MILITARY TACTICS. 



277 



Ofihe At- 

 tack of K- 

 raging Par- 

 tic*, Coo- 

 voy, and 

 Detach. 



Attack of a 



In consequence of the multitude of light troops em- 

 ployed in modern warfare, it it not so easy to lay an 

 ambuscade now -as formerly. For this reason, such 

 attacks are atten made without attempting an ambus- 

 cade. The following are the special rules to be ob- 

 served in these different kinds of attack. 



The nnn-brr and description of troops to be em- 

 ployed in the attack of a foraging party, must be de- 

 termined by the time and place, and by the strength 

 of the enemy's covering pirty ; its green foraging is 

 generally performed in plains ; a numerous cavalry 

 will here be most useful; but infantry must also be 

 employed to support them, and likewise for the attack 



t. Whether an ambuscade has been laid or not, 

 an attack is generally made first at one place, in order 



luce the enemy to weaken hi-i chain at other 

 points, where a second atMck is then made. If the 

 enemy be cautiou, more than one attack must be made 

 simultaneously, in order to distract his attention, and 



f us to penetrate some parts of the chain, which 

 is always the main object. The attacks must there- 

 fore be made in a very lively an-l vigorous manner. 

 .L-cce/lcd in penetrating the enemy's chain, 

 troops shou'.l 1 1! leavour to take a* many 



.en M possible, and particularly hor*ef. If the 

 enemy, however, has made good dispositions, and 

 eel the foraging party in safety, they must be pursued 

 to far in their retreat as to render it impossible for 

 them to return and complete their foraging. 



The attack of a dry foraging party requires farther 



depositions, and a stronger body of troop*, especially 



. ne principal ol jn-t here is to attack the 



villige* in which the enemy i foraging, and which 



are all occupied by infantry. To do this successfully. 



ire*ary to attark them all at once. A great ob- 

 ject has been gained, if we prevent the enemy from com- 

 pletii much may be accomplish- 



ed l>y - it will probably happen, 



either that the enemy shall send his foragers back to 



r. from apprehension; or they will escape of 

 thenrtrlvrs. When this has been accomplished, and 

 UM covering party i re, they must be kept in 



until tlie foraging can no longer pro- 

 ceed ; but care must be taken not to engage so deeply 

 a to run the risk of being beaten, especially if the 



v has, in the mean time, received reinforcements. 

 Should the covering party retire, they must be pursu- 



tar a* po**iblc r in order that they may give, up 

 returning ; and then all sorts of car- 

 riage* should be 41111 in requisition, in ordrr to carry 



forsgv, which the enemy had collected, to our 

 own quart. 



In attacking a convoy, without laying an ambu*- 

 cade, -t he'midr, if posMble, before the 



enemy i< I'.illy prepared. If he be on the march, an 

 attac 1 -n the advanced or rear guard, 1:1 



orrl-r to draw the troop* towards that quarter. Seve- 

 ral attack* are afterwards made at differ. 

 ticularly such as the enemy has weakened, in order to 



> the firrt attack. Should he, however, lie pre- 



it all point*, several attacks must still be made. 



; t-w of distracting his attention, and in order 



that t riop* may have an opportunity, in tlie 



intervals, of penetrating the convoy, and inflicting a* 



much injury as possible. These attacks maybe the Of the At- 

 more easily "hazarded, because, if unsuccessful, there is lack of f - 

 no chance of farther loss ; for the enemy's attention T? 1 ,"'^* 1 

 being occupied by the protection of the convoy, there v '"' f> "^ 

 is no difficulty in getting away from him. 



If the convoy be encamped, the first thing to be 

 done is to get rid of the supporting cavalry ; and then, 

 by means of a superior fire, or a vigorous attack upon 

 a weak part, to penetrate the barricado, as in the case 

 of an entrenchment. But if the covering party have 

 taken up a po-hion in front of the convoy, and there 

 await the attack, we should examine whether it be 

 >le to get round behind them, in order that, 

 while we make a feigned attack, a part of the troops 

 may in this way get among the convoy, and destroy it. 

 Should thi-; he impossible, the covering party must be 

 attacked like any other post. 



In attacking a detachment, it may be proper, in the Attack of a 

 first place, to make use of an ambuscade, becaHse the B ach- 

 leaders do not always take the necessary precautions. n> ent> 

 The enemy should then be enticed into the ambuscade 

 by means of a body of troops, who first advance and 

 then retire, or even betake themselves to flight. If 

 the enemy have to pass a defile, we should endeavour, 

 by occupying it, to cut off his retreat, and then, un- 

 der cover of a ravine, height, wood, &c. to get on his 

 flanks or rear, in order to attack him suddenly in front 

 and rear, or in the flanks. This must never be ne- 

 glected, when the enemy, by the slightest degree of 

 carelessness, gives u* an opportunity for executing the 

 stratagem. Such are the measures to be taken by a 

 detachment which has been sent out for the purpose of 

 attacking another. The commander, however, although 

 hi* march may have been ever so well concealed, must 

 not neglect any of the necessary precautions for hi* 

 own safety. If two detachments, however, which 

 have been sent out for different purposes, should hap- 

 pen to encounter each other, a prudent commander 

 will endeavour, notwithstanding, to secure all the ad- 

 vantages above described, and will also employ every 

 means of obtaining early and correct information re- 

 specting the views of his antagonist ; in which the at- 

 tachment of the people of the country will be of the 

 greatest service. But when two hostile detachments 

 suddenly encounter each other in front, without either 

 having taken the necessary precautions, the number*, 

 valour, and discipline of the troops, most decide the 

 victory, which will generally be in favour of the party 

 that makes the most determined attack. Should a 

 weaker, however, encounter a stronger detachment, 

 the former must put on a good face, and endeavour, 

 by taking every advantage of the ground, and execut- 

 ing skilful manoeuvres, either to hold out until rein- 

 forcements arrivr. <T t<> make a good retreat But 

 when a stronger detachment encounters a weaker, the 

 former, in<! 'il circumstances permit, ought to 



endeavour to beat the latter, but at the same time to 

 beware of too much keenness, for fear of falling into 

 an ambuscade. 



When prisoners and bootv are made, in such enter- 

 prises, they should be sent forward for security, and 

 the troops should follow, in order to protect them 

 against a possible pursuit, but without engaging far- 

 ther with the enemy, unless in a case of necessity. 



