Field Forge

 

Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval (1715 - 1789), the French artillery officer and engineer who improved and standardised the French artillery system before the French Revolution, not only redesigned the guns (cannons, mortars, etc.) but also all the ancillary equipment - such as the indispensable field forge - which he improved to a degree and equally standardised.

The four-wheeled field forge shown here is the biggest of two main models, the smaller forges having only two wheels. 

Between the two front wheels is a box containing the necessary tools to work metal with. An anvil is also carried to be used placed on the ground near the forge. The chest in the rear contains coal for the hearth. To keep the fire going (on the furnace, between the front toolbox and the fire plate, where the anvil is transported when not in use), the blacksmith or his aid would activate the pair of bellows by pulling the chain attached to the horizontal lever.

The list of metallic things needed to be repaired in the field was probably almost endless and included horseshoes, wheels, weapons, vehicles and gun carriages.

When a field forge was unavailable, if need be and if possible Napoleon's army would simply commandeer the shop and equipment of some local blacksmith.

Although also very useful to the cavalry and infantry, the field forge was truly indispensable to the artillery which ideally wouldn't go anywhere without one.