Brigadier General of Engineers, Ian McKay

 

In this picture, Brig. Ian Mckay, Chief of Staff to Lt. General U.S. Grant, is talking with the crowd of spectators, explaining a few basic elements of the massed artillery behind him. This particular photo was taken at an event in Western Connecticut early in the season. Ian McKay usually is asked to narrate to the spectators about the equipment and tactics that they are seeing on the field, since much of it is known well only to the few who study such.

Senator Marcus Minucius Audens

 

Julius Caesar

 

Roman Bridge End View -- Pontoon

 

Roman Bridge Segment, side view -- Wooden Pontoon

 

The top part of the bridge is made up of special five sided timber constructions laid carefully on the stone footings built in the river in created coffer dams. At least five of these timber structures are placed side by side on the stone footings and tied together with crossbeams which form the basis of the bridge floor. Planks are then laid upon these timbers, and on them turf or dirt and brush to soften the impact of wagon wheels on the bridge planks.

Segment of a Roman Bridge and Wooden Pontoon

 

Top View.

"Tulip" Field, another view

 

"Tulip" Field

 

"Tulip" are holes dug in the ground, approximately one yard wide at the top and one yard deep. A sharpened stake is sunk into the bottom of the hole and usually smeared with human feces or others material to create a very bad wound. The tulips are dug in lines which are offset from each other in order to prevent an attacker from finding a path through the field. The first eight holes that you see are uncovered in the left half of the picture. In the right half of the picture the eight "tulips" are covered with light brush to hide them. "Tulip" are anti=personnel field fortifications, and have been used since before the Roman Republic to defend areas fro foot infantry.

Pontoon Bridge, End View

 

Pontoon Bridge, End View

 

Pontoon Bridge

 

This photo shows the pontoon bridge fully constructed with lead-in plank roads on each end. Often lead-in plank roads had to be constructed to reach the river or stream because of an extended marsh or swamp on either side of the water barrier.

Roman Footbridge, Side View

 

The bridge was constructed across a deep stream-bed, hence the long support timbers.

Roman Footbridge, End View

 

Roman Footbridge, Top View

 

Medium Covered Pontoon Frame

 

The pontoon cloths, anchors, anchor ropes, and fastening ropes are carried in the pontoon frame wagons, usually two frames and all the needed materials can be carried in a single wagon. The chesses are carried on separate wagons as are the baulks and border timbers. All wagons carrying material for pontoon bridges are put together in a pontoon train with a separate officer in charge. Pontoon Trains are to be given priority to move ahead of an army in transit in order to prepare the bridge as necessary before the army arrives at the river or other place to cross the bridge.

Medium Pontoon Frame, Top View

 

This pontoon frame is covered with heavy oiled cloth. It is lighter than a solid wooden pontoon, but can only be used for passing infantry.

Pontoon Bridge , Three Pontoons and Bridge Structure

 

This view shows all three pontoons, The two that are covered with white are covered with oiled cloth, the center pontoon shows the framework around which the cloth is wrapped and fastened. The bridge structure starts to the right: showing the heavy timbers on which the bridge rests. These are called baulks. Next are the planks laid across the baulks which forms the surface on which men and horses walk. These are called Chesses. Following these are the border timbers, which are there to deflect wagon wheels from going over the edge of the bridge, The baulks, chesses and border timbers are fastened to the pontoons with ropes. Nothing is nailed together.