Battlefield

What, why don't we keep this section to literally kind of an overview?

yes that was my that was my thought as well because we are at two hours and 47 minutes this has got to be a record for length of time for mercenary star not for uh you know oh ma'am of course because they're going on like seven hours or something so um but thank you all if you have continued to listen this far i will have the podcast at least on youtube broken up into chapters i think i think spotify accepts them too we'll see um but Battlefield support.

Big changes.

OK, there's actually two sections for battlefield support.

Yeah.

It's not like I don't care about Battlefield.

I don't care about what is in your deck.

I'm just going to do one game plan and one game only.

He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation.

Such is the art of maneuvering." THE BOOK OF ARMY MANAGEMENT SAYS, ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE THE SPOKEN WORD DOES NOT CARRY FAR ENOUGH, HENCE THE INSTITUTION OF GONGS AND DRUMS, NOR CAN ARDINARY OBJECTS BE SEEN CLEARLY ENOUGH, HENCE THE INSTITUTION OF BANNERS AND FLAGS.

GONGS AND DRUMS, BANNERS AND FLAGS, ARE MEANS WHEREBY THE EARS AND EYES OF THE HOST MAY BE FOCUSED ON ONE PARTICULAR POINT.

The host, thus forming a single, united body, it is impossible either for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone.

By Berrius.

Modern Cavalry on the Field of Battle.

Part 1.

Note.

Kewpie, the original Japanese mayonnaise.

Every infantry body is accompanied by patrols, however small.

an instance of the too early employment of cavalry in a battle occurred at waterloo when napoleon at the commencement launched his cavalry into the fight the result was that although it far outnumbered the english at first it became so reduced depressed and worn out that it was unable afterward to offer full resistance to the british squadrons who were comparatively fresh wellington on the contrary after his first successes kept his cavalry as much as possible in reserve the field of battle itself shows the proper situation of cavalry but the divisional cavalry on the defensive side must always be at hand to fall upon the flanks of the enemy's infantry when in extended order while that of the attacking side must be equally at hand to prevent the flanks of its own infantry being so attacked in discussing the action of divisional cavalry the most advantageous time for its assisting in the combat must be considered at what moment if any can infantry be attacked by cavalry when opposed to a force acting on the defensive divisional cavalry has its operations limited and probably in the earlier part of an engagement confined to watching and if possible guarding the flanks of its own attacking infantry from surprise it is the cavalry on the defenders side that has the greatest opportunities in both cases however a rule must be made not to attack infantry when it has taken up a favorable position or before its ranks have been shaken by artillery or musketry prince kraft in speaking of maglatou says the same day took place a series of cavalry charges of greater or less importance which all showed practically to the cavalry the limits of their effective action against infantry the advancing infantry were brought to a stand infantry who gave way were ridden down but were the cavalry attacked infantry intact the cavalry were unable to prevail and of section two section three of scientific american supplement number six hundred sixty four september twenty two eighteen eighty eight this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox dot org read by mario pineda scientific american supplement number six hundred sixty four september twenty two eighteen eighty eight by various modern cavalry on the field of battle part two the precision of modern firearms has necessitated great changes in infantry tactics to advance against the murderous fire of the present rifle infantry is compelled to adopt scattered formations in small lines and to move forward with sudden rushes all this lends itself to the attacks of an active cavalry when these infantry attacks take place it may be presumed that they have already been under arms some hours have marched some distance and have been exposed to considerable loss from artillery and musketry fire their advance in extended formation will have commenced at about one thousand yards or earlier by this time the squadrons opposing them will have been brought to a more advanced position to the nearest point to their flank where cover is afforded and to carry this out successfully requires skilful handling files must be extended and short rushes made with small bodies say half a troop if over-exposed ground into sheltered places it is true that cavalry cannot hide themselves over exposed ground as infantry can but they have one advantage that nothing can deprive them of rapidity of motion and the distance that would take them say ten seconds to traverse namely one hundred and fifty yards would take infantry a minute prince kraft writes no battlefield is a tabula rasa for in the most exposed country there are depressions if strong skirmishing lines of infantry can advance directly over a country devoid of cover cavalry can undoubtedly do the like if by making use of the lie of the ground they can gain the enemy's flank a skilled cavalry leader will thus undoubtedly find an opportunity to get close to the enemy having arrived at this more advanced position say from five hundred to one thousand yards according to the formation of the ground the nearer the better the most favorable moment to assail the flanks of the attacking infantry would probably be immediately before the last belt of the fighting line and before the main body had reinforced them as they are preparing for the last united rush and as their supports are doubling up to join them at this moment the men would be to some extent out of breath their attention would be fixed on the point about to be attacked and their flags would be neglected cavalry should then descend upon them at the utmost speed that can be extracted from the horses with a good interval from knee to knee if there is only one squadron one troop should take the flank or fighting line while the other throws itself upon the support as the distance to be covered in the open would probably be not more than from two hundred to four hundred yards they will be exposed to fire supposing none of the ground is undulating for fifteen to thirty seconds when at full speed as they close on the infantry neither the supports nor those in rear of them or their artillery will dare to fire on account of their own men if the infantry run to get into small squares as is most likely the cavalry must endeavor to catch them before they assemble if they get together it may be too late for the cavalry to stop they must then throw themselves upon them and thrust to the supporting squadron to complete the attack although it is rare that a battlefield is on such ground that there are no undulations to afford shelter for cavalry in an advanced position this may be the case and if so the enemy's infantry attack must be allowed to take place but even then by cavalry showing itself on the flanks for a moment infantry would get together and afford a better mark for fire and the progress of the attack would be delayed the very appearance of cavalry frequently frightens infantry into masses if the ground was too much exposed for the charge men might be dismounted with their carbines at a safe distance to assist the infantry if mounted infantry were at hand they would be utilized in the same way and the machine-guns of the cavalry would also pour in their volleys if the enemy's attack is successful cavalry must then advance under flanks and take its chance and if necessary sacrifice itself to give its own infantry time to rally if it is unsuccessful the cavalry must be ready to take every favorable opportunity of molesting its broken ranks speaking of marlattu prince krafft says a german infantry brigade was forced to retire with heavy loss and run some danger of being annihilated by the pursuing enemy but the first dragoons of the guards threw themselves on the pursuers the enemy's infantry massed round the eagles and ceased to press on while the thin ranks of our infantry were able to rally and our guns were saved and brought into position the losses were heavy half a regiment of cavalry two hundred and fifty horses were sacrificed in order to save the brigade waterloo a french division of infantry fled before three regiments of dragoons the union brigade the royal dragoons and the indian skillings in first line the scots greys under left rear the whole under sir william ponsonby acting in support of the highland infantry brigade were awaiting the attack of the whole of the first french division under general alex the three scotch regiments threw into them a concentrated fire and as they were staggered by the shock ponsonpy gave the order to advance passing through the highlanders the grades having come up into line the three regiments charged the leading portion of the french column which gilded and those in rear were hurled back the dragoons having the advantage of the descent of the hill appeared to mow down the mass the greys on the left pressed on through the supporting brigade of the french while the royals dropped back to the right giving no time for fire many threw down their arms while hundreds of prisoners were hurried off to the rear of the line at the same time the indian skillings forced their way through the centre when the remainder of the french division broke and fled it may be said that this took place before the introduction of the rifle and is therefore no example but it took place within the range of the weapon then in use and at that distance it was equally effective The celebrated charge of Bredow's brigade of Buville-Mar-la-Tour also shows what an energetic attack may do.

It had become necessary to demand a sacrifice from the cavalry for the good of the army to enable Prince Frederick Charles, with only 24,000 infantry, to hold in check Bazaine's army of 180,000 until his own main body came up.

Such is the art of maneuvering.

THE BOOK OF ARMY MANAGEMENT SAYS, ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE THE SPOKEN WORD DOES NOT CARRY FAR ENOUGH, HENCE THE INSTITUTION OF GONGS AND DRUMS, NOR CAN ARDINARY OBJECTS BE SEEN CLEARLY ENOUGH, HENCE THE INSTITUTION OF BANNERS AND FLAGS.

GONGS AND DRUMS, BANNERS AND FLAGS, ARE MEANS WHEREBY THE EARS AND EYES OF THE HOST MAY BE FOCUSED ON ONE PARTICULAR POINT.

The host, thus forming a single, united body, it is impossible either for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone.