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Museum/Artifact
Collections/Limbers and Wagons
 Limbers
The limber was an indispensable piece of equipment. It was a simple
two-wheeled cart composed of an axle, with its wheels, surmounted
by a framework designed for holding an ammunition chest and receiving
the tongue. At the back of the axle is the pintle hook, on which
the lunette on the trail of the gun carriage can be keyed into
place. The ammunition chest contained the rounds for the artillery
pieces. A team of horses was hitched to the limber and an artillery
piece was hooked on to its rear when the army was on the move.
The ammunition chest lid was designed to seat the driver. In times
of battle, the limber and horses were left behind the lines of
fire.
Gatling Limber
The only peculiarity about this limber, is the manner in which
the ammunition is disposed. The back of the limber is a drop-lid,
when down, it is supported by a strong leather strap. In this
position, the lid serves as a shelf for serving ammunition, and
refilling feed-cases. The body of the chest is divided into compartments,
fifty for feed cases and one larger for tools or implements, thus
giving each limber, a carrying capacity of 2000 rounds.
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 Hotchkiss
Revolving Cannon Limber
The upper-half of the chest is constructed for carrying 200 rounds
of ammunition placed in a vertical position, the fuse end down
and resting in a slight depression reamed out of the floor partition,
the upper end being held steady by thin boards perforated with
holes the size of the shells, and through the ammunition passes.
The lower half of the chest is divided into three compartments.
The lower half of the center one holds two case-carriers of leather,
provided with leather straps to go over the shoulder. Over this
is a drawer containing implements. On either side of the centre
compartment is another, holding five galvanized-iron feed cases
each carrying 10 rounds, thus giving the chest a carrying capacity
of 300 rounds.
 3.2
Ammunition Chest
This chest is made of wood, ironed, with corrugated-iron plate
on back. It is covered with duck, and the lid is secured, when
down, by a hasp and turnkey. Three compartments: end ones for
projectiles, 21 in each; middle for 44 cartridges and two haversacks.
The packing divisions for projectiles are of cast bronze.
Wagons
The Escort Wagon was approved by the Secretary
of War November 21, 1878 and built to standardized specifications
that allowed for easier interchangeability of components and fewer
stocked parts. Drawn by 4 mules or 4 horses, this all-purpose
freight wagon replaced the Civil War six-mule wagon.
Because there were a number of government-approved suppliers,
these wagons are often found with maker’s marks from a variety
of builders. Wheels, in particular, are frequently labeled with
different maker names.
During the 1880’s, the Studebaker Wagon
Company highly recommended Archibald wheels for their added strength
and reliability.
The standard load for the Escort Wagon was 3,000 pounds. When
road conditions were dry and flat, a load of 5,000 pounds  was
often carried.
In 1895 with the end of the long Indian Wars, the War Department
greatly reduced its wagon fleet. However, within 3 years, there
was a severe shortage as the United States prepared for the Spanish
American War.
Escort Wagon bodies became cargo beds for some
of the earliest trucks in the Mexican Punitive Expedition, as
manufacturers were scrambling to provide vehicles to aid Pershing.
1898 Army Escort Wagon
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