Taken collectively the tactics of the three arms may be thus summarized: The infan try form the line of battle, and probably decide the day by a general advance over the enemy's ground. The cavalry seek to break the opposing infantry by frequent charges in front, or on any flank which may be left exposed. If a part of the line wavers, a charge of horse should complete the disarray. When the rout commences the cavalry should turn it by furious onslaught into utter discomfiture. The province of the artil lery is to canonade any portion of the line where men are massed, or where a charge is about to be made; to demoralize cavalry, and generally to carry destruction wherever it can best disconcert the enemy.
Adverting now very briefly to the tactics of the several arms individually, we have Infantry.—This force has four formations—skirmishers, line, column, and square. The skirmishers precede and flank an advancing line or column, picking off the enemy, whose masses offer good mark, while their own extended order gives them comparative impunity. If resistance be encountered in force, the skirmishers retreat behind their massed supports. The line is a double or treble line, of men, firing or charging. For musketry purposes it is the most formidable formation, and is the favorite British tactic in every case where the officers can depend on the steadiness of their men. For bursting through a line the deep column is the most effective. It is the favorite French formation, and during the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, the British and Russians alone succeeded in resisting it. At Vimiera the 50th-regiment,"700 strong, stood in line: it was attacked by a column of 2,000 French. The English col. threw back his left (which was the end attacked), and advanced his right, delivered a volley at point-blank range, charged the column in flank, and utterly routed it before the French could deploy into line to resist the onslaught. The column is, therefore, the best formation
on a march; the line, when in actual collision with the enemy. The formation in Echelon (q.v.) to a great extent combines these advantages.. See SQUARE.
Cavalry.—The function of heavy cavalry is limited to the charge in line. The light cavalry form in small sections, to scour the country, collect supplies, and cut off strag glers.
Artillery.--No distinct tactics exist for this arm beyond the fact that a concentrated fire is vastly the most effective, and that the artillery should always have a support of infantry at hand, to protect it from a sudden incursion of hostile cavalry.
Tactics of position depend on the moral energy of the commander-in-chief. Few would dare, as Caesar did, an invasion in which there was no retreat, if defeated. It is a military maxim not to fight with the rear on a tiver, unless many bridges be provided for retreat, in case of disaster. A convex front is better than a. concave front, because internal communication is more easy. The flank should be protected by cavalry, or pref erably by natural obstacles. In battle a long march from one position to another, which exposes the flank to the enemy, is a fatal error. By such the French won Aus terlitz, and lost Talavera. In a pursuit a parallel line is better than the immediate route the retreating enemy has taken, as supplies will be more readily procured, and he may by celerity be attacked in flank. This was•strikingly exemplified in the Russian pursuit of Napoleon's army retreating front Moscow.