358 
O.C., R.A., IN THE FIELD. 
officers, not conducive to tlie general efficiency of the artillery in the 
field, and unfavourable to the full development of artillery power 
in battle. 
Our system is prejudicial to the interest of all artillery officers, 
because it is prejudicial to the interest of the officer commanding 
artillery in the field, whilst his position is the highest to which an 
artillery officer—as an artillery officer—can aspire. At present, a 
battery commander can gain distinction by maintaining the general 
efficiency of his battery under difficulties in the field, and, in opportu¬ 
nities of gaining distinction in battle, he is on a par with officers 
commanding battalions and cavalry regiments; moreover, an officer— 
especially a lieutenant-colonel without brevet rank, and who has never 
Commanded artillery at our autumn manoeuvres—for the first time 
commanding artillery in the field, may be proud of his position, as it 
seems a fine thing to command a brigade. But a battery commander 
does not pass from the command of his battery to the command of 
troops; and the services of the artillery commander on the staff can 
neither bring him the coveted distinction of conduct in battle, nor 
show what he would be if he were placed in more independent 
command. The artillery commander is admitted with the brigadiers 
of infantry and cavalry to conferences on intended operations ; but, in 
battle, he commands in presence of the division general, whilst they 
really command and conduct their brigades and are identified with 
them. A mixed brigade is detached on some special duty : the cavalry 
and infantry brigadiers may expect to be detailed in their turn; but 
the artillery commander detaches his guns, and sees them march off, 
and remains with Head-Quarters, unless he likes to ask leave to 
accompany some friendly brigadier. It is prejudicial to the interest 
of all artillery officers that their career of possible distinction in battle 
should end with their promotion from the rank of battery commander, 
and that their field service in the higher position of commanding 
artillery should bring them only the opportunity of showing what they 
are as artillery staff officers at Head-Quarters. 
Our system is not conducive to the general efficiency of artillery in 
the field, because it is not conducive to the maintenance of the authority 
of the commanding officer. It is not meant to be asserted that the 
efficiency of the batteries is not kept up to a high standard of 
excellence. Battery commanders are always very proud of their 
commands, they are very hard-working officers, and, for the most part, 
they have formed a good idea of their work, and learned it well; the 
subaltern officers of horse and field artillery are excellent, they are 
trained to be much with their divisions, and to be proud of their work 
in all its thoroughness and its smartness, and they have over other 
