New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-05-02

itE oRDER OF BATrLE.-When large bodiaa NJ
men approach for battle only pronart;onai avt
=, 1 sueM are engaged at time-they are replaced
oy another similar force the progress of the hat1
te IS by successive engagements On the aenins
.na Judgment Of the chief will depend the cfarac
offensive ~ 'n"'i oe aelshslVe or
When an army awaits the attack. II taLe. ~
posuon s and forms it's line of battle according to
re ol the ground and the character of the
main tbing 81 il .1e ne ensmys force. If offensive, the
the heid: This point is determined by the eonagn.
rauoh OF the ground, and the position Of the con-
ag a5eRang iorces, or by continuation Of these. The
OF war, and skillful General viii take adyaataae
OF favorable circumstances to change the aefen
tive into the offensive. Military writers Law down
.H,a we've ofaers OF battle description Of these
would be too long and too complicated to interest
the reader Which Of these should be followed.
must be decided by the chief himself On the
ground, where e all the circumstances may be duly
ces at the decisive points is the principal purpose.
This point is in the tanks or in the rear ofithe en-
envy To do this, the skill of the General is
brought into requistion.
On the field Of battle the infantry is divided into
three bodles-an advanced guard a main body
and reserve. These three bodies are separated
from each other byintervals, which will depend on
tie nature OF the ground, the advanced guard oc-
cupyiDg the 'front.' the main body at distance
from one hundred and fifty to three hundred PAGES
in its rear, and the reserve at like interval in the
rear r OF the main body. The troops composing
these three bodies will be formed either in columns
Oh battalions, or be deployed For an attack, tor
eVonfions, or for defence against cavalry the for
matlon y Of columns of battalions ia the best. To
aepei tae ensmy's attack by fire, and to present
less favoIahle mark to the enemy's artillery the
oattaton should be employed. The reserve should
be composed Of the most reliable troops. and
should, If possible, be kept masked from the enc
mys view and fire, until called into action. The
time for ra engaging ggsg the reserve either when the
neany has oeeh shakeH In 1Is attack by the re-
slstance offered by the main body, or when the
main body is unabled further to resist the enemv's
efforts, N'
The cavalry is usually in the rear of the infantry
and snonid be masked from the fire, until the mo-
ment arrives to bring 1t into action The. hah;rnsI
formation of cavalry for the attack ia line of rvo
ranks, with reserve or support in rear Cavalry
should wait patiently until way is prepared for
us aeton oy the hre OF artillery the enemys in
tantry; or when the infantry is fatigued or ex-
hausted or when the infantry is in N otiou 40 as
to surprise it before it can form to receive the at.
tack. 1t should direct its charge on that part of
the enemy's infantry where it will be itself ex-
posed to the least column of fire. If the infantry
is in line, its charge should be made on one of its
| fanks; if in square, or one of the angles of the
square.
Inc manner of placing the artillery, and jts en-
poyment, must be regulated by it's relative impor-
tance, under given circumstances 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 batteries should be
distributed along the entire front Of the posi-
| ton occupied. The distance between batteries
| should not be much over six hundred PAGES. When
| the wings of position are weak heavy batteries
should be placed to secure them. A sufficient
| number of pieces should always be held in reserve
for momen. of need In the attack, the heaviest
pieces should be placed on the flank Of the ground
occupied by the assaant, or in the centre if more
favorable to the end to be attained. In all the
movements of the artillery, great care should be
taken not to place them SO that they shall in the
least impede the operations Of the other troops