The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-25
The Order Of Battle.

When large bodies of men approach for bat
tie, only proportional part of them are en-.
Gagged at a tlme-they are replaced by another
similar force-the progress Of the battle is by
successive engagements On the genius and
jndgn ent of the chief will depend the charac-
ter IT The action, whether IT shall be defensive
or fensive.
When an army awaits the attack, it takes
its position anc forms its line of bat tie accord
iIg to the nature OF the ground, and the char.
act'r and strength Of the enemy's force If
offensive, the main thirg is 10 seizs upon the
d. cisive point OF the field. This point is de-
terlnined bv the confguration Of the ground
and the position OF he contending forces or by
d com hinaeion of these. The defence is coo-
s'dsfs me stronger form OF ac IONS of war and
RiiAf General will take advant .se of fave
liable circumstances to change tie defensive
IL To The off -nsive. Military writers lay do wu
twelve orders OF battle. A description OF these
would De TOO long and too complicate ted to in
terest the reader. Which of these should he
followed, must be decided by the chief himself
On the ground, where all the circ umstances
may be duly considered. To concentrate q
superiority OF forces at the decisive point is
the pf'ncipal purpose. This point Is in the
danks or in the rear of the enemy Todo this
the skill OF The General is brought into requi.
sitjon,
On the fold of battle, the Infantry ia di.
vioed into three bodies-ln advanced guard
q main body, and a reserve. These three
bodies are separated from each other by in ter.
walls, which will depend upon the nature of
the FL" r"und-the advanced guard occupying
the front, the main body at a distance from
one hundred and ifty to three hundred PAGES
| In its rear, and the reserve at a like interval
in the rear OF the main body The troops
either in columns OF battalions or be de.
ptoyed. For an attack, for evolutions, or for
defence against cavalry, the formation of
columns of battalions is the best To repeI
the enemy's attack by a fire. ana to present a
less favorable mark to the enemy's Artillery,
| the battalion should he deployed. The re
serve should be composed of the most reliable
troops, and sbon!d, II possible, be kept masked
from the enemy's view and fire. until ca lied
into action. The time for engaging the re
serve Is either when the enemy has been
shaken in it, attack by the resistance OF. red
by the m"in body, or when the main body
Is unable further to resist the enery VS. efforts
The cavalry is usually placed in the rear of
the infantry, and should be masked from the
IRE until the moment arrives TO bring IL into
action. The habitual formation OF cavalry
| tor the attack Is Il line OF two ranks, with 8
reserve or support in rear. Cavalry should
wait patiently until q way is prepared for Its
action by the fire Of artillery on the enemy s
infantry; or when the infantry is fatigued or
exhansed or when the infan try 10 in m otion
so rs TO surprise it before il can form to re.
ctive the attack 1t should direct it's charge
on that part OF the enemy's infantry, where
it will be itself exposed to the least column OF
IRE. If the infantry is In line, its charge
should be made on one Of its fi.lnks If In
square, on ons of the angles of the SO uare.
' anNoi vi Piaeihe TUG artiiiery, ana lts
employment, must be regulated by relative
Importance under given circums tances with
respect to the action Of the other arms In
defence, the principal part is usually assigned
to the artillery; in offensive movements the
reverse generally obtains In defence the bat.
teries should b. distribn ed along the entire
front of the position oct upie /. The distance
between the batteries sbouli not be m UGH over
$40 PAGES When the win g Of q position are
weak, heavy batteries should be placed to 80.
cure Them A sufficient number of pieces
should always be held in reserve for mo.
ment of need In the attack the heaviest
pieces should be rlaced on the tanks Of the
ground occupied by the assailant, or on tho
cen tire if more favorable to the end to be OBJ
tanned. In all the mo vements of the batteries
great care should be taken not to place them
so that they shall Ia the least impede the op.
erations OF the other troops