332 ROLE OF HORSE ARTILLERY. 
What is required is that the duties to be performed by heavy and 
light batteries, respectively, be well defined. Each should have its 
distinct role. Let such be plainly laid down, and there need be no 
occasion for the objection raised against the adoption of two calibres, 
viz., the difficulty of deciding upon which to employ on a particular 
occasion. 
At present, beyond a few rules laid down for the employment of 
horse artillery with considerable masses of cavalry, hardly any attempt 
has been made to define their respective duties. 
But, granted the necessity of manoeuvre, it will surely be best 
executed by the most mobile batteries, which it will generally be 
allowed are those of the horse artillery. 
Two things are required, and only two—effect and mobility. 
If the equipment of the horse artillery further the attainment of the 
lai ter, let the light field batteries be assimilated to it; having made the 
real sacrifice of effect, the only object should be to obtain mobility, and 
it must be a mistake to hesitate on account of the comparatively 
trifling cost of horsing the detachments to render that mobility as 
perfect as possible. 
The points advocated are, then, the division of artillery into two 
branches only, viz., heavy field batteries and light horse artillery; 
the latter to be employed, in addition to the duties generally assigned 
to it, for manoeuvre, supported, when necessary, by cavalry. 
But before considering in detail the role of the horse artillery, it will 
be necessary to glance at the changes and modifications which have 
taken place, or are likely to take place, in the employment of the arm 
with which it is specially intended to co-operate, viz., cavalry. 
The action The principal fields of action for the latter in future wars will be two : 
of cavalry. A A 
(1) In front screening and reconnoitring. 
(2) On the actual field of battle. 
Though there are no well-defined rules for its action under the first 
head, the general principle of the method of its employment is as 
follows: 
A comparatively large independent force is detached in the direction 
where protection is desired. From it smaller forces are sent out to 
front and flank, w T hich in their turn send out others still smaller, until, 
on the edge of the veil which is thus formed, the parties are reduced in 
size to eight or ten, or even one or two men. * 
Thus advanced up to perhaps fifty miles from the main army, and 
spread over a large extent of country (a German regiment, f in the late 
war, frequently occupied a front of from five to six miles), its duties 
are—to cover the movements of its own army; to gain intelligence of 
those of the enemy ; and to take possession of advanced posts. 
In general it is not intended that it should fight. 
But the stronger of two such forces which meet will endeavour to 
* “ Instructions for Cavalry Outposts, &c. : 
f 589 N. C, 0, and men, 
