New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-04

destruction of armies In future, the lines and the
reserves will be posted at greater distances. Column
movements viii be interdcted where they might for
merly be safely ventured. We shall have to deploy
much quicker than formerly. We must advance III
line or in columns of companies at wheelng distance,
in eohelon oblique or direct. All diversions on the
field Of battle all movements 10 turn the enemy, VIII
require greater radius. Hitherto armies have en-
camped or bivouacked at from 1000 TO SOU pace7
from the enemy's outposts. This viii no iopse,
safe because tie position can DO accurately seno'
| by riAed cannon. Hence, on the other hand ue ~
cessi,y for having at the outposts greater NUM-
of squadrons with light batteries, easy TO move -
der TO insure the safety of the army. '"1 ~
change IF POSITION, up to 5000 PAGES froin '"'
emvs lines will be of serious consequence -,
hoo r;,c and the movements of our sklrmishefs VIII
ao,;re tho utmost development, and become o. &c
- a.aoo,,oree on the event Of the battle.
81 orc Tho re.ults of the introduction oil the rihe
- s;aoa cannon. Now, il is evident that these
r,on qualifications of our tactics positively enhance
the value of cavalry, and render its employment
more necessary and eficacious. For the moro We
deveon The movements and action OF our skirmshers
the more we extend our lines and augment their
distance-the more we need divisional cavalry. The
more we increase the space separating the Contend
ing armies and the greater the distance Of the in
fantry reserves from the main body in action, the
greater necessity for cavalry reserves and light aril-
lery-in order to reinforce promptly those points
which may be compromised, and to check for tlm'
the efforts Of the enemy.
Thus, cavalry and light artillery well-traned and
capable Of rapid movement under any circumstances,
and Oh any ground whatever-are more necessary now
than ever. The function Of cavalry, ia our modern
tactics, will, therefore, be enhanced in Importance
and admit of greater development.
Infantry is decidedly the manstay of battle. II Is
the armys center Of gravity. 1t is adapted to all
sorts of ground-plans mountains and broken couii-
Try. 1t Is endowed with two essential qualities OF
action-ihe bayonet and the bullet But these acul-
ties are limited by the Inherent weakness OF man and
by the range Of bis wespon. Now, the deficiency in
the strength and resistance of the infantry is supplied
by cavalry and artillery, which, although they have
but one Of these faculties-srepgth- this faculty
in the cavalry and artillery exists 10 an extent which
the infantry can never attain. Defeat 10 the infantry
in nj open country, unsupported by sufficient and
good cavalry is fatal and every victory, in the same
deficiency Of cavalry, must be always unoecisive.
With equal moroie, all army consisting only OF in
fantry, will be beaten by an army much weaker, tn
consisting of infantry and artillery; and with still
greater certainty by an army combining the three
elements together-infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
Moreover, in AN open country and unsupported, in
faniry will be demolished ty cavalry with suiii-
ceni artillery at It's disposal. lis destruction would
only be question of time-even if ii has the hero
Ism ofNapoleon's Guard at Waterloo.
Every movement within range Of the enemy's hse,
or on the field Of battle, constitutes sweal,ness- "a
state of weakness in the infantry. The movement
nay lie compromised if il be not supported and pro-
tected by cavalry. At the moment when he wa
hurting his division against Zach's column at Ma
rengo, Des,.aix exclaimed: eco, tell tie Fi,t Con.
sui that an about TO charge, and mast he suTY0rled
hy cqooiry.' In the same battle, tie divisions OF
Victor and Lsnnes would have been crushed, had
they not been aided hy KellerinaD aud ChampeaiX r
cavalry. Without Mrrats cavalry at Eylau, Auge-
foaus cous and perhaps tie whole French army
would have been defeated. At Waterloo Ponsonby r
dra goous hurled ErOns infantry into frightful dis
ORDER, while advancing uHiOH ne support of car
airV. They sibered the men and the horses Of the
artillery III It's rear. The ron; was compleie-and re.
treat war only made possible by he L.ie arrival Il
/ Travers Cuirassiors and Bros l.sneers. Tn the
other hand, a silgle brigade, the left, GuyOts
posted against La Hale Saie kept Its postion for n
long time against the center OF the entire English
arny-thsuks 10 the efficient aid Of Dnboiss Cuir,in-
: siers. These undauDicd s,jieIs isolated IN The
front OF the army not Only drove back The encfu. -
they mounted tho plateau alun,, and crushed Lunc
bourgs battalion. captured his standard, charged Al
1 lens division, aud only gave Way TO tAbnds e.
c squaiIons-who, however, were subsequently
i CT ecked by Guyo,'s ba,talons. 40 much for the
G timely aid Of efficient cavalry.
b. Infantry and cavalry are Indispensable to ,acl
other, and this fact hss never been more -rikiu, !,
revealed than in small arinie. lighting on the te
fer-ive and the natal soil. large army, taking
he Offensive does what il likes acts according Ia
plan of i,s choosing and seeks the enemy 70
give him decisive battle. THIS possession Of th'
initiative permits it TO employ compsraivel,
weaker cavalry. Nevertheless the services wbicl
large army receives from cavalry are not less i'm
portant. Thus in the splendid march Of the French
on Marcks line Of operations in 1895, Murat
squadrons were in the van. They seized the brdg e
ard deiiles, and by their rapidly they cooperate,
in their position at Tim, and they the ffst hu
rels of the campaign at Wertingen.
On the other hand, small army on the defensiv,
is sub, 10 the enemy's combinations. II remain,
as il were in state Of enchantment a. long ID,
enemy's intentions are unknown. IL needs scouts il
every direction, and Il, distance. and must hav'
suii cent of cavalry TO oppose the first ef
forte Of the enemy. in order to give time TO the othe
troops, either to accept battle on chosen position
or 10 decline il by retreatng. A small army, de