of the three arms
combined, we must obviously begin by learning the proper use of each of
them separately.

Hence the importance of the subject of the present treatise. In
discussing it, we shall commence with the

TACTICAL USE OF INFANTRY.

The subject will be considered under the following heads:--

I.--ITS ATTACK, GENERALLY.
II.--FORMATIONS FOR ATTACK.
III.--THE ATTACK, HOW MADE.
IV.--BAYONET CHARGES.
V.--DEFENCE AGAINST INFANTRY.
VI.--DEFENCE AGAINST ARTILLERY.
VII.--DEFENCE AGAINST CAVALRY.
VIII.--SQUARES.
IX.--SKIRMISHERS.

I.--Its Attack, generally.

Infantry attacks with its fire, or with the bayonet. Which of these is
the more effective?

1. The _object_ of an attack is to destroy or capture the hostile force,
or, at least, to drive it from the field.

Capturing the enemy, or driving him from the field, cannot usually be
effected by merely firing upon him.

True, a mere fire at a distance may finally destroy him. But an
insuperable objection to this mode of attack is, that while we are
killing or disabling his men, he is killing or disabling as many of our
own.

2. If we fire from _behind cover_, our loss may be comparatively small.
But, in that case, the enemy will never remain for any length of time
exposed to our fire. He will either attack and rout us from our cover,
or retire. And even if he did neither, his actual and complete
destruction, capture, or rout, would still require an attack with the
bayonet.

3. It follows that the proper mode of attack by infantry on infantry is
with the _bayonet_.

The Russian Suwarrow's victories and reputation were won chiefly by his
fierce bayonet attacks, which often effected great results, in spite of
his ignorance of the art of war.

4. But there are _exceptional cases_ where infantry may properly use
only its fire; as--

(1.) When acting as a support to artillery, it should rarely, if ever,
leave its position to use the bayonet; thereby endangering the safety of
the guns which it is its first duty to guard. Its function, in this
case, being purely defensive, it should act by its fire alone.

(2.) Against a line of skirmishers deployed, a well-directed fire will
usually be sufficiently effective.

(3.) In mountain warfare, its only practicable mode of attack will
sometimes be by its fire.

5. When both sides are _equally exposed_, the actual attack with the
bayonet should not be preceded by a distant musketry fire