The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-03
THE ARTILLERY's PIECES.
Captain Curtis Finds Out What He
Will Be Furnished.

Nearly all the officers at Camp Mount
unite in expressing the belief that the best
interests of the service will be promoted
by mastering the men into the United
States service as soon as possible. This
reasoning is prompted by the fact that
most men are impulsive, and militiamen are
no exception to the rule. There is a certain
glamor surrounding the first impulse of a
man who desires to serve his country, which
in many cases wears off with the first week
of hardship in camp and in many cases is
not reawakened until the men are brought
into actual conflict. The officers all say that
the present season of expectancy which the
men are passing through is trying on both
their nerves and patriotism, and they all
hope, with the men, that the federal muster
will come soon. The least trouble in this
respect is found in the various batteries,
none of the men in which have either shown
discomfort or an inclination to return to
their homes. although, as in the case of the
boys of Battery A, they are only a stones
throw way and the temptation is much
stronger.
The war equipment of the batteries is now
known. 1t will consist of six guns to each
company, with nine caissons., The pieces
will be three and seven-tenthS inches in
caliber. and will throw solid shot and shrap-
mel with great force and effectiveness at a
distance Oh three miles. III the OplIllOl "
Captain Curtis, of Battery A., the men will
need very little instruction in the use of
the new breech-loading guns, the carriage
work being exactly like that they are &C
customed to with the present guns, and the
difference in the firing drill will require
only the instruction of three men in that
work. The swabbing of the guns will be
accomplished from the breech, instead of the
muZzle. as formerly done. The increased
range does away, to a great extent. with
the old, time-honored custom of training
the gins hV flashing the glance along the
barrel. A new book Of instructions has been
received by Captain Curtis dealing with this
work. In t lis contained, In tabulated form,
the methods of sighting by mathematical
calculation for all ranges III the capacity
of the gun, and also the methods for doing
the most effective execution on any given
object in any position. 1T Will therefore
only be necessary to reinstruct gunners.
leaders and swabbers in order to effectively
handle the pieces. In addition to the. SIX
guns there will in all probability be two
Calling guns taken with each battery for
work at close range and emergen-
cies, such as repelling charges, in which
work they are extremely effective. The ar
rangement for making each company Il six
gun battery will employ III men, the actual
number in service in Battery A and in that
of Fort Wayne. While it is hoped that the
Dana Battery will be allowed to go as a
company, it is apprehended that it will be
asked to fill a vacancy now existing and
go to the front as an infantry company.
The question of the consolidation of the
Dana and Fort Wayne batteries is no longer
a live one. 1t has been learned by the Of
fcers at headquarters that neither company
is willing to do this. The members of each
company insist that they will serve under
no officers but their own, and as two sets
of officers cannot ommand one company the
result is inevitable. IT is expected that the
CatInoS will NOT he mounted an carriages
but on the backs of mules, which will make
them more cransportable, while the tripod
attachment will supply all that is necessary
in the way of a carriage for stationary
work.