Tactical Use of Cavalry 93 I. ITS FORMATIONS 93 II. ITS STRONG AND ITS WEAK POINTS 98 III. HOW POSTED 99 IV. ITS SUPPORTS 104 V. HOW USED 106 VI. HOW IT FIGHTS 109 VII. ITS CHARGE 113 VIII. ITS ATTACK ON INFANTRY 122 A. GENERALLY 122 B. ON SQUARES 124 IX. GENERAL REMARKS 127 TACTICAL USE OF THE THREE ARMS. Every complete military force consists of three arms,--INFANTRY, ARTILLERY, and CAVALRY. In battle, these three arms are united; and, other things being equal, that commander will prove victorious who is best acquainted with their combined use in the field. In order thoroughly to understand the proper use 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.