SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY., 1879 . 
563 
It is first necessary to find out what the requirements of field artillery 
are for modern tactics, before we can attempt to point out any changes 
which seem desirable to meet these requirements. But the difficulty 
is to lay down any definite rules for artillery tactics. The topographical 
configuration of the ground on which a battle is fought is a factor 
which it is impossible to eliminate, and which affects our tactics to an 
enormous extent. 
It is all very well to lay down a system of artillery tactics for the 
attack and defence of ideal positions; but it will be found impracticable 
to carry out the system in fully half of any given number of positions 
taken hap-hazard, and such as would actually have to be occupied or 
attacked in war. 
As examples of the difficulty of using artillery on any recognised 
system, I would bring forward the following two instances. In nothing 
is it so true that “ circumstances alter cases 33 as in artillery tactics. 
Spicheren .*—The steep-sided plateau of Spicheren had been success¬ 
fully climbed at several points by the Prussian infantry, but the 
southern heights were still held by strong forces of the French, and a 
numerous artillery swept the plateau with their fire. It was all the 
Prussians could do to maintain their position against the repeated 
attacks of the enemy. It became imperatively necessary to bring up 
cavalry and artillery on to the plateau. This apparent impossibility 
was at length surmounted, and two batteries brought up with incredible 
exertions by narrow steep paths through the wooded hill-side. These 
batteries opened fire close to the edge of the steep bank, and maintained 
this most precarious position in the front line, suffering enormous 
losses, until the end of the engagement. 
The difficulty here for the artillery was caused entirely by the ground. 
The Spicheren heights command the valley in front by 100 ft.; on the 
other side of the valley are the Folster Hohe and Galgen Berg—the 
only available positions for artillery. 
Gravelotte. f—The only position for artillery on the entire battle field 
of the 1st Army was on the ridge on which Gravelotte was situated, 
extending from 1000 paces south of the village to 800 paces north-east of 
Malmaison. Here 28 batteries—the whole artillery of the 1st Army— 
were brought into action. The form of the ravine in front was of such 
a nature that artillery beyond it could not, as a rule, open fire on the 
hostile position until the guns had advanced nearly to the crest, and this 
would have necessitated the occupation of the ground by infantry. 
From the preceding brief sketch of the causes influencing modern 
tactics I would now make the following deductions :— 
A .—That artillery, far from having decreased in importance on 
account of the improvements in the infantry weapon, has 
increased in value, owing to the wider use of entrenchments. 
* Borhstadt and Dwyer, 
f Hoffbauer. 
