At one end was a rope to pull them, at the other a tiller to guide them.

Twenty grenadiers took the cables.

Twenty others carried the baggage of those who drew them.

An artilleryman commanded each detachment with absolute power, if need be, over life and death.

The iron mass in such a case was far more precious than the flesh of men.
Before leaving each man received a pair of new shoes and twenty biscuits.