159. A cavalry soldier should not exceed in weight one hundred and sixty pounds, should be active and strong, physically sound, with a natural fondness for horses and experience in handling them. His duties are more arduous and severe than those of the footman. His first care should be his horse at all times. The two are inseparable, and one is of little account without the other. A dismounted cavalry soldier, leading a broken-down horse and trudging wearily along in the rear of the column, is a pitiable and ridiculous sight; whilst the perfect cavalry soldier, neatly dressed, arms and accoutrements in perfect order, his horse well fed and thoroughly groomed, and riding with ease, grace, and self-possession, is always an object of admiration.

160. The general duties of the cavalry soldier are the same as those of the infantry soldier, varying only on account of his horse and the difference in the character of the service. 

161. Great care and attention are necessary to keep the horse in condition for service. The following hints are offered:— The horse should always be used moderately, having much additional weight to carry. The habitual gait of cavalry is a walk, and it should not be increased, unless necessary or acting under orders.

162. Horses should never be watered or fed when heated, nor should they be used violently immediately after watering or feeding. Heating food, such as corn or wheat, should not be fed in large quantities at a time, but divided into two or more feeds; and this is particularly necessary when hay or grass is scarce. They should be fed salt two or three times a week.

163. The horse should be carefully groomed. When heated, in cold or chilly weather, particularly in the open air, if required to stand still, he should have a blanket thrown over him until he is cool; nor should he be washed or drenched with water, except when cool. If covered with mud, it is better to let it remain until the horse is dry, and then let him be groomed as soon as he is dry: it should not be permitted to remain any longer than necessary. If the mud is rubbed off when wet, it causes the sand to be rubbed into the skin, and is much more difficult to remove afterwards.

164. The back should always be examined after riding. Any evidence of soreness should be arrested by a judicious folding of blanket and care in adjusting the saddle, by shortening or lengthening the crupper. Any swelling or scalding from the saddle should be frequently washed in cold water, to check inflammation.

165. When halting on the march, horses have a disposition to roll, that frequently injures the saddle and accoutrements. This may be in a great measure prevented by removing the saddle and rubbing the horse’s back with currycomb, brush, or a whisp of straw or twigs. During such halts, every opportunity to let the horse graze a little, or feeding him on a handful of hay or grass, or other feed, gathered by the way, should not be neglected: the horse’s stomach is small in proportion to his size, and such care of him will keep him in good condition where without it he would break down.

166. When a horse gets sick, the veterinary surgeon should at once be consulted. Soldiers are not permitted to prescribe for their horses without permission from their company commanders. 

167. The horse has been found to be demoralizing to the habits of the soldier. The cavalry service removes the cavalry-man more from the immediate control of his officers; he is enabled soon to become more familiar with the surrounding country, on his duties as messenger, orderly, foraging, reconnoitring, picket and outpost duty, his temptations to straggle and commit depredations are much greater, the chances of detection are less, and the violation of orders is attended with much less personal fatigue and inconvenience; and hence the irregularities peculiar to the cavalry service. 

168. Cavalrymen, however, should bear in mind that these facilities are no excuse for misdemeanors of irregularities; and every soldier should have the interest of his own corps too much at heart to aid or abet in misconduct that gives to his arm of service such a disagreeable notoriety. He should labor to give his own corps as high a reputation for good conduct as the foot-soldier He should not allow himself to be excelled in propriety by the infantry-man.

169. The arms and accountrements of cavalry, being more numerous and subject to more wear and tear, require more labor and attention than hose of infantry, but should not for that reason  be any more neglected. This care is equally important, and the beneficial results of cleanliness and order are quite as satisfactory, as in any other ann.

170. Every article that is issued to the man has its use and importance. The articles should be frequently overhauled, and kept in repair The sabre should be kept sharp, the arms clean and in order, the ammunition close and compact, to prevent rubbing, and secure against moisture. The  straps should be kept repaired, well cleaned and oiled. The nose-bag and lariat-rope are not sufficiently appreciated. The health of the horse is dependent upon his being taught to eat his feed from he nose-bag, as feeding from the ground causes the horse to take up with his food great quantities of gravel and sand, thereby injuring his digestion. The lariat-rope is important for the purpose of forage — either for the transportation of forage, or picketing the horse out at night to enable him to graze, the opportunity for which should never be neglected.

171. An important article is a forage-bag, made like a saddle-bag with a slit in it. It should be at least a yard long and a foot wide, in which to carry one or two feeds, so that accident or delay will not deprive the horse of his regular feed. It can be readily made by any soldier out of an ordinary grain-sack.

173. ARTILLERY PROPER, sometimes called FOOT ARTILLERY, or FIELD ARTILLERY is divided into batteries, manned by one company, and provided with four, six, or eight guns, according to the strength of the company.

174. The battery is divided into sections, two pieces making a section, commanded by the lieutenants, or, in their absence, by the ranking sergeants. The sergeants are usually assigned to the different guns, and are called Chiefs of Piece. The gunners are usually taken from the corporals.

175. The men, except the drivers and chiefs of piece, are dismounted, and ride on the caissons and limbers, or march in order by the side of the carriages. They are sometimes armed with pistols or cutlasses, or both.

176. LIGHT ARTILLERY, sometimes called HORSE ARTILLERY, is similar to foot artillery, except that all the men are mounted, thus uniting the duties of cavalry with artillery.

177. HEAVY ARTILLERY is generally used for garrisoning forts and entrenched places, where the armament is composed of guns of greater caliber than field-pieces. In the field, they generally have charge of the siege-train. The troops are usually armed, equipped, and drilled as infantry, in addition to their duties with the large guns.

178. The artillery soldier is expected to be more or less familiar with all the duties expected of cavalry and infantry, as in field-batteries they have a similar care of horses, and in heavy artillery they are required to perform all the duties required of infantry, at times. He is required to know all about guard-duties. They are not, however, required to do as much outpost, fatigue, or picket duty, and only in the absence of the proper troops for such duty.

179. The peculiarities with which an artillery soldier in a field-battery must familiarize himself, in addition to most of the duties of cavalry and infantry, is the care of guns and harness, and especially the ammunition. He should understand well the principles in firing, and peculiarities of the particular gun and the ammunition used in the battery.

180. During the firing, he must learn to be composed, and guard against being confused by the noise of the cannon and the commotion among the horses. He must use his eyes, as well as his ears, and watch his own piece and the workings of his companions.

181. Where pieces are massed close together, he is apt to mistake the firing of an adjoining piece for his own; and many a man has been killed or injured by jumping in at the command "load" at an adjoining piece, just as his own gunner gave the command "fire." To prevent the hearing from being injured by the concussion, the ears may be protected by a little cotton. The shock is also lessened by keeping the mouth open.

182. No. 3, who tends the vent, should be particularly careful to keep it closed and air-tight. This is necessary whilst sponging, to assist in extinguishing any remains of the cartridge that may be on fire in the chamber, and whilst loading, to prevent the fire from igniting the cartridge. He should not remove his thumb from the vent until every cannoneer is clear of the piece.

183. No. 4 should observe that every man is clear of the piece before he fires.

184. No. 2 should observe that No. 3 has the vent well closed when he inserts the cartridge. He should be careful to insert the cartridge correctly. The bottom should go in first, and the seam on the side.

185. No. 5 should keep the cartridge in the ammunition-pouch until he delivers it to No. 2.

186. The gunner and the chief of piece should attend closely and see that the cannoneers do not neglect any of the above instructions, and the men at the limber and caissons should keep the boxes open as little as possible. Each cannoneer should be familiar with all the duties of each post, so that they may be replaced.

187. All the cannoneers should be perfectly familiar with all the different kinds of ammunition, their uses and application, and where they are to be found. They should understand the uses of the implements in the ammunition-chest; how to spike a gun, and how to remove a spike; how to blow up ammunition-chests, and render artillery unserviceable temporarily and permanently. The greater the extent to which the solider carries this kind of knowledge, in addition to his other duties, the more serviceable will he be, and the greater will be his chances for promotion.

188. HEAVY ARTILLERY, in addition to knowledge of the ammunition and implements of gunnery, requires a practical knowledge of the forces and appliances for handling and moving heavy guns. This kind of information is not easily acquired from books; and, moreover, the appliances that may be available at one time may not be on hand at another; and tact for applying make-shifts is an essential qualification.

189. The companies are divided into detachments, whose strength is dependent upon the kind of guns used, and the detachments are officered in proportion. The same general principles and commands are used, although varying a little, as the carriage and implements of different kinds of guns vary. 

The principal books of instruction for artillery are "Gibbon’s Manual," "Manual for Heavy Artillery," prepared by a Board of Officers, and "Anderson’s Field Artillery." An excellent little book for instruction is "Roberts’s Handbook of Artillery."

190. ENLISTED men of ordnance are not so much soldiers as mechanics and laborers. They are employed in arsenals and armories for the manufacture and care of ordnance. They are enlisted like other men, but differently employed, and receive different allowances of pay, clothing, and rations.

191. Master armorers, master carriage-makers, master blacksmiths, now called sergeants of ordnance, receive thirty-four dollars per month. Armorers, carriage-makers, and blacksmiths, now called corporals, receive twenty dollars per month. Artificers, now called privates of the first class, receive eighteen dollars per month; and laborers, now called privates of the second class, receive sixteen dollars per month.

192. Sergeants and corporals receive a ration and a half per day, and the privates one ration. The sergeants are not entitled to an allowance for clothing; whilst the corporals and privates receive the same clothing as other enlisted men of the line.

193. The appointments of sergeants must be submitted to the Chief of Ordnance for his approval (Regulation 1445); but corporals and privates are mustered according to their competency, at the discretion of the officer in command. All enlisted men of ordnance enlist as privates of the lowest class, and are advanced subsequently according to their competency, and may be reduced, at the discretion of the officer in command, except the sergeants, whose reduction must be approved by the Chief of Ordnance the same as their appointment.

194. Ordnance sergeants for posts are enlisted differently and intended for different duty. (See Ordnance Sergeant, Par. 246.)

195. The enlisted men are under the direction of the commanding officers of the arsenal or armory, and the master workman, and are subject to such rules and regulations as are prescribed by the commanding officer and approved by the Chief of Ordnance, and published to the men. 

196. Ordnance soldiers are paid by military storekeepers appointed to disburse the funds appropriated to the Ordnance Department.

197. ENGINEER soldiers are enlisted like other soldiers, and are similarly organized and instructed. They receive, however, different pay, and, as a class, are expected to be superior men.

Recruiting officers are directed to make more rigid examination and to give preference to the best mechanics and educated men. At present there are only five companies of engineer soldiers in the United States service.

198. The pay of engineer soldiers is as follows: — sergeants, thirty-four dollars per month; corporals, twenty dollars per month; privates of the first class, eighteen dollars per month; privates of the second class, sixteen dollars per month. Rations and clothing are nearly the same as other troops.

199. They are expected to know all the garrison and field duties of soldiers of the line, and, in addition, the practical duties involved in the construction of fortifications, bridges, &c. For this reason, mechanics and educated men are preferred; and their promotion to privates of the first class, and to non-commissioned officers, depends upon their superior intelligence and progress  in every department of practical military knowledge.

200. THE law allows in this corps the enlistment of one sergeant, two privates of the first class, and four of the second class, with pay, clothing, and rations of engineers, to each signal officer Each army corps or department is allowed from six to eight signal officers: the number of officers and enlisted men is, therefore, limited by the number of departments or army corps. (Act March 3,1863, section 17.)

201. The men are enlisted and re-enlisted the same as other soldiers, and the same high standard that is required for the engineer corps is demanded for this service. Recruiting officers for the signal corps are instructed to be very rigid in their examination of recruits. Enlisted men of other arms may be transferred to it, with the consent of commanding officers of regiments.

Applications are made in the same manner as for any other transfer. The soldier must, however, submit to an examination before he will be accepted.

202. The men are mounted, armed, and equipped as light cavalry, and the uniform is the same. No drill has been specified for them except the manipulation of the signals, in which they are instructed by the officers. They should, however, understand the use of their arms, ride well, and understand the care of horses. They should also understand all the duties of their grade in the line, and be true soldiers in all respects.

203. They are sworn to secrecy, and prohibited from communicating any information they may become possessed of or acquire in the course of their duty or instruction. They should be active, athletic young men, of medium size; quick, intelligent, with superior eyesight; of good judgment and undoubted courage. They should have at least a good common-school education, and be able to write well.

204. Their duty is very similar to that of mounted patrol duty, and they usually accompany the advance of an army or body of troops sent out for observation. They are not called upon to  fight, except in self-defense, — which may be frequently necessary, owing to their exposed position. 

At such times they should be prepared to destroy their signals, instruments, and papers when capture seems inevitable, to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. They are frequently exposed to the perils of scouts and reconnoitring parties, and should, therefore, be always in uniform, unless they are willing to run the risk of being apprehended and punished as spies.