THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
211 
in which quickness of movement was of importance. It thus became neces¬ 
sary to create a light field artillery capable of manoeuvring rapidly, and horse 
artillery was introduced into the French service. But the light artillery, 
instead of supplementing the medium, supplanted it; and the rise of the 
former proved to be the signal of the downfall of the latter. This is not to 
be wondered at. For four centuries and a half efficacy of fire had exclusively 
occupied the attention of all soldiers, except two or three men of surpassing 
genius, and now that the tide of events forced a light field artillery into 
existence, the value of mobility was fully shown in the field; its importance 
became universally recognised, the usual reaction took place, 1 and general 
officers demanded that their divisions should be supported by light field 
artillery, and by light field artillery only. 2 While the medium guns were 
seen toiling and struggling after their divisions, far in the distance, the light 
guns were hurrying from point to point of the field with the speed of light¬ 
ning ; now protecting the hard-pressed infantry, now supporting the wavering 
cavalry. At one moment they galloped up to canister range, and annihi¬ 
lated the enemy's ponderous columns before they could be deployed; at 
another they dashed round his flank, and by their unexpected and dreaded 
fire threw his troops into irretrievable confusion. Then, and only then, 
might be heard the deeper boom of the medium guns, whose breathless and 
exhausted gunners had dragged them painfully into position, in time, 
perhaps, to send a parting shot after the routed and flying enemy. Thus 
did this splendid service delight men's gaze 3 and overpower their sober 
judgment, and, like the rising sun— 
“.killing the stars ancl dews, 
And dreams and desolations of the night/’ 4 
eclipse for a season the lesser light of the medium field artillery. 5 
II.—Time would have lessened, and probably destroyed, the evil influence 
which the light field artillery thus exercised, indirectly and externally, upon 
1 Buckle’s “ History of Civilisation,” Vol. Y. p. 16. Leipsig Ed. 
2 “ L’artillerie a cheval ... fit des merveilles. . . . Bientot les generaux ne voulurent 
plus avoir d’autre artillerie, parceque celle-la etant plus mobile et plus efficace, il en fallait moins, 
et c’etait autant d’allegement dans les colonnes d’attirails.”—Gen. Foy, “Hist, de la Guerre de la 
Peninsule sous Napoleon,” Tom. I. p. 119. 
3 “ La reputation de l’artillerie a cheval devint de plus en plus brillante; elle attirait tous les 
regards, et l’admiration generale la pla^ait partout au premier rang dans nos armees.”—Fave, 
“ Hist, et Tact, des Trois Armes,” p. 164. 
4 Swinburne’s “ Atalanta in Calydon.” 
5 “ La superiority que prit l’artillerie a cheval sur l’artillerie a pied, se joignant a l’abandon du 
service des troupes par beaucoup des bons officiers de l’armee, fit pendant un certain temps baisser 
1’artillerie a pied.”—Fave, “Hist, et Tact, des Trois Armes,” p. 166. 
“ La grande extension donnee a l’artillerie a cheval nuit a 1’artillerie a pied .... 
L’histoire de l’artillerie doit relater et etudier avec soin de pareils faits, et cette arme doit s’efforcer 
d’eviter a l’avenir les memes ineonvenients.”—Ibid. p. 216. 
“ L’engouement pour les bonnes choses conduit toujours a mal. L’artillerie a pied, enervee par 
la formation et l’augmentation de 1’artillerie a cheval, commenpa a perdre 1’esprit militaire.”— 
Gen. Foy, “Hist, de la Guerre dans la Peninsule sous Napoleon,” Tom. I. p. 119. See also 
“ Le Passe et 1’Avenir de 1’Artillerie,” par l’Empereur Napoleon III. Tom. 4. p. 95. 
