Horse-artillery is an invention of Frederick. Austria lost no time in
introducing it into her armies, although in an imperfect degree. It was
only in 1792 that this arm was adopted in France, where it was brought
rapidly to its present perfection.
The services of this arm during the wars of the Revolution were
immense. It may be said to have changed to a certain extent the
character of tactics, because its facility of movement enables it to
bear with rapidity on every point where artillery can be employed
with success. Napoleon has remarked in his memoirs that a flanking
battery which strikes and rakes the enemy obliquely, is capable of
deciding a victory in itself. To this we may add that, independent of
the advantages which cavalry derives from horse-artillery in securing
its flanks, and in opening the way for a successful charge by the
destructiveness of its fire, it is desirable that these two arms
should never be separated, but ready at all times to seize upon points
where it may be necessary to employ cannon. On these occasions, the
cavalry masks the march of the artillery, protects its establishment in
position, and covers it from the attack of the enemy, until it is ready
to open its fire.