494
The Soldier's Manual.
SEP.
The twelfth section notices the different situations in which an enemy may be posted. If it be a hill, bold men should be chosen to climb it; if it be a low place, stones should be tumbled upon the heads of the enemy. If they can be attacked before and behind, their rout and confusion are deemed inevitable, so much emphasis is there laid upon this very simple and obvious manœuvre. The disorder would be increased, the overthrow rendered more complete, as the writer thinks, if the flanks of the enemy were assailed at the same time, and the assault take place in the night, and be further accompanied by a display of fire. If the enemy has gained possession of a place well fortified by nature, the soldiers are not to attack it rashly, but resort to strata- gem, lest by relying upon their courage they should incur great loss. In this case they should resort to stratagem, and endeavor to act in concert with each other. What these stratagems are, the writer does not tell us, but adds that if by them the enemy be disloged and beaten, they should be destroyed root and branch. He then suggests, after another cautionary hint, that it may be possible to starve them out, in which case the soldiers should watch for their retreat, throwing out va- luable things as baits to amuse them. The author closes the section by again adverting to the mischiefs that would result by soldiers attack- ing the enemy in a desultory manner, and enjoins upon officers the duty of inculcating this lesson from time to time.
come.
The thirteenth section supposes that the enemy may be so strongly posted as not to be easily dislodged, or so strong as not to be over. When this happens, the soldiers are advised to retreat slowly and in good order, lest the whole force of the enemy, seizing the ad- vantage of their retreat, should pursue and harass their rear.
It is a good practice, says the writer, to get a plan of the country, and to leave ambushes in convenient spots, that as the enemy approaches they may suddenly spring up and assault them, and thus secure the moans of gaining a victory. But if these ambuscades are themselves sur- prised and rendered useless, and providence seems to point out that it is time to retire, the guns and bows should be well used, and well regulated; companies should be left behind; and if the enemy is pur. suing to turn round and attack them. If the enemy retires, they should be pursued calmly; but if advancing they must be assaulted, the companies mutually assisting each other. If the position of the enemy be a fortified city, the troops must wait till they retire.
The fourteenth section adverts to the propriety of a nice attention to rewards and punishments, and tells us that merit cannot be hid from the ears and eves of all the army. Some must be the witnesses