fact, _no defect_, the highest offensive power of infantry being in
the bayonet. Fire, in the attack, is generally ineffective, and
sometimes injurious. It should rarely be used till the enemy has turned
his back.

5. As to attacking _cavalry_:

Infantry may advance in line and attack cavalry safely, provided its
flanks are protected. Before a long line of infantry, cavalry must
retreat, or be destroyed by its fire. In the Austrian service it is said
to be a received maxim, that horses will not stand before the steady
approach of a mass of infantry, with bayonets at the charge, but will
always retire before the infantry closes on them.

6. So, infantry _in column_, either closed in mass, or at half distance,
may attack cavalry successfully; taking care to be ready to form square,
or "column against cavalry," at the first symptom of their preparing to
charge.

7. As to attacking _artillery_:

Before charging, the infantry sometimes first seeks the shelter of
ground, using its sharpshooters to annoy it, and, if possible, to
silence its fire.

Or, when circumstances are favorable, as when it can get a position near
its flank, it attacks it vigorously, at once, with fire and bayonet.

But when infantry has to advance to the attack of a battery in front, it
should never be in any compact formation, but always deployed as
skirmishers. Otherwise, it would usually meet with a bloody repulse;
especially where any considerable space of ground is to be cleared.

At the battle of Malvern Hill, the rebel General Magruder's division was
sent, either in column or in line, to charge a powerful Union battery
just beyond an open field a mile and three-quarters in length. The
rebels rushed into the field at a full run, but encountered a murderous
fire from the guns they were sent to attack, which mowed them down by
hundreds. By the time they had cleared two-thirds of the ground, the
carnage was so dreadful as to drive them back to the woods from which
they had started. Twice more they were sent forward in the same manner,
but with the same result; when the undertaking was abandoned.

8. In attacking a battery, we may often secure its capture by a volley
_aimed at the horses_; the effect of which may prevent the enemy from
carrying it off. But this should be avoided when there is a good
prospect of capturing the battery without disabling the horses; since
then, if we succeed, we shall be able to immediately use the battery
agai