The record-union., 1895-12-03
hore at the dAsired noint of crossing can

SklrmiSn IIHe, while the poulONiers are
making the bridge iOr the main body;
Tor il must be assumed as denniteiy set
tied by eX DerIence III the late war that 1t
il Impossible TO construct regular bridge
under tie ire of snarpshooters, even
when favored by log or darkness. Inc
gathering OF pontoons at any point VIII
cause lie force to be carefully watched
1t is therefore advantageous III forcing
passage 10 transport the boats by mana
sufficient distance To prevent the SOUND
Of wagons lIom being heard.
This was done AT rrederlcksDurg our
ing tie ,aie war where twenty ponloons
were transported nearly mile III three
hours and IaEucbed Without discovery.
Thirty infantry soldiers were required
for eacn boat. lucy turned IL upside
down and carrod It on poles about ten
leeL long, Whicil were placed under ana
across the suIwaes. Al some pIepat@-
tory experiments 1t was lound thas
twenty pDutOEiers could carry IL pom
loon IN this manner two or three mum
dred yards Without resting, tue weight
suppur.ed by each man averaging about
eighty pOuuus. In smooth grass Ianu or
through laul, after unloading the boats
from tue wagons which form the pom
toUn Train, Lhe lontoons may 90 easily
moved 10y drag ropes, using either mon
or horses. Scr long distances tempo
lAfy SICts tislt VI Ia y o-RtS PAAh-Ss 49,
suitable cross pieces, IS generally en-
ployeI. a pontoon may be dragged
lnauy mics III this way. Canvas Ooals
may readily be carried Oh the shoulders
long distances by len men, but the dlAI-
Guilty OF rowing renders tEein I&r less use
tul for forcing The passage OF river Than
the wooden boats
When the current is gentle, and slX
oars are used, squads OF forty Infantry
men, iully equipped with knapsacks,
blankets etc, may ne safely transported
in a single Dontoon boat WITH four oars,
ii is said that tIly men were actually
ferried over the kappahannocA at
Ere ierick burg, in a strong current, and
without accident The canvass pontoou,
with six paddles, Will carry squad OF
twenty men iully equipped.
For the ierrIage OF cavalry, the pom
toons are prepared aS if for the Ierrlage OF
infantry. except that four oarsnan only
are required. SIX horses may be taken at
a trip. The cavalrymen, with the othcer
in charge. embark. Their equipments are
placed III the poutoon and the men take
post. three on each side, leading their
horses by the brides. The DoaI IS pushed
oil by men in the water aL Ihe stern, ana
is conducted across the current, the
horses swimming Dy the sides.
PonIoons are well adapted for landing
when time is lacking TO make the re-
Quisite wharyeS. The boats are lined
with chess, or flooring, and are loaded by
falls SIX tons may thus be carried at a
trip in smooth water. Field guns, and.
if necessary, siege guns may be landed
in the same way.
There are four methods Of constructing
a pontoon brldge-by successive pom
toons, by conversion, by rats, and by
parts. The bridge built by Successive
pontoons possesses the advantage over
the others Of Delng applicable 10 all
streams. whatever may be their velocity,
and OF requiring The minimum quantity
OF material, the 1ewest pUntonlers, and
the shortest time Tor building. The
bridge Is begun 1T both ends, II possible,
and is pushed on rapidly toward the mid
die of the stream. Ine two portions
thus formed are connected by parts
which are constructed in the meaI lille
along the river bank. This Is the s. 20 OF
bridge which the 23G engineer soIdlers
sent from tais post TO the ald OF the
JohnstoWu tiUOd sufferers built over the
Conuemaugh River at that place, SO that
traffic could be resu "ed.
The method OF building by rats is en-
ployed when tho passage oil river IS 10
be IorcoG, and when the RATS can De con-
structed unoOseryed by the enemy, in
which case the pont0niers are exposed
TO ire but \ short time; that Is, whlIe The
rats are floating INTO position ana being
connected The bridge constructed by
parts is used under similar conditions.
The construction OF The bridge by con-
version is { delicate operation. To insure
SUCCESS me current must ba moderate
the ho.diug ground good, and the pom
| toniers skilIiul, Intelligent and cool
! The awkWarunesS OF single man, The
dragging Gt an anchor, or the parting OF
! cable, may cause the failure OF the entire
| operation. 1nis bridge Is used where the
! enemy occupies Il stand near the opposite
( shore or some place from which they
might discover the pontoniers II the
| bridge WAS extended out lnlo the stream,
/ as III building by successive pontoons
1 and the work must be done under cover
! After the width oi tue stream Is ascer-
! tained The bridge Is built parallel TO tx
shore W hen completed one end l:
! wheeled around when the tide is favor
/ able until 1t connects with tbe opposite
/ bank. once tie bridge Is complete, tht
/ march is taken up, and the infantry
! cavalry. and artillery, with It's neavy neiC
guns and loaded wagon trains, pass over
[ without difficulty.
Previous TO the Mexican war no at
tempt WAS made TO organize bridge
equIDage Ir the uited othtes service.
/ During tnaI war TWO complete trains oi
/ India rubber pOnLOonS were constructed
and sent to the held. AT It's close these
/ trains v ere sent TO West Point, where
! lbey we're used Tor the instruction D
! cadets and engineer troops. II soon be-
came evident that India rubber WAS no
/ az all adapted 10 the construction OF pom
! toons. as IT'S elasticity gave ihe bridge d
! rocking motion, which ut times was SO
/ violent rs 10 render IL unsafe Tor the pas
sage of anIinas. lie most serious 90
] iecLou, however. WIS that puncture
J either above or below the water llne, was
equally fatal. Honce Single sharp
! shooter from rifle pit Oh Tie enemy :
sj3a OF lie stream could destroy thes,
/ ncntouns as last D. they were launched.
IL 1875 IL WAS decided ina; the rubber
non tooa WAS entirely ubserViceaDIe, anC
+ exuefimeuts with me poHtoona OF ioreigi
nations were made. Among the varIOu:
i xmas trIed were some made OF CORFU
/ yateG irOn. tiD, etc, bat the one Hnaily
/ :Golned. and which Is now ia use, Is o
wool. and patterned after the French
Dontoon. The Wu tGen pontOon is not
any tuuci. loss Liable Ia injury from con
lact with r0chs tiian the wa or iron boats
buJ wheu sacH accidents occur the pom
ICONS Gan oe readily reDai.oa.
Previous 10 inc Battle Of gettysburg {
D,,tnoM bridge over Tie Potomac AZ Har-
ser's erry was destroyed, tne ponioon'
( o4tpte scuttIed and set adrllt aUOVe III.
rdDiu>. About tErco weeks after. tht
! ater having .ailru. the Boats were re-
/ covered, repalIed with pieces oi mare
lreau boxts obiaIned rom ,he Commits
$50. and used IN constructing L bridge
; az rim, over winch tLe entire army
passed INTO Virginia.
IN he month II February, lecz, pom
| loon orIdge, composed OF about siAtJ
l,.,a.ts of tie reserve train, was thrown
/ ,..~o.. me Potomac at haFper's Ferry
! me rlwer WAS Iiiea = perfect torrent, the
! water being HIteen ieet above tGe SUM
/ n5,r I.,veI. anG nllej wIth driit wood aLo
/ loaang ice. lie greatest diii!calty was