Two guns were still assigned to each infantry battalion, which were served by detachments from a company of artillery attached to each brigade of four regiments. The rest of the field artillery was organized into two or three reserves, each reserve consisting of divisions of eight pieces, to each of which was assigned a company of artillery. Here we have the creation of the artillery unit; the company organization, afterward merged in that of the battery with its horses and drivers, being for the first time inseparably joined to its munitions and guns. Like all military reformers, Gribeauval encountered most determined opposition, the changes he proposed not being permanently adopted till 1774. His system was far superior to any other of its day, and long served as a model to that of other nations, being introduced with but slight modifications into all the European services. Thoroughly tested in the wars of the revolution, the results triumphantly vindicated the abilities and military genius of its originator. - The French introduced horse artillery in 1792, and cut down their divisions to six pieces, eight being found too unwieldy; these divisions received the name of batteries, and were usually composed of five guns and one howitzer.

In 1709 they entirely abandoned battalion guns as impairing the mobility of the infantry, one or two batteries attached to each division taking their places. An artillery train or corps of drivers, composed of enlisted men, was organized Jan. 3, 1800, and distributed among the French batteries, together with a proper complement of horses bought for the purpose; they had previously depended upon civilian drivers hired with their teams by contractors, the result being that the men, horses, and harness were always in bad condition. No changes in materiel took place under the empire, with the exception of the admission of 6 and 3-pdrs. into the service on account of the immense number of captured guns of these calibres. The tactical combinations of the arm, however, though at first without any essential change, were always brilliant; at Marengo the two batteries of Boudet's division kept the Austrians in check until reen-forcements came up and materially assisted in gaining that brilliant victory. The use of artillery in mass dates from the French camp at Boulogne in 1805, where this great tactical improvement was conceived and taught, the first instance of its employment being at Friedland, June 14, 1807. In this battle Gen. de Senar-mont, chief of artillery of the French first corps, combined the divisional batteries into two masses, which suddenly went into action at 6OO paces from the Russian left and gradually advanced to within 300 paces, firing with the utmost rapidity; seeing the formidable effect produced, he united both masses into one grand battery of 36 pieces at 150 paces from the enemy, who began to waver under the terrible fire of canister.

Upon the Russian cavalry's attempting to charge the grand battery, the general of artillery ordered it to change front and drove them off; the French infantry then advanced and overthrew the enemy. The artillery lost 1 officer, 10 men, and 53 horses killed; 3 officers and 42 men wounded; rounds expended, 2,516, of which 362 were canister. The ground was level and very favorable to artillery fire. The battle of Wagram, July 5-6, 1809, presents another prominent example of the use of artillery masses. Sixty French pieces under Gen. Lauriston, supported by infantry and cavalry, advanced in two columns without opening fire up to canister range of the Austrian centre; only 45 pieces got into position, the others being dismounted by the fire of the enemy's artillery, but these were gradually reenforced by 45 more. The fire of this immense battery, which lasted half an hour, though inflicting great losses, failed to break the Austrians, who repulsed an attack of the French infantry and cavalry; they were however compelled to fall back on account of the turning of their left before the French could reform for a second attack. At Borodino, or on the Moskva, Sept. 7, 1812, and at Lutzen, May 2, 1813, the French successfully employed artillery masses for defensive purposes.

At the former battle Gen. Sorbier, chief of the French artillery, by uniting 80 pieces, brought the Russians to a stand and finally forced them to retire; at the latter, a battery of 60 guns checked the movement of the allies against the French centre. Further instances of the employment of artillery masses are found in the battles of Ocana, 1809; Gross-Beeren, 1813; Bautzen, 1813; Hanau, 1813; and Brienne, 1814. - The English artillery about the beginning of the French revolution had been greatly neglected, and was far behind that of other nations. There was no reserve artillery, each regiment having two guns, whose horses and drivers were hired. As late as 1799 there were only two 6-pdrs. to a brigade of infantry, each piece drawn by three horses in single file, the driver on foot with a long wagoner's whip. Horse artillery was however introduced in 1793, and a drivers' corps established the following year. In 1802 the battalion guns were abandoned, and were replaced by field brigades (mounted batteries) and troops (horse batteries). Each field brigade had five guns (12, 9, and heavy or light 6-pdrs.) and one 5 1/2-inch howitzer, while the troops were armed with 9 or light 6-pdr. guns and the howitzer.

The detachment of drivers with a field brigade was an independent organization under its own lieutenant, who had no authority over the cannoneers and took rank after all the artillery officers proper. In 1803 Gen. Shrapnel devised a case shot, the first projectile of the kind since the German Hagel-kugel of the Kith century. It was first used at the battle of Vimicira in 1808, but, not proving very successful on account of the imperfection of the fuse, was not adopted by other nations. - We have now come to the period extending from the peace of 1815 to 1859, when rifled guns were for the first time successfully employed in war. In France Gen. Paixhans proposed in 1822 that large heavy shells should be fired from long-chambered guns, resembling those already invented by Bomford in America; and he proved, in spite of the greatest opposition, that it was as practicable and almost as easy to throw shells to a great distance with slight elevations as to throw shot. Designed originally for the naval service, his chambered pieces, known as Paixhans guns, were felt to be of equal importance for seacoast defence.