Positions in the rear of the line are bad for artillery, because they alarm the troops, and offer a double object to the fire of the enemy.
Positions which are not likely to be shifted, but from whence an effect may be produced during the whole of an action, are to be preferred; and in such positions a low breast work of 2 or 3 feet high may be thrown up, to cover the carriages.
Artillery should never fire against artillery, unless the enemy’s troops are covered, and his artillery exposed; or unless your troops suffer more from the fire of his guns, than his troops do from yours.
Never abandon your guns till the last extremity. The last discharges are the most destructive; they may perhaps be your salvation, and crown you with victory.
The parks of artillery in Great Britain are composed of the following ordnance: 4 medium 12 pounders; 4 desaguliers 6 pounders; and 4 light 5¹⁄₂ inch howitzers.
The following is the proposed line of march for the three brigades when acting with different columns of troops, as settled, in 1798.
| 12 Pounders. | 6 Pounders. | Howitzers. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Guns. | 4 | Guns. | 4 | Howitzers. |
| 8 | Ammunition Waggons. | 4 | Ammunition Waggons. | 8 | Ammunition Waggons. |
| 1 | Forge Cart. | 1 | Forge Cart. | 1 | Forge Cart. |
| 1 | Store Waggon, with a small proportion of stores and spare articles. | 1 | Store Waggon. | 1 | Store Waggon. |
| 1 | Spare Waggon. | 1 | Spare Waggon. | 1 | Spare Waggon. |
| 1 | Waggon to carry bread and oats. | 1 | Waggon for bread and oats. | 1 | Waggon with bread and oats. |
| 2 | Waggons with musquet ball cartridges. | 2 | Waggons with musquet ball cartridges. | 2 | Waggons with musquet ball cartridges. |
| 18 | Total. | 14 | Total. | 18 | Total. |
2d. Artillery and Ammunition for a siege.
Necessary considerations in forming an estimate for this service.
The force, situation, and condition of the place to be besieged; whether it be susceptible of more than one attack; whether lines of circumvallation or countervallation will be necessary; whether it be situated upon a height, upon a rocky soil, upon good ground, or in a marsh; whether divided by a river, or in the neighborhood of one; whether the river will admit of forming inundations; its size and depth; whether the place be near a wood, and whether that wood can supply stuff for fascines, gabions, &c. whether it be situated near any other place where a depot can be formed to supply stores for the siege. Each of these circumstances will make a very considerable difference in proportioning the stores, &c. for a siege. More artillery will be required for a place susceptible of two attacks, than for the place which only admits of one. For this last there must be fewer pieces of ordnance, but more ammunition for each piece. In case of lines being necessary, a great quantity of intrenching tools will be required, and a numerous field train of artillery. In case of being master of any garrison in the neighborhood of the besieged town, from whence supplies can readily be drawn, this must be regarded as a second park: and too great a quantity of stores need not be brought at once before the besieged place. The number of batteries to be opened before the place must determine the number of pieces of ordnance; and on the quantity or ordnance must depend the proportion of every species of stores for the service of the artillery.