PREFACE.
The following volumes of Infantry Tactics are based upon the French ordonnances of 1831 and 1845, for the manœuvres of HEAVY infantry and chasseurs à pied.
Both of these systems have been in use in our service for some years; the former having been translated by Lieutenant-General Scott, and the latter by Lieutenant-Colonel Hardee. My attention, for many years given to the study of the manœuvres of infantry, was more particularly directed to the subject while engaged, in 1854, as President of a Board assembled by the War Department, for the review, correction and emendation of the translation of Lieutenant-Colonel Hardee. Since the introduction into our service of this latter drill, in connection with the tactics of General Scott, I have seen the necessity of a uniform system for the manœuvres of all the infantry arm of service.
The revolution which has been wrought within a few years past in the weapons both of artillery and Infantry, has necessitated a departure from those provisional movements and formations in order of battle, which characterized the school of Frederick the Great. Apart even from the consideration of a change in weapons these movements are condemned by the ablest tacticians of Europe, and have been violated in all the great actions since the French Revolution. It has, consequently, been felt essential to fix the formation to that in two ranks to increase the rapidity of the gait; to increase the 'intervals between the battalions and brigades; to make, in the evolutions, the brigade the tactical unit; to hold the troops, when in manœuvres in presence of the enemy, in closer order and well in hand; and, as a, general rule, to insist upon deployments upon the heads of columns, as the safest and most rapid means of forming line of battle.
Not many changes from the original have been deemed necessary in the schools contained in the first -volume. It is believed, however, that the careful reader will find among those made, several which will be of assistance in the movements of a company or line of skirmishers.
The absolute necessity in action and on the battlefield, of skirmishers, and the heretofore unfrequent use of this class of troops in connection with the manœuvres of the battalion, has led me to designate in each battalion two of its companies as LIGHT troops, whose sole duty will be to cover it in all the movements. It is intended that these companies shall be composed of picked men, possessing the highest physical qualifications, marksmen as well, and that they shall be used as skirmishers. Should they, however, be present in company formation with the battalion during its manœuvres (which will probably be exceptional in its occurrence), methods have been provided in the School of the Battalion, for their movements. In this School, several battalion manœuvres have been introduced not in the original, several thrown out, and others changed and modified.
In the third volume, the manœuvres of a brigade, comprising in its organization the three arms of service, are provided for, as well as the evolutions of a corps d'armée, composed of several brigades. In these schools a number of changes and additions have been made in the manœuvres, formations, and organizations.
It is not my intention to discuss the propriety of the alterations made from our present systems of tactics. I leave to the test of practice and experience the exhibitions of their merits and demerits. Most undoubtedly, there are still improvements to be made; but if the system here set forth shall in any manner cause our armies to act with more efficiency on Clio field of battle, and thus subserve the cause of our beloved country in this her hour of trial, my most heartfelt wishes will have been attained.
SILAS CASEY,
Col. 4th Regt. U. S. Infantry,
and Brig.-Gen. Vol., U. S. Army.
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 1st, 1862