Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

A field-battery equipped with the 3.2-inch gun is called a light field-battery; one equipped with the 3.6-inch gun is called a heavy field-battery. A battalion of artillery consists of two, three, or four batteries, and is commanded by a field-officer of artillery.

The heavy artillery of an army in the field consists of those batteries which serve the siege-and position-guns, and the artillery-ammunition and supply trains.

The light artillery of an army corps consists of divisional artillery and corps artillery.

The Divisional Artillery consists of a battalion of from two to four batteries, is an integral part of the division, and is commanded by a field-officer who has a staff consisting of an adjutant (lieutenant), sergeant-major, quartermaster-sergeant, and chief trumpeter.

The Corps Artillery consists of two or more battalions; it is composed of field-and horse-batteries in suitable proportions, and is commanded by a colonel who has a staff consisting of an adjutant (lieutenant), a quartermaster and commissary (lieutenant) sergeant-major, quartermaster-sergeant, and chief trumpeter. All the artillery attached to an army corps constitutes an artillery brigade. A battalion of horse-artillery is attached to and is part of each division of cavalry. In smaller commands a battery may be attached to an infantry or cavalry brigade.

The proportion of artillery is from three to four guns to one thousand men. The chief of artillery of an army or corps is a brigadier-general, and is on the staff of the commander of the corps. The corps artillery is under the orders of the brigadier-general, chief of artillery, and he also assumes control of the divisional artillery in action when ordered to do so by the corps commander.

The field-officer commanding the divisional artillery is the chief of artillery of the division, and is on the staff of the division commander, but he will encamp with the divisional artillery.

COMPOSITION OF LIGHT BATTERIES.

A battery consists of a fixed number of pieces and caissons of a combined battery-wagon and forge, and an artillery-wagon, together with a sufficient number of officers, men, and horses for the efficient service of the battery.