to obtain
cross-fires on a _debouche_, or on the head of an advancing column, or
on the ground in front of a weak part of our line. By so doing, we
compel the enemy to divide his own artillery in order to reply to our
fire.

6. A _sudden concentration_ of a great number of guns at some particular
point may be used with the same decisive effect in a defensive, as in
an offensive battle; though in this case, artillery plays, for the time
being, a part strictly offensive.

At the battle of Friedland, where the French were attacked by the
Russians in overwhelming numbers, Ney's corps was driven back by a
terrific concentrated fire, in front and in flank, from the Russian
batteries on the opposite side of the river; its own artillery being too
feeble to stand before them. Seeing this, Napoleon instantly ordered all
the guns of the different divisions of the corps next to Ney's, on the
left, to be united and thrown in one mass in front of Ney's corps.
Taking post at some hundred paces in front, these batteries, by their
powerful fire, soon silenced the Russian batteries; then advancing on
the Russian troops that had crossed the river to within grape-shot
range, they made frightful havoc in their deep masses. The French
infantry, profiting by this, rushed forward and captured the village of
Friedland, driving the enemy in their front over the bridges, which they
then burned. This was decisive of the battle; for the whole Russian army
was then driven into the river.

So, at the battle of Kunersdorff, in 1759, after Frederick's left and
centre had driven the Russians, and captured seventy guns and many
prisoners, Soltikoff promptly massed the whole artillery of his right
wing at a single point behind a ravine, which, by its concentrated fire,
swept away the flower of the Prussian army in their efforts to force its
passage; and Frederick was badly defeated.

7. When compelled to retreat, guns should _retire successively_, in
echelons of batteries, half-batteries, or sections, in order that the
fire of one may cover the limbering up and retreat of another.

Besides the mutual support thereby afforded, these successive
face-abouts of artillery have a powerful moral effect on the pursuing
enemy, already more or less disorganized by success.

It would be well for some pieces in each echelon to be kept loaded with
canister, so as to drive the enemy back if he should press very close.

8. The protection afforded by artillery in