NEW YORK: D. VAN NOSTRAND, PUBLISHER, 192 BROADWAY. 1865. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, By D. VAN NOSTRAND, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. ALVORD, PRINTER....

The Author would feel obliged for any facts or suggestions which might enable him to render a future edition of this work more valuable. Providence, R.I. , July, 1865 ....

Every complete military force consists of three arms,— Infantry , Artillery , and Cavalry . In battle, these three arms are united; and, other things being equal, that commander will prove victorious who is best acquainted with their combined use in the field. In order thoroughly to understand the proper use of the three arms combined, we must obviously begin by learning the proper use of each of them separately. Hence the importance of the subject of the present treatise. In discussing it, we s

The subject will be considered under the following heads:— Infantry attacks with its fire, or with the bayonet. Which of these is the more effective? 1. The object of an attack is to destroy or capture the hostile force, or, at least, to drive it from the field. Capturing the enemy, or driving him from the field, cannot usually be effected by merely firing upon him. True, a mere fire at a distance may finally destroy him. But an insuperable objection to this mode of attack is, that while we are

The subject will be treated under the following heads:— 1. Artillery has a much longer range than musketry. In order to avail ourselves of this advantage, we must so post it as to overlook all the ground to which its utmost range extends. It therefore requires an elevated position . 2. It has been considered an additional advantage of a commanding position for artillery, that it enables our guns to cover our infantry, attacking or attacked, by firing over their heads . This was done by the Frenc

We shall consider— 1. The formations of cavalry for battle are either— (1.) In deployed lines. (2.) Lines of regiments, in columns of attack doubled on the centre. (3.) A mixed formation of lines and columns. (4.) Echelons of lines or columns; or— (5.) Deep columns. 2. Deployed lines are not objectionable in principle. They are often not advisable; but are sometimes necessary. But long, continuous lines should always be avoided; being unfavorable to rapid manœuvring, which cavalry is constantly