ROLE OF HORSE ARTILLERY. 333 
break through the opposing veil, and numerous cavalry engagements 
will doubtless take place. 
The weaker side will fall back on its supports, steadily and slowly if 
possible; but in case of its being hard pressed no such steady retreat 
will be possible, and then, concentrating where best it can, it must be 
prepared to fight boldly. The question is how far can artillery assist 
such a mobile force spread over so large an extent of country. 
Its role is simple on the side of the victors, for, advancing and co¬ 
operating, as long as it can, with the cavalry, it will be employed in 
shelling outposts and preparing for attack. 
But in case of retreat, especially if hurried, will it not impede the 
general movement % 
This will, no doubt, depend upon the nature of the country. If the 
latter be perfectly open, artillery may even then be employed in consider¬ 
able force with great advantage ; but if it be close and difficult, it must 
either be left behind or be an impediment to the cavalry which remains 
to assist it. It must, then, be a mistake to attach a fixed number of 
batteries to cavalry so employed. They should rather be drawn, as 
required, from the corps artillery. 
While advocating the necessity for the highest mobility obtainable, 
a limit must be acknowledged. 
Artillery cannot, never can, hope to accompany cavalry everywhere. 
The statement of a writer in a recent number of a Service magazine, 
who speaks of our horse artillery as being equal to cavalry in “ pace 
and power of surmounting obstacles,” and of having seen it “ at work, 
stopped by no obstacle, and taking ditches and banks as if they were 
riding across country after a fox,” can only be regarded as misleading. 
The next war between two well-equipped and well-organized armies, 
employing covering cavalry as above, will throw much light on the 
subject; but in the meantime our object must be to provide ourselves 
with an artillery which will be likely to be most frequently of use. 
The duties of artillery acting in combination with masses of cavalry 
have been laid down as follows:— 
1. Covering the deployment of the cavalry and preparing the place 
for its attack. 
2. Preventing the overthrown enemy from rallying. 
3. Covering the retreat of its own cavalry, if unsuccessful. 
While preserving considerable freedom of movement as to choice 
of position, it must be careful not to interfere with the deployment, 
advance, or retreat of the cavalry. 
From a first position on the flank, if possible beyond the reach of 
musketry, but at decisive range (1000 to 1500 yards), it will open on 
the hostile troops, directing its fire on the immediate point of attack, 
and “ regardless of the enemy’s artillery fire from any other direction, 
and regardless of other dangers which it is the duty of the cavalry to 
ward off from it.” # 
Horse artil¬ 
lery com¬ 
bined with 
large 
masses of 
cavalry. 
* Hohenlohe. 
