The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-17
The Artillery Corps.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.


TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
"The necessity of study and instruction in mill
tary, as well as other professions, is acknowledged
by all nations;' and in country like ours, whose
policy and interest are opposed to the maintenance
OF large standing armies, and where only necessity
exists for supporting nucleus upon which TO form
large bodies of troops, when needed it is important
that the nucleus should be correctly constituted tho
principal of service should be represented in it,
and have well educated officers in each branch eat
pable Of furnishing information and instruction to
new officers and The principal parts of an
army are Gas is well known) the infantry, cavalry,
and artillery-the infantry forming the larger pro-
portion, or base, and the proper proportions Of
cavalry and artillery to the infantry, varying Will,
the troops, whether raw disciplined the nature Of
the country, whether open, woody, mountainous,
sc.
1t is acknowledged by military men, and regarded
as an axiom, that where the infantry Of an army Isl
composed principally Of newly formed militia, q
greater proportion of artillery is necessary than when
it is the Nothing can give greater confidence
to troops in the field than the presence Of eff
cient batteries of artillery; and of this kind must
our armies, especially at first, in times Of war; ba
largely composed To make good and efficient ar
lcVulTcS luTec years, cY
aricrst has other duties to perform than the nero
manual Of the gun, howitzer, and mortar. Ho
should know how to mount and dismount the DIFF
ferent pieces from their carriages, and understand
uly respecting the ammunition amount Of ell arco
for pieces of different calibres, be acquainted with
the manufacture of slow and quick matches loading.
Ofsbes; and, in fact, have ut least general know
ledge fpyroechny. He should understand how to
construct the different kinds of military bridges and
how TO lay platforms for guns and mortars and to
throw up field works
Such are the principal duties that are required il,
all armies Of artillery corps, and there 40 reason
why ours should not be able TO do the same. But
what is really the fact!
In the United States service the artillery arc but
so in name. On even the slightest trouble occurring
with Indians, rumor of such. they are sent;
TO act as infantry, and often III field such for
years; and with the exception OF two companies
serving with light batteries the rest in fact an
infantry corps and have been such for twenty wears
Recruits join the artillery, their enlistment,
and are discharged the service, often without ever
seeing "A FOUNDER and a mortar would be, indeed,
mystery to them; in the meantime, the people, by
their representatives in Congress, making annual
appropriations for the support Of artillery corps;
and think they have such body. The coast
works and their ornaments that are abandoned,
ofsen suffer from the absence OF proper garrison,
end the result necessarily is that appropriations for
repairs have constantly to be made for these deserted
works The effect upon the mind of the young artil-
lery officer is dishcartening. He enters corps in
WHitu HS IL pace Ny graduating a. SOOu pOStlOW
at the Military academy, and expects to be an artil-
erist. He finds that he is required to have
any knowledge ofartery, and is expected to attend
to infantry duties; and here we would remark that
these duties are as important as the arterst's, to
officers and soldiers belonging to that corps; but off,
GERS belonging to each arm of service should attend
to, and be well acquainted with, their branch,
and should not be unnecessarily COMPOUNDED one with
the other The artillery to be of should be sta
oI ed where it acquire full knowledge its duties:
coast works should be garrsoned and the corps
have every opportunity of obtaining fun knowledge
Of its profession profession which is by no means
stationary but a progressive one. In England,
France, and OH the continent of Europe generally,
new results and improvements are constantly being
introduced into the artillery, and we only copy
lists and followers of them. Give artillery officers
encouragement, and they will not be mere fol-
lowers in this profession. Let it be understood that
there is to be artillery, and every facility to be-
means for the officers and soldiers to become ac-
quainted with their duties, and in Il few years it
would be indeed different corps to which by force
of circumstances it is reduced at present Let our
arsenals of construction be open to the artillery,
and not sealed against them, and then may exr
pect some good results.
Is this country certain never again to be engaged
in war! Who has exempted it from that disaster.
Whilst Europe is heaving with republican throes
like slumbering volcano, and it is not known when
or how the flames of will burst forth and
desoate her fields, certain that our distance
will preserve from the danger Is it not possible
we may have to protect ourselves Woaid it not
be prudent we should have the means we have ready
to meet such an emergency! Is it DO. right
and proper artillery should be prepared and
have opportunities of acquainting themselves with
their own profession If not why expend money
to maintain such a corps Better disband it, but
do not keep officers and of four regiments Of
artillery by that name, and allow them opportu-
mites either to learn their duties, or even to retain
a knowledge of what they once knew. The words
of Washington respecting Intervention and non-inter-
vention, in these days, have weight; other adj
Wee of his should also be REGARDED In peace he
prepared for war; CENSOR