In the Napoleonic era, artillery became one of the three main combat arms, together with infantry and cavalry.
Field guns won many battlefield victories.
In 1800 French armies employed about two artillery pieces per 1,000 soldiers.
The number increased to as many as five guns per 1,000 by 1812 as the quality of foot soldiers diminished.
Under Napoleon batteries usually included eight pieces and the 4-pounder was often employed in advance guards, divisional reserves and horse artillery batteries of the reserve.
Frequently, batteries were made up of six cannons and two howitzers.
At beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars, all armies attached 3- and 4-pounder cannons directly to the infantry units.
They were supposed to be served by trained gunners but in reality they were often worked by infantrymen drafted from the ranks.
Each infantry battalion had two 4-pounders attached to it and the guns were frequently called battalion pieces.
Partly due to an overall lack of field guns, Napoleon removed the battalion pieces from infantry battalions and combined them into batteries.
After his defeat at the Battle of Aspern-Essling in 1809, Napoleon reversed this policy and rearmed his infantry units with battalion pieces.

Artillery was rarely placed inside a village because of the danger of the buildings catching fire and detonating the ammunition.
Instead the guns were placed alongside a village or on a hill behind it.
On the battlefield, the light artillery was stationed in the front line or covering the flanks.
Typically, howitzers were assigned to a battery to use their long-range shell fire.
In order to achieve mutual support, batteries were placed 600–900 paces apart.
If action was imminent, the cannons would be loaded in advance and two matches kept lit.
If forced to unlimber under fire, it was best to approach the desired position from a flank to present the thinnest target.
When an eight-gun battery was unlimbered, the cannons fired in turn, one every four seconds, in order to keep the target under continuous fire.

The cannonball or round shot was the projectile used most often.
Both direct and ricochet fire might be used to strike a target.
Round shot was most effective when used against formed troops, particularly those in column and to a lesser degree against those in line.
Most soldiers hated to be under long-range artillery fire because they were unable to shoot back at their tormentors with shorter-ranged muskets.
The British avoided exposing their troops to round shot by placing them behind crests when possible, but all other nations customarily deployed their soldiers in the open.
At closer ranges, the gunners switched to canister, an anti-personnel weapon.
A canister round consisted of a large number of musket balls that, when fired, spread out and flew in the direction of the target.
When supporting an attack, the cannons advanced with the infantry.
Half the guns moved forward, covered by the remaining guns, then the other half moved, repeating the process.
The battalion pieces, usually 4-pounders, fired at the enemy foot soldiers while the heavier guns targeted the enemy artillery.
When under attack by enemy infantry, the cannons first fired at the enemy artillery.
As the range closed, the guns aimed at the enemy foot soldiers.
In the Napoleonic era, artillery became one of the three main combat arms, together with infantry and cavalry. Field guns won many battlefield victories. In 1800 French armies employed about two artillery pieces per 1,000 soldiers. The number increased to as many as five guns per 1,000 by 1812 as the quality of foot soldiers diminished. Under Napoleon batteries usually included eight pieces and the 4-pounder was often employed in advance guards, divisional reserves and horse artillery batteries of the reserve. Frequently, batteries were made up of six cannons and two howitzers. At beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars, all armies attached 3- and 4-pounder cannons directly to the infantry units. They were supposed to be served by trained gunners but in reality they were often worked by infantrymen drafted from the ranks. Each infantry battalion had two 4-pounders attached to it and the guns were frequently called battalion pieces. Partly due to an overall lack of field guns, Napoleon removed the battalion pieces from infantry battalions and combined them into batteries. After his defeat at the Battle of Aspern-Essling in 1809, Napoleon reversed this policy and rearmed his infantry units with battalion pieces.
Artillery was rarely placed inside a village because of the danger of the buildings catching fire and detonating the ammunition. Instead the guns were placed alongside a village or on a hill behind it. On the battlefield, the light artillery was stationed in the front line or covering the flanks. Typically, howitzers were assigned to a battery to use their long-range shell fire. In order to achieve mutual support, batteries were placed 600–900 paces apart. If action was imminent, the cannons would be loaded in advance and two matches kept lit. If forced to unlimber under fire, it was best to approach the desired position from a flank to present the thinnest target. When an eight-gun battery was unlimbered, the cannons fired in turn, one every four seconds, in order to keep the target under continuous fire.
The cannonball or round shot was the projectile used most often. Both direct and ricochet fire might be used to strike a target. Round shot was most effective when used against formed troops, particularly those in column and to a lesser degree against those in line. Most soldiers hated to be under long-range artillery fire because they were unable to shoot back at their tormentors with shorter-ranged muskets. The British avoided exposing their troops to round shot by placing them behind crests when possible, but all other nations customarily deployed their soldiers in the open. At closer ranges, the gunners switched to canister, an anti-personnel weapon. A canister round consisted of a large number of musket balls that, when fired, spread out and flew in the direction of the target. When supporting an attack, the cannons advanced with the infantry. Half the guns moved forward, covered by the remaining guns, then the other half moved, repeating the process. The battalion pieces, usually 4-pounders, fired at the enemy foot soldiers while the heavier guns targeted the enemy artillery. When under attack by enemy infantry, the cannons first fired at the enemy artillery. As the range closed, the guns aimed at the enemy foot soldiers.
Canon de 4 Gribeauval