All of the drawings show a dual use bricole -- as is the case here – one that can easily be made shorter or longer. However all of the French artillery manuals of the period list two separate types of bricole – long and short – being in the caissons.

Perhaps the dual use bricole was a 'good' idea but not practical?

French ‘dual use bricoles':

Earliest illustration I have:

A later design:

Instruction sur le service de l'artillerie … by Jean Baptiste Hulot & Bigot. 1813:

Chap. III. Exercice des pièces de bataille:
Manœuvre:
- de la pièce de 4, p. 75;
- de la pièce de 6, p. 83;
- des pièces de 8 et de 12, p 83;
- de l'obusier de 6 pouces, p. 92.
- à la prolonge, p. 92.

http://books.google.com/books?id=nURKAAAAYAAJ

A bizzar use of the bricole – "trainèe à la bricole". No need for artillery horses on the battlefield – move the guns on the battlefield by manpower only!:

]http://books.google.com/books?id=MzQVAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA397

Now, I'm getting out of here!