n with full speed to the last; knowing that if
they slacken rein, even for a moment, they would be ridden over by the
rear-rank men one yard behind them. From there being no rear-rank to
fill up the gaps caused, during the charge, by the enemy's missiles, or
by casualties occasioned by obstacles of the ground, the charging line
must generally arrive on the enemy broken and disunited, or as foragers.
The moral effect of such a charge on our own men will be unfavorable, as
they will not realize the certainty of mutual support at the critical
moment; and its moral effect on the enemy must be decidedly inferior to
that produced by a charge that is at once swift, solid, and compact.

But the force of this objection is somewhat weakened, by the
consideration that the compact charge of "cavalry of the line" must
hereafter be comparatively rare, in consequence of the introduction of
rifled artillery and infantry weapons, with their greatly increased
accuracy and range; which ought to cause such slaughter in a line or
column of charging cavalry, that, if it arrive at all to the shock, it
would generally be only in scattered groups.

12. In advancing over wooded, or other obstructed ground, it may be
necessary to break the line into _company columns of fours_, as in the
infantry manoeuvre of advancing by the flanks of companies.

As the cavalry column of fours corresponds to the march of infantry by
the flank, the use of this formation in action is open to the same
objections that have been already pointed out as applying to flank
marches by infantry.

II.--Its Strong and its Weak Points.

1. The value of cavalry on the battle-field consists chiefly in its
velocity and mobility. Its strength is in the _sabre-point and spurs_.

2. Its charge is accompanied with a _powerful moral effect_, especially
upon inexperienced troops. But,

3. Cavalry has but _little solidity_, and cannot defend a position
against good infantry. For, if it remain passive on the ground it is to
hold, the infantry will soon destroy it by its fire, to which it cannot,
with any effect, reply; and if it attack at close quarters, the
infantry, by means of its defensive formations, will be able, at least,
to hold its ground, and probably repulse its charges by a reserved
fire. So that the cavalry will finally have no alternative but to
retire.

4. It is exposed and helpless _during a change of formation_; like
artillery limbering up, or coming into acti