Book review…
Orndorff wins new respect for those
who kept the Civil War traveling

Reviewed by
ED FORD
Bugle Editor/Publisher

“Blacksmith’s Traveling Forge, History & Specifications,” by Karl Orndorff; paperback, 235 pages with notes, bibliography and index; $15, Amazon.com

During the Civil War, much depended on “Tire Dogs” and “Creasers.”

Especially, if you wanted to keep artillery and wagons moving and horses running.

Author Karl Orndorff explains that a “Tire Dog” is a device that aids in pulling a heated (expanded) iron tire onto a wood-spoked wheel during the process of tire shrinking. And, a “Creaser” is a tool for creating a groove on the underside of a horseshoe, ensuring that nail heads would not wear off until the shoe was worn out.

“Blacksmith’s Traveling Forge, History & Specifications” explains the vital use of the traveling forge during the Civil War. Orndorff, a resident of Gettysburg, Pa., has operated a working blacksmith shop for several decades, which he describes as a hobby and a passion. He’s also a Civil War blacksmith re-enactor and, in his book, provides fascinating details about the value of the Traveling Forge during the War Between the States.

A traveling forge was a complete well-stocked blacksmith shop mounted on wood-spoked wheels. It was stocked with tools, fuel, metal bars and equipment of the trade and traveled with artillery units, hospital groups, cavalry and troop wagon trains repairing and maintaining battle-damaged and road-weary equipment. In short, the traveling forge kept the Civil War moving for North and South.

During the war, every battery of four-six cannon was assigned a mobile blacksmith shop and the Union and Confederacy employed identical units. More than 60 traveling forges would have been attached to the 380 artillery pieces used at Gettysburg in 1863.

A Civil War army document defines the traveling forge as a “two-wheeled carriage with a blacksmith forge, tools, 300 pounds of horseshoes, hardware, nails, irons and other items. It was linked to a limber to form a four-wheeled vehicle … and should be as light and movable as possible, in order to be able to repair promptly any carriage that may become disabled.”

Traveling forge blacksmiths often had but minutes to repair a wheel or some other item when a troop or train was enroute. And, major repairs took place when fighting was suspended for the day.

Readers will have a new respect for those who made the war mobile for both sides.