The New York herald., 1851-07-15
LlQht ARTILLERY.

TO EDITOR HERALD.
DEAR SIR noticed in the Express of Saturday,
July 5th,) an editorial hearfed, "The Light Ar,il-
lery," in which a reference is made to the law Of
lS2l--eaeh regiment Of Artillery to consist Of nne
companies, "ene of which shall be designated aud
equipped as Light Artillery" "This makes four
companies in all which it is now maintained should
be, under the law, kept up" ''But what would
these gentlemen havei' (the officers of the army)
"lf Congress will not make the necessary appro-
priatons fer the support of the companies alluded
to. what is to be done about itg'
The inference, of course, to be drawn from the
above quotation from the Express is, that Cong tess
did fail TO make a sufficient appropriation for .he
support OF the four companies But Is such .se
facti Tho army appropriation bill Of the last .es-
sion contained an item Tor the support Ct the eight
companies OF Light Artillery tive gnlcnts of U.a-
goons, and one Of mounted Ri emen. This item
was reduced, not stricken out. =
Now, what authority has the President to chango
the organization OF the army, unless i. be given
him by law! None whatever. Then let Us eco
what changes he can make, lawfully, in the sani-
cation Of the mounted corps BY the law OF lsZi, he
has no authority to dismount the Aur companies
OF Light Artillery; the four addiSsail comp panies
authorized, at his discretion, by the law az tto
third of March, 1917, he can reduce By the two
acts OF Congress Of the second Of March, 1853, AID
twenty third OF May, l-36, creating the two reg-
ments of Dragons in service, the Presidents
has authority to cause them "to serve on horse or
foot" as he may direct. These, of course, he can
Of mounted a. Rasmsn 2 a' did rsn foo. bs
brilliant campaign Of .hc valley Of Mexico. under
the great and gallant scott; but they were dis
mounted by an act of Providence. aud /. was i'm
possible to re- mount them in time for the capture
Of Mexico. They, however, drew their mounted
pay, (Which nragoons and Artillery dismoup,ed
do noD because by the law they were mounted ri-
hemen, and no provision was made for their serving
D. Before 1888, the President could not, or lid not:
obtain an appropriation to mount thess original
four companies Of Ligh, Artillery; and, Of course,
the responsibility Of disregardisg the Law e,,ed
with Congress; but no such reason existed at the
time Of the late reduction. These sompanies we're
fully equipped, and in successful operation, giving
instruction TO large number Of sffcers and men.
The horses were taken away and, in sone instances,
sold for small sum; the batteries and eqs pmcnts
disposed Of and muskets put in the hands Of the
men.
will state here. for the Information of those not
acquainted with the fact, that much longer train
ing is required TO make a good Light Artillery
soldier than for any other arm Of service. lie must
be good infantry and cavalry soldier before he
can pr operly commence his instruction as . Light
Artillerist Hence the impcrtasce Of keeping in
struction in this arm, for as many men and OIL
GERS possible.
Now, to answer the question, What would
these gentlemen have " &c. Il say, either stop
with reduction Of the four additional companies.
or what wsuld be FAR better, tthough do not pre-
sumo to advise the President,) to unite the two
companies Of Light Artillery in each regiment.
giving each battery Of two guns and twenty-five
horses, instead Of four guns and ortyf,ur horses,
as then organized; or, what would be much better,
thirty horses, uniting - before stated, making, in
all, two hundred and forty horses, and twenty four
guns; Tor the entire Light Artillery service Of this
great country. This organization would afford
ample instruction 10 two captains, four first and
two second Geutenants, and one hundred and forty
noacornmissioned officers and men In each Of the
four reginents or to twenty eight officers (who are
changed every TIVE years, so rs to go through with
ally and six hundred and sixty men,
This principle Of economy 10 observed in the
British army, by giving each troop OF Horse Artil
lery two guns, and uniting troops for Instruction
so was Informed by captain Of the Royal Ar.il-
lery In 1876. Why should we not do likewise
AN OrrfoER, u. 8. A.
Their horses were lcst at see, going from NV
TO ytrs Cruz