the hounds that the tongue went into measured four and three-quarter inches in the front and four and a half inches at the back part of the jaws.
The hind hounds were four feet two inches long, two and three-quarter inches thick, and three inches wide. The jaws of the hind hounds were to be one foot in length where they clasp the coupling pole. The bolster measured four feet five inches long and five inches wide by three inches deep. It had steady iron measuring two and a half inches wide by one half inch thick and was turned up two and a half inches and fastened on each end with three rivets. The way the bolster stocks and hounds were secured was by way of four half inch screw bolts and one half inch screw bolt through the coupling pole.
Now, for the coupling pole, it was nine feet eight inches long, three inches deep, and four and a half inches wide at the front end. The back end measured two and three-quarter inches wide. Six feet one inch made up the distance from the center of the king bolt hole to the center of the back axletree. A distance of eight feet nine inches made up the measurements from the center of the king bolt hole to the center of the mortise in the hind end of the pole. The diameter of the king bolt measured one and a quarter inches. It was from the best refined iron and was drawn down to seven-eighths of an inch where it passes through the iron axletree. The double-tree and tongue had an iron plate measuring six inches long, three inches wide, and one-eighth of an inch thick where they rub together. Another iron plate, measuring one and a half by one-quarter of an inch, was located on the sliding bar. It was fastened at each end by a screw bolt that passed through the hounds. The front bolster had plates above and below eleven inches long, three and a half inches wide, and three-eighths of an inch thick. These plates had nails in each corner with four counter sunk nails on the top. No. 10 band iron was used for the two bands on the hind hounds. These bands measured two and two and a half inches wide. The coupling pole also had a rub plate that measured eight inches in length, one and three-quarters inch in width, and one-quarter of an inch thick.
The Army Escort Wagon also had a double-tree that measured three feet ten inches long. Along with a double tree it also had a single-tree that measured two feet eight inches long. Both of these were made from hickory and had an iron ring and clip at each end with a well secured center clip. The lead bar and stretcher of the double tree was three feet two inches long, two and a quarter inches wide, and one and a quarter inch thick. The lead bars, stretcher, and single-trees were used when the wagon was hooked to a six-mule team. The two single-trees for the lead mule had hooks in the middle so that the end of the fifth chain could be hooked to them. The wheel and middle pairs were fitted with open rings so that they could be attached to the double tree and lead bar.
The fifth chain was ten feet long to a fork that measured one foot ten inches long with a stretcher attached to spread the forks apart. The links of the double-tree stay and tongue chains measured three-eighths of an inch in diameter. Also, the links for the forked chain were seven-sixteenth inch in diameter with the fifth chain measuring seven-sixteenth inch diameter to the fork. The fork was five-sixteenth inches in diameter with their links, and those of the lock chains, to be no more than two and a quarter inches long.
The Body
As we venture further into the construction of the U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon we come across the body of the wagon. This part of the wagon measured a straight three feet six inches wide, two feet deep, ten feet long at the bottom, and ten feet six inches long at the top with an equal slope in the inside at each end. The bed pieces of the body were two and a half inches wide and three inches deep with the front pieces measuring two inches deep by two and a half inches wide and the tail pieces being two and a half inches wide and three inches deep. The middle measured four inches deep to the rest on the coupling pole. The measurements for the top rail were one and a half inch thick by one and seven-eighths inch wide. The lower rail measured one inch thick by one and seven-eighth inch wide. The body also had three studs and one rail in the front with a seat on strap hinges to close it up as high as the sides.
There was also a box that measured three foot four inches long. The bottom of this box was five inches wide with the front side measuring nine and a half inches deep and eight and a half inches at the top in a parallel line to the body on the inside. This box was to be fastened to the front end of the body with an iron strap that passed around each end and secured to the head piece and front rail by a rivet passing through each end. The lid of the box was fastened to the front rail by means of two good strap hinges. A strap of five-eighth inch iron was put around the box and a half inch from the top edge with two straps of the same size on the lid near the front edge. The purpose of these straps was to keep the mules from eating the boxes. The box also had to have a joint hasp fastened to the middle of the lid with a good wooden cleat on the inside and a strap on the center of the box with a staple passing through so that the lid could fasten to it.
There were eight studs and two rails on each side. Along with these, one bolster was fastened to the body six inches deep and four inches wide at the king bolt hole. Iron rods of eleven-sixteenths of an inch round iron with a head on the top of the rail and a nut on the lower end were located in the front and center. An iron rod and brace with two shoulders on top of the rail piece and nuts on the under side with a nut on top of the rail were located in the rear. A plate made from No. 10 band iron measuring two and a half inches wide was located on the tail piece across the body. The tail piece and hind bar also had two mortises measuring two and a quarter inches wide and one inch thick that received three foot four inch long pieces that were to be used as harness bearers. Four rivets went through each side stud and two rivets went through each front stud to help in the securing of the lining boards.
The sides were made from five-eighths of an inch white pine. The tail board was also made from white pine, but only measured three-quarters on an inch thick. Both were well cleated by five oak cleats that were riveted at each end through the tail board. Located on the under side of the bed piece was an iron plate that measured three feet eight inches long, two and a quarter inches wide, and three-eighths of an inch thick. This plate extended from the hind end of the body to eight inches in front of the hind bolsters, and was fastened by rods at the end of the body by the lateral rod and two three-eighths of an inch screw bolts. One screw bolt was located at the forward end of the plate with the other about equal distance between it and the lateral rod. Passing diagonally through the rail between the two hind studs to and through the bed piece and the plate under it was a half inch round rod. This was to have a good head on the top and nut and screw at the bottom the would measure at the top one foot six inches from the inside of the tail board and ten inches from the hind rod from the bottom. A two inch wide, one-quarter of an inch thick iron clamp was also located on the body around the bed piece. The center bolt that the lock chain is attached by passed through it and extended seven inches on the inside of the body with the top and bottom ends secured by two three-eighths inch screw bolts. The ends of the middle bar were flush with the bed piece on the lower side. The center bolt of the body had two lock chains secured to it. One end of the lock chains measured eleven inches while the other measured two feet six inches long. The lock chains were made from three-eighths of an inch round iron. The feed trough was four feet six inches long from out to out with the bottom and ends made from oak with the sides made from yellow pine. These measured to be eight inches wide at the bottom, twelve inches wide at the top, and eight and a half inches deep. They were clearly well ironed with a band of hoop iron around the top, one around each end, and three between the ends with strong and dutiable irons fastening them to the tongue when feeding. There were also food strong chains that were attached to the top rail of the body by a staple with a hook to attach it to the trough.
The wagon also had six bows of red ash measuring two inches wide and one-half inch thick with three staples to confine the ridgepole to its place. Two staples were located on the body to secure each end of the bows. There was one ridge pole measuring twelve feet long, one and three-quarters inch wide by five-eighths of an inch thick. Now, the cover was made from the best quality cotton duck. It measured fifteen feet long and nine feet eight inches wide, and included four hemp cords on each side and one through each end to close it. Located at each end of the body were two rings used to secure and close the ends of the cover. To fasten the side cords, there was a staple in the lower rail near the second stud from each end.
The outside of the body and the feed trough had two good coats of white lead colored to a blue tint. The insides of each were coated with two coats of Venetian Red paint. Also coated with two coats of Venetian Red paint was the running gear and wheels. One thing about the paint on these parts is, the Venetian Red paint was darkened to a chocolate color. The hubs and felloes were meant to be well pitched instead of painted if it was required.
Also furnished with each U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon was a tar-pot, extra king bolt, and two extra single-trees. The king bolt and single-trees were similar in all respects to those belonging to the wagon itself. Each side of the wagon’s body was marked U.S. and numbered as directed with all other parts lettered U.S. The cover, feed box, bolts, linchpins, tar-pot, and harness bearer for each wagon had to be stored in a strong box with the contents marked accordingly. The whole overall weight of each wagon was about eighteen hundred and fifty pounds.
Here is your chance to read an article that I researched on that will be published in the CCG about the U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon of 1861.
The Six-Mule U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon of 1861
By: J.K. Rayfield
Although several styles of wagons were used during the Civil War, the U.S. Army had specifications for just one. Wagons like the Conestoga, the Buck Board, Spring, etc. saw service because they were practicable and easy to get their hands on. The wagon that this article will cover was merely the common six-mule covered wagon.
The front wheels of the six-mule U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon were three feet ten inches high with hubs that were ten inches in diameter and fourteen and a quarter inches long. The rear wheels were four feet ten inches high with hubs measuring ten and a quarter inches in diameter with a length of fourteen and a quarter inches. The felloes were two and a half inches wide and two and three quarters inches deep. The pipe boxes were made from cast iron that measured twelve inches long. The large ends of the pipe boxes were two and a half inches with the small ends measuring one and seven-eighths inches. The tires on the wheels were two and a half inches wide by five-eighths of an inch thick and were fastened with one screw bolt and a nut to the felloe. The hubs were made from Gum with the felloes and spokes being made from White Oak that was free from any defects. Each wheel had a band and linchpin band measuring two and three quarter inches wide consisting of No. 8 band iron. The wheels also had two driving bands. The outside driving band was one and a quarter inch by one quarter inch thick, and the inside driving bands measured one inch by three-sixteenth an inch thick. The rear wheels were made and boxed accordingly so that they measured six and a half inches from the inside of the tire to the large end of the box. The front wheels were done so and measured six and one-eighth inches in a parallel line with each axle being three feet eleven and three-eighths inches from the outside of one shoulder washer to the outside of the other. This was done so as to have the wagon to track five feet from the center to center of the wheels.
The axle trees were made of the best quality refined American iron. They measured two and a half inches square at the shoulder and tapered down to one and a half inches in the middle with an eleven-eighths inch king bolt hole in each axletree. The axle trees also had washers and linchpins for each. The sizes of the linchpins were one inch wide and three-eighths of an inch thick and had a hole in each end. The specifications also called for a wooden stock to be four and three-quarter inches wide and four inches deep. These were fastened substantially to the axletree with clips on each end with two bolts that measured six inches from the middle and fastened to the hounds and bolsters with four half inch bolts. The bolster was four feet, five inches long by five inches wide, and three and a half inches deep.
The tongue for the U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon was ten feet eight inches long, four inches wide, and three inches thick at the front end of the hounds. The measurements of the tongue at the front end are two and a quarter inches wide by two and three-quarter inch deep. The arrangement of the whole was meant so that the tongue would lift up. When the tongue would be standing at rest on a level surface, the front end was meant to hang within two feet from the ground.
The front hounds of the wagon were to be six feet two inches long, three inches thick, and four inches wide over the axle tree. It was to retain that measurement all the way to the back of the tongue. The front end of the jaws of the hounds were to be one foot eight inches long and three inches square with a plate of iron that would measure two and a half inches wide by three-eighth of an inch thick. The plate was fastened to the top of the hounds over the back end of the tongue with one half inch screw bolt in each end. Another plate of iron of the same size was turned up one and a half inches at each end. This second plate was used to clamp the front of the hounds together. It was fastened on the under side and at the front end of the hounds by a half inch screw bolt that went through each hound. Through the tongue and hounds in the center of the jaws passed a seven-eighth inch bolt. The tongue was secured in the hounds by the use of a plate of iron that was three inches wide, one-quarter inch thick and one foot eight inches long. This plate of iron was secured on the inside of the jaws of the hounds with two rivets and a plate of the same dimensions on each side of the tongue where the tongue and hounds ran together. A brace of seven-eighths on an inch round iron was extended from under the front axle tree and took two bolts in the front part of the hounds. The same brace measuring three-quarters of an inch round was to continue to the back pan of the hounds. This brace was to be fastened by two bolts. One of the bolts passed through near the back end of the hounds and the other through the slider and the hounds. There was a brace that went over the front bolster measuring one and a half inches wide, one-quarter of an inch thick, and took a bolt in each end so as to fasten it to the hound. The opening between the jaws of the hounds that the tongue went into measured four and three-quarter inches in the front and four and a half inches at the back part of the jaws.
The hind hounds were four feet two inches long, two and three-quarter inches thick, and three inches wide. The jaws of the hind hounds were to be one foot in length where they clasp the coupling pole. The bolster measured four feet five inches long and five inches wide by three inches deep. It had steady iron measuring two and a half inches wide by one half inch thick and was turned up two and a half inches and fastened on each end with three rivets. The way the bolster stocks and hounds were secured was by way of four half inch screw bolts and one half inch screw bolt through the coupling pole.
Now, for the coupling pole, it was nine feet eight inches long, three inches deep, and four and a half inches wide at the front end. The back end measured two and three-quarter inches wide. Six feet one inch made up the distance from the center of the king bolt hole to the center of the back axletree. A distance of eight feet nine inches made up the measurements from the center of the king bolt hole to the center of the mortise in the hind end of the pole. The diameter of the king bolt measured one and a quarter inches. It was from the best refined iron and was drawn down to seven-eighths of an inch where it passes through the iron axletree. The double-tree and tongue had an iron plate measuring six inches long, three inches wide, and one-eighth of an inch thick where they rub together. Another iron plate, measuring one and a half by one-quarter of an inch, was located on the sliding bar. It was fastened at each end by a screw bolt that passed through the hounds. The front bolster had plates above and below eleven inches long, three and a half inches wide, and three-eighths of an inch thick. These plates had nails in each corner with four counter sunk nails on the top. No. 10 band iron was used for the two bands on the hind hounds. These bands measured two and two and a half inches wide. The coupling pole also had a rub plate that measured eight inches in length, one and three-quarters inch in width, and one-quarter of an inch thick.
The Army Escort Wagon also had a double-tree that measured three feet ten inches long. Along with a double tree it also had a single-tree that measured two feet eight inches long. Both of these were made from hickory and had an iron ring and clip at each end with a well secured center clip. The lead bar and stretcher of the double tree was three feet two inches long, two and a quarter inches wide, and one and a quarter inch thick. The lead bars, stretcher, and single-trees were used when the wagon was hooked to a six-mule team. The two single-trees for the lead mule had hooks in the middle so that the end of the fifth chain could be hooked to them. The wheel and middle pairs were fitted with open rings so that they could be attached to the double tree and lead bar.
The fifth chain was ten feet long to a fork that measured one foot ten inches long with a stretcher attached to spread the forks apart. The links of the double-tree stay and tongue chains measured three-eighths of an inch in diameter. Also, the links for the forked chain were seven-sixteenth inch in diameter with the fifth chain measuring seven-sixteenth inch diameter to the fork. The fork was five-sixteenth inches in diameter with their links, and those of the lock chains, to be no more than two and a quarter inches long.
The Body
As we venture further into the construction of the U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon we come across the body of the wagon. This part of the wagon measured a straight three feet six inches wide, two feet deep, ten feet long at the bottom, and ten feet six inches long at the top with an equal slope in the inside at each end. The bed pieces of the body were two and a half inches wide and three inches deep with the front pieces measuring two inches deep by two and a half inches wide and the tail pieces being two and a half inches wide and three inches deep. The middle measured four inches deep to the rest on the coupling pole. The measurements for the top rail were one and a half inch thick by one and seven-eighths inch wide. The lower rail measured one inch thick by one and seven-eighth inch wide. The body also had three studs and one rail in the front with a seat on strap hinges to close it up as high as the sides.
There was also a box that measured three foot four inches long. The bottom of this box was five inches wide with the front side measuring nine and a half inches deep and eight and a half inches at the top in a parallel line to the body on the inside. This box was to be fastened to the front end of the body with an iron strap that passed around each end and secured to the head piece and front rail by a rivet passing through each end. The lid of the box was fastened to the front rail by means of two good strap hinges. A strap of five-eighth inch iron was put around the box and a half inch from the top edge with two straps of the same size on the lid near the front edge. The purpose of these straps was to keep the mules from eating the boxes. The box also had to have a joint hasp fastened to the middle of the lid with a good wooden cleat on the inside and a strap on the center of the box with a staple passing through so that the lid could fasten to it.
There were eight studs and two rails on each side. Along with these, one bolster was fastened to the body six inches deep and four inches wide at the king bolt hole. Iron rods of eleven-sixteenths of an inch round iron with a head on the top of the rail and a nut on the lower end were located in the front and center. An iron rod and brace with two shoulders on top of the rail piece and nuts on the under side with a nut on top of the rail were located in the rear. A plate made from No. 10 band iron measuring two and a half inches wide was located on the tail piece across the body. The tail piece and hind bar also had two mortises measuring two and a quarter inches wide and one inch thick that received three foot four inch long pieces that were to be used as harness bearers. Four rivets went through each side stud and two rivets went through each front stud to help in the securing of the lining boards.
The sides were made from five-eighths of an inch white pine. The tail board was also made from white pine, but only measured three-quarters on an inch thick. Both were well cleated by five oak cleats that were riveted at each end through the tail board. Located on the under side of the bed piece was an iron plate that measured three feet eight inches long, two and a quarter inches wide, and three-eighths of an inch thick. This plate extended from the hind end of the body to eight inches in front of the hind bolsters, and was fastened by rods at the end of the body by the lateral rod and two three-eighths of an inch screw bolts. One screw bolt was located at the forward end of the plate with the other about equal distance between it and the lateral rod. Passing diagonally through the rail between the two hind studs to and through the bed piece and the plate under it was a half inch round rod. This was to have a good head on the top and nut and screw at the bottom the would measure at the top one foot six inches from the inside of the tail board and ten inches from the hind rod from the bottom. A two inch wide, one-quarter of an inch thick iron clamp was also located on the body around the bed piece. The center bolt that the lock chain is attached by passed through it and extended seven inches on the inside of the body with the top and bottom ends secured by two three-eighths inch screw bolts. The ends of the middle bar were flush with the bed piece on the lower side. The center bolt of the body had two lock chains secured to it. One end of the lock chains measured eleven inches while the other measured two feet six inches long. The lock chains were made from three-eighths of an inch round iron. The feed trough was four feet six inches long from out to out with the bottom and ends made from oak with the sides made from yellow pine. These measured to be eight inches wide at the bottom, twelve inches wide at the top, and eight and a half inches deep. They were clearly well ironed with a band of hoop iron around the top, one around each end, and three between the ends with strong and dutiable irons fastening them to the tongue when feeding. There were also food strong chains that were attached to the top rail of the body by a staple with a hook to attach it to the trough.
The wagon also had six bows of red ash measuring two inches wide and one-half inch thick with three staples to confine the ridgepole to its place. Two staples were located on the body to secure each end of the bows. There was one ridge pole measuring twelve feet long, one and three-quarters inch wide by five-eighths of an inch thick. Now, the cover was made from the best quality cotton duck. It measured fifteen feet long and nine feet eight inches wide, and included four hemp cords on each side and one through each end to close it. Located at each end of the body were two rings used to secure and close the ends of the cover. To fasten the side cords, there was a staple in the lower rail near the second stud from each end.
The outside of the body and the feed trough had two good coats of white lead colored to a blue tint. The insides of each were coated with two coats of Venetian Red paint. Also coated with two coats of Venetian Red paint was the running gear and wheels. One thing about the paint on these parts is, the Venetian Red paint was darkened to a chocolate color. The hubs and felloes were meant to be well pitched instead of painted if it was required.
Also furnished with each U.S. Army Escort/Baggage Wagon was a tar-pot, extra king bolt, and two extra single-trees. The king bolt and single-trees were similar in all respects to those belonging to the wagon itself. Each side of the wagon’s body was marked U.S. and numbered as directed with all other parts lettered U.S. The cover, feed box, bolts, linchpins, tar-pot, and harness bearer for each wagon had to be stored in a strong box with the contents marked accordingly. The whole overall weight of each wagon was about eighteen hundred and fifty pounds.
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