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In military contexts, a train is the logistical transport elements accompanying a military force. Often called a supply train or baggage train, it has the job of providing materiel for their associated combat forces when in the field. When focused on provision of field artillery and its ammunition, it may be termed an artillery train. For , the addition of to an artillery train was called a siege train. These military terms predate and do not imply a railway train, though railways are often employed for modern logistics and can include .
For army, this historically usually referred to forces employing wagons, horses, mules, oxen, camels, or even elephants. These can still be useful where difficult weather or topography limit use of railways, , sealift, or airlift.
The United States Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms defined the term "train" as:
The individual Roman legionary carried his possessions and tools on a forked pole across his shoulder when on the march. However tents, equipment and bulk supplies were transported by separate train detachments composed of mules and wagons under the control of camp servants.
Conversely, historian R. Arthur Bowler argues that the failure of General John Burgoyne's Saratoga campaign of 1777 was in particular a result of mismanagement of the baggage train. Although the collection of supplies had begun in January, it was not until early June when the British hurriedly contracted for 400 horses to pull their artillery and 500 two-horse carts with drivers to haul supplies. Although American forces evacuated Fort Ticonderoga on July 6, the wagon train did not start to arrive until mid-July, preventing Burgoyne from making an immediate pursuit. It was early August when Burgoyne finally took possession of Fort Edward on the Hudson River, by which point only 180 of the contracted wagons had arrived. Not until September 13 had sufficient reserves been collected to allow the army to press on, though continued problems with insufficient supplies and horses led to the disastrous Battle of Bennington. Ultimately, Burgoyne erred in assuming he could acquire enough horses and vehicles while moving through hostile territory; diverting too many horses to pulling the army's too-large artillery train; and failing to rein in his officers from appropriating horses and vehicles for personal use. United States Army Logistics, 1775–1992: An Anthology. (1997). United States: Center of Military History, U.S. Army. pp. 91–93
A distinction was made between the general supply trains, which carried sustenance, ammunition and forage for the entire force, and an individual unit's baggage train, which carried a ready supply of ammunition, hospital stores, rations, forage and personal effects. While the size of the former varied depending on how many soldiers needed to be supported and was organized by division, restrictions were commonly placed on the latter. For example, prior to the start of the Army of the Potomac's Peninsula campaign, the limit was set at 4 wagons for every army corps headquarters; 3 wagons for every division or brigade headquarters; 6 wagons for every full regiment of infantry; and 3 wagons for every squadron of cavalry or artillery battery.United States Army Logistics, p. 207 In terms of the general supply train, Rufus Ingalls believed 7 wagons for every 1,000 men was needed to carry rations, forage and other materiel, and another 4 wagons per 1,000 men to carry cartridges.
The standard army wagon in good condition could haul 4,000 lbs of supplies across good roads when pulled by a full team of six mules. However the usual load was 2,400lbs, including forage for the team, or less than 2,000lbs with a 4-mule team. Mules were preferred over horses as they were cheaper, required less forage and had superior endurance. When operating as part of a wagon train, the typical rate of travel was between 12 and 24 miles per day, although the latter was only possible under ideal circumstances and poor conditions could result in much slower travel times. A wagon train could also stretch for many miles: with a 6-mule team and wagon taking up approximately 12 yards of space, a train of 800 wagons moving in single column, at an easy gait and with a normal interval between wagons, occupied 6 to 8 miles of road.
+ Supply Wagon Ratio during the Civil WarGettysburg Staff Ride: Briefing Book. (1999). United States: U.S. Army Center of Military History. p. 34 29 7 28 36 40
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