An artillery carriage, whether wooden or metal, served three basic functions. It held the piece for firing; dissipated the shock of recoil; and provided an efficient method of relatively rapid movement. Prior to 1835, the basic United States Field Artillery Carriages were patterned after the French Gribeauval dual stock system. The Ordnance Board, meeting in 1835, resolved that "the Ordnance Department would adopt the new French system consisting of single stock trail carriages." Minor modifications were required to adapt to the specific U.S. guns and to accommodate the existing roads. By 1841, Field Artillery Material consisted of three gun carriages and three support carriages, and by 1860 this had been expanded to four gun carriages and three support carriages.

These carriages, as listed in the 1861 ORDNANCE MANUAL, consisted of:

A field gun carriage for the 6 Pounder Gun and 12 Pounder Bronze Field Howitzer. This carriage was often referred to as the No. 1 field gun carriage. Because of the similarity in size, this carriage was also used with the 10 Pounder [2.9 inch] and 3 Inch PARROTT Rifles plus the 3 Inch ORDNANCE Rifle and 3.8 Inch Bronze JAMES Rifle. Minor modifications were made to handle the recoil of the rifled ordnance. A heavier axle was used and the step in the wood trail or stock was eliminated. Late production carriages provided by certain contractors and the U.S. Watertown Arsenal modified the attachment of the implement hooks to a bolted design.

A field carriage for the Bronze 24 Pounder Field Howitzer. This carriage was often referred to as the No. 2 field gun carriage.

A field carriage for the 12 Pounder Gun, Model 1857 [NAPOLEON]. The carriages for the Bronze 24 Pounder Field Howitzer and the 12 Pounder NAPOLEON differed chiefly in the length of the cheeks and the position of the elevating screw. This carriage was also referred to as the No. 2 carriage or more correctly, the modified No. 2 carriage.

A field carriage for the 12 Pounder Gun, Model 1841 and the Bronze 32 Pounder Field Howitzer. This carriage was often referred to as the No. 3 carriage. This carriage was also used for the 20 Pounder PARROTT Rifle. As with the No. 1 carriage, late production carriages produced by certain contractors and the U.S. Watertown Arsenal used a bolted system to attach the implement hooks.

A Caisson to carry extra ammunition, a spare wheel and a spare limber pole.

A Battery Wagon to carry spare parts and various supplies.

A Traveling Forge to serve the numerous repair needs of the battery.

All of the different types of carriages, in both FEDERAL and CONFEDERATE service were produced by the several government arsenals and by private contractors.

GUN CARRIAGES:
The four field-gun carriages were each composed of two distinct parts; the portion on which the piece rested when it was fired, and the Limber.

The rear portion, or carriage proper, was two wheeled. From the axle proceeded the stock, to which were fastened two upright pieces called cheeks, upon which the trunnions of the piece rested. The end of the stock was designated the trail and rested on the ground during firing. At other times, the trail was attached to the limber by its lunette and the pintlehook of the limber. The Caisson, Battery Wagon and Traveling Forge were also two wheeled and attached to the limber in a similar manner.

LIMBER:
The same limber was used for each of the individual carriages. Connection of the limber to the carriage by means of a lunette and pintlehook provided a four-wheel unit which could maneuver on very rough ground. The independence of the limber and carriage required the weight of the tongue or pole to be supported by the horses. It was consequently made as light as possible, consistent with the proper strength. Specifically designed harnesses were developed to reduce the fatigue on the horses caused by the oscillation of the pole.

The limber consisted of an axle body, axle and two wheels. On these rested a framework to receive the pole. On top of the whole was an ammunition box, the top of which formed a seat for three cannoneers. In the rear of the axle tree was a pintlehook to receive the lunette of the trail. Connected with the framework in front was a fixed splinter-bar with four hooks, to which were attached the traces of the rear team of horses. At the extremity of the pole were placed two pole-chains by which the pole was held up and a pole-yolk with two movable branches. The branches were to prevent as much as possible the pole from oscillating and striking the horses. Each of these branches had on it a freely sliding ring, which was connected by a leather strap to the collar of the horse allowing him greater freedom of motion. The traces of each horse of the front teams were hooked on to those of the horse in his rear, just behind the collar, and were suspended by his sides in scabbards.

As the limber was common to each of the seven carriages, the wheel of each carriage and/or limber was of the same overall size. Any limber wheel [No. 1 wheel] could be quickly changed and used with any carriage in necessary. If possible, the heaviest wheel [No. 2 wheel] was used on the carriages of the heaviest pieces [12 Pounder Gun, 12 Pounder Napoleon, 24 and 32 Pounder Howitzers, and 20 Pounder Parrott Rifle]. This interchangeability of limbers between carriages and wheels between carriages and limbers allowed for considerable flexibility in withdrawing damaged equipment from the field of battle while under fire. Expendable caissons or battery wagons could be left behind while the more valuable gun carriages were withdrawn with the limber from the caisson or battery wagon.

The limber chests of the gun carriage and caisson contained ammunition and equipment for the service of the piece. Those of the forge and battery wagon contained tools, stores and supplies for shoeing and repairs.

CAISSON:
The Caisson was a carriage designed to carry a supply of ammunition. The limber of the gun carriage carrying the instruments for use with the piece and such ammunition might be necessary for immediate use. All caissons were the same on the exterior. The ammunition boxes differed in their interior compartments according to the nature of the ammunition with which they were loaded.

On the axle body of the rear part, and in a direction parallel to the stock, were placed three rails, upon which were fastened two ammunition boxes, one behind the other. These were similar to the one on the limber; so that the caisson and limber together had three ammunition boxes seating nine cannoneers. A wooden stock and lunette served to connect the two parts together, as was the case with the gun carriage. In the rear of the last box was placed a spare wheel axle of iron, a spare wheel held in place with a chain and toggle. On the rear end of the middle rail was placed a carriage hook, similar to a pintlehook, on which the lunette of a gun carriage, whose limber had become disabled, could be placed and the gun carried off the field. A spare pole ring was placed under the axle, through which and extra pole was run, and was sustained in this position under the stock by a key plate and key fixed beneath.

Slots in the iron assembling bars, between the rear of the boxes were provided for the reception of an axe and a pick. Staples were located at the side and under the boxes for securing a long handle shovel and a spare handspike. The caisson had the same turning capacity and mobility as the gun carriage so that it could follow it in all of its maneuvers.

BATTERY WAGON:
The battery wagon consisted of a limber and a long bodied car with a round top. This car was connected to the limber in the same way as all other field carriages. The lid opened on hinges placed at the side. In the rear was fixed a movable forage-rack, for carrying long forage.

One of these battery wagons accompanied each field-battery, for the purpose of transporting carriage makers and saddlers tools, spare parts of carriages, harness, equipment, and rough materials for replacing different parts. Other battery wagons were provided for the field park for use by the general Army. The battery wagon, like all other field artillery carriages, were made with the same mobility, in order to accompany the battery wherever it might be required to go.

TRAVELING FORGE:
The forge consisted of, besides the limber, a framework of three rails and crossties, on which was fixed the bellows, fireplace, etc. The stock, held up by a prop, served as a support for a vice. Behind the bellows was placed a coal box, which had to be removed before the bellows could be put in position. In the limber box were placed the tools for use with the forge, horseshoes, nails, spare parts of carriages, harness, etc.

One of the forges accompanied each field battery and others were provided and equipped for the general service of the Army. The forge had to be a light and moveable as possible, in order to be able to repair promptly any carriage, which might become disabled. The forge was also made of equal mobility with the other field carriages, in order to accompany them.