nts of
Surprise can be achieved. The _direction_ and _weight_ of the blow are
concealed, but the appearance of Smoke will warn the enemy to expect an
attack, and the _time_ of the blow is thus revealed. Smoke will probably
be employed extensively in modern warfare and, except against an
ill-trained and undisciplined enemy, assaults by night will generally be
undertaken to gain tactical points, to drive in advanced troops and
Outposts, to capture advanced and detached posts, to rush an isolated
force guarding a bridge or defile, and in carrying out enterprises of a
similar nature, in order to gain advantages {151} for further operations
in daylight. When more important assaults are made, a larger force than
a brigade will seldom be thrown against a single objective, although a
series of objectives may be simultaneously attacked with success over a
wide front. A Night Assault was delivered by two Federal brigades on the
Confederate bridgehead at _Rappahannock Station_ (November 7, 1863). One
of the brigades was ultimately repulsed, but the other penetrated the
Confederate position and cut off the retreat. Upwards of 1,500 of the
defenders were captured or killed, and the small remnant evacuated the
bridgehead. In the Second Afghan War, General Sir F. Roberts marched up
to the high passes leading out of the Kurram into the interior of
Afghanistan, with a column of 3,200 all ranks and 13 guns. He was
opposed by the Amir's force of about 18,000 men with 11 guns at _Peiwar
Kotal_ (December 2, 1878). Sir F. Roberts detached the greater part of
his force to occupy the heights on the flank of the Afghan position and
attacked at daylight. The Night March and subsequent attack were
completely successful. The enemy was defeated with great loss and all
his guns captured, the British losses being 20 killed and 78 wounded.
_Tel-el-Kebir_ was an example of a Night March in battle formation of a
force of 11,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and 60 guns, to attack an
entrenched position at dawn, the object being to surprise the enemy and
to cross the danger zone without exposing the assaulting troops to a
prolonged fire action. It resulted in a victory which decided the
Egyptian campaign, and added the Nile Valley to the British Empire. Sir
Garnet Wolesley's force advanced in four columns marching abreast, with
its left resting on the railway, and was successfully carried out, the
troops reaching a position, varying from 300 to 900