O.C., R.A., IN THE EIELD. 
361 
not out of proportion with the importance of the command. The 
command is extensive in respect of men, horses, and guns; in battle, 
it is at least as important as any ofcher brigade command; and at all 
times in the field, with regard to transport of ammunition and stores, 
to the practicability of the country for the march of his batteries, and 
to the guarding of his batteries on the march and in camp, the duties 
of the artillery commander are heavier than those of any other brigade 
commander. The artillery brigade should be commanded by a 
brigadier: he should take his turn with the other brigadiers in the 
command of detachments of mixed force; and he should be in the 
succession to the division command. The post and duty of the 
artillery commander, in battle, have been best laid down in the German 
field artillery exercise book. He should accompany the division 
general in the reconnaissance of the ground and the enemy, and take 
the orders for the artillery : as soon as the fighting begins, he should 
go to his batteries : it would be the duty of the division general to 
send any further necessary orders to the artillery commander, and to 
keep him acquainted with the phases of the situation. 
The army would gain by the best officers of horse and field artillery 
having more chance of attaining high command. From one cause 
and another, handling of troops in battle is now of more importance 
than ever it was. Instance, in Europe, the charge of the six squadrons 
at Yionville, and the placing of the twelve Saxon batteries on a front 
of 1200 yds. against St. Privat; and consider other things, which, as 
they were not well done or were omitted to be done, it is best not to 
particularise here. Take the fighting in Afghanistan,, where, as we 
can no more prevail by the old drill and discipline of our infantry, 
everything must depend upon the handling of our small forces. Horse 
and field artillery officers are accustomed from the first to command on 
parade, accustomed to large mounted parades and manoeuvres, and 
accustomed to parades and manoeuvres with other arms : they are 
trained to manoeuvre and must, if they have any talent in that direction, 
acquire facility in handling troops. The officer who can drill and 
manoeuvre a brigade of batteries well, can drill and manoeuvre a 
brigade of cavalry, and very easily direct the slower movements of 
infantry : and having these powers in him, and being in practice, he 
can handle troops. At present, commands are inclined to fall to the 
infantry and to the staff. Infantry is the most important arm, no 
doubt; but infantry and staff officers, if we consider their training 
only, are the least likely to distinguish themselves in handling troops 
in battle : in cavalry and artillery there is better training for that. 
There is now only one way to high command open to the artillery, the 
avenue of the staff: it would be well to lay open yet another way for 
