ateau of Pratzen, the key to the
Allies' position, with a firm and decided step, without once stopping to
fire.

So, at Chattanooga, in November, 1863, Thomas's troops carried the
height of Missionary Ridge by a similar steady and determined ascent, in
spite of the volleys of grape and canister from nearly thirty pieces of
artillery, and of musketry from the rebels' rifle-pits at the summit.
General Grant attributed the small number of casualties our troops
sustained in the attack to the rebels' surprise at its audacity, causing
"confusion and purposeless aiming of their pieces."

V.--Defence against Infantry.

1. The defence of infantry is by its fire, and therefore its proper
defensive formation is in _deployed lines_.

2. Avoid a _premature commencement_ of the fire. Long firing exhausts
the men's energy, expends the ammunition, fouls the pieces, destroys the
soldier's confidence in his weapon, and emboldens the enemy.

3. So, a fire upon an enemy while _under cover_, as in a wood, would be
virtually thrown away. If his fire from such a position causes us any
loss, he had better be shelled, or driven away by skirmishers, according
to circumstances.

4. The practice of hostile regiments exchanging for a considerable time
a _musketry fire at a distance_, is highly objectionable, as it causes a
great sacrifice of life without corresponding results. Instead of
standing in line for ten minutes, receiving and returning fire at a
distance of three hundred yards, it would be much better to clear this
space at double quick in two or three minutes, and close with the enemy;
for, in returning his fire, we can do him no more harm than we receive,
while nothing decisive is accomplished. The case is, of course,
different where our own troops are behind cover, while the enemy's are
exposed.

5. But in _special cases_, as where we have to cover a flank movement of
our second line, or of the reserve, or to await a force coming to our
support, it may be necessary to keep up an incessant fusillade, without
regard to losses received.

6. Fire in action is of two kinds: the fire at will, and the fire by
volleys; the former kind being the rule, the latter the exception.
Although the fire at will is the one principally used, there are _very
strong objections_ to it.

(1.) The men load and fire as individuals, and generally with great
rapidity, and under more or less excitement, rarely stopping to take a
deliberate aim. The co