The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1782-05-08 00:00:00, page 4

LITERARY ARTICLE.
From the Critical Review for November, 1781.
/ Syflem of taflicks, practical, theoretical, and hijiorical, tran
slated from the French ts M. Joly de Maizeroy, bj Thomas
Mante, Esq.
THIS system is divided into four parts. The firft treats of
the arms, military operations and customs, of the an
cients ; which the author confides under divine heads, name
ly, the tadicks of the ancient people of Asia; the regulation and
dilciplineof the Greeks ;the Roman tafticks; acomparifon of
the phalanx with the legion; the shouts of the ancients, and
their instruments of war. In the investigation of all thofc fub
ieds, the author fbows great acquaintance with the writings
of antiquity ; which he appears to have examined with uncom
mon attention and care.
The second part describes the different orders of battle among
the ancients. It begins with the battle of Thymbrea; on
which we are presented with many observations, which appear
to be made with judgment, 2nd an accurate knowledge of the
principles of the feience. Next follows a description of the
battle of Pharfalia, with observations ; and a parallel between
the disposition of the armies, and the conduct of the generals,
in thofc two celebrated aliens of antiquity.
The author afterwards treats of the oblique order ; describing
the battle of Arbela, and also giving obfeivations upon it. lie
examines the different customs relative to orders of battle ; the
intermixing infantry with cavalry ; of corps in ambuih ; of ar
mies in poll; entrenched camps, and lines. He next recites
instances of adions, that refcmble the oblique order, applied
to the second and third disposition of Ve^ctius ; and describes
the movements of the King of Prussia to form the oblique. 'I he
author then describes the battle of Leudra, and gives observa
tions upon it; treating in the fame manner of the battle of
Mantinea, of the passage of the Hydafpes, and of the battle of
Alexander with Porus. What follows of the ancient tadbeks
relates to the war of Eumenes and Antigonus, the battles of
Gabena and Marathon, with observations and parallels.
The third part of the work defeends to the military opera
tions of modern times. The 6rft objeft of the author's remarks
is the Crefceht Order, and that of the three separate bodies,
which are ufeally opposed to it. In this part, he defi!ribes the
tattles of Zaldarana, Aleppo, Alcazar; on ail which he makes
judicious and pertinent observations. Subsequent to thole, is
an account of ambufcad^s in battle ; and of the order of attack
by the centre ; which the author illustrates by the battle of
Hockftet, and that of Modin. He likcwife delivers observa
tions and theory concerning the intermixing of cavalry and in
fantry : treats of armies engaging with a river behind them ; ot
corps de reserve; with adiffertation on the wedge, and an exa
mination & the Chevalier de Folard's column.-
The fourth part treats of the application of the double co
hort to the different operations of war; of the passage of de
nies and rivers ; of rtefcents; sieges; the attack and defence
of entrenchments; of the attack of armies polled behind re
doubts ; of the different kinds ofcamps ; of foraging ; of win
ter quarters, the fuccouringof places, the furpriting of places ;
of square orders; of the plefion or long square; of the conduct
of convoys; of thereturn of pounded armies ; and of the order
of marching; the whole concluding with maxims of general
importance in the art of war. . „ ~ ,
As a specimen of this work, we shall prefect our readers with
a part ot the differtatioo on the wedge.
“ The wedge is anevohrtion, concerning which opinions
have ever been, and are dill, very much divided. The Che
valier de Folard teems toiloubt of its reality ; as doc,
M. Guifeard, much better rerfed than the Chevalier in the an
cient tadticks. The new translator of Elian thinks otherwise,
and has exerted himfelf to prove the affirmative. But, notwitu
itanding all the pafrtges with which he endeavours to support
'himfelf, we may easily difeoverthe excels of his partiality ; 4 not
fct Q rrfop, are always ill founded, in any other reaped than
rities are in still greater number. the diflcrcnt'applica
tion of the fame terms, the little dependence which.we can
have no such an author as Elian, the mistakes into which even
Vegetius himfelf has. often fallen, we are to ascribe that irre-
Concileable variety of ferttiments. It must be allowed, that by
taking some passages according to the letter, we fhaH be sure
to find in them the true wedge; but we should compare these
passages with others, 2nd make proper allowances for the cir
cumstances, in which the term, embolos and cuneus are em
ployed. To begin with the Greeks.
V-Xenophon, it istrpe, fays, word for word, in his account,
ofthe latite of Mantinea, that " Epaminandas formed an ein
bolon of infantry, with which he advanced to fhoek the en : my,
as one galley does another with its beak." But this is no proof,
that the embolon was (harp at the head, and broad at the bot
tom. This corps marched in front of the line, which followed ;
in which situation, an oblong might represent the beak of a gal
ley, as well as a triangle Could. In the fame action, Epaminon
das is likewise said to have made a very firing embolon with all
hiscavalry. Surely nobody will fay, this was a wedge. But,
allowing that the Greeks formed their Iquadrons into a wedge
or lozenge, it is highly improbable, that the whole of the The
ban cavalry should have been formed into one single wedge. I
cannot think of more than two ways to underhand this [railage.
One is, that the line was broken, and bent back in the form
of aV; the other, that the general, designing to hide part of
his forces, had fliortehed his line, and doubled his squadrons.
behind one another; and this is the interpretation I adopted in
describing the battle of Mantinea. I rest my interpretation on
the custom of the Greeks, who took this disposition in cases,
In which they did not chufe to expose their whole strength;
such, for instance, as thofc, in which they could not extend
themselves. Elian, who has placed it among his evolutions of
cavalry, is not against me. In this pillage, I cannot think the
word embolon means any more than a vast fquadrun of great
depth; and what should hinder our underflandrug it, when
spoken of infrantry, in the fame sense?
"'Nor have we ans reason to think, that Eparninondas for
med # n triangle at Leuftta; Xenophon fays, that the Lacede
monians were twelve dec,, and that the Thebans formed a
corps, cfno fewerthan fifty ranks. If the latter bad been dis
posed iri a triangle, why did not the biftorian express their dif
pofitfon in the fame terms, he did that at Mantinea? He con
tents himfelf with taking notice, that the Thebans were drawn
tip very deep. When wefay, that a corps is formed of such a
depth, aud mention the Dumber of ranks, it is the fame thing,
as if we were to fay, that the ranks are of an equal length ; and
that, ofcourfe, the whole form's a square. It had been ridicu
lousCTough to fay of 1 triangular corps, which had one or two
men at its point, and fifty of its base, that it had fifty ranks.
Plutarch's words concerning this affair cannot be made to fug
geff any other idea, than that of a great body of infantry ; and
Diodorus speaks of nothing but a dense and compact body. The
expression obliquam phalangem fontatit (he difpof d his pha
lanxobliquely)Signifies Nothing but the order of attack ; a man,
in my opinion, muff be greatly prejudiced, to conclude from
these words, tnat the order here tiled was the wed^e.
“ Wheh Alexander attacked the Tanlantines, Who occupied
a defile which he wanted to pafs, : he made divers manceuvres
to induce them to weaken the body they had there ; then, sud
denly forming an. erabolon of his phalanx, lie threw himfelf in
to it. Nothing here can be made to fignify a wedge, rather
than a column. Thus, too, s in the chapter on the battle of
Arbela, where it is said, that Alexander formed a wedge of the
Cavalry of his right win,, and the infantry nenreftto it, in ot
der to throw them rapidly into the chains he might perceive in
the Persian line; it is still lets probable, that he should have
formed a wedge of all his royal companies, than that Epami
nondas should have done it with regard to his left wing, at
Mantineu; tht object of the latter, as I have already said, was
to hide part of his forces; and this he might hate done by
breaking his line, and making them form! an angle, with its
point foremen. Alexander had not the fame motives for this
disposition at Arbela; all he wanted was tothrow hrmfell di
rectly into the chafins of the enemy's Time ; and this he did in
the order cf march; that is to fay, in cohnun, which is the
disposition ne welt akin to it. The term embolos, employed
in thrs place by Arrian, does not fignify the lame thing that
Xenophon means by it, when freaking of Mantinea. Here
then we have already a strong proof, that the Greeks used this
word in different senses.
" But supposing ns still very much in the darlt, with regard
to the true sense of this term ; to underhand it of the angul ir
disposition, we should be firft convinced, that the angle is ea
sier the form than the full square, of greater depth than front;
that its march muff be more rapid ; anti its Ihock niore impe
tuous. I,et us examine this one moment. The strength of
the Grecian order depended on the preflure of its ranks ; and
the degree of this preffare, on the number of them: it is on
this principle the column ought to alt For this purpose, all
the parts of it should unite their strength, to carry it, in con
cert, against the fame point. Tire ranks and files, therefore,
should be all parallel and perpendicular, to the end' ,that the
weight Severy man falling diredly on the man before him,
may give thofc in the front such an impnife, as the enemy shall
not be able to withflaud. Now, a real impure of this kind
can only lrc found in a square body; tince it is in a square body
alone, the motion of every part is direct ; and each communi
cates, as much as possible, tothe ether, the entire rats, of its
own motion."
This work may not only be read with great adrarttageby the
military gentleman, but with pleafnrc by the antiquary. For
betide a judicious system of modern tadicks, tile author has
given an in^c nious and inftruftive commentary on the tadicks
of the earlier ages, particularly of the Greeks and Romans.
His theory is drawn from practice; his precepts confirmed by
apposite examples ; and he has ilTußrated the whole with plates,
exh : biung the various fubjgtts. in a clear, accurate, and fcien
tirick view.
Tu3hfo. By Lh^temmt-Csland William DALRYMPLE, ts
the Green's Royal llg:me;it of Foot.
IT affords ns plcafure to find, that, while some French writ
ers are exerting all ' their ingenuity to improve the tactics of
their own nation. Great Britain has also hir men of feience,
who cultivate the fame fudged, and are no less ardent for
aggrandizing the military fame of their refpedive country. Of
this work; whicli is dedicated to his Majesty, we fliall lay be
fore our readers the rntroduaiow.
" It is a melancholy reflexion, that the speculations &f men
should tend tothe improvement of an art for the deftrudion of
their own species; but till the bounds of ambition be more
justly ascertained, and legifhtures refine on government, a
great part of every community must bi employed in the pro
feffion of arras.
“ On taking a view of the different states of Europe, it is
furprizing ta behold the number of men engaged in this ho
nourable service: the Britilh army, like others, has chcreafed
to ambit enormous magnitude ; but it hai not made an equal
progress in its regulations and tatties.
" Confining my observations to the field dicipline, it touft
have been obvious, that the troops at our several encamp
ments, have appeared the armies of different dates: there arc
not two regiments that form column from line, or line front
column alike: we fee one battalion taking up it^ ground in
—BBC Qfcmraterarfc# }imroe ^rnt tr tarw^OT afff
front rank, and others on their rear in tire fame maneuvre ;
the commanding officer of one corps prefers open, another
close files ; and tfris irregularity must prevail, till an wiverfel
tactical yrtern be eßab'ifhcd, and the wbok array trained upon
the fame plan : the mechanical operations of troops once after
tailed, a more ample field in the great theatre of war would
be opened to oar officers, who are now to Rudy the common
rules of their profeffion when they should enter on the prac
tice : Sir William Howe fays in his narrative, “ that the
troops at Halifax, in 1776, received great benefit from being
exercised in line, a very eflentral part of difeipliue, in which
they were defective till that time."
66 Tbefcconfidcratrons, and my remarks on the progress of
military faience in other countries, have led me to enter into
the min utiz of forming troops for service ; and I have here de
tailed it in such a nnmuer, as would serve for a basis, upon
which the field discipline of the army might be regulated: but
before I make any observations on the fubjedt, I malt take
notice of what has fallen from a very eminent military author ;
that “ land forces are nothing in this country, and that ma
rines arctire only species of troops." If we were never to be
engaged in any offenfae land war beyond the desultory at
tacks on & enemy's coast, or if our enemy's were never to
make any serious attempts upon ns, such an idea would be
very just, and our tatties might be confined to the mere use of
the'fireloek ; to prime and load; present and fire; but whilst
there is a poflibility of more extensive employment, our troops
should not move in fucha circum&ribed sphere, it would be
very ufcfal for botn officers and soldiers to have a little know
ledge of naval affairs, as every operation of war in which we
may be engaged from this illand, must be connected with the
sea; but if tlrey were fixed to that ferrice, we should be total-"
lyunacquired with the sublimer branches of our profeffiion,
which require an education different from the marines.
" In America, it has been the practice to adopt the forma
tion of two deep; but as troops may be empk>yed in different
countries and situations, we should have an efbablifbment cal
culated accordingly; whenever the depth of our battalions is
reduced, the extent must be increased, and the column of
march being lengthened considerably, the movement of great
bodies becomes more difficult ;; betides, in an open country,
the fire of three ranks inuft give a mauifeft fapcriority over the
feeble efforts of two ranks.
“ TheTyftem of formation T hare here effabTifhed is three
deep, conformably with the European school! the hint is taken
from the 'Menu tire s Militaires de Guifehardt, Preface du Tra
duAcur fur la Tajique d'Arrien, tom.zde p. sri. It is cal
culated piincipally for an open country, and fupppfed to be
the mod perfect arrangement for troops armed as we are at
prefect ; but to aft iirau enclosed, woody, or mountainous
country, it may te not only heceffary to reduce the formation
to two deep, or even to one rank, but to open tl.e order con
fiderably ; for as irregular fortification is toregtnar, so is this
irregular kind of formation, to that of three deep, the primi
tive and supposed most perfc& arrangement; whenever the
countryperinits the use of the primitive foimation, it is to be
preferred; but in tituations where a change may be ueceffary,
it must be left to the genius and skill of those who command.
" In a neighbouring nation, there has been much contro
versy about formation; I ffiall venture to fay, that onr taffies
must be subservient to the arms, not the arms to thetattifts;
and I am of opinion, that impulsion by close combat, in the
manner of the ancients, is inconfiftcut with our prefect mode
of arming.
4
" The cloatbing I have prapofed is for Actual service; wre#
troops are not immediately employed, dress and parade pro
duces cleanliness and favours subordination.
“ As I have not introduced grenadiers or light infantry into
my cftablilbnicnt,l thought it necessary to give some reafong
for rejecting them.
“ Much more might have been said on arms and accoutre
ments, I have only made feme general observations on thofc
fubjeds.
" The mode of training has been praftifed, and attended
with success in the Queen's regiment, which I have had the
honour to command ; I have endeavoured to introduce what is
only essentially necefl'ary.
« The movement is combined withtbe French ordonnance
of 1776: I have made it subservient to my own establishment;
but the principle will answer for any eftaWithment or body of
men whatever:
To spare criticism, I fhalT again observe, that the fabrics i#
not altogether of my own oonfiruaion ; it would have beat
impossible to have kept clear of the works of others, there hav^
ing been already so much written on the fubjedt; nay it wowki
have been absurd to have attempted it, for a military point once
fettled, becomes permanent, and cannot be reversed by opini
on. I have endeavoured at mathematical corrednefs to pro
duce conviflion.
“ There may be many military Sentiments taken from othef
authors, and, though not marked as such, I Hull most readily
acknowledge them; for wherever I have found an idea that
corfefponded with my own, I have adoptedit.
“ The absolute necessity of a military code to regulate-tire
field ^fc?pline of the army, induced me tooffer my aid towards
so eflentid appoint; there is still, no doubt, much room left for
improvement, and I tiroft a raose able pin will complete what
I have only begun? 7
The author of this treatise confiders the fabied under the
following heads, viz. dress, arms, accoutrements, the efpan
tQon and halbard, officers, training, cxercifc, march, march
of route, march of manoeuvres points of view, points of align
ment, from line to break and form column, march of the co
lumn, the open column to form line, dote column, deploy
ments from close column, to march cn echcllcm, to march by
divifiuns in file, to march m front, to march to tire rear, paf
fng a defile, on the attack rtfinfantry, on the defence of infan
try against cavalry, of the different portions thata line in order
of battle can take up, centra! movements feme general rules
for the movement of second lines.
This treatise is confined to infantry, relative to which it is
both explicit and practical; with the additional merit, that
Colonel Dalrymple appears to have drawn many ofhis rules
from personal observation and experience.
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JOHN COLCOCK, Efi|; having appointed me his Attor
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SOUT H-C AROLINA.
JOHN EGAN, of the Province aforefaid, who is in cuftod,
of the Sheriff of the Board of Police, on several writs of Ca,lac
ad Satisfaciendum, at the suit of Thomae Riddle, of Hugh Rife £s° Co. of
Tbomtfn Ffer, of fatter White, and others, having petitioned the
Tntenaants of the fail Board that he may be admitted to the benefit
of the a& made for the relief of insolvent debtors: It is ordered.
That the said Thomae Riddle, Hugh Rf, &" Co. Thomson F^fer,
fames White, and all others to whom the Aid petitioner is any wife
indebted, be, and they are hereby summoned and have notice to ap
pear at the fitting of the said Board, which shall happen three months
after the date hereof, to ihew cause, if any they have, why the fold
petitioner should not have the prayer of his petition granted.
4$ Mareb,.V^. W. SIMPSON, C. P.
SOUT H-CAROLINA.
I^RANCIS MENARD, of the province aforefaid, who is in
custody of the fherifF of the Board of Police, at the suits of
Hester Stent, Executrix of William Stent, and fohn Badt, having peti
tioned the Intendants of the Board of Police that he may be admitted
to the benefit of the a& made for the relief of insolvent debtors: It
is ordered, That the said Hefcr Stent, Executrix of Wiliam Stent, and
fohn Bads, and all others to whom the said petitioner is anywise in u
debted, be, and they are hereby summoned and have notice to appear
at the fitting of the said Board, which ffiall happen three month
after the date hereof, to shew cause, if any they have, why ths
petitioner should not have tlx prayer of his petition granted.
, Cbarlfown, 14th March, 1782. W. SIMPSON, C P#
SOUTH-CAROLINA.
ALEXANDER BRODIE, of the Province aforefaid, who
. is in custody of the Sheriff of the Board of Police, at the
suit of Henry Martin, having petitioned the Intendants of the fid
Board that he may be admitted tn the benefit of the a& made for the
relief of insolvent debtors: It is ordered, That the said Herr, Martin
and all others to whom the said petitioner is any wife indebted, be,
and they are hereby summoned and have notice to appear at the
fitting of the said Board, which shall happen three months after the
date hereof, to shew cause, if any they have, why the petitioned
should not have the prayer of his petition granted.
„A # April, 1784. THQ. WINSTANLEY, C. P.
AS Daniel O'Hara intends going for New-York by the
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fopirfine flour by the barrel; ship buifeuit by the hundred.{