160 Majur-Gctieral Sir Howard Douglas on 



fertile in expedients to deceive his opponent, will fre(|uently 

 gain a decided advantage. This may be accomplished by 

 making some unexpected movement, in order to take his adver- 

 sary by surprise, or to throw his forces into disorder, by which 

 means the whole subdivisions may be beaten in detail. Such a 

 mode of procedure is no new scheme, but has been put in prac- 

 tice by all distinguished commanders, as we learn from the earliest 

 records of authentic history. The Grecian phalanx and the 

 Roman cuneus were formed for the express purpose of break- 

 ing the enemy's line by a superior force, or for preventing the 

 successful execution of that manoeuvre. 



At the battle of Placentia, according to Livy, Hannibal dis- 

 patched his Numidian cavalry to assault the Roman camp. 

 The Roman cavalry, and part of the infantry, charged them 

 successfully, and drove them across the river Trebia. Both 

 armies were now drawn out for battle. It was commenced by 

 the Balearians and the Carthaginian elephants. They in turn 

 drove back the Romans, and the contest became general. By 

 HannibaFs superior tactics the Roman infantry were surrounded; 

 but, by their extraordinary valour, ten thousand broke through 

 the enemy'' s line, and escaped to Placentia. Again, at the cele- 

 brated battle of Cannae, the Carthaginian centre was formed in 

 the shape of a salient wedge, which the Romans charging in 

 front, drove back, till their front was formed in line. By con- 

 tinuing to press the Carthaginian centre, it still fell back, forming 

 the hollow cuneus or wedge, supported on each side by the 

 wings. The Romans continued incautiously to press forward 

 till they were surrounded in their attempt to break the Cartha- 

 ginian line. The disastrous result is well known. Thus the 

 manoeuvre of breaking theenemy^'s line at Placentia was attended 

 with the desired success to the troops which effected it ; while 

 at Cannae, the attempt led, in a great degree, to their complete 

 overthrow. In many encounters in modern warfare, the same 

 manoeuvre has been attended likewise with various success. It 

 was the practice of Napoleon, one of the ablest commanders of 

 the age, to employ that means to overwhelm, by superior num- 

 bers, some particular point, frequently the centre of the army 

 of his opponent, which was almost uniformly successful, till op- 

 posed by the invincible courage of the British soldiers, led by 

 their consummate general, at the memorable battle of Waterloo. 



