Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-05-30

apparent that success will depend upon the skill and address exhibited by the gunners in charge of 1t.
 The quantity of artillery attached to an army is determined by the nature of the the atre of the war. the kind of troops, their number relative to that of the enemy, the character of the war, the size of the pieces, and their mobility. It varies usually from one to three pieces to LOGO men. The latter number has been adopted in our service with the troops, and the third held in reserve.
 The number of guns should be double that of the howtzers; and for q defensive war, from one-fourth to ono-ffth of the pieces should be twelve pounder guns, and q or B pounder howitzers For an olen- sive war, from one-seventh tt onc-eighth only should be of these caibers> otherwise the batteries would not have sufficient mo bility.
 As general rule, the number of artillery troops should be about one half that of the cavalry; though. as regards this, no fixed rule can be laid down, since artillery fre- quently supplies the place of cavalry
 DIvIpED.-The following is tbs H,ut re- cent division of the United Sta\ Illery into kinds according to it's duties jcNeavy or foot artillery is that portion wlS takes charge of and maneuvers the seHe, sea coast and mountain artillery. Light or field artillery is that portion which maneu vers field pieces with troops in the ield.- It is divided into horse artillery and mount ed batteries. In horse artillery the can noneers, of which there are l l to each piece, are mounted on horses, from which they disnount before attending on the piece, the two extra men holding the horses of the rest In the noHntcl batteries former Iy called foot artillery, the cannoneers are on foot and remain so during the maneu- vers of the battery, except when it is deSir. ed to move at very rapid rate, when they are mounted on the ammunition boxes.
 The horse artillery was originally, and is still designed for service with cavalry, receiving the lightest pieces, which enables 1t to move at the same rate as the cavalry, and to keep 1t up for a considerable time.
 It is of the first importance that the fire of battery be delivered at good range with calmness and intelligence, those i'm petuOuS exhibitions of dashing bravery en- couraged in other arms being more out of place in this. There are some circumstan- ccs, however, where several pieces, well harnesscd, may advance to within 300 yds of an enemy, and overwhelm him with storm of grape or canister shot; but these cases are very rare, and require much tact and resolution to know how to profit by them One of the most brilliant feats of, this kind probably ever performed ona field of battle, occurred at the battle of Palo Alto, with Col Duncan, who, by we'll timed movement of two pieces of this bat tery unlinbered in front of a large force of MeXicanS attempting to turn the left flank of our line, and by rapid and weIlsus- tained fire, drove them back in confusion.
 The principal object of artillery is, to sustain the troops in attack and defense; 10 facilitate their movements and oppose the enemy's; to destroy his forces as we'll as the obstacles which protect them, and to keep up the combat nntil an opportunity is offered for a decisive blow. Our noun tel batteries have been so much perfected and increased ill mobility, that they can move almost with as much celerity as horse artillery; and the latter has been practically abandoned in the United States. The men should be mounted on the boxes only when 1t is absolutely necessary. to avoid break ing down the horse. This rapid gait can not, however, be kept up any length of time, as it can in horse artillery.