SHORT NOTES ON PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS. 
67 
In this paper the opinions of various authorities have been cited in favour of 
the advantages and necessity of possessing a system enabling batteries of light 
field guns to be moved with celerity, still later experiences affirm the necessity. 
It may reasonably be inferred, that field artillery with superior facility of movement, 
would be able (to use an ordinary phrase), to trot round a similar arm possessing 
only inferior powers of movement, and that on ground favourable to the per¬ 
formance of manoeuvres, unless field batteries are able to move with as equal 
facility and celerity as those opposed to them, they must contend under great 
disadvantages. 
The increased efficiency considered to be attendant on field artillery which has 
had its mobility extended to the utmost, has here been endeavoured to be brought 
forward, and as it is important and desirable to practice in drills and field move¬ 
ments what would be advantageous and requisite on actual service, so should field 
batteries be accustomed and required for purposes of manoeuvre to work with 
mounted gun detachments independent of their ammunition wagons. Of what 
avail will it be having guns better horsed, if the pace is restricted to that of the 
gunners on foot, unless the latter are to be left straggling* * and out of breath 
behind? Whatever numerical deficiency in guns may be expected, should be 
compensated for by their excellence in every point; with the advantages of 
throwing a heavier projectile and bringing but few men and horses under fire, 
“ which from the multiplied fire and effective long range of breech-loading rifies 
has become so important,” possessing the means of celerity of movement, would 
by increasing their utility tend to counteract disparity of numbers. 
Without the development of their mobility field movements cannot be executed 
with adequate velocity, nor can the ground be passed over at a quicker rate than 
infantry; batteries of light field guns can be the more readily closed upon by an 
enemy’s infantry sufficiently near for a destructive fire; they are also subject to the 
disadvantages arising from slowness in manoeuvring, rendering them merely light 
guns of position. 
The most favourable action of artillery with an army in the field formed in line 
of battle, must depend on the natural features of the ground permitting its 
employment, as well as on the order of battle adopted; the latter must chiefly 
determine the share it may be required to take in a combat, by the positions which 
can be advantageously occupied. 
As in the attack of an army posted on commanding ground, or on the contrary 
when defending a position with a gentle slope and overlooking the ground over 
which an enemy must advance to the attack, the effective action of the artillery is 
exactly opposite; so it will be assumed for the purpose of these remarks, that the 
locality is a plain or sufficiently well adapted for the favourable employment of the 
arm, by the assailants, as well as their opponents. 
two detachments; the first detachment follows at 800 paces distant, if the battery unlimbers the 
detachment retires to a selected position from three to four hundred yards further to the rear. 
The second detachment of wagons keeps from 1000 to 1500 paces to the rear. 
* Yide Kingslake’s “Invasion of the Crimea,” Yol. II. p. 403. Battle of the Alma. “The 
two guns for which Lord Raglan had prayed were brought up at length to the summit of the 
knoll. They were guns belonging to Turner’s battery, and they were already crossing the river 
when Dickson came upon them. The two pieces were soon unlimbered; and one of them—for the 
artillerymen had pot all been able to keep pace—was worked by Dickson with his own hands,” 
