579 
RECONNAISSANCE BY ARTILLERY. 
BY 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL C. H. SPRAGGE, C.B. 
EVERY inspecting officer of Artillery must have found himself at times in difficulty as to 
how to answer in a satisfactory manner the question re “ Reconnaissance ” that meets him in the 
inspection Report, viz :— 
“ (i) INSTRUCTIONS IN RECONNAISSANCE.” 
Battery Commanders have an immense deal to do, and the artillery training of their batteries 
especially at home, where they have constantly to work with a never ending round of recruits, 
makes them grudge any time spent on training, which does not evidently lead directly to one 
end—the perfecting of their batteries in the great aim and object of artillery, viz :—good shooting^ 
Now, though “ Reconnaissance ” does not directly bear on the shooting of a battery, it does so 
indirectly, in that, it is a potent factor in the military life of every officer, or man, who takes an 
intelligent view of his profession ; teaching him to observe places and country, to look at hills, 
roads and defiles from a military point of view, and further, teaching him to impart to others, 
details of information which it is impossible to gather from maps, or from individuals who have 
not been properly instructed in the art of communicating to others, information which they 
themselves have acquired. 
To an army, none too well supplied with cavalry, batteries which can carry out a good reconnaiss¬ 
ance, on which a General Officer can depend, might be of immense use. No great distances 
need be covered, but the near reconnaissance might often be carried out by the artillery whilst the 
army was at rest, previous to an advance, the cavalry being left free to cover the longer distances. 
No exercise could be better adapted for the improvement of the battery scouts, and scouting is a 
matter in which many batteries are still very weak. 
It must be clearly understood that in no way is it intended to suggest the artillery could take 
the place of the cavalry, or carry out long reconnaissance. It is only that they might thoroughly 
work over the nearer ground, and by mastering its details give to the General (and their own artillery 
commander) that immense advantage which he, who has a thorough knowledge of the ground, 
must possess over one who only knows it by means of maps, or a hasty glance, from perhaps a 
distant elevation. 
In India we have older soldiers, and lots of country for such work, and therefore we have some 
advantage, but I feel certain, that in England, as well as in India, the interesting work of reconnaiss¬ 
ance, carried out in peace time, would do much to open men’s minds to what will be required of 
them in times of war. I am sure, the more you can get men to work at interesting topics, the 
better for them—at something that exercises eyes and brain—something that imbues young 
officers, and N.C.O.’s with habits of observation, and self reliance, and no subject does this better 
than Reconnaissance. 
I put the difficulty before the late General Duncan, then commanding the Forces in the Bombay 
Presidency, and with his sanction and approval drew out a few remarks for the guidance of 
Artillery officers. I think that these notes may be of use to other officers, as giving some 
indication as to the lines on which such work could be usefully carried out by Artillery. 
From reports already to hand it is evident that, some batteries at any rate, have entered into 
the work with spirit and when all are in, I feel confident that an excellent and instructive exercise 
will have been carried out. 
A specimen of the class of Reconnaissance which appears to me to be needed follows, together 
with an explanatory map of the country worked over. 
12. VOL. XXV. 
