A retreat, well managed, is usually more favourable than a dear earned vic tory. To insure the means of retreating, without considerable loss, a second, or riven a third, line may be requisite : at all events, a reserve of select troops, with a good park of artillery, chie• supplied with grape and case-shot, will be indis pensable. The posting a reserve re quires great judgment, both in regard to the enemy's designs, and the temper of your own troops.
The celebrated retreat of Moreau, through the Black Forest, placed him, ipso facto, on a footing with the greatest conquerors of the day ; it tore from his opponent's brows those laurels which the latter claimed, in consequence of having urged the French general to quit the open country. In that instance, however, it may, perhaps, be said, and not without some show of justice, that the nature of the country was greatly in favour of the latter ; but, on the other hand, it must be taken into account, that, unless most skilfully managed, a retreat before a very superior force must have been peculiarly dangerous, especially to the cavalry : we may, indeed, admire that system of tac tics, which enabled Moreau to save his artillery and baggage. To do this, it is evident he must have shown a firm front, so arranged, that his opponent dared not to venture an attack. The excellence of the manceuvre consisted in the decep tions practised ; for it was not until that movement, when Moreau had secured his baggage and 'artillery, and, as it were, buried his army among the wildernesses, that the Austrian general could believe it possible for the French to escape be ing captured. The 'device used, was a
feint to escape along the skirts of the forest, which occasioned a change of position in the Austrian camp, and left Moreau at liberty to push in the opposite direction towards a pass, scarcely, indeed, passable for carriages, and thus to defy pursuit ; however it answered his pur pose, for he escaped with his whole army.
We cannot close this article without showing how essentially a well chosen position contributes to success. Where an army is weak in cavalry, it should in variably be parted so, that, at least, one of its flanks may be covered from the ene my's horse. By this means, if its own cavalry be held in reserve, or nearly so, but with full powers to support the open wing, the enemy must be kept in sus pense; as to the point to which it will direct its charge ; and be compelled, in many instances, to keep his horse divid ed, for the purpose of opposing that charge on either flank. A flank may be securely covered by a town, duly defend ed by infantry ; or by a river ; a morass ; a thick wood ; a steep hill, having a bat tery duly posted ; or even by broken ground. In some instances, a slight in trenchment may be necessary.