A Treatise on the Tactical Use of the Three Arms: Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry

In Short

This work is a technical guidebook written in the final months of the American Civil War, designed to instruct officers on the combined use of the three classic military arms. It provides a systematic breakdown of how to deploy infantry, artillery, and cavalry, both as independent units and as a unified force. By drawing on historical precedents—most notably from the Napoleonic Wars and recent American engagements—it serves as a primer on the tactical logic that governed mid-19th-century combat, emphasizing the importance of timing, position, and moral force in achieving victory.

The Story

The text begins with a clear premise: a commander’s success depends entirely on their ability to integrate the distinct strengths of infantry, artillery, and cavalry. The narrative arc of the book is essentially the progression of a battle itself, starting with the infantry—the backbone of any army—and moving through the specialized support roles played by the other two arms.

The author first dissects the infantry, arguing that while they are versatile enough to switch between offensive and defensive stances, their reliance on the bayonet and the volley makes them vulnerable to artillery and cavalry. He explores the "close column" formation, noting its ability to shelter raw troops and its irresistible momentum, while candidly admitting its catastrophic vulnerability to artillery fire. Through examples like the Battle of Wagram, he illustrates how even the most powerful columns can be decimated by well-placed guns.

Next, the focus shifts to artillery. The argument here is that while artillery is primarily a defensive tool—meant to command ground and hold back an enemy—its offensive utility lies in its capacity to "prepare" the field. By shattering enemy formations before an infantry advance, artillery creates the necessary opening for success. The author details the importance of elevation, cross-fire, and the necessity of protecting batteries with infantry supports, noting that a battery left unsupported is essentially a sitting target.

Finally, the discussion turns to cavalry. Often misunderstood as a primary combat force, cavalry is presented here as the "offensive" arm, best suited for exploiting success and securing the fruits of victory through pursuit. The author emphasizes that cavalry’s real power lies in the impetuosity of the sabre charge, not the ineffective firing of pistols or carbines. He details the dangers of charging infantry squares and the specific conditions—such as terrain, speed, and the enemy's level of morale—that determine whether a charge will succeed or result in a bloodbath.

The text concludes by synthesizing these lessons into a hierarchy of responsibility. Infantry, he argues, is the only arm capable of both offense and defense in equal measure; artillery clears the path; and cavalry delivers the final blow. The ultimate lesson is that these arms must not act in isolation. When one fails, the others must compensate. The book ends with a clear, final maxim: artillery prepares the victory, infantry achieves it, and cavalry completes it, ensuring that the fruits of the struggle are firmly secured.

How It Unfolds

The infantry foundation The author establishes the infantry as the central component of the army, detailing formations for attack and defense. He analyzes the psychological and physical benefits of the close column while acknowledging its dangerous susceptibility to concentrated artillery fire.

The defensive power of the volley The text moves into the mechanics of defensive infantry, emphasizing the importance of holding fire until the last possible second. By citing examples from Cowpens to Waterloo, the author shows how disciplined, reserved fire can break even the most determined cavalry charges.

The artillery's role The focus shifts to the placement and tactical utility of artillery, highlighting the critical importance of elevated positions and enfilading fire. The author argues that artillery must be used to soften enemy masses, thereby providing the infantry with a viable opening for a bayonet charge.

The cavalry's offensive strike The author outlines the specific duties of cavalry, framing it as the force intended to disrupt enemy flanks and pursue retreating troops. He warns that cavalry is highly sensitive to morale, noting that a charge must be made with "forlorn-hope recklessness" to be effective against hardened infantry.

The synthesis of arms The book concludes by reconciling the three arms, arguing that their combined effectiveness is the key to field command. The author provides a final summary of their distinct roles, defining the precise sequence in which a successful battle must be waged to ensure victory.

The People

The book is not a narrative of specific historical figures, but rather a study of the archetypal roles played by commanders and their troops. The commander is the central, albeit abstract, figure—an individual tasked with the burden of timing and positioning. This person stands against the chaos of the battlefield and the inherent "raw" nature of undisciplined soldiers, who must be managed through strict tactical formations.

The infantryman appears as a soldier susceptible to both panic and heroism. Whether he is "groveling in the dust" at the sound of a misfire or advancing with "firm and decided step" up a ridge at Chattanooga, his effectiveness is defined by his adherence to discipline. The artillerist is depicted as a specialist, vulnerable and exposed, relying on the infantry to act as a screen while he delivers the "frightful havoc" of canister and shell. The cavalryman is characterized by his dash and speed; he is the most volatile figure, capable of deciding a battle with a single charge but equally likely to be repulsed if he fails to close with the enemy.

Historical figures like Napoleon and Ney appear as models of tactical intent, their maneuvers used as evidence for the success of deep columns or the coordination of combined arms. Ultimately, the people in this book are defined by their functions, their failures under fire, and their collective ability to transform a chaotic mass of men into a singular, effective mechanical engine of war.

In Its Own Voice

A close column shelters raw troops, and carries them irresistibly along with it.

The author explains why dense formations were often favored for moving inexperienced soldiers across an open, fire-swept field.

The effectiveness of the fire of a sharp-shooter, especially, will be usually in inverse, instead of direct proportion to the number of shots he delivers in a given time.

This observation challenges the contemporary push for faster-firing weapons, arguing that speed is the enemy of accuracy.

Artillery prepares the victory; Infantry achieves it; Cavalry completes it, and secures its fruits.

This concluding summary distills the author’s entire thesis regarding the necessary interdependence of the three military arms.

What It's Really About

At its core, this treatise is an argument for order over chaos. It explores the question of how a commander can impose their will upon a battlefield where individual human fear, the exhaustion of the men, and the unpredictability of terrain constantly threaten to dissolve military structure. The book is deeply concerned with the "moral effect"—the psychological impact of a well-timed volley, the sight of a steady column, or the sound of an unexpected flanking battery. Beneath the technical instructions lies a belief that warfare is a rational, mechanical process that can be mastered if one understands the specific physical constraints and psychological limitations of the soldier. It is a study of how to maintain control when the goal is to break the opponent’s will.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in the granular history of the American Civil War or the evolution of 19th-century military science will find this book an invaluable primary source. It captures the specific, rigid logic of a bygone era of warfare, where the bayonet and the canister shot were the final arbiters of conflict. The prose is precise, instructional, and remarkably direct, reflecting the urgency of a country transitioning out of a major conflict.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the book’s singular focus on technical maneuver. There is no sentimentality here, and the cold, analytical treatment of human casualties—viewed as variables in a tactical equation—can be sobering. The text assumes a reader already familiar with basic military terminology, and its reliance on dated tactical manuals (such as "School of the Battalion") requires some patience. Nevertheless, for those who wish to understand the "why" behind the movements of the Civil War’s great battles, this work offers a clear, unvarnished window into the mind of a contemporary officer. It stays with you as a testament to the brutal, calculated reality of a conflict that was as much about the management of logistics and human nerves as it was about the clash of armies.