Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-19

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To make a coed gunner requires GOODNESS and good
natural judgment. His duties soon become mechanical.
Within point blank be aims as if with rife. If he
are explosives be judges his distance and cuts bis fuse
carefully. If over point blank, he estimates the add
tionA distances a1d puts the proper elevation but in
al cases his great il to watch the shot, and in
Prove his aim accordingly This is practical test
within any mans comprehension. 1t is plain that with
the constant change of range and the rapid firing, be
has no time for Instrumentation nor calculation.
4 TIE DElVSG AND KASAsEEEST CT THE GGN oARRIL0Es
In the manual of artillery compiled from the best
and published BY authorities, the artileris
Ia rsksd "Wha. Is Wheel" what is axle ?" "What
spOkes feloes raves sc. &c. This caechism of the
wagon implies total ignorance of the different parts of
wheel carriage and srtilerists often recruited
from the cities from Aliens these inquiries natural
and necessary. Il
The Piedmont and Mountain Virgnisrs are all famil
ir with the management Of wagons and stages every
PAINTER keeps bis four hOrss wagon the possession and care
Of which makes his familiar with its management
and repairs. Few therefore, do not know all about the
wood and iron Of wagons and many have repaired them
when broken down the roads, under the most unfa-
1
the staging ia the mountains where the most rapid and
safest driving Is made the most steep and danger
| Gus roads.
The Virginia artierist recruited from this region is
soon familiar with the structure management and Is-
irs Of the EuacArriAgs and 0Aisson; be learns
the and position Of uOettes runniOu-pstes cap
squares, transOm bars, Sc, IL, And the country ami
attached to each battery accustomed to making and re-
pIring wagons, Is taught to repair any damage
within the cspa:iy Of bis light forge The driving Ct
artillery carriages differs little from tina. Of stages or
wagons except that the driver5 are all mounted, and
that the speed of the carriage is often far greater than
that of the 6rst mentioned vehicles.
) KNOWLEDGE OF raI TOPOGRAPHY OF THE sURRoUKDSd
COUNTRY.
IL Is unnecessary expatiate upol the importance Of
this department Of military knowledge. Indeed science,
tactics and strategy of little value When protcc
led BY thorough knoEedSe Of the physical peculiar
lies of the scene OF their exercise. Iu the old revou
loo they we're 50 much relied as to give our army
signal advantages their better trained and sci
eat6c enemy With little than this Greene led bis
naked and unarmed militia against the well appointed
cohorts of Corvallis euded hin at every advance, and
resumed bs psrnscious pursui. when the assault Was
withdrawn. L. does not seem to be esteemed 30 mpor
.ant in mOdern warfare but tha habits Of the Vrgiriar
accustomed to tracing roads through the forests and
mountains aud often under greater or less necessity to
observe the course Of streams and the oon6Agraou Of
he country sfJrd him grsad advantages in the manage.
ment and direction Of battery practical rsconnos-
s-nce of the country will EAys guard him against tax
ing hi, battery upOl uprActicabs roads into 'eUl de
IaeI" o. other uncomfortable Gmbushes.
have thus dem ,lstrAssd thl; ths vrgnian is pecu
sry uiaf ID by his early hlbs for the management OF
gum horses and wheel carriages and that therefore be
vel fitted 10 be educltei into practical ArilleriJ;
But there Is more than the mere m,chalicl adlp'A
ton of the vrginisl the artillery service which
dsrs it attractive to him.
As soldier il relieves him from guard and fatigue du
IT, Il mounts him on horse or seats him on carriage
Ehsn OF march, and carries his blanket and knapsack
for him. It is rapid an brilliant service in action a.
ways in ths crisis Of every battle and achieve great
things Tor proTecaon OF friends And the des uction Of
foes.
whA' indeed, be more glorious to the warlke
mind toGn splendid battle arriving the field At
important point Of tho conflict Il sweeps 20 some emf
aeuse with the speed OF the CAmanehe, L. disappears
from sight Iasantly It's guns in battery and the
ores, is il lit with an u1brossn fire. Tue enemy make
desperate efforts to dslodge it. They advance 10 front
ADD alnk Toe battery changes front to meet them -
Suddenly when ali is anxiety for its fate il has imber'd
up-throEn out is disabled horses squalsed its teams
lnd dVshod another position. In the interval OF lS
4 few moments the same deadly FIRE Is opened. The
enemy cannot pursue ts movements, and with the aid
Of other srns, the day ia ours.
Thsrspid preparation Of artillery mentioned by Gen.
Johnston, can think only b. accounted Tor upon this
adaptation Of their former requirements to their
Undertaking TO have organized and drilled batteries
10 three months that conquered the bsst batteries Of the
Unled Ssates-:o have e1ceied them in rapidity and
precision Of FIRE, and TO have displayed such speed at
svolutons How did they learn to fire. We should
doub. whether they had fred ten rounds in practice
none OF them hsd fred at enemy. Let US hope
Il vas because they we're Virginia marksmen, because
~e have plenty more who only need encouragement to
| % into the same service.
But in lusation Of the great fact stated BY General
Johnston, permi. to some OF the obstacles
through which that Arsyto which he refers had to pass
AN far from perfee y informed in regard TO It, but my
,iA,em ,nts will At leas. DO injustice to none.
When Al artillery company had been formed in Lex.
ug,on las. spring. committee Of the members waited
on the Rsv. D. Psndeton (uOW Col. PendletOul, and
.sksd him to take command, which he accepted. The
men we're from the village and adjacent county. They
had field pieces but caissons. They took the run
nng gear Of four and six horse wagons had ammunition
boxes made the shops and placed upon the fore aud
hind a1lss and for weeks last might have been
seen yrg alongside Of the Yankee carriages Of the mos!
perfect description, which they had captured
The E,WtoWn battery, commanded, think, BY an
educated officer. Cap. Beckbsm Was, as have heard,
raised under the Disadvantages There were some
old Ins ard tn equipments had to be got together in
the st way possible. Tue men we're Valley vrsuians.
The battery OF InbOdsa (of Augussa)-who We have
all known, gentiemln of worth, bu. so far a. have
known, without military education before the present
.n-uas, perhaps, better prepared for service. But
uho would have been prepared for s gallant and esc
tual action upon the field Of bAts maintaining its pO