Year: 1861

al part Of them are en- gagged at a time
they are replaced by another similar


force the progress ofthe battle. Onthe


genius and judgment of the chief will


depend the character Of the action,


whether it shall be defensive or Of


fensive.


When an army awaits the attack,
it takes its position and forms it's
line of battle according to the nature


Of the ground, and the character and
strength Of the enelny's force. If Of
tensive, the main thing is to seize


upon the decisive point of the field.
This point is determined by the con-
tiguration Of the ground. and the


position OF the contending forces, or
by combination of these. The


defense is considered the stronger


form of actions of war, and skillful


general will take advantage of favor
able circumstances to change the de-


tensive into the offensive. Military


writers lay down twelve orders of


battle. A 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 all the circumstances may be
duly considered. To concentrate a
superiority of forces at the decisive
point is the principal purpose. This
point is in the fanks or in the rear
Of the enemy. To do this the skill
of the general is brought into re-
QUESTION.


On the field Of battle the infantry
is divided into three bodies-in ad-
vanced guard, a main body, and a
reverse. These three bodies are
separated from each other by inter-
walls, which will depend upon the ma
ture of the ground-the advanced
guard occupying the front, the main
body at a distance from one hundred
and fifty to three hundred PAGES in
its rear, and the reserve at a like in
terval in the rear of the main body.
The troops composing these three
bodies will be formed either in col
umns of battalions, or be deplored.
For an attack, for evolutions, or for
defense against cavalry, the forma-
ton of columns of battalions is the
best. To repel the enemy's attack
by fire, and to present a less favor
able mark to the enemy's artillery,
the battalion should be deplored.
The reserve should be composed Of
the most reliable troops, and should,
if possible, be kept masked from the
enemy's view and fire, until called
into action. The time for engaging
the reserve is either when the enemy
has been shaken III its attack by the
resistance offered by the main body,
or when the main body is unable fur
ther to resist the enemy's efforts:


The cavalry is usually placed IN
the rear of the infantry, and should
be marked from the fire until the
arrives to bring it into ac-
ton. The habitual formation of cav
airy for the attack is a line of two !
ranks, with a reserve or support in I
rear. Cavalry should wait patient
ly until {; way is prepared for its ac~
ton by the fire OF artillery on the
enemy's infantry; or when the in
fantry is fatigued or exhausted; OF
when the infantry IS in motion, so as
10 surprise it before it can form to re-
teive the attack. 1t should direct
It's charge on that part Of the enemv's
infantry where it will be itself expo
scd to the last column of fire. 1.-THE
infantry is in q line, its charge should
De made on one Of its tlanks; if in
square, on one OF the angles Of the
square.


The manner of placing the artil-
cry, and its employment, must be
'egulated by relative importance
,nder given circumstatances with
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