(1.) At the moment of their coming into action, for then they are so
exposed that our fire will be peculiarly effective, and perhaps to such
a degree as to prevent their opening on us.
(2.) When our troops move forward to attack, in order to draw away from
them the fire of the enemy's batteries, or, at least, to render it
unsteady, inaccurate, and ineffective; and
(3.) Generally, when his guns are causing us very great damage.
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 "
What these distances are in respect to rifled guns, it does not appear
to be yet definitively settled. The extreme range of the new rifled
six-pounders is said to be three thousand yards; of the twelve-pounders,
four thousand five hundred yards.
3. Guns are usually fired _by order_, and not by salvos, or volleys; and
never as soon as loaded, unless delay be dangerous. Artillery fire is
formidable only in proportion to its accuracy; and this is attainable
only by a cool and calculated aim.
4. Artillery fire should never cease _through the whole line at once_.
This would have a discouraging effect on our own troops, and an
inspiriting one on the enemy's. Especially must this not be done when we
are about to execute any manoeuvre; for it would be sure to call the
enemy's attention to it.
Therefore, if a particular battery has to change its position, it must
not cease the fire of all its pieces at once; for, besides its
disquieting effect on our troops, it would notify the enemy of the
movement.
5. In _covering an attack_, our guns should keep up their fire till the
moment it would begin to endanger our advancing columns.
6. By a _ricochet_ fire, artillery is said to increase its effect, from
one-fourth to one-half. It is especially effective in enfilading a line
of troops, a battery, or the face of a work taken in flank.
Ricochet shots have also great moral effect.
7. When used against _breastworks of rails or logs of wood_, guns should
be fired with moderate or shattering charges; so as more surely to
demolish them, and, at the same time, to increase the destructive effect
of the fire by scattering the splinters.
In view of the frequent necessity of battering such defences, and of
using a ricochet fire, which also requires small charges of powder, it
would be an improvement in our artillery service to make a certain
proportion of the ammunition in each gun limber to consist of cartridges
of half the usual size.
8. In _bombarding a village_ during a battle, if our object be to set
fire to and destroy it, this will be best accomplished with shells. If
we wish merely to drive the enemy from it, solid shot from heavy
calibres will be necessary, which will more surely reach and destroy his
troops, wherever they may show themselves.
9. The _moral effect_, both of solid shot and of shells, is much greater
than that of grape or other case-shot, from their more fearful effects
on the human frame, and from the great number of men that a single ball
or shell will kill or fatally wound. One twelve-pound solid shot has
been known to kill forty-two men, who happened to be exactly in its
range.