Subject: Traveling Forges, Civil War Blacksmithing, limbers, etc.

From: "Dave Einhorn" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 08:39:12 EDT

Well, I found an interesting book yesterday, "The Ordnance Manual for 
the use of the Officers of the Confederate States Army", republished 
by Morningside House Inc 260 Oak St. P.O Box 1087, Dayton, Ohio 
45401.

It has a lot of information of interest to a blacksmith, or to anyone 
interested in the construction and/or maintainence of things during 
the mid 19th century.  For example:

     Travelling Forge (Plate 4.)
     
Wood.-2 side rails: 1 front cross-bar, fastened to the side rails by 
2 wooden pins: 2 middle cross-bars, fastened to the side rails by 6 
wooden pins: 1 rear crossbar, fastened to the side rails by 2 wooden 
pins; 1 middle rail, the ends fastened to the middle cross-bar by 4 
screws No. 14; 1 axle-body; 1 stock.
     4 floor-boards, fastened to the middle cross-bars by 16 screws 
No.14.
     4 corner studs, joined by tenons to the side rails, and fastened 
by 8 pins.
     1 front end board, mortised into front studs, and fastened by 2 
pins.
     2 side studs, fastened to side rails and plates with tenons and 
4-pins.
     etc, etc, etc. for a couple of pages
     1 brace for fireplace, fastened to the back of the fireplace and 
the front end board of roof by 2 rivets No. 2: 2 rivets no. 2 B.
     1 bellow-pole strap, fastened to the pole by 2 rivets No 2 and 3 
screws No 14.
     1 bellows-pole chain: 2 lines, one of which is fastened in the 
hook.
     2 wheels No. 1                  

The book continues with describing the Bellows parts, Coal-box, as 
well as other information on browning metal, japaning metal, etc.  
This is a large book containing information on all the wagons, 
rolling stock, cannons, lists of parts for all these things, spare 
parts lists, how far a man on horse can travel in a day, how much air 
a man breaths.  The book, according to the front of the reprint was 
created in the 1860s by taking the U.S. manual, substituting C.S. 
wherever it said U.S. and adding a few things here and there.

I am still looking for Mordicai's book, as well as other introductory 
books, since the Ordnance Manual assumes you know enough about the 
subject to visualize what they are talking about.

   Dave Einhorn                    
   [email-masked]