502 MACHETECHNICS. 



load the piece ; but, while drawing out the moist sponge, it is of 

 vital importance that the gunner of the left should close the vent with 

 the finger, protected by the stall, or leather covering ; in order that 

 any fire, previously remaining in the gun, may be extinguished, by 

 the transient exhaustion of the air. The gunner of the left, having 

 aimed the piece, pricks the cartridge, and inserts a priming tube in 

 the vent ; when No. 3., having lighted his portfire, touches off the 

 gun, at the command to that effect.* 



The School of the Battery, comprehends the manoeuvres of seve- 

 ral pieces in concert; usually six pieces, manned by an artillery 

 company. Such a battery is subdivided into three sections, of two 

 pieces each; and sometimes into two half batteries. When the 

 horses' heads are directed to the front of the line, and the pieces point 

 to the rear, the battery is said to be in line : but when the reverse is 

 the case, the battery is said to be in battery. In both cases, the 

 caissons are in rear of the guns ; which are placed at such a distance 

 apart that the sections may wheel to the right or left, and occupy no 

 greater space in column than in line. It will be seen that in order 

 to advance, from the position in battery, the horses must first turn, 

 with the pieces, and face to the front; and that, in order to resume a 

 position in battery, they must turn again, and face to the rear. To 

 form a column of sections, fronting to the right, the command is, " by 

 section, right wheel ; MARCH ;" when the first section of the battery 

 in line, by wheeling to the right, becomes the head of the column; 

 and the other sections cover it, in its rear. Of various other evolu- 

 tions, depending on similar principles ; and of the manoeuvres of 

 horse artillery ; as well as the exercise of mortars and garrison pieces ; 

 and the art of gunnery ; our limits forbid any farther notice. 



3. Cavalry Tactics, includes the exercises and evolutions of 

 mounted troops, other than horse artillery, in marching and fighting, 

 on horseback. It embraces, of course, many exercises in common 

 with those of the mounted artillery : as the manege, or management 

 of horses and art of riding, and the general principles of formation. 

 Cavalry is usually drawn up in companies, or troops, of from 50 to 

 100 men each; two of which form a squadron, corresponding to a 

 grand division of infantry ; and eight of which usually form a regi- 

 ment. The grades and titles of cavalry officers, for the most part, 

 correspond to those of the officers of artillery and infantry. A troop 

 of cavalry is usually paraded in two ranks, the front and rear ; with 

 intervals of six inches between the men in the same rank ; and a dis- 

 tance of three feet between the ranks, in close order, and twelve feet, 

 in parade order ; but in open order, the rear rank is distant a half 

 squadron's length from the front rank, so that on wheeling by troops, 

 to the right or left, these ranks would form one continuous line. 



A man in the front rank, and the man who covers him in the rear 

 rank, together constitute a fie ; and when the line forms a column, 

 by filing to the right or left, and taking distance, the two men of 

 the same file are abreast of each other : but the column, in this case, 



* The seventh and eighth men, or Nos. 5 and 6, are stationed opposite to the 

 limber: but, in action, their duty is to supply the piece with ammunition, from its 

 caisson, or ammunition waggon, in the rear. 



