

CHAP, xxiii.] WARS OF THE REVOLUTION. 



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great precision of aim. These rifles were used very 

 much by the American troops, who, being undisciplined, 

 were only fitted for that desultory and irregular kind of 

 fighting. This war had the effect of introducing special 

 bodies of riflemen into European armies. These corps 

 for a long period were maintained for the purpose of 

 skirmishing. All infantry troops are now armed, how- 

 ever, with this same type of weapon. 



The Revolution in France, which followed closely that 

 in America, had a great effect on military affairs, not only 

 in the system of tactics, but also in the method of 

 recruiting and organising armies. When the people 

 dethroned the monarch, and took possession of the 

 government of the country, it was a terrible shock to 

 the prejudices and sentiments of the whole of Europe, 

 which for so many centuries without intermission had 

 been governed in almost every part upon the monar- 

 chical principle. The result was a combination of almost 

 all the kingdoms of Europe in aid of the French 

 monarchy, and to check the growth of a spirit of demo- 

 cracy, the spread of which was much to be dreaded. 



This combination of so many countries against the 

 people of France naturally led to extraordinary steps 

 being taken by the rulers of the new republic to meet 

 successfully the threatened attacks. They therefore 

 decided to compel the population to fight in defence of 

 the country, and in March, 1793, decreed a conscription 

 of 300,000 men in addition to those already under arms. 

 As the exigencies of the war increased, a larger force was 

 required, and in the following July a further levy was 

 made of 1,200,000 men. These immense numbers 

 were drafted into the old regiments, in order that they 

 might be readily drilled ; but for a time the discipline 

 was very imperfect, and the troops unable to manoeuvre 

 with any steadiness. 



These great masses, so much more numerous than the 

 armies of preceding ages, required a different organisa- 

 tion to insure a rapid execution of orders and a proper 

 system of responsibility. This led to the formation of the 

 troops into divisions and corps d'arm^Cy composed of all 



