On the Nature of Ground. if the whole ground in front, which the enemy is to march over, be exposed to its fire, and if, after the enemy has sustained the effect of artillery, which cannot but be dreadful in such a position, and draws near, one of the other two species of arms be posted in its rear, for its defence and support. From the above observation it is evident, that if it be intended to employ the three different species of arms for their mutual support, they should be posted in this manner, that they may act without the least restraint, and be perfectly useful. It follows from hence, first, that infantry should never be left to themselves in a plain, but always be attended by cavalry, to cover the flanks of the infantry from an attack of the enemy's horse. There should also be a strong reserve of foot, not exposed to the enemy's attack, and in full readiness to be employed as occasion may require. The stronger this reserve is, the more easily such points of the first line as are hard pressed by the enemy may be succoured in unforeseen events. In order to attain this end with more certainty and expedition, the line to be defended should not be occupied by more infantry than is required for that purpose, and the rest should be posted in reserve to support the former, and such parts of them as are not immediately ordered to support a certain point, formed in column by brigades, that they may be the more able and steady to give support where it may be wanted. Secondly, as the support of artillery gives the two other species of arms an immediate preponderance over the enemy's infantry and cavalry; devoid of that support, cavalry should, if possible, in every posi tion, be attended by horse-artillery, as this is able to move with the same rapidity as cavalry. Thirdly, as every battery, formed into a ground any ways passable, should at all times be supported by other troops, cavalry may be employed for that purpose, if the ground is level, or rises in gentle swells. The cavalry should be posted at some distance, either in rear of the battery, or on its flanks, covered as much as possible from the enemy's fire, and be ready to fall upon the attacking enemy, when he has nearly reached it, and already felt its most powerful effect. But if the ground should not permit cavalry to be employed for this purpose, the battery must be supported by infantry, posted in the same manie On the Nature of Ground. as the cavalry, to secure by its fire both the rear and flanks of the battery, and its infantry must fall with fixed bayonets upon the front and flanks of the enemy as soon as he has reached the battery. Fourthly, all such objects in front, or on the flanks of our position, as might become dangerous, if occupied by the enemy, must be taken possession of by our troops. Fifthly, in order to increase the effect of artillery by an unexpected fire, masked batteries are frequently formed, that is, batteries hidden from the enemy's view by bushes, fences, slight buildings, &c. which do not obstruct their fire, and may easily be removed. From want of similar objects, batteries are also often masked by a line of infantry, or if the ground be fitted for this purpose, and not too much exposed to the enemy's fire, by a line of horse, who, the very moment when the enemy is within the range of grape-shot, open on a sudden, and move en carriere around the flanks of the battery. The view, as well as the effect, of an unexpected grape-shot fire, which cannot but be dreadful at this distance, must throw the most intrepid troops into disorder, and cause them to be completely routed by the horse or foot breaking into them. Sixthly, if it be intended to place the three different species of arms in this manner, that they may be mutually supported by each other; this end is to be obtained, first, by posting the artillery so that it rakes all the ave nues, and that the latter, if possible, be exposed to a cross-fire; for which the batteries must not be distant from one another purpose more than 1000 paces. It is further necessary that the artillery be equal to rake every point of the front, and that until the decisive moment it be hidden, if possible, from the enemy's view. If, notwithstanding the effect of this cannon-fire, the enemy should clear the avenues, the cavalry or infantry must charge the moment he passes them, or if this from the nature of the ground should not be possible, the infantry must at least be posted in this manner, that the enemy be exposed to their fire as soon as he has passed the avenues of our position. 2d, Particular care should also be taken that our horse or foot be placed in such a manner as to threaten the enemy's flank on attacking our battery, and that our infantry in particular occupy a position which enables them to act effectually both with their bayonets and their fire, or at least with Military Correspondence. one of them, without preventing our cavalry to charge the enemy, while he is advancing to the attack, and which cavalry, in case of a repulse, must form again under the protection of our fort. MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE. Year! Day. MILITARY CHRONOLOGY. Continued from our preceding Number. Battle of Geneff-gallant conduct of the Prince of Orange -series of bloody fights of posts between the two parties. 4th Oct. Action at Entzheim Turenne defeats the allies under the Duke de Bournouville. 27th Oct. 29th Dec. 1675 5th Jan. June Grave retaken by the Prince of Orange. Fight near Mulhausen-Turenne surprises the allies in Action between Tuckheim and Colmar-Turenne defeats Condé unable to obtain any advantage over the Prince of Turenne and Montecuculi manœuvre. 15th June Swedes surprised by the Elector of Brandenburg in Ra thenaw. 18th June Battle of Tehrbellin-Swedes defeated by the great elector T. William. Turenne killed at Weder Sasbach, 64 years old. Crequi routed-Treves taken by the confederates. Bremerfurth taken by the Duke of Brunswick Lunenburg, Turenne represses the imperialists near the Reichenbach Action near Consarbruck-the French surprised and defeated. Wismar taken by the Danes. Huygens makes experiments on gunpowder. Fruitless siege of Maestricht by the Prince of Orange, Sea-fight off Palermo-Spaniards and Dutch defeated by Congress of Nunwegen. Valenciennes stormed by Luxembourg. Action near Montcassel-Luxembourg defeats the Prince of Orange. Combray and St. Omers reduced. Luxembourg forces the Prince of Orange to raise the siege of Charleroi. Crequi takes Fribourg. 30thJuly to Siege and capture of Stetten by the Elector of Branden14th Dec. burgh. 1681 Dec. 1682 1683 Military Correspondence. Prince of Orange marries Mary, daughter of the Duke of Action at St. Denis-the Prince of Orange attacks Luxem- Capture of Stralsund by the Elector of Brandenburg. the Swedes. Peace of Ivanwegen. Strasburg occupied by stratagem by the French in time of peace. 16th Oct. Death of Montecuculi, aged 72. 12th Sept. 1684 27th June 1685 1686 1687 1688 Tekeli allies himself with the Turks. The French blockade Luxembourg. Tekeli and Cara Mustapha invade Germany. Siege of Vienna, relieved by John Sobiesk, king of Poland. Battle of Vicegrade the Duke of Lorrain defeats the Louis XIV. takes Luxemburg, Courtray, and Dixmude. Death of Colbert. Revocation of the edict of Nantes. Accession of James II.-rebellion of the Duke of Mon- Action of Sedgemoor-Monmouth defeated by the Earl of Buda taken by the Duke of Lorrain after four months Death of the great Condé, aged 66. First experiments with mines in France. League of Augsburg against France. 12th Aug. Battle of Moharts-the Duke of Lorrain defeats the Turks. Hungary becomes an hereditary kingdom. Transilsania submits to Austria. Prince of Orange invited over to England-sails with 50 sail of the line, 50 frigates and fire-ships, 500 transports, and 15,000 troops, driven back by a storm. 6th Sept. Belgrade taken by storm by the Austrians. Oct. 1689 15th April 9th Sept. 169 18th April 11th July 18th Aug. William III declared king, and James II abdicated. The French commit horrid devastations in the Palatinate. Action of Killycranky-General Mackay defeated by Lord Siege of Londonderry by King James. Battle of Walcourt-Waldeck defeats Marshal d'Humieres. Prince Louis of Baden defeats the Turks. Belgrade retaken by storm by the Turks. Year Day. 1690 1st July 1691 Military Correspondence. Earl of Marlborough takes Kinsale and Cork. Battle of Beechy-head-Tourville defeats the English and Death of Louvois. Athlone taken by Baron de Ginkle. Battle of Aghrim-Gingle defeats the Irish under St. Ruth. 19th Aug. Battle of Salaukemen-Prince L. of Baden defeats the 1692) 29th May soth June 3d August 1693 29th July 1694 Turks. Limerick taken by Ginkle. Battle of La Hogue-Russel defeats Tourville completely. Battle of Landen or Nurwinden-Luxembourg defeats K. Noailles takes Roses. 4th Oct. Battle Marsaglia-Catinat defeats the Duke ol Savoybayonets first used. Tourville captures the Smyrna fleet. 29th Nov. The infernal machines employed against St. Maló without success, Allies retakes Iluy. Spaniards defeated by Noailles. Passage over the Ter forced. Death of Queen Mary. Namur retaken under King William by Cohorn. 1695 4th Jan, Death of Luxembourg. 5th Sept. 1696 1697 11th Sept. 30th Oct. 1699 26th Jan. 3700 1701 Congress at Ryswick. Vauban discovers the ricochet fires, and improves the Battie of Zenta-Prince Engene defeats Mustapha II. Peace of Cariwitz between the Emperor and the Turks. Peter the first appears in Germany-his alliance with Po- The Danes invade Holstein. War between Sweden and Denmark, Russia, Saxony, England, and Prussia. 25th July Charles the XIIth assisted by an English and Dutch squa. dron, lands in Zealand, and compels Denmark to the peace of Travendahl. 18th Jan. 7th July 19th July War, France against Austria, Prussia, the empire (except Frederic the first raised to king of Prussia. Prince Eugene enters Italy by unknown roads over the Action near Carpi-Eugene defeats the French, and crosses Action on the Duna-Charles XII defeats the Saxons. |