n a proper manner. They should, like storming parties (which they
really are), never be launched against the enemy's line till the fire by
which they would suffer has been _quite or nearly silenced_ by our
batteries. Sometimes this may be impracticable; but this precaution has
often been neglected when it was perfectly feasible, thus causing a
great and useless slaughter.

9. But destructive as may be artillery fire on close columns, on troops
advancing in line grape and canister _begin to be equally so_ on their
arriving within four hundred yards of the enemy's batteries; and are
certainly quite as destructive, and more so, at the distance of two
hundred yards. So that, within this distance, at least, the superiority
of lines over columns ceases; and, probably, much sooner.

10. The _desideratum_ is to preserve the advantages of the column, while
saving the attacking troops from the almost total destruction which
would now seem to threaten them, when marching in such a formation, from
the new rifled artillery, which is said to fire with accuracy at two
thousand yards, and from the new infantry rifles, said to be reliable,
in the hands of sharpshooters, at five hundred yards.

11. Perhaps this object might be attained by the advance of the
attacking troops in line, but _in loose order_, and at double quick, to
about two hundred paces from the enemy, a halt, a prompt alignment on
the colors, a rapid ployment into close column doubled on the centre,
followed by a swift and resolute charge with the bayonet.

This method, while giving the rapid clearing of the intervening ground,
to within two hundred paces of the enemy, and afterwards the impetus,
and other advantages of the column, would, at the same time, afford that
comparative immunity from a destructive fire which is the chief
advantage of an advance in line.

To guard against the danger, in the use of this method, of the troops
stopping to fire, instead of ploying into a column of attack, they
should commence their advance with pieces unloaded. Their boxes might
even be previously emptied of their ammunition. Why should not a battle,
as well as an assault on a fortress, have its "forlorn hope?"

12. This mode of attack would be open, it is true, to _two
objections_:--

First. It would require for its successful execution under fire great
coolness, and much previous instruction in the manoeuvre, to enable
the troops to perform it promptly and accurately.

Sec