Artillery

Artillery originally meant any projectile weapon or engine of war, even bows and arrows and slings; now it means either cannon of any description or the soldiers who manage the cannon. It is here used in the latter sense; the description of various kinds of ordnance will be found either under CANNON or under their special names. Park of Artillery is a collective name given to the whole of the guns, carriages, ammunition, and other appurtenances essential to the working of a field or siege army.

Artillery Corps.—The introduction of field-guns necessitated the formation of a body of men set apart to study the force and action of gunpowder, the flight and range of projectiles, the weight and strength of cannon, and the manoeuvring of heavy masses of field artillery; and after the great wars in the beginning of the present century, artillery had become the third great branch of military service, after the infantry and cavalry.

Artillery is divided into two classes, field and siege (sometimes called fortress or garrison artillery). The former is divided into Batteries (q.v.) as tactical units, and, besides the highly trained horse, field, and mountain, there are rocket and position batteries formed when necessary. In time of peace, a few of the latter class exist in India, where the guns are drawn by bullocks and manned by men of the garrison artillery. Siege or fortress artillerymen are grouped into regiments, battalions, &c., like infantry, for administrative purposes, in all armies except that of Great Britain (see below). Marine artillerymen, though belonging to the navy and working ships' guns, are to be classed as siege artillery. They are organised like infantry.

The Royal Regiment of Artillery is the collective name for the whole of the artillery belonging to the British army. Formed first in 1715, constant additions have been made to the same regiment, and it is now almost an army in itself, comprising Horse, Field, and Garrison Artillery. Many schemes have been originated for dividing this regiment at least into two branches, mounted and dismounted, but never fully carried out. The horse artillery, however, is separately recruited, and except that the officers revert to field or garrison artillery on promotion to await reappointment to it, may be considered a different regiment. In action, the horse artillery, having all the men mounted either on horses or on the limbers of the guns, can manoeuvre with cavalry; the field artillery, carrying the gunners on the guns and wagons, and being armed with a heavier weapon, cannot move at such a rapid pace except for very short distances. The garrison artillery sometimes furnishes men to accompany guns of position (20-pounders or 40-pounders) dragged at a walk on to the field of battle by cart-horses, bullocks, or elephants, and it also mans the mountain batteries in India; but its proper duty is to work the heavy guns of forts or siege batteries.

The Coast Brigade consists entirely of old soldiers who are stationed in the small coast-forts, charged with the duty of looking after the magazines, stores, and guns in them. There are generally two men to each fort, and a master-gunner (see WARRANT OFFICER) superintends one or more forts under a district officer from the nearest regular battery of artillery. The officers of the coast brigade (1 major, 10 captains, and 19 lieutenants) are always promoted from the ranks, and generally placed in charge of large stores and important magazines; some act as adjutants for their districts.

In 1857, after the Indian Mutiny, the native gunners of the Bombay, Bengal, and Madras regiments of artillery were disbanded, and the officers amalgamated with those of the old Royal Artillery, but their promotion continued on their own seniority lists. These officers are gradually disappearing. A major-general holds the appointment of inspector-general of artillery, and visits every fort and sees every man in the regiment at home yearly. A deputy-adjutant-general at the War Office represents it on the general staff of the army.

A horse or field battery has 5 officers (1 major, 1 captain, and 3 lieutenants) and 151 men; and a garrison battery, 4 officers (1 major, 1 captain, and 2 lieutenants) and from 100 to 150 men, according to the guns of position in its charge. The horse artillery forms two brigades, lettered A and B, of 10 batteries each, also lettered and grouped thus for administrative purposes only. There are four similar brigades of field artillery.

These are numbered, but their batteries (20 to 23 in a brigade) are lettered. Each horse or field brigade has also a dépôt battery. Some batteries are armed with the new 13-pounders, some with 12-pounders, and some 9-pounders, and 12 field artillery batteries with 16-pounders. The garrison artillery is divided into 11 brigades (of 9 to 10 batteries), and each is allotted to a district or artillery division, becoming the first brigade of that division, the territorial militia artillery forming the other brigades. There is a dépôt battery at each divisional headquarters, recruiting from the district for the service batteries. The men enlist as 'gunners' or 'drivers,' according to their height; the standard being 5 feet 6 inches for the former, and 5 feet 4 inches for the latter. They serve 6 years, and then pass to the reserve for 6 more.

The following table shows the proportions of officers and men in an average year (see ARMY):

Of this number, some 12,000 men (80 batteries) are placed at the disposal of the East Indies, to be paid for out of Indian revenues.

The Royal Malta Fencible Artillery is practically a local regiment of artillery militia, though officially ranking, as part of the regular army, next after the 2d West India Regiment. It does not serve anywhere but at Malta.

The Gun Lascars of Hong-kong and Ceylon are also local militia, but are enlisted for universal service.

The Honourable Company of Artillery is the oldest existing volunteer corps in Britain. Together with the Sergeants-at-arms, the Yeomen of the Guard, and the Gentlemen Pensioners, it was established as far back as 1537, when Henry VIII. granted a patent creating the 'Fraternity or Guild of Artillery of Long-bows, Cross-bows, and Hand-guns.' In 1638 the corporation of the city of London presented to the company the Artillery Grounds, near Moorfields, for military exercises. Royal princes frequently enrolled themselves as members of the company, usually as 'captain-general.' In 1780, during the 'Lord George Gordon riots,' this company effectually protected the Bank of England; in 1848, and again in 1859, it was ready if needed, but has never been engaged in actual warfare with an enemy. Its members, elected by the ballot of a Court of Assistants, pay two guineas annual subscription, and £5 entrance fee, and supply uniforms, but not arms and accoutrements. They learn rifle-shooting as well as artillery practice; meeting twice a week at Moorfields, and every summer spend some days in camp. The corps comprises six infantry companies; a troop of light cavalry, who furnish their own horses; and a battery of artillery, as well as a company of veterans. Until 1849 the members elected their own officers; but since that year the crown has appointed them. The lieutenant-colonel appoints the non-commissioned officers. The total number, of all arms, is about 600. The company is the only volunteer body allowed to march through the streets with bayonets fixed. See G. A. Raikes, History of the Hon. Artillery Company (2 vols. 1878-80).

Artillery Schools.—The first school for artillery instruction was established by the Venetians in the beginning of the 16th century. Soon afterwards Charles V. established similar schools at Burgos and in Sicily. The French founded a school of practical artillery in 1675; and in 1679, a theoretical school at Douai. At present France has seven such establishments. Saxony had an artillery school in 1766; but the other German states were more tardy in this work. In Prussia alone the artillery and engineer schools are combined; but in other states these two arms are separate. The officers' studies comprise mathematics, as much of physics and chemistry as is necessary to the duties of the artillerist, field and permanent fortification, tactics, military history and topography, drawing, &c. The practical exercises include gun and mortar drill, siege operations, laboratory and manufacturing studies.

A Royal Military Academy was established at Woolwich in 1741, for the artillerists and engineers of the royal army. The East India Company sent their artillery cadets to this academy from the year 1798 to 1810; but afterwards, until 1861, they maintained a separate establishment at Addiscombe (which, however, was not wholly for artillery). The students in the academy are admitted by fair open competition, between the ages of 17 and 20; and remain two and a half or three years, before being commissioned in the Royal Artillery or Engineers. The sons of military officers are admitted on lower terms than those of other persons. There are 22 professors and instructors of various kinds. There is also at Woolwich a Department of Artillery Studies, for the instruction of junior officers of artillery; an Ordnance Select Committee, for examining and reporting on the numerous inventions relating to artillery brought before the War Office; and the Artillery College, consisting of a few officers in training for the superintendence of the manufacturing departments in the Royal Arsenal. The members pass a severe qualifying examination, and attend lectures on theoretical gunnery, chemistry, applied mathematics, and metallurgy. The School of Gunnery at Shoeburyness is for experiments upon ordnance, gunpowder, and projectiles, and to exercise young artillery officers in the practical and mechanical duties of their profession.

In the United States, the principal artillery school is at Fortress Monroe, in Virginia. Here, under three artillery field-officers, five batteries (one from each artillery regiment of the army) are in constant training, together with such officers and men as may from time to time be ordered to the school for instruction.