MILITARY TACTICS. 



267 



T the enough to each other ; a charge, or at least an actual 

 ompoi. combat with the bayonet seldom takes place, except in 

 two of an ex traordinary or accidental circumstances. The French 

 ^ [^ boasted much of their success with the bayonet in their 

 "~ Y """' late battles ; but the way, it is believed, was always 

 pretty well cleared by their numerous artillery previ- 

 ous to the charge. In the hands of British soldiers, 

 the bayonet has always proved a most efficient and de- 

 cisive weapon, as they have always, indeed, been dis- 

 tinguihed tor their courage and firmness in personal 

 conflict 



In order to facilitate the government and movements 

 fan army, it is divided into small bodies of men, cal- 

 led battalions, consisting of from five to seven hundred 

 men. Each battalion is provided with two field-pieces ; 

 and when several battalions are placed together, they 

 preserve aa much distance between them as is necessary 

 for the management of the field-pieces, and to enable 

 persons to ride through conveniently. With cannon 

 attached, the interval between battalions is twelve 

 paces ; without cannon, it may be six pace*. A great- 

 er interval is always a consequence of necessity I i 

 Urge armies, several battalions are formed into brigades, 

 several brigade* into divisions, and the** divisions into 

 larger bodies, called corpt farmer, each placed under 

 the immediate command of officers of a certain rank, 

 rhfoatrr. Infantry are capable of acting upon every speciea of 

 ground, and are therefore the moat essentiul constituent 

 of an army. It is thought dangerous, however, to ex- 

 pose infantry to the attacks of cavalry upon a plain, 

 where the latter are always most efficient, and tl 

 mer are ltat>le to be broken, especially if they should at- 

 tempt to put themselves in motion. But recent results 

 mill to have demonstrated, that a well disciplined in- 

 fantry, properly disposed, are, in such a case, not only 

 capable of opposing a succeful resistance to cavalry, 

 but even of becoming the assailants in their turn. In 

 all broken and uneven ground, such aa hills, woods, 

 villages, behind hedge* and fences of every description, 

 rivers,morMse*,and all kinds of entrenchment*, infantry 

 can be most effectually employed, both for attack and 

 defence. 



The following are general rules for the disposition 

 of infantry upon different kinds of ground. 



I . On hills, infantry must be posted so as to com- 

 mand the whole declivity ; and therefore they must not 

 Iwavs be placed on the very highest ndge, or summit, 

 much let* behind it, if the object be to oppose the as- 

 cent of the enemy. 



S. When a wood is to be occupied by infantry, they 

 should be placed on the edge of it, so as to be conceal- 

 ed by the trees, while, at the same time, they are en. 

 abled to fire upon an approaching enemy. A combat 

 with infantry of the line can seldom take place within 

 a wood, unless where an attack is made upon a detach- 

 ment posted there to obstruct an enemy's passage, or 

 in light oprn places. 



3. In villages, the infantry, when numerous occupy 

 the hedges and fences of the gardens, or orchard*, out- 

 so as to command t!ie field* beyond them. When 

 Hacked in this situation, they retire gradually from 

 hedge to hedge, and occupy the garden* themselves, 

 with the houses and streets within their line. The 

 name rule applies to farms and fields that are subdivid- 

 ed by hedges or other fences. As the regular infantry 

 always fight in a body, and in line, care must always 

 be taken, in occupying hedges, villages, &c. to pre- 

 erve a communication in every direction, in order that 

 on* part may support the other, and that the whole 



Of the 



composi- 

 tion o f an 

 Armv. 



may always form one connected line, impenetrable to 

 the attacks of the enemy. 



4. Infantry are posted behind riven, morasses, ra- 

 vines, &c. in order to prevent, by their fire, the passage 



of the enemy. For this purpose, it is by no means 

 necessary to occupy the whole length of the bank, but 

 only to be posted so as to keep all those places where 

 the enemy can effect passage, at the distance of a 

 short gun-shot, under their fire, and that fire, if pos- 

 sible, a cross one. 



The regular infantry, lie in the field under tents, 

 which are carried on baggage-waggons, or on horse- 

 back. Every battalion carries along with it two field- 

 pieces, and the necessary ammunition. As in the course 

 of an active campaign, they are not quartered in towns 

 and villages, they must also carry along with them se- 

 veral other necessary articles, which swell their bag- 

 gage to euch a considerable bulk, as frequently proves 

 an impediment on service. 



Of light infantry there are a great mnny different Light ia- 

 kinds, with an almost endless variety of designations ; 

 such a* riflemen, sharp shooters, or tiralleurs, chasseurs, 

 voltigeurs, Sec. In some services, the troops of certain 

 nations are especially destined to the duties of light in- 

 fantry. Light infantry differ from regular infantry, 

 principally in their arms, equipments, and mode of 

 fighting. In their arms there is less difference now 

 than formerly, only that those destined to act as rifle- 

 men are armed with rifles, instead of common fire- locks. 

 Their baggage is less bulky than that of the regular in- 

 fantry, and they have no field-pieces attached to their 

 battalions Their mode of fighting is less regular than 

 that of the infantry of the line, and requires more in- 

 divniual ski!) and intelligence. In what is called the 

 petite guerrt, especially in mountainous countries, this 

 description of troops is moat eminently useful. In the 

 late war, the French appear to have brought the light 

 infantry service (for which the character of the people 

 teens peculiarly adapted,) to great perfection. It fre- 

 quently happened that their light troops were enabled, 

 by the vivacity of their movements, to harms, exhaust, 

 and ultimately subdue more numerous bodies of regular 

 infantry. 



The cavalry are composed of heavy and light horse. Cavalry. 

 The former may he divided into cuirassiers and dra- 

 goons. The cuirusiers only have defensive armour, 

 via. a cuirass or iron mail, which protects the breast and 

 back. In the British, and some other services, there 

 are no cuirassiers. Indeed, it has been found, that the 

 cuirass is of little use, and, on the contrary, proves a 

 great impediment to the free motion of the rider. The 

 dragoons are armed with a sword, a carabine, and a 

 pair of pistol;. The cavalry are placed in two ranks, 

 although the first only can act immediately against the 

 enemy. The second line, however, tends to give more 

 firmness to the whole body, and can supply the places 

 of those who fall in front. Their manner of fighting 

 coniist* in endeavouring to throw the enemy into dis- 

 order by the imprlut of their attack, and then tocut them 

 down with their swords. Every thing therefore <le- 

 pends upon their preserving order with the greatest 

 possible celerity of motion. The cavalry, as well as 

 the infantry, are placed in small bodies, culled squad- 

 rons, at certain small intervals from each other. A 

 iquadron generally contains from 1 '20 to 1 (JO horse. 



Cavalry, and especially heavy horse, can only be em- 

 ployed in a champaign country, and on firm ground ; 

 but there they are capable of acting not only against 

 cavalry, but ajso against infantry, and even in the at- 



