PAGE 2
24th Missouri Volunteer Infantry

The pontoon battalion contributed greatly to the war effort by providing transportation at treacherous and hazardous positions.  The Confederates did not have access to pontoon bridges.  Typically the pontoons were made of canvas covered wooden boat frames with planks laid over to form a "roadway".  The beams and planks were called "chess" and "balk".  Other systems used wooden boats.  The materiel and equipment were transported on about 35 wagons called a "pontoon train".  An engineer company with a full compliment of men on pontoon service would total 150.  Companies F and K, the pontoon battalion of the 24th, consisted of a little over 200 men.  The 24th's pontoon equipment had to be destroyed during the engagement at Jenkin's Ferry in order to prevent it from falling into Confederate hands.

Official 1865 Army drawing of pontoon bridge equipment

Reference book on pontoon bridges in the Civil War:  Brainerd, Wesley; Bridge Building in Wartime, 1997.  An outstanding reprint of the memoir of Colonel Brainerd's experience with the 50th New York Volunteer Engineers during major battles and operations in Virginia.

Typical pontoon bridge as used on the James River, Virginia

Please send information and comments on the
24th Missouri Volunteers- click the email button

INFORMATIVE LINKS

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the US, Missouri Commandery

Grand Army of the Republic

Info on Missouri Volunteer Forces in the Civil War with Federal Service (Union): 24th Regiment MO Infantry

Sons of Union Veterans

Sanitary Commission

go to page 3- more pics

Back to page 1