A knowledge of the art of choosing military positions is an import ant qualification in the staff officers of an army ; and these officers should continually exercise themselves in forming correct judgments concerning the fitness of ground for such positions. They should be able to ascertain at once, by the eye, its extent and the stations it may afford for troops of the different arms, so that those of all kinds may act with the greatest effect and duly support each other ; and, cousequently, they should be able to determine the order of battle which is the most advantageous for the ground to be occupied. They are also to judge of the facilities which the roads may present for an advance or a retreat, or for the conveyance of supplies from the magazines ; and, finally, of the obstacles which the ground in trout may oppose to the movements of the enemy. The power of readily appreciating the character of ground in all these respects is what is called, by foreign writers, the military coup-d'ceil; and this can only be acquired by a profound knowledge of the tactics of war, joined to much experience in the practice of executing military surveys, and of contemplating the appearance of ground from all possible points of view. These points being the supposed stations of the enemy, the staff-officer should accustom himself to observe from thence bow the latter might make his attack ; for then only can he judge in what manner an attack ought to be opposed ; that is, what disposition of troops and artillery would be the most favourable for resisting it when made.
The main principles which have been laid down at the commence ment of this article as the guides to the conduct of strategical opera tions, are equally the principles in tactical combinations ; the following observations, then, are simply with a view of showing how these may be carried out.
Marches comprehend all the movements by which an army trans ports itself from one place to another : when they are made at the opening of a campaign, and at a considerable distance from the enemy, they are called routes ; and on such an occasion tho object generally is to invade a country, to seek subsistence, to surprise the enemy or force him to make counter-movements, in executing which he may be advan tageously attacked. During a campaign, and in the enemy's sight, marches are made in order to attack some important position which he may occupy, or succour some post which he may threaten, or in order to fall back on the magazines of the army. At the end of a campaign an army marches to the quarters which it is to take up for the winter.
When an army already encamped in order of battle is to advance towards the ground directly before it, the march is said to be to the front ; and if it is to proceed to ground on the right or left of the line, the movement is called a flank march. In the former case it would be advantageous if there were several roads nearly parallel to one another, and all tending to the position which is to be occupied ; and it would even be proper, should there not already exist a suffi cient number, to make such, by cutting through woods or walls, form ing causeways over marshes, or bridges over streams. The army
might then be divided into several short columns, so as to be able with facility, if suddenly attacked, to deploy into line at any moment either during the march or on arriving in the new position : the intervals between the lines of route should therefore be, as nearly as possible, equal to the extent which tho columns moving in those lines would occupy when formed in order of battle. The advanced guard, eon slating both of infantry and cavalry, may march before the head of the eentre column at the distance of about a mile; and these troops should be accompanied by the pontoon. and the sappers who are to remove the or form the bridges. When the French army advanced into Russia in 1312, it marched in three great columns nearly abreast of each other : the centre column proceeded along the main road ; and the country being one vast plain, the others with their artillery moved over the ground on both sides.
On a flank march along nearly parallel roads, since the head. and rears of the columns are where the extremities of the wings of the army would be if in order of battle, the several line, of route should be as near together as possible, that the troop. may readily move into their proper places in re-forming the line ; and it is obvious that, in such marches, the divisions in each column should be well closed together; for should they become separated by rivers, marshes, or any other obstacles, the enemy might seize the opportunity to attack a division before it could be supported by the others.
The difficulty of returning rapidly to the Order of battle when attacked, is the reason that flank marches in the presence of an enemy are dangerous, particularly when the ground offers no impedi ment to his approach: they however become necessary when a posi tion is to be taken up on either extremity of an enemy's line ; and in order that they may be executed with safety, the columns should be protected in flank by a corps appointed for the purpose. in general an effort is made, by false demonstrations, to deceive the enemy, for a time at least, respecting such movements : these consist in opening roads in different directions through woods or enclosures, in laying bridge's over streams, in sending provisions and stores, and even bodies of troops, to various points ; and, while the enemy is in a state of uncertainty concerning the object of the demonstrations, the columns secretly commence their march : care however is to be taken that detachments, when sent out as feints, do not proceed so far from the army as to be cut off, or compelled to retire with great loss.