5. Against guns, solid shot or shells only should be used, since they alone are capable of inflicting any serious injury on either guns or their carriages: solid shot, by their great weight and momentum; shells, by their bursting.
But within three hundred or four hundred yards, grape and canister would soon destroy the gunners and the horses.
6. Our fire on a hostile battery would not only be very effective when it is coming into action, but at all other times when its flanks are exposed; as in limbering up to move off, or in a flank march. On these occasions we should use grape, if near enough; otherwise, spherical case would be generally the best.
7. When possible to avoid it, a field battery should not be opposed to a battery of position, or, generally, a battery of light guns to one of heavy guns. For even when the numbers of pieces on the two sides are equal, the enemy's superiority in range and in weight of metal would give him such advantage in the duel that our own battery would soon be destroyed or silenced.
VI.—Its Fire.
1. It is important not to commence the fire till our guns are in sure range—
(1.) Because a harmless fire serves but to embolden the enemy and discourage our own troops.
(2.) Because artillery ammunition should never be wasted. The fate of a battle will sometimes depend on there being a sufficient supply of it at a particular moment.
2. The usual maximum distances at which smooth-bore field guns may open fire with any considerable effect, are—
| For 12-pounders | 1100 | yards. | |
| For 6 " | 750 | " |