Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-10-01

FLYING ARTILLERY.

| A late number of the Nashville Banner con.
talns the following communication upon the
flying artillery, which interests us not so much
by the light it throws upon this formidable
weapon of modern warfare as by the interest.
| ing historical "reminiscences intermingled with
| it,
In the Banner of the 9th, notice an &C.
count of the introduction of flying artillery as
an arm in the military service of the United
States. The statements there made are no
doubt true; but it is equally true that the late
General w. R. Davie, then of Halifax, N. c.,
| called the attention of our Government to the
subject early in 1901, on his return from
france, where he had been Minister.
The residence of Gen. Davie, in Paris. was
The Hotel des Oiseans-its front looking on the
Champ de Mars''-where the troops that
fought the famous battle of Marengo were dali
ly trained Cat least all the raw recruits, say
2O,OOO) under the direction of Napoleon and
his favorite marshals, including Lannes, Du-
roc, &c. &c The drills and reviews were in
the immediate vicinity, and in front of Gen.
Dawes hotel His taste led him to notice at
| tentlvely the tactics and training of the troops
and their splendid success induced him to place
a high estimate on the value of the French
system of artillery.
Gen. Kosciusko in the war of our Revolu.
ton was an officer in Pulaski's Legion, then
forming part of the army of Gen'l Lincoln
Col. DAVE was attached to the same command
In 1900, Kosclusko was an exile, and then re-
sided IN the vicinity of Paris, and on the arri-
val OF the General atthe French capital called
to see hlm-when old recollections renewed
those feelings which the remembrance of perl
and suffering can alone produce.
zen. DAVE expressing his admiration of the
French artillery, Kosciusko offered to draw ur
tor HIM treatise on flying artillery This he
did; and when finished, sent it with letter
that letter was among the papers of the Gene
raj at his residence in Chester, S. c., where
ne died IN 1920, and is probably in possession
OF his son, F. w. Davie, at this time
Gen. Davle gave copy of this treatise or
artillery to the administration of Mr. Jefferson
and about the same time copy to General
then Captain, Alacomb, and at the time sta
toned at Rocky Mount, S. C.
Flying Artillery was introduced into thu
French service while Napoleon was vet sub
aitem; but on his attaining power he justly
estimated It's value and greatly increased tina
arm OF the service. Some of your readers may
not recollect that Pulaski was Polish noble
man, who, falling IN a competition for thu
throne, became an exile, came to this country
early in the Revolution, obtained commits
sion from Congress, and joined the Southern
army. Two young Poles, both of noble birth
Zenski and Kosciusko, followed his fortunes
I-Zelnski died III the hospital in Charleston
where Gen. Davie was at the time confined
from wound received at the battle of Stow
which afforded him the melancholy satisfac
ton of sharing in the last sad duties to on
dear to him from his noble qualities and lon:
suffering Kosciusko returned to Poland, AM
became the General of his countrymen in al
unsuccessful attempt to throw off the yoke o
Russia He subsequently returned to France
and long INDUCED the hope that Poland woul,
be free by the aid of France. In this he wa
disappointed, as he died not long after the al
lies took Paris
Pulaski fell ia a charge of his Legion at tn
siege of Savannah; his thigh was shattered
if remember Alright, by grape shot. H
died few days after.
Excuse, sir, the garrulity of age, if you ar
wearied at the length of this article, or flint
difficulty in reading my hieroglyphics.
SAVILLE.