The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-18

workshops clearly belongs 10 the ofcnance but the
psis 10 test the guns that made in those shops be
long the artillery proper according TO our oganza
hon Now, then, suppose keep one class of officers
constantly experimenting the mechanics and another
class constantly using the shot, Shells and guns sent
nually from the ordnance shops what have either
class (haying head OF becoming acquainted
with the duties OF the other, and learning the necessity
for improvements, where the defects exist in either
branch OF the service, that may always have the
best material used in the construction OF shot,
shells. &c. and the advantage OF complete experience in
the whole ''scence of artillery In word, the du-
ties OF the two branches Of "artillery" init
matey connected that there is place to draw the line
OF separation
The want OF knowledge and the Of attaining
first led to the organization OF the ordnance department
as il exists (The ordnance department. as it ex
listed in 1912, but system OF sorekeepage for the
munitions Of war; In 1871 the ordnance department
was emerged" in the artillery and would doubtless have
remained merged but for the ignorance OF artillery officers
charged with these duties There no system OF in
structon adopted to elevate the character OF its officers
and it found absolutely necessary to select few OF
the best, and organize them into corps that could be
kept constantly under instruction for the special duties OF
this department of the artillery.
The regmental organization Of 1921, without COM
mon head for the os artillery force, very unfor-
tunate one Instead OF being placed at their appropriate
duties, they kept up infantry regiments. The
field officers being tmany OF them) infantry officers orgi
nally. knew nothing Of artillery, and cared less; they
were content to command three regiments no matter
how equipped or employed
instituted by Mr. Calhoun for the purpose Of afordng
this the of perfecng itself in artillery edtlca
ton was f history does not lie) little than school
in which to learn the infantry battalion drill.
The writer of this has been more than ten years an
officer of artillery, and ii is not many ioeeks since he
first system of instruction for heavy artillery in
our own service. The year 1851 the first book Of
tactics ever issued by authority for SIEGE garrison and
seacoast artillery!
learned the infantry drill cadet, and have re-
learned il since, and to the exclusion OF everything
else--uness it be short tour with light battery
The infantry battalion drill hope never 10 see prac-
tised again BY companies Of artillery The infantry ser
vice is good one--t constitutes the main force of our
army but those OF who entered the service officers
Of artillery. let US alone with infantry.
Will not Congress look into this matter and see if
there not at the present session, opportunity
form abuses correct some evils, money 10 the
government. and above all, make this branch of the
military service what it should be, and is in all other
Countless highly educated and accomplished body OF
areriss at least, enable to meet brethren OF the
infantry and cavalry equal terms--hat is, that we
may claim to be really what name purports-aria-
ierynot mongrel kind OF corps, ready for small jobs
of any sort that may come up Let US, Mr.. Congress-
have local habilation and name" that is not mis-
n0mer
There were at Vera Cruz officers OF artillery who en-.
tered the service bevet second eutenants and then
gray in service captains, (and perhaps najors who
had not seen shell fired since they cadets These
instances not few officers OF artillery had
served with light batteries before the Mexican war; and
they, with the boys just from the academy, constituted
the only available force for the service of heavy and
light artillery, except what fell into the hands of the ord
nance department.
II is admitted on all hands that the French have the
best artillery in the world, and they make all the officers
OF this well instructed in all the duties of artillery
and thus qualified to command the troops to direct
the establishments and contribute perfecng the ma
teal Of which they have personally experienced the ad
vantages and inconvenience"
Believing then, that Congress will aid us, by reor-
ganiza,on to become efficient any in the world we
propose something like the following the best means
OF attaining the desired end This is substantially the
I" Memoir" referred to-
Let the regiments of artillery and the ordnance depart.
nen be broken up, and arrange the officers in corps
of artillery according TO the dates OF the commissions
by which they serving in their respective regiments
or department. and make the following officers and no
othersexcept not TO dsband any surplus onesbut let
the Of the service take them up be reduced by
ordinary casualties:
chief OF artillery, (brgadier generally coonels
lieut. colonies. majors, ~ first captains, "A second cap
tains a. first lieutenants "A second lieutenants land
never exceed 80 bevet second eutenants instead OF
60 as now provided by law) sergeant majors quar-
temaser sergeans 100 sergeans l2s coporals "a aI6
GERS, farriers and backsmiths, 81 musicians, and
1874 privaes-tota. 1855 officers 2Oi2 commissioned
officers and men. From this corps 10 be formed bate
ries OF light artillery and "a companies. each to have
first captain, second captain, first lieutenant and
second lieutenant; the batteries to have 81 privaes,
sergeants, 4 corporas. 1 farrer and blacksmith and
arti6ces the companies, As pnvates, sergeants,
corporals, arthces Companies and batteries to have
musicians each.
The corps 10 perform all the duties required OF the
present ordnance department and the proper duty Of ar
tery, including that OF military storekeeper and ord
sergeant, and furnishing garrsons TO all per-
manent Notifications.
Two or three OF these light batteries TO be mountain
or prairie artillery" for frontier service.
Schools. consisting OF the officers and men, with the
most ample OF instruction, TO be established far
practicable. every regular fort but especially Fort
Adams, Rhode Island, Fort Monroe, Virginia and at
Pensacola, Hort Pickens,) Florida
These garrisons to consist OF tpo companies, and all
other posts Of one less than one company
Detach men for dsty arsenas and small posts The
NTH sergeant to companies to be ordnance sergeant,
board OF artillery" perform the duties of the pres
ent ordnance board, and also constitute board OF ex
animation for all officers before promotion to the grade OF
first captains that u.s. brevet second lieutenant 10 be
eligible to promotion until he has passed satisacorv
examination upon prescribed OF theory and prae
ce at the garrison schools No first lieutenant TO be eliQ
BILE to capaincy until like satisfactory examination has
been passed.