s,
which had faced inward.

In the same battle, the Forty-fourth British Regiment, standing in line
in two ranks, was suddenly charged in rear by the French Lancers, who
had dashed round one of their flanks for that purpose. The rear rank
suddenly faced about, and, at a very short distance, poured in a deadly
fire, which put them into confusion. On their way back to re-form, the
front rank, in its turn, gave them a volley, which destroyed great
numbers of them, and completed their rout.

12. Even when a square has been actually broken, it is _not necessarily
lost_. If the troops are brave and well disciplined, it may sometimes be
rallied again, re-formed, and made to repulse the attacking cavalry, as
was the case with some of the Allied squares at Waterloo.

So, at the battle of Pultusk, in 1806, a French battalion that had been
broken and overthrown by Russian cavalry, immediately rallied, fell on
the troopers floundering in the mud, and dispatched them.

So, at the battle of Krasnoe, in 1812, a large Russian square was
retreating before the French cavalry masses. Occasionally, in order to
pass a narrow defile, it was obliged, temporarily, to break the square.
At these times the French made furious charges, penetrated into the
column, and captured men and guns. But as soon as the defile was passed,
the Russians instantly re-formed the square, and continued their
retreat. They finally succeeded in reaching Korytnia, after killing and
wounding some four hundred or five hundred of the French; though with
the loss of eight guns, one thousand prisoners, and seven hundred or
eight hundred _hors de combat_, out of five thousand or six thousand
men.

IX.--Skirmishers.

We shall consider--

First, THEIR USE.

Secondly, HOW THEY ARE POSTED.

Thirdly, HOW THEY ARE HANDLED.

Fourthly, RULES FOR INDIVIDUAL SKIRMISHERS.

A. THEIR USE.

1. In approaching the enemy through a wooded or broken country,
skirmishers thrown out in advance, and on the flanks of the leading
column, are absolutely indispensable, in order to _reconnoitre the
ground_, and prevent a surprise.

2. Skirmishers _protect_ the main body, or any particular portion of it,
from attack while manoeuvring.

A regiment, or a brigade, in covered ground, whether the enemy be
visible or not, should never change its position in battle, or
manoeuvre, without the protection of a skirmishing line.

3. They furnish a screen, behind which the main body may _