ith a very wide front, or in line, this
manoeuvre might be difficult, or impossible.

7. Whenever an infantry line is charged by cavalry in front, and it is
doubtful whether it will stand the shock, the wisest course would seem
to be to make the men lie down, and let the charging cavalry _leap over
them_. This the horses will instinctively do, with but little risk of
injury to the men, provided they lie in a position parallel to the line
of battle, thus presenting the least possible depth. It is said that the
British infantry has sometimes done this, and risen up again immediately
after the cavalry had passed. The cavalry could thus be promptly taken
in rear.

8. In retreating, when threatened by cavalry, if there be a _long plain_
in our rear, we must retire slowly. But if cover, or ground unfavorable
to cavalry, be near, we must reach it as soon as possible.

VIII.--Squares.

1. In 1813, France was nearly exhausted of soldiers, so that Napoleon,
on hastily preparing for his campaign of that year, was obliged to
incorporate into his army a large number of raw conscripts, who had
scarcely begun their elementary drill. On the route to their respective
points of concentration, he accordingly ordered his columns to halt each
day, to practise _the three movements_ which he considered to be the
most important for infantry to be familiar with. These were, forming
battalions in square, deploying in line, and re-forming in column of
attack.

2. In the Austrian service, squares formed by a _column in mass_ are
considered preferable to hollow ones, on the supposition that though
horses will recoil from a dense mass, they may be easily brought to
break through a shallow formation, over which they can see the open
ground. But this theory seems to be refuted by numerous facts. A large
proportion of the formations that have successfully repulsed cavalry,
since the beginning of this century, have been hollow squares.

3. The rule laid down in the Tactics (Par. 143, Skirmishers), directing
the skirmishers, in rallying on the square, to "come to a ready without
command, and fire upon the enemy; which will also be done by the
reserve, as soon as it is unmasked by the skirmishers," is an unsound
one, for a compliance with it would be dangerous. A square cannot expect
to repulse cavalry by an irregular fire at will, but only by
well-directed _volleys_. If cavalry charge a square firing irregularly,
it will probably rout it. On the