The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-10-12
Light Artillery.

of the war service that manUuyres with
the batteries, on the field of battle, in
connection with troops of infantry or
cavalry.
A battery consists of six or eight
pieces, four or six of which are guns,
and two are howitzcrs.
Six-poundcr batteries are composed of
six-pounder guns and twelve FOUNDER
howitzers, and twclve-pouuder batteries
are composed of FOUNDER guns
and twenty-four Or thirty-two-pounder
howitZcrs.
Six or eight horses are assigned to
each piece, with ammunition carriage or
caisson.
The number of men in company of
artillery varies from eighty to one hum
bred and fifty, including one Captain,
three or four Licutcnants, four to eight
scrgeants, eight to twelve Corpora!s,
two to six Artiicers, two Buglers,
twcnty-tour to fifty-two drivers, and
thlrty-four to seventy cannoneers.
Cannon are cast from iron or from
bronze, commonly called brass. Brass
pieces are preferable to iron, because
they are less liable to burst.
Projcctiles for field artillery are round
shot (solid,) shell (holiow,) canister,
grape, and spherical case shot. The
shell is filled with powder, which is fred
by means of fuzc, and the fuzc is icn-
ted by the discharge. The length of
fuze is graduated to the distance traver-
scd
The canister consists of a tin cylinder
filled with cast-iron shot which vary in
size with the calibrc of the pieces
Canistcrs for guns contain ~ shots, for
howitzcrs rs.
Grape consists of large shots, usually
nine, sewed in cylindrical bags.
The spherical case shot differs from the
she'll in having a thinner shell or case,
and in being filled mostly with muskct-
balls, only sufficient powder being inser-
ted to burst the she'll and scatter its
contents-this is intended to take place
90 or Is yards short of the object aimed
at.
In six-poundor case shot, there are
p musket-balls; in twelve-pounder,
10; in twenty-four FOUNDER, 175; and
in thirty-two FOUNDER, 242.
Each battery is attended by one tray
cling forge and one battery wagon, con-
tanning tools and materials for shoeing
horses, repairing harness, saddles, &c.
A battery thus fully equipped, and
served by active, strong and intelligent
men, becomes the most formidable wca-
pom of modern warfare.
Called into action usually at the most
critical moment, at time when the
forces of the enemy are advancing exult-
ingly, perhaps in the hope of an easy
victory, at moment when the destiny
CT an empire is qVivering in the balance,
the light artillery sweeps forward to its
position at the bugle-call for " advance"
the earth shaking beneath the tramp
Of the horses and the heavy rumble of
the guns.
Ina monent the pieces are unlimbcrcd,
loaded, and pointed, with rapidity too
great for the eye to analyze the different
movements; and then commences the
almost continuous explosion, the cannon
vomiting forth incessant charges of shot
and shell, or canister and grape, until
the proud lines Of the adversary are
rddled and shivered, and hurled back
on themselves in dismay while the
ground is strewed with human beings
quivering in the agonics of death.
At this moment 1t only remains for the
infantry to charge and sweep the field
with the bayonet, and the day is gained.
1t is the suddenness of the attack, the
rapidity of the movements, and the terri
bic effect with which the shot tells upon
the ranks of the enemy, that render this
kind Of service so attractive to old gun
ners hence, they will never enlist in
any other branch of the service If there
is possible opportunity for them to get
into the light artillery.
The amount of labor to be performed
by the artillcryman differs very materi-
ally from that required of an infantry
soldier-having no musket, he is not
required to do general guard service, so
while detachmcnts of infantry are pacing
back and forth, at their posts, through
the long weary night, the artillerymen
are sleeping quietly in their quarters.