290 



, 

 MILITARY TACTICS. 



Fvror^cnm- 



Oi Baiiies. enemy mounting the breast-work, and preventing us 

 " - ^ from climbing up. The troops cannot be kept together 

 at night ; many remain behind ; an-.l terror and disor- 

 der spread as easily among the assailants as among the 

 defenders. In a night attack we lose the advantage 

 which might be expected from a previous cannonade on 

 the enemy's works; and even if we should succeed in 

 penetrating the works, it is probable that we may not 

 be able to follow up our advantage, and to render it de- 

 cisive. On account of these disadvantages, most at- 

 tacks on entrenchments are made by day. In general, 

 we would recommend the following rules as the safest 

 with respect to the time of attack. A night attack 

 should be made only when we expect to take the ene- 

 my by surprise ; or when he has bad, discouraged, or 

 ill-disposed troops. It is always advisable, however, 

 to march, and make our dispositions during the night, 

 in order to commence the attack by day-light, unless we 

 have reason to dread confusion and 'disorder. At all 

 events, we should attack as soon after dawn as possible, 

 in order that we may have time to follow ap a victory. 

 Hitherto we have taken it for granted that the de- 

 niiued by fending party had made good dispositions. It is pos- 

 ihc encmr. sible. however, that he may have committed errors, 

 which must also be taken into the account. The troops 

 may be ill posted or disposed upon the field of battle ; 

 the troops, or the different kinds of arms, may not be 

 jible to sustain each other ; the reserves may be ill-plac- 

 ed, or at too great a distance ; a part of the line may 

 form a projecting angle, perhaps not very well cover- 

 ed ; we may be able, by a rapid movement, to compel 

 the enemy to change his order of battle ; or, he may be 

 as it were, nailed to his position, from the fear of losing 

 some essential advantages by attempting to advance. 



\Vlicn in this way all the necessary dispositions for 

 the attack have been made, the following general rules 

 nre to be observed : 1. The army, which had previous- 

 ly been marching in columns, is placed in order of 

 battle, generally by deploying. This manoeuvre must 

 not be performed at too great a distance, in order that 

 the army may not have occasion to break off again, 

 while marching to the attack ; nor too near, lest it 

 should be performed under a dangerous fire. 2. The 

 artillery is moved up to those points required by the 

 plan of attack. 3. At the proper time, the command 

 or signal for the attack is given, and the troops imme- 

 diately march upon the enemy. 



In case we are to attack the whole of the enemy's 

 front, we proceed in the following manner : 1. The 

 army is commonly drawn up in two lines, with the ne- 

 wholefront. cessary reserves, and in complete order of battle, if the 

 ground admit of it, otherwise the intervals are extend- 

 ed, but never beyond the half order, which must not be 

 exceeded. 2. The army then move forwards, according 

 to the pre-determined mode of attack, either under the 

 fire of the artillery, or after the latter has done the ex- 

 pected execution, taking care not to break the line. 3. 

 The nature of the ground, and other circumstances, 

 must determine whether the attack is to be made first 

 with cavalry or infantry, or with both at once ; and 

 whether troops of one kind are to be opposed to troops 

 of the same or a different description. But whatever 

 is to be done must be done resolutely. 4. If we have 

 thrown the troops opposed to us into disorder, we must 

 immediately form and prepare to receive or to attack 

 the second line or reserve. 5. If there be no second 

 line or reserve, or if these also have been beaten, the 

 victors should not give themselves entirely up to the 

 pursuit, but send a detachment for that purpose, suffi- 



Ccncral 



Rules for 

 an attack 

 on the 



cient to prevent the enemy from forming again ; while CfBuil -. 

 the rest endeavour to improve the advantages obtained, *--\-^"' 

 by falling on the enemy's flank, or taking such a posi- 

 tion as will cut off his retreat. 6. The artillery must 

 fire upon those batteries which most annoy the troops 

 in their advance, or upon the points chosen for the 

 commencement of die attack. 



If there be some obstacle in front which must be pre- Rules for 

 viously surmounted, the cannon must play upon it, surmoimi- 

 while the troops destined to attack it, march upon it in '"* an ob ~ 

 column at those points where they are le;ist exposed to statle 

 the enemy's fire. The rest of the artillery endeavour 

 partly to interrupt the communication between the ene- 

 my's army and the posts, and partly to secure the de- 

 bouche, and to silence the batteries which would pre- 

 vent it. The whole strength of a position frequently 

 consists in such a post in front, and the enemy retire as 

 soon as it is forced ; but if they do not, the whole line 

 must be formed, as rapidly as possible for the attack, 

 as soon as we have got possession of the po-t, in order 

 to profit by the disorder which the flight of the troops 

 which have been driven out of it may have occasioned 

 in the enemy's army. 



If we can attack the enemy only at certain points, we Rules Tor 

 must ascertain the best method of making tlie attack, ' he attack 

 whether by the fire or the bayoiiets of the infantry, or cl 

 with cavalry. If by means of fire, we should endea- ' H 

 vour to unite as much fire as possible, both from great 

 and small arms, on the points of attack ; and the troops 

 and cannon should be so placed as to have a cross fire. 

 But if the attack is to be made with the bayonet, our 

 troops in column must approach the enemy cautiously, 

 in order that they may not suffer much from the ene- 

 my's artillery, and then attack with vigour. The ca- 

 valry must attack with that fury in which the force of 

 their charge consists. When our fire, w Inch, if possi- 

 ble, should always take place during the advance of the 

 troops, has made an impression upon the enemy, the 

 troops nearest them, or those who receive orders, must 

 immediately push forwards, and avail themselves of his 

 confusion, to make a rapid charge, with the view of pe- 

 netrating his line. Those who have succeeded must 

 follow up their success, and overthrow all that advances 

 to sustain the broken line. The troops that follow 

 those who made the attack must fall on the flank of that 

 part of the enemy which has not given way, and form 

 front in order to oppose any attempt that may be made 

 by the second line, or the reserve, to restore the combat. 

 If we have completely succeeded in establishing our- 

 selves on those points of the enemy's line, he retires 

 from the field. Our more advanced troops then endea- 

 vour to occupy positions for the purpose of cutting off 

 the retreat ; the others who were engaged in the attacks, 

 endeavour to unite as rapidly as possible, to form in 

 line, and to support the troops engaged in the pursuit. 



In the attack of an entrenched camp, the troops must Rules for 

 be made acquainted with the obstacles which they have the attack 

 to encounter in eacli attack, and be supplied with the ofan en- 

 means of surmounting them As many of these ob- "' en<:l ' e <l 

 stacles as possible should be previously removed by the earo P > 

 artillery. The troops which are destined to form the 

 attacks then march in open columns to the points of at- 

 tack, and endeavour to avail themselves of all the ad- 

 vantages of the ground, to avoid the enemy's fire. The 

 troops destined to support the attacks follow at a mode- 

 rate distance in front The columns should not be too 

 strong, nor consist of more than two battalions. It were 

 better to make several attacks than to form too deep 

 columns. To arrive in front of the entrenchment to 



