106 OUR INFANTRY. 



of the 16th and 18th of June were fought. 

 As a finish to the instruction of these officers, 

 it might be well on their return to England, to 

 show them two or three districts calculated for 

 a campaign, inviting each of them to send in 

 two reports — one on the course an invading 

 army should take, and another showing the 

 course a defending army should follow — allow- 

 ing twelve hours only for drawing up each. 

 This would show what officers were most ready 

 in taking up military positions. 



Under this system, no military man pos- 

 sessing more than usual abilities for war, could 

 long remain unknown to the Commander-in- 

 Chief, thus putting an end to our present 

 system, under which the most and the least 

 talented officers are placed and retained in the 

 same category. 



When the next war shall arrive, and we 

 look at an army about to leave our shores, well 

 appointed and well disciplined, it would be 

 sad to feel, that while its success against 

 the enemy will depend almost wholly on 

 the talents of its commander, these are 

 lamentably insufficient. Yet how often have 

 we not sent out fine armies, which failed 



