The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-16

r MI. EDIfoRi WIZ you diio" INC thS uoS VI So"i so'
umns and the wide circulation OF your paper TO make
some inquiries and state facts In reference to that
corps Of our army called the artillery
generally known that the act OF Congress 10 re-
duce and FIX the military peace establishment OF thc
United States approved March 2. 1921, created four Iegl
OF artillery OF nine companies each. one OF which
'shall be designated snd equipped as light artillery" u
the words Of the act)
Perhaps il is not so generally known that this clause
OF the law remained dead letter upon the statute book
up to the year 1888, when Mr. j. r. Ponsett. then Sec
rotary OF War. vndcaed the law, so far as the clause
relating TO the light artillery dormant Horses be
longing TO the army in Tennessee. no longer wanted,
were driven Carlisle, Pennsy lvania and Ringgod was
directed to his company. Other companies were
mounted the following year. The results of Mr.. Pon-
ses foresight and military knowledge have been seen
in the late war with Mexico, and require no words OF
commentator from
The words of praise that were ayshed upon this corps
Immediately after the first battles on the Rio Grande, by
officers OF all other corps, none who were there will
forget To Joel r. Ponselt, than 10 any else
belongs the glory of first creating for us artillery.
But what were Mr. Poinsetts ideas OF the remaining
portion OF the OF Congress referred 10 There were
10 be four regiments of artillery do not understand
that this law in relation to the artillery has ever been
complied with With the exception OF the light artillery
and few batteries moanled from time TO time IN Mex
ico the whole four reg have served and are now,
with the exception OF tU0 lEht Dalteres' serving Us :"
janny,
No Secretary of War seems to have discovered that
there is authority Of iaw TO arm and make artillery
serve infantry.
If am in error upon this point, hope cores.
pendent will set me right. have examined the mill
laIy laws in vain for this authority.
Artillery companies should of course have batteries
either field, siege, fixed batteries and every militia
man knows that sabre sword is the proper weapon
e. fha nd ahO he in
hands of with fixed batteries, and certain number
for guard purposes deemed best with other batteries.
in addition TO the sabre or sword.
Why will not the present head of the War Department
inquire into this subject, and if he cannot do some
thing for the efficiency Of the artillery that may rebound
as much 10 his credit as the discovery and action Of Mr.
Ponset did 10 his and for which he deserves the graft.
tude of the American people'
Perhaps may be said that artillery would be too
numerous if the fortyeigh companies of which it is
posed should all be assigned 10 their appropriate duties
If let il be reduced changed into dragons nan-
try, at once; but let such troops call artillery be
placed on footing Of equality with other corps OF the
army. Above all, let such dsgrace fall upon
artillery as witnessed in the late with Mexico.
We had the modification OF seeing the ordnance depart
he storekeepers for the artillery according to Gen.
Jackson) come into the field with batteries. Yes, a
corps that created to take charge of the manufacture
and safe keeping Of all ordnance and ordnance
actually organized and sent batteries of artillery to the
field, when there many officers and companies OF
artillery serving infantry u
Ii may be very naturally asked, How did the ordnance
department obtain for soldiers reply that it was
in violation of law Congress authorized the colonel OF
ordnance enlist many master armorers, armorers
&c. &c. (eehancs,) might be necessary Tor the scr.
uice Of The ordnance department." Under this authority
he raised soldiers Why, he might have extended the
enstments TO loo, 900 men Was such barefaced
-. n To Sc The
whole country knew these things. tits high time for
Congress hold the public agents responsible for these
infractions OF law.
will briefly conclude this letter by suggesting wha,
every learned aerist will agree the proper for
The Executive pursue, in order to obtain ski'fu and
efficient artillery Corpe.
Place artillery guards in every permanent iorfca,ion
supply them with ample materials, ordnance &C., for
practice in gunnery, pyrotechny, &C., &c. Let these
guards exceed 100 10 largest works, and
probably less than 20 IN the smallest For light
artillery lei there be eight companies with half batteries
(hree guns and thirty horses each and unite two com
panes at the station for complete instruction in the
battery drill This will require about $40 horses for the
whole artillery service OF this great country And will
add This but 81 horses than will be required to
mount five companies according to the report of the Sec
relary of War This plan is adopted in most, il not all
the armies of Europe, and it furnishes nuceas upon
which you can add double the number Of guns, &c. in
case Of need, and at the shortest notice.
II should not be forgotten that, the most
mart of our armies in time OF will be volunteers
new levics much numerous and etcien, artillery
i requisite than with veteran troops, Double the
Der OF guns are deemed necessary with an army
stuted.
The materials implements, and gans necessary for the
proper instruction Of the artillery be found the
arsenals and depos and why not put them in the pos
session of the ,roops'
Artillery soldiers should be also instructed in the duties
OF sappers and miners sufficiently 10 make all the thng
repairs necessary from time 10 time, TO prevent the dap
da,on of the Notifications thereby saving TO the govern
mcnt many thousands of dollars annually
No doubt the artillery might be much improved by a
dieren, organization. That propose TO speak of in
future letter.
Complete company organization ~ the most essential
for artillery We want but few field officers
hope the newspapers friendly TO small but efficient
army will copy this, otherwise discuss the subject and
do hope the military committees will make this subject
one OF inquiry ARTILLERY,
DECEMBER 10, 1851.
Proceeding. Executive Com mittes Of In.
Democratic Association.
SATURDAY EVENING, Dec. 10, 1851.
The Executive Committee OF the Jackson Democratic
Association met pursuant to call OF the President Pres
ent. Mess French, Key, Radcliffe Thornley,, and Hack
or On notion MIR French called to the chair, and
Mr.. Hacker appointed secretary
IL 81