Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-02-14

To the Editors of the Journal-W 'insn92": oon,mnn;
GENTLEMEN in your paper Of the Stn see mnde
takes to srgue the question of the relative efficiency OF
Horse or Light Artillery, he calls II. on
the relative merits of the kinds of Light Artillery LOT
is all Liqh or Field Artillery at ast and TO snow t9 nav
the Army Artillery part first article first, as follows
ART1ILERY AND ITS DUTIES. ,.,
"The troops of the Artillery are dlVdeo lnto Two
viz Foot Artillery and Light or held Art'Ley' oo
"To the Foot Artillery belongs the service o. slege 90
coast garrison and mountain artillery, rocAe' o"''e W
the artillery duties of the park. .,1uo
To the Field Artillery belongs the service OF ue t o
ries oohch tcih the troops on e ]esu GJ
1t is divided into two parts-Horse ArtHe'y wro the
generally attached to- and maneuvres WIN, castyj AZ
cannoniers being mounted on ana
tigu which is generally attached and manouVres WIN
Infantry the cannoners marching the sides OF their
pieces, or when necessary mounting the ammu-i'lon
The writer g. Light artillery y says he would recon-
mend the people of Wilmington a " L,ght nr9 E
Rstterp instead of a Horse - Artillery Battery, &c
He means he would recommend - MOUNTED Ar1nlery
Battery, instead of Horse Artillery Battery-as BON
The writer evidently does understand the object of
the organization of the Horse Artillery here The company
was formed as Cavalry and upon the Recommendation
mainly of the writer of this changed to Horse Arey
enable the people of Wilmington and the ote TO
corps that conld be made useful should occasion
require Cavalry for Mounted Patrol purposes where he
Rifle Carbine is the only weapon they need Tor arey
service with organization that nsures the utmost &c Ell
y and sudenness of attack at any point
quired; when the Sabre the only arm wanted or The
corps can serve on foot Rifemen or Carbineers.
The writer of this has word of disparagement for
M united Artillery. he has them both do good ser
vice. but has not that superiority OF those patteres
with feoo horses over those with many horses 500 .
With all The horses of the Rnggod Horse Artillery bate
rv there were so MANY disabled at Resaca de la Palma
the 9th May 1885, that in the pursuit of the enemy to
Grande many carriages reduced TO ttcO horses
The opnion of Artillery Officers far the writer Of
this kn VS. is that for Operations in presence of
my the field the mounted Con ammunition chest) Aru
erv is quite as efficient as the Horse Artillery if
COVERING is with Infantry for campaign, and where
rapid marches required and for service with caoah
the Horse Artillery indispensable to successful operations
| Tha uko uuaetO iS thpnr O
battery of Horse Artillery less efficient in the helC
because from casualties the number OF horses may oec6
reduced that there will be troop horses enough
the cannoniers and portion OF them must ride OF
the boxes (amuunon chests) than battery of Art
where all the ride the boxes and when the NUMBER
battery horses reduced there spare horses
to replace them This needs comment
In Major Ringgods battery OF Horse Artillery all The
troop horses Polo Alto and Resaca de la Palma" moi
only carried saddle with cannonier on his back, bn
minutes be put place of disabled horse in the battery
which was frequently done. Light Artillery" says
fighting many hard contested field the only Horse Ar
tery battery in the army left the Rio Grande fol
the simple expensive to travel through
| country where forage scarce"
This is certainly news there battle fought OF
battery did not take the same battery com
manded at different times by these three otcers) how
Gen Ta or to call Bragg for little more grape
if this horse artillery battery left on the Rio Grande
AS for the superiority Of the services rendered by the
gallant Duncan Battery the field at Pao Alto the write
Of this aware ALL well history has recorded
think the horse artillery did quite as good service at Pa
Alto as the mounted artlery, ana on tne oHo"lng Gay
the only battery in the conflict until the enemy were
flying None of hes things however, prove anything about
the relative merits of the formations of artillery The
there other batteries of horse artillery form
ed during the were there were no more ded Horse
artillery is to operate with cavalry and had but two regi
of cavalry in the field during the whole war; hence
one battery full proportion.
\ This communication is much longer than intended
and will close it by saying that have recommended the
combination of Artillery and Cavalry here simply as mat
ter of usefulness in the various duties that be required
know requires great deal of training aud is attended
with expense to the State to keep up so are all armies
The for arnng the troopers with rifles carbne
and sabers stated above, to make them efficient
Carb neers foot 0ntted and when using the battery
be equipped with the SABRE for the defence of the guns
| against attack of the bayouet.
The State has organization for Artillery provided fO
by law Steps being taken to have corps of Ar
tery authorized. and may have number of batteries
of the different kinds proper be Civ
en- to them. Respectfully.
Feb g. ISL. S.. l.. F.