STR/TEGY. 503 



is much longer than the line, whu h it previously formed. When 

 the troop is all formed continuously in one rank, it is said to form 

 rank-entire : but when the men of each rank are divided into triads, 

 or divisions of three each, they are said to form ranks by threes ; 

 the advantage of which is, that three men occupy as much breadth 

 as depth, and can wheel as one body, on their own ground ; the 

 centre man being the pivot. A troop thus arranged, would present, 

 after wheeling, a column of six men abreast, three of the front rank 

 and three of the rear ; who by wheeling back again by threes, would 

 resume their places in line. To these explanations, we can only 

 add, that the evolutions of cavalry are quite analogous to those of in- 

 fantry and artillery ; and that the words of command in these three 

 arms should be made to correspond as nearly as possible, (p. 513.) 

 It remains to speak briefly of the Sword Exercise ; which is of 

 the greatest importance to cavalry, in making a charge. At the com- 

 mand, draw-s\voRV, this weapon is seized by the hilt, drawn from 

 the scabbard, and extended to the front, with the point a little raised, 

 and the edge towards the right; it is then brought to a vertical posi- 

 tion, the edge to the left, and the sword hand raised, with the thumb 

 under the chin ; and finally carried forward, by extending the arm, 

 holding it still vertical, and the edge turned towards the horse's left 

 ear. To slope-swoRD, the hand is then raised a little, and the back 

 of the sword rested on the right shoulder : and to carn/-swoRD, is to 

 bring it again to the last position of drawing. In the motion to 

 guard, the sword is first raised vertically, bringing the hand to the 

 left breast ; then extended forward, and held nearly horizontal, point- 

 ing a little to the left, with the edge turned to the right, and inclined 

 slightly downwards. In the St. George, or head protect, the sword 

 is held above the head, pointing over the left shoulder. The six 

 cuts, are different strokes of the sword ; cut one, downwards to the 

 left ; cut two, downwards to the right ; cut three, upwards to the 

 left ; cut four, upwards to the right ; cut Jive, horizontally to the 

 left ; and cut six, horizontally to the right. The pistol exercise, we 

 have no farther room to notice. 



CHAPTER IV. 



STRATEGY. 



STRATEGY, or Grand Tactics, is that branch of the Arts of War 

 which relates to the more extended operations of armies during a 

 compaign ; or, in other words, to the duties of a general command- 

 ing in chief. The name is derived from the Greek, (rtpatog, an 

 army ; and ayw, I lead ; or from o^pon^yta, of corresponding signifi- 

 cation. It is a branch of high importance ; to which the three pre- 

 ceding branches are entirely subordinate : and it should, therefore, 

 be studied not only by high commanders, but by those who aspire to 

 high command. Geotactics relates to the training of individual 

 corps, or their component parts; but Strategy, or Grand Tactics, re- 

 lates to the combining of different corps, to form an army, and the 



