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

MEssRs EDITORS wish to make few remarks on the
subject of field artillery which be OF some advantage
those who organizing that branch OF the service at
this time.
There are kinds of field artillery known respectively
Horse Artillery and Light Artillery The latter
used called Foot Artillery but that term done
with entirely and Light Artillery substituted for it and
ery tactics it is erased and the word Battery substituted
itthat is, in its proper Therefore the proper
lery Battery Light Battery Battery The phrase
ologI applies to Horse lery, substituting Horse for
Field artillery is branch Of the service that requires
great deal Of time to bring to PERFECTION As permanent
and steady app LEGATION to drg to keep it to
that point that to keep i'll tate OF efficiency and ii
do very we'll look at. hen you take it into actual
its numbers getting diminished by casualties, stops
for ill require from four to six months constant appca
ton and practice for recruit to learn his dill and be
petent his place the battery and he must be
Of ordinary intellect to learn in that time The amount
of labor cures keep Horse Artillery Battery har
ness and equipments III good order IS more han any person
comprehend unless it b. one who has had experience
in the service with field artillery.
Horse Artillery is the most expensive of all mounted
branches in the service and does not to what
expected of it. 1t cannot be mannuvred one particle
quicker than Light Artillery thereupon correspondent
Artillery Battery instead OF Horse Artillery Battery. 1t
be main aimed little half the cost to the State in the
event of its being called into actual service be kept
effective by diminished number. 1t takes third
less time to prepare the recruit to take his place in The
tery and when commanded by brave and energetic
like the amented Duncan, and have doubt there
many like him in the Old North State it effective.
l q
mington the Both ult when horse artillery battery
organized and the resolutions passed upon the occasion
States Army, that gentleman thorse artillery is
very efficient mounted patrol. So 1t but
particle than light artillery for by reducing the
Der OF either battery and taking them from their e
gmae duties you leave them Inefficient. To give force
the with Mexico illustrates the fact that horse
tery all that he claims for it, and quotes Palo Alto
Buena Vista the fields of its fame That did very good
execution at both places will freely admit but would
like the gentleman explain where its superiority
the late Col Duncans light battery that with at Palo
Alto; and which maneuVred quicker, and went closer to
the enemy Did gun or section OF the horse are
battery do much the right section OF the light bat
ery above meLtoned commanded by the late brave and
gallant Roland, when it advanced at the gaop amid the
tack the enemy about 250 yards disance So much
for Palo Alto AS for ena Vista, the official records OF
that battle show, that although horse artillery recommen
quicker and got no nearer the enemy than the other light
batteries serving with the army fighting many
hard contested field the only horse artillery battery the
army left the Rio Grande for the simple that
it expensive travel through country where
age scarce, and finally organized into light
battery about 1850 Another evidence of the practical
efficiency of horse artillery may be found the fact that
when field artillery was required during the progress of the
ery but light artillery for horse artillery found entirely
inadequate to perform what expected of it, although
a nt e n The
of this be found in the losses sustained by the bat
erwse ad to be laced by men drawn from foot compa
nies and you cannot make horse artillery soldier
month the battery alter leaving Maamoras,
hardly ever in proper state of efficiency.
1t is further recommended to the cannoniers with
rifles and swords The former weapon has been entirely
abandoned in the service except for guard duty the latter
the only weapon worn by the cannoner, and that maeri
ally inerteres with the duties in the mechanical and field
of the guns He ought not to be encountered
with ANYTHING that may interfere with the free of the
body. The sword is the only weapon he have. Let
him be drilled properly with that and he will have conf
dence enough himself to defend himself against all
acks, let them from what quarter they may Give
him rifle and when closely pressed he will in all proba-
biy have to it for protection and Defence when
the fire from the gun would have had the desired effect.
LIGHT ARTILLERY.