162 
THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE CONTINENT OE EUROPE. 
Culloclen., iit both cf which battles the guns had a great share, and in the latter of 
which, although the fact is not often remembered now, they largely contributed 
to the victory. But Minden, fought in 1759, is the name that should be in every 
held gunner’s mind when he thinks of the last century, and it was at that battle 
and at Warbourg, which followed it a year later, that the first promise of 
the present great mobility of "Field Artillery was first displayed and that the in- 
dependance of our arm asserted itself. And for the less mobile portion of the 
Begiment there is nothing in the last century to compare in interest with the 
great siege of Gibraltar. That magnificent defence and triumph of British 
determination, which is fitly, matched by the ecpial courage, persistency and skill 
displayed during this century on the attacking side throughout the great siege of 
Sebastopol. The struggle at Gibraltar was the longer of the two. It lasted 
for three years, seven months and twelve days, and during these were exhibited, 
in the words of General Eliott, afterwards Lord Heath field, cheerful submission 
to the greatest hardships, matchless spirit and exertions, and on all occasions an 
heroic contempt of every danger. And we have the equally eloquent words of the 
Duke of .Richmond, then Master-General of the Ordnance, to assure us that the 
services of the artillery were pre-eminent amongst those of the other troops en¬ 
gaged. It would need far more time than is at my disposal now to dilate on even 
one of these great events of the XVIII. century, and I must speak too of those 
which have occurred during the one in which wc live. The close of the last 
century marked an epoch in the history of pur arm, in that Horse Artillery was 
then first called into existence, and during the early years of the XIX. century 
it Avas that arm, owing to its great mobility, which came specially to the front. 
But our siege batteries did a vast deal also, and their performances must not be 
lost sight of Avlien Ave note special events connected Avith our arm. Dr. Maguire 
has mentioned the Waleheren expedition. That is an expedition concerning which, 
as he says, Ave in England have not much to be proud, but although it Avas not a 
success, a sound strategical idea underlay it, and the capture of Flushing, although 
it only half completed the work, was of some value and for us gunners it is Avorthy 
of notice, inasmuch as it Avas a very great artillery expedition indeed, for there Avere 
16 companies and a battery of Horse Artillery sent out Avith it, and the Deputy- 
Adjutant-General of Artillery, then General Macleod, Avas invited specially to 
take the command of them himself. The expedition was not Avell conducted, but 
Ave need not fear to speak of it all the same, for those companies did extremely 
AA-ell even if deficient leadership did not turn their efforts to the best account. 
The destruction of Flushing By the artillery Avas no small matter, and the Earl of 
Chatham has written' in his despatch these words: “ It is impossible for me to do 
sufficient justice to the conduct of the officers and men of the Royal Artillery under 
the able direction and animating example of Brigadier-General Macleod.” Then 
there Avas the battle of Barossa on the 5th March, 1811, in Avhicli there Avere only 
10 guns engaged but they Avere never idle and were always in the right place. 
That battle only lasted an hour and a half, but in that time General Graham defeated 
Marshal Victor, capturing 400 prisoners and six guns; he fully ackno\Adedged the 
services which the guns did, and in his despatch he says, “never was artillery 
better served” Then in the same year, 1811, Ave have the battle of Fuentes 
d’Onor, and Avhenever gunners refer to artillery achievements, that is one which 
Ave may ahvavs expect them to mention. The deed of Ramsay’s Was indeed a 
very gallant one and no Avonder that it is so much admired. To my mind, Iioav- 
ever, it Was not a very great artillery achievement, nor a legitimate triumph for 
our arm, because it did not throAV any great light upon artillery tactics, nor add 
to our knoAvledge of how to handle guns. Then in the same year at Albuera the 
artillery distinguished themselves, because they worked so Avell Avith the other 
