IN TIME OF WAR.
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perform the duty of cavalry, and in strong and inclosedcountries, dismount and act as infantry : wherefore insteadof a carabine, the dragoon is furnished with a musquet.
191. On considering the peculiar properties of infantryand cavalry, it is evident that whenever these two speciesof troops engage each other, the safest method for the in-fantry is to act on the defensive, endeavouring to preventthe cavalry from surrounding them and charging their rear:they should therefore take possession of some situation thatis naturally strong, or may be easily made so. But if no-thing like a breast-work can be found, they should form inthe best manner for keeping the enemy at ^distance by a briskfire, in order to enable them to execute the manœuvres bestcalculated f..r securing their retreat. In short, the dispositionsof infantry consist in their order of march, and in regulationsfor keeping up a heavy fire in time of action.
Cavalry will have a great advantage over infantry whenthe latter are posted on a plain, and exposed to be chargedthe instant they have given their fire, or begin to be in move-ment ; or when they are drawn up in such a manner, thatthey cannot well sustain the shock of a charge, as three deep.
192. Under the name of field-artillery are comprehendedthe royal regiment of artillery, the guns with their ammu -nition, horses for drawing them, and drivers for taking careof the horses. Hence, from the number of carriages, artil-lery cannot subsist long in a country where forage is scarce.The roads for artillery ought to be wide and good, and thebridges stronger than either for infantry or cavalry; then,the common rate of marching artillery is from 14 to 17miles, a day, and with the fame expedition as infantry.
When guns are posted in the front line of an army thatis advancing to the attack, the ground should be level andopen, that they may preserve the p< sts assigned to them inthe intervals of the troops : in inclosed countries, they shouldbe preceded by a number of pioneers and carpenters forfilling up ditches, making bridges, cutting down hedges,and opening roads : yet sometimes in spite of every exertion,they cannot reach their destination, 'and are frequently mucfiembarrassed to keep their proper stations. Hence if results,that artillery cannot aways take the fame route as infantry ,por accompany them on every expedition .
\VheO the army halts with an intention of giving battle,
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