Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

The distance of two yards between carriages is maintained, except in bad or difficult ground, when it may be increased to four or more yards. The strictest attention should be paid by the chiefs of platoon and of section to the preservation of distances, which should not be increased more than is absolutely necessary. The leading guide should maintain a slow and steady walk, and under no circumstances is a carriage to move at a trot without the orders of the battery commander; when necessary to close up, it should be done at a quick walk; no practice is more fatiguing to horses and injurious to their shoulders than the alternate trotting and walking so often seen at the rear of a column.

If the leading carriage is temporarily stopped for any cause, the rear carriages should, if practicable, draw up alongside each other, in order to avoid or diminish as much as possible any check to the column.

Chiefs of platoons must never be permitted to leave their platoons to march at the head of the column; when not marching at the rear of their platoons, they will halt frequently to see that their carriages are well up and marching properly.

Chiefs of platoon and of section, without waiting for express instructions, give such orders as may be necessary for helping horses out of difficulty, for the passage of obstacles, etc.; the cannoneers assist at the piece or caisson as may be required.

A small bunch of bale-wire, in lengths of from one to two feet, if carried by each chief of section in his saddle-pouch, is very useful for temporary repairs of harness.

If the ruts be very deep, the carriages quarter the road, unless it be very narrow and sunken; in this case the horses will be left to themselves and not hurried; a skilful driver can help his horses greatly, particularly the wheelers.

When water-call is sounded, the chiefs of section, under the supervision of the chiefs of platoon or of the first sergeant, have the watering-buckets taken off the carriages, and their horses watered without confusion. When water is very scarce, the nostrils may be sponged, which gives great relief, particularly in hot weather, when it is not possible to let the horses drink.

Toward the close of the march an officer or non-commissioned officer may be sent forward to select a camp-ground. The last two miles or more should be made at a walk, and the horses brought into camp without excitement.

Upon the arrival of the battery in camp damages must be repaired without delay, horses shod, wheels and pintles greased, etc. On the march artificers and cooks should always ride, or be mounted on the chests; if fatigued from marching, they cannot be expected to work efficiently after getting into camp.

The march of larger bodies of artillery is conducted on the same principles. A long column cannot move as rapidly as a small one, and at the same time preserve equal order; an allowance is therefore made for every column proportionate to its length.