288 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
a vast improvement upon the old system of dismounted civilians; but the 
introduction of the drivers was by no means an unmixed good. Enlisted in 
a corps totally distinct from the regiment, and commanded by their own 
officers, the drivers were separated by a wide gulf from the gunners; and this 
want of connection between the field artillery and its means of draught led to 
discord, confusion, and waste of time. In 1817 the drivers were first placed 
under the command of the artillery officers, and in 1822 men were enlisted 
into the regiment as gunners or drivers. 1 2 
The progress of improvement was equally rapid in other branches of the 
service. In 1792 Sir W. Congreve invented the block-trail ; 3 in 1804 an 
Englishman invented the limber-hook ; 3 and ere many years elapsed the dis¬ 
coveries made in chemistry and metallurgy furnished the artillery with stronger 
gunpowder, 4 and with guns which, though much lighter than formerly, could 
be fired with reduced windage. 5 * 7 
The absolute effect of these improvements can only be measured by examin¬ 
ing the position and behaviour of the artillery in the field; and a glance at 
the military history of the time is sufficient to show that, numerous as had been 
the improvements, many more were needed to make the artillery thoroughly 
efficient. 
The increased rapidity of manoeuvre which the enlisted and trained drivers 
conferred upon the field batteries, was shown on the very first occasion on. 
which the Eoyal Artillery met the French in the Peninsula—the combat of 
Eori^a. At the beginning of the fight. Col. Landman, E.E., brought orders 
to Geary's brigade (battery) to advance. Capt. Geary's brigade broke 
“ from a walk to a trot, and from a trot to a full gallop. On nearing a small 
stone bridge over the rivulet of Columbeira, another brigade appeared on our 
right, dashing along through the deep sands, and evidently racing against 
Geary's, to obtain possession of the bridge; for on that must depend who 
should move on, there being no order for two brigades. Geary himself took 
possession of the bridge, a few yards only ahead of both the brigades, and 
thus gained the point; the other brigade of course immediately halting." 0 
In 1798 an artillery general, reviewing some miserable batteries whose teams 
were driven by civilians on foot, announced gravely that field artillery move¬ 
ments could not be quicker performed; in 1808 we read of a brigade “ dashing 
along through deep sands at full gallop !"— 
“ O miseras hominum menteis! O pectora eseca! ” 7 
After the first eight days' campaigning in Portugal, during which the combat 
of Eorica was the only engagement, Sir Arthur Wellesley reported to his 
Government that he had been obliged to leave Spencer's guns behind altogether 
“ for want of means of moving them," and that he must have left his own guns 
1 “ Kane’s List.” 
2 Owen’s “Modern Artillery,” p. 66, note. 
3 “Etude sur le Passe etl’Avenir de l’Artillerie.” Par S. M. Napoleon III., continued by Gen. 
Fave, Tom. V. p. 16. 
4 Mr. H. Latham on “Early Breech-loaders,” in the “ Journal of the United Service Institution,” 
Yol. IX. No. 34. 
5 Owen’s “Modem Artillery,” p. 8, note. 
Landman’s “Recollections of my Military Life,” Yol. II. p. 152. 
7 Lucretius. 
