Retiring By Prolonge

[weasel]

In a video of a battle walk at GNMP the ranger mentioned that relatively rarely a gun crew could "retire by prologue" or "retire by the prologue" (he said both, I'm not sure which is more correct).

From the sound of it, the recoil of the piece would be used to move it backward and it would sometimes be pulled by a rope. The idea of course is that they could still fire as they were pulling back. It apparently happened at least once at Gettysburg but from what he said was relatively rare. Does anyone know of any other times that this was done in active fighting?

EDIT: sorry, I meant to change the title to 'Retiring by prologue' but apparently forgot. It does not appear to be editable after posting.

ADDITIONAL EDIT: Thanks to James N. for proving my last edit to be wrong.

 

[Wade Moore]

I think the phrase is "retiring by prolonge." In this case the gun crew drags the gun with ropes (prolonges) so that it can be ready to fire whenever they stop.

 

[Belfoured]

I think the phrase is "retiring by prolonge." In this case the gun crew drags the gun with ropes (prolonges) so that it can be ready to fire whenever they stop.

Correct. I've always thought it also was something of a holdover from 18th century practice when the use of the heavy, cumbersome bracket/split trail carriage and lack of horses required extensive use of drag ropes.

 

[weasel]

I think the phrase is "retiring by prolonge." In this case the gun crew drags the gun with ropes (prolonges) so that it can be ready to fire whenever they stop.

Ah, PROLONGE. I either missheard him or he used the wrong word. " A rope with a hook and a toggle, sometimes used to drag a gun carriage or to lash it to the limber, and for various other purposes. " That makes sense, thanks.

 

[James N.]

… EDIT: sorry, I meant to change the title to 'Retiring by prologue' but apparently forgot. It does not appear to be editable after posting.

Look at the top of the very first post - you should see a tiny box containing three dots and an arrow that is right above the #1 on your post; click on it and a pulldown will appear. Then click on the line saying edit post or edit thread - a box will open allowing you to change the title. But act soon - you can only edit your threads and posts for about 24 hours.

 

[James N.]

In retiring, the prolonge is removed from its place on the trail - it has a hook on one end and a T-bar on the other. The rope is looped around the pintle on the limber or secured to it by the hook; the T is inserted into the lunette ring or loop in the end of the gun's trail. The limber is driven forward with the piece pointing to the rear toward the enemy; if unloaded, the limber is driven slowly to allow the crew to load it while moving. Once ready, the limber stops, the gun is fired and recoils; the limber moves forward to take up the resulting slack. If necessary the process is repeated.

 

[weasel]

In retiring, the prolonge is removed from its place on the trail - it has a hook on one end and a T-bar on the other. The rope is looped around the pintle on the limber or secured to it by the hook; the T is inserted into the loop in the end of the gun's trail. The limber is driven forward with the piece pointing to the rear toward the enemy; if unloaded, the limber is driven slowly to allow the crew to load it while moving. Once ready, the limber stops, the gun is fired and recoils; the limber moves forward to take up the resulting slack. If necessary the process is repeated.

Thanks for the pointer on editing, I corrected the title. Do you know of any other times it was done in active combat? So far, all I've found is the one instance of the 9th MA doing it.

 

[James N.]

Thanks for the pointer on editing, I corrected the title. Do you know of any other times it was done in active combat? So far, all I've found is the one instance of the 9th MA doing it.

Bigelow's 9th Massachusetts Battery used this method while retreating from their position at the Trostle Farm at Gettysburg on July 2; it was a commonly drilled practice from the Artillerist's manual but that's the only instance that springs to mind..

 

[Rhea Cole]

In this image taken during a battery program at Stones River N.B. the living history crew are moving the gun by hand.

The gun crewmen are in the positions set out in the drill book for moving the gun by hand.
One & two are pushing on the axel box; 3 & four are pushing on the wheel spokes & the gunner & number 5 are on the trail.
The rope stowed on the trail is the prolonge.
Not visible is the 'T' shaped toggle that allows the prolonge to be attached to the lunette (circular hitch) on the trail.
On the other end of the prolonge is a loop of metal that could be attached to the limber.

The loop on the prolonge would have been hitched to the limber just like the caisson pole in this image.

The six pounder is limbered in this image of Eli Lilly's team & Stones River living historians.
However, it is easy to imagine how the prolonge would have allowed the gun crew to serve the piece & march alongside as it moved.
​

The 'T' toggle prolonge end could be hitched to the gun trail lunette & the ring end to the limber. The gun could be fired without endangering the horses with the recoil. In that fashion, the gun could withdraw by prolonge, firing as it is moved to a new position in the rear.

The prolonge was also very useful when moving the gun while limbered. It was not uncommon for guns to be mired up to the hubs in the bottomless mud of unpaved roads. The prolonge could be hitched to the limber pole & men could pull on it to assist the horses. As you might imagine, a heavy length of line with toggles on each end was very useful in all manner of situations.

Fortress Rosecrans raised bastion where Stones River living history cannon demonstrations are held.​

During the making of the movie for the renovated visitor center at Stones River, we had to use the prolonge to move our 1841 Model six pounders. The red clay soils here in Middle Tennessee become something more akin to lubricating grease than dirt when wet. The four wheelers that ordinarily would have been used to reposition our pieces for the next scene had to be towed out of the field where the guns were deployed by winches. With the help of some infantry, we used the prolong to move the gun to firm ground.

When we do living history programs at Fortress Rosecrans, we use the prolonge to both pull the guns up onto the bastions & to ease them down after the programs. The guns are perfectly balanced & surprisingly easy to maneuver. However, the slick soles of Jefferson Davis brogans can make routine movements a Three Stooges Move a Cannon Show on steep ground. The prolonge is a very useful piece of equipment, both practical & for maintaining the personal dignity of the crew.

Photos: Stones River National Battlefield, the author & Library of Congress

Note: If anybody has a photo of a gun & limber hitched with a prolonge I would appreciate a copy.