MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY DRILL, 1837. 
1 43 
A little range table for use when firing spherical case shot, concludes 
the treatise than which, a much better one, bearing in mind the 
equipment of those days and the nature of the service, it would be 
difficult to draw up with all our experience, even in these days. 
The detachment which formed the battery, consisted of 60 N.-C.O.’s 
and men, under Lieutenants Warburton and Collingwood Dickson (now 
Sir Collingwood Dickson, Y.C., Gr.C.B.) and left Woolwich in January 
1837 for Biscay. On the organization of the battery on their arrival, 
Captain Bassett, who had arrived in Spain in the previous November, 
assumed the command and some 12-pr. rockets 1 2 were supplied to the 
battery. The conduct of the battery received most favourable mention, 
both from Sir de Lacy Evans and Lord John Hay, who commanded 
the squadron off the coast, and on the strength of which, the land forces, 
by some strange arrangement, were borne. The Mountain Artillery 
arrangements did not absolve the battery from service when required 
in the garrison batteries. With the small Field Artillery unit, it was 
detailed for duty on emergency in the various forts which formed the 
line of defence in front of San Sebastian in conjunction with the 
Spanish Artillery of the Legion. During the year 1838 several minor 
operations were undertaken from San Sebastian against the Carlists 
from time to time, in which the battery took part, but they were of no 
great importance and were directed principally against the small Carlist 
towns on the coast in the vicinity of San Sebastian, in order to harass 
the enemy and intercept supplies coming into these small ports from 
France. These operations were naval expeditions in which the steamers 
of Lord John Hay^s squadron conveyed troops, and (owing to the 
mountainous nature of the country) Mountain Artillery, which landed 
and occupied these places for a short time, capturing and destroying 
any stores which the enemy had been unable to take away, was employed. 
By the convention of Bergara in 1839, the war in the Basque provinces 
was put an end to, and in the summer of 1840 the battery was broken 
up, and the detachment which formed it, returned to Woolwich with 
the other artillery detachments. Captain Bassett and Lieutenant 
Warburton received the Spanish Order of the 1st class of San Fernando 
for their services. 
In conclusion let us briefly consider our present Home M.A. Estab¬ 
lishment and the mountain gun of the future. 
In the very likely event of our one battery 3 at Newport being re¬ 
quired for active service in India, or with an expeditionary force from 
1 A description of the mode of carrying rocket equipment in pack in Spain is described in my 
article published some years ago in “ Proceedings,” R.A.I., on “ Equipment and Services of M.A 
from Pyrenean campaign 1813, to Abyssinian expedition, 1868.” 
2 The strength of this battery (including 20 boys) is greater then that of one of the double 
Garrison Companies with 7 officers, about to be formed. To it should be attached a District Officer 
to assist O.O. Battery in such dep6t duties, as in the other branches would he carried out by a Lt.- 
Colonel and his staff, and to assume charge of the depbt increment, on the despatch of battery on 
active service or to practice camp, &c. 
To admit of battery instruction in replacement of ammunition and casualties in action, and the 
parade in marching order of a section complete, the number of mules should be increased by 4 
over present establishment. To meet this increase, without extra expense, the number of horses 
might be reduced by 2, (see previous foot note), and the extra allowance of straw to the mules be 
discontinued, whilst the mules are in barrack stables, being only issued in peace whilst in camp. 
Remounts in future to he at least 1" higher than at present. 
