John D. Billings, The history of the Tenth Massachusetts battery of light artillery in the war of the rebellion

[78] of a conscience in the person of the offender is not for a moment to be considered. As a citizen his time is wholly his own; as a soldier there is not a second to which lie can surely lay claim. The citizen calls no man master; the soldier may be compelled to bow before a man infinitely his inferior in every respect,—illustrations of which were very frequent during the war. In view of these and other considerations that night be cited. time was a very desirable and potent agency in bringing about the adaptation of the citizen to the new order of things.

Again, the fact of our proficiency in light artillery tactics has already been alluded to, and we only re. fer to it already as a second advantage derived in these early months. Instances were not wanting, during the Rebellion, of batteries being sent to the front, under a pressing demand for troops, as soon as they received their guns, without this thorough preparation. They had the implements of warfare, it is true, but were the merest apprentices with them, and consequently, when involved in an action, had no confidence in themselves and felt comparatively helpless. There can be but one result under such circumstances,—that of confusion and disaster to this particular organization, and, perhaps, through it to others. Hence, whenever we reflect upon our record at Camp Barry and at Poolsville in this respect, it arouses our pride, and we feel that these were valuable months in the school of the soldier. If the Tenth Massachusetts Battery was a unit during its nearly three years of service,—and it certainly was; if the men were subordinate to their superiors, —and the residents of Poolsville say they left a good impression there in this respect; if the Battery did its full duty whenever its services were called