ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF A POSITION. 
121 
nately, making use as far as possible of any cover the ground may 
afford. Between the rushes the men will lie down and keep up a 
steady fire. This first line will be followed by a line of small bodies, 
whose duty is continuously to feed the first line, and keep its strength 
up to the maximum that can find space to use their arms, which may 
be taken as a line of men at from a yard to a yard and a half interval. 
These small bodies should advance in the formation most suited to 
each of them at the time. Behind these again will be required a 
further line, to be brought up to the firing line at the moment when 
the assault is to be delivered, to give sufficient weight to the charge. 
This line will also be obliged to suit its formation to circumstances, 
but a general rule should be observed, that extended formations for 
the rear lines should only be adopted from necessity, and the men 
should be kept in hand and in such a formation as to render their 
control easy as long as possible. These three lines will then gradu¬ 
ally press on towards the enemy's position, which they will take some 
time to approach, the action swaying backwards and forwards with 
the efforts of the two sides. Eventually, if all goes well, the firing 
line will be able to establish itself within reach of a rush at the 
enemy's position. Then a rapid fire will be carried on for a few 
minutes, whilst the bodies in rear close up, and then the word will be 
given for the assault, when, if the preparatory fire has been efficiently 
carried on, the position should be won. The first three lines are ex¬ 
pected to be sufficient to carry through the attack of the selected 
point of assault. But something more has yet to be thought of. If 
the assault is successful, its carrying out will be sure to throw the 
troops that make it into confusion, and a counter-attack delivered at 
that moment would be very dangerous, unless it was provided for. 
Therefore a further reserve is necessary, to repel any counter-attacks 
made at this critical moment, and to secure the points won. In case 
of a failure of the assault, a reserve is equally necessary to secure the 
retreat of the repulsed troops. 
Whilst the advance thus sketched out of the infantry is taking 
place, the artillery will most likely have to leave its original position, 
and move onwards. It is probable that the advancing infantry will 
mask the fire if this move does not take place; but even if this should 
not occur, it will be desirable to move forward a portion, at all events, 
of the artillery, on account of the cheering effect that the close sup¬ 
port of guns gives to the sister arms. A reference to the attack on 
the Rotherberg at the battle of Spicheren, and the action of the artil¬ 
lery of the Y. and XI. corps at Woerth, will show this. Under these 
circumstances, artillery must not be chary of venturing even into 
effective musketry fire, remembering that their losses will be com¬ 
pensated for by a victory gained. 
It is hardly to be expected that during the progress of this action 
much opportunity will offer for the employment of cavalry; but it 
will have a duty to perform in guarding the flanks of the attack, and 
the example of Yon Bredow's brigade at Mars la Tour, shows that 
occasions may occur when a timely charge of cavalry will bring about 
