Simple "Roman-Style Foot Bridge -- Masked Gun Emplacement

 

The bridge is an unfinished foot bridge. The gun emplacement contains one gun, a magazine and a soldeirs refuge area when the emplacement is under bombardment. The background painting was provided by the unit artist Maryanne Germain.

Seaport Scene, and Scratch-built Corduroy Road

 

Seaport Scene with two piers, two ships, large crane and a hilltop gun emplacement. The Corduroy road is a model of the kind of road that was built over marshy and swamp-land to carry infantry, cavalry and light wagons. The background painting was done by the unit artist Maryanne Germain.

Rustic Footbridge -- Wooden Pontoon and Wagon

 

The Rustic Footbridge is a scratch-built model of a hastily constructed footbridge over a steep double stream-bed. The pontoon is a medium sized wooden pontoon mounted on a Pontoon Wagon. There were four sizes of pontoons; Large and Medium wooden pontoons, and large and small canvas / wooden frame pontoons. The background painting was done by the unit's artist, Maryanne Germain.

Fortified Farm and Two Bridges

 

The fortified farm consists of several buildings fortified and strengthened to withstand an enemy infantry attack. One of the two bridges, the light colored one, is a railroad bridge over a small stream using only stringers beneath the bridge for support and no bridge piers, The second bridge is a foot-wagon bridge also using nothing but the heavy stringers (baulks) for support. The background painting was done by the unit artist, Maryanne Germain.

Transport Wagon and Examples of Three Different Loads -- A Second Coastal Gun Emplacement

 

The wagon Loads are a small artillery piece and ship carriage, a load of grain for animal feed, and "Biscuit" boxes of hardtack. The gun emplacement is behind a medium height dirt parapet with a wooden frame support behind it. The painting background was again done by the unit's artist, Mistress Maryanne Germain.

Coastal Gun Emplacement and 32 pdr. Columbiad -- Unfinished Three Pier Foot and Wagon Bridge

 

This picture is a combination of two models and a painting put together at the request of the Fort Trumbull Ranger to decorate a window to the outside for people passing by the fort's entrance. The top model is a coastal gun mount, and the second is a bridge. The painting was done by the unit's artist, Mistress Maryanne Germain.

Siege Plan

 

When a fortified city or large fortress had to be taken by siege. It was the engineer who devised the plan of what and how many guns were to be used, how many parallels to be dug, where the saps (Trenches) were to be started, and hoe deep to make them. Inside the fortification, engineer's were set about studying how to defeat the outside plans and strengthen the city's defenses. This is a simplified plan of how a siege would be worked out.

Three-Dimensional Map-Plan

 

The purpose of this type of plan was to give a Commander the idea of the topographical terrain that he faced for either defense or assault. The large hill in the center would a good place for a lookout and or signal tower, There is a stream which flows down both sides of the hill making it easier to defend, a trail to the top of the hill for access, and a nearby road which can be blocked by friendly forces to protect the Lookout station. All of these above items would be vital to a Commander interested in this terrain.

Walled Gun Emplacement and Magazine, Rear View

 

This view shows a good picture of the two side shields on the gun to keep any sparks or flames away from the Magazine shed.

Walled Gun Emplacement and Magazine, Right View

 

This Right hand view shows the interior of the Magazine shed, which contains "ready" ammunition only for the single gun.

Walled Gun Emplacement and Magazine

 

Top view. This walled gun emplacement shows a cannon limber to the right of the photo and a magazine shed to the left. The gun is mounted on a wooden plank platform and is protected on the outside of the front embrasure wall by two square wooden columns filled with dirt.

Masked Gun Emplacement, Top View

 

Masked Gun Emplacement, Side View

 

12 pdr. Napoleon howitzer, behind a dirt glaci covered with sod and plants

Masked Gun Emplacement

 

Pile-Driver, Stern View

 

Pile-Driver, Top view

 

Steam-Powered Pile Driver

 

This floating steam-powered pile driver was used to drive heavy timbers into a river bottom to form a water barricade inside of which a bridge pier and base could be built. It was also used to drive pilings for piers as well as temporary coffer dams and barriers against enemy river warships.

Lookout or Signal Tower

 

A-Frame Lifting Device.

 

This rig was often used for removing and loading cargo on canal barges. Later it was used also in construction of permanent fortifications. It was normally used where moving the A-Frame often was not a requirement.

Cannon Lifting Tripod

 

These rigs were used for lifting cannons for maintenance, transferring artillery pieces and replacing carriages under cannon barrels

River Crossing Defense Plan

 

This kind of a plan would be done by an engineer to show the placement of guns and defense walls in order to protect a bridge at a strategic river crossing. In the picture, there are three artillery emplacements, a lookout tower, and some rifle walls, as well as cheveau des frise to restrain attacking infantry.

Two-Pier Bridge

 

This kind of a bridge would be for infantry only and would be built from timber collected on site. Usually an unplanned for bridge needed quickly.

Road Bridge, End View

 

Road Bridge

 

Railroad Bridge