472 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
Proportion 
of Artillery. 
Position of 
Artillery on 
the March, 
recognised is, that the gros or main body of the guard should not be exposed 
to distant artillery fire until it is formed up in fighting order. 1 2 
With regard to the proportion of artillery allotted to the advanced guard, 
the modern tendency to increase it cannot escape notice. 
In the series of advanced guard engagements in 1866, the want of guns 
was generally severely felt. One of the principal features of the artillery 
tactics in 1870 was the “ engaging in force in advanced guard actions;” 3 
and the tendency of the latest writers is to exceed the proportion actually 
employed in that campaign. The difference between modern and ancient 
practice on this point is most striking. Under the 1st Empire the advanced 
guard of a corps had often but two guns, while now each division detaches 
at least a battery to its front, and a corps employs two, three, and occasion¬ 
ally four batteries. Guns formerly employed merely to give notice of an 
enemy's approach, are now recognised as a necessary adjunct to a severe 
combat. 3 
It may be assumed that on the march a division attaches one battery to 
its advanced guard (occasionally two), a corps two, and often three. 4 In 
the case of an army advancing by roads close to one another, the advanced 
guards of each column can afford one another mutual support to some 
extent. In such a case, the proportion of guns heading each column need 
not obviously be as great as when there is no prospect of such support. 
As to the position on the march of the guns, there are slight differences 
of opinion. The necessity of having them at any moment to the front, 
forbids that they should march in rear. The liability of roads and passages 
to be blocked by on-pressing troops, is apparent to all. The general opinion, 
founded on the experience of the last two wars, is that the majority of the 
guns should be placed at the head of the main body of the advanced guard, 
covered by a small force of infantry—usually a battalion. 5 In the case of a 
large advanced guard, such as possessed by a corps, it is advisable to detach 
one of its lightest batteries to march near the rear of the vanguard. Thus a 
division will have its one or two batteries marching close to the head of the 
main body; a corps will have the majority of its guns similarly placed, but 
attaches one to the van. 6 
In apportioning the artillery to the advanced guard, tactical units must be 
1 Eear of vanguard to head of main body of advanced guard of a division, 500 to 600 yds., 
according to Yerdy du Vernois; 600 to 700 yds., according to Home. Where country is very open, 
cavalry being solely used in van, 2500yds.—“Armed Strength of llussia.” 
2 “ Tactical Deductions,” Boguslawski. 
3 It will be interesting to contrast the ideas of Marshal INTey, as delivered to his officers at the 
camp of Montreuil, in 1804, with those of the present day. Giving instructions for the advanced 
guard, he said:—“ It shall open its march with a squadron of cavalry, a company of carabineers, a 
gun, a battalion, behind which shall be a gun or howitzer. The rest of the infantry shall follow 
with the artillery. The piece of cannon at the head of the column shall be fired as rapidly as 
possible the moment the enemy is found in force, in order to give notice to the army.” 
4 Hohenlohe, looking at it in an artillery point of view, lays down three or four batteries as 
requisite for a corps. 
5 “ La elles seront egalement bien placees pour agir offensivement, pour favoriser le deployment 
des colonnes ou pour tenir l’ennemi a distance en cas de retraite.”—“ La Tactique appliquee au 
terrain,” Yaudevelde. 
6 “ Employment of Field Artillery,” Hohenlohe. “ L’emploi du Canon de Battaile,” Taubert. 
“ Gebrauch der Artillerie im Feld,” General-Major Bylandt-Eheidt. “ Studies in Troop Leading,” 
Yerdy du Yernois. Yon Waldersee. Le Bourg. 
