fect any thing important, it must be _concentrated on some
object_; and the fire must be persevered in till the desired effect has
been produced.

3. It is a general principle that artillery should not reply to the
enemy's batteries, unless compelled to by their effect on our own
troops. To obtain the most decisive effects from artillery fire, it
should be directed _on the enemy's troops_, instead of his guns.

4. If it should become advisable to silence one of his batteries, it
will be done more promptly and effectually by the employment, for this
purpose, of _two_ of our own batteries, than of a single one.

5. There is usually great advantage in keeping our batteries constantly
_shifting their position_; for then--

(1.) They have the effect of a surprise, by opening on the enemy at
some unexpected point.

(2.) They make the enemy believe our guns to be more numerous than they
really are.

(3.) They are in less danger of being captured.

But these changes of position are attended with this inconvenience, that
they expose the horses to be taken in flank by the enemy's batteries and
sharpshooters.

6. The movements of a battery in the field should be _as rapid as
possible_; for, while moving, it is helpless and exposed.

Moreover, celerity of movement and accuracy of fire will often more than
compensate for inferiority in the number of guns; as was the case at the
battle of Palo Alto, in the Mexican War, where the enemy's guns
outnumbered ours two to one.

B. IN OFFENSIVE COMBAT.

1. When used to _prepare for an attack_ of infantry or cavalry,
artillery concentrates as much fire as possible on the point where the
attack is to be made, in order to overcome the resistance there, and
thus make success easy.

2. When there are several points on which our fire should be directed,
we must not batter them all at once, but concentrate our whole fire on
them _in succession_.

3. In attack, artillery should _not be split up_ among different
brigades or divisions; else no decisive result can be expected from it.
Whole batteries, used together, will have a more telling effect than if
scattered over the field in separate sections.

In no case should less than two pieces be used together; for, while one
piece is being loaded, the piece and its gunners need the protection of
another one ready to be discharged.

4. Pieces in support of an infantry column of attack should never be in
its rear, but _on its flanks_,