Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/281

 INFANTRY 269 be forgotten or ignored by those in authority at the outbreak of almost every great war. They are, that the infantry soldier should pos- sess the highest attainable mental, moral, and physical development; be governed by the strictest discipline, and show implicit and un- questioning obedience to the superior officer; be controlled by the simplest possible manoeu- vres in the field or in presence of the enemy ; and be loaded as little as possible either with arms or equipment. From the Napoleonic pe- riod to within the last 12 or 15 years some modifications had been made with reference to infantry, but they were comparatively unim- portant. Within this period, however, the in- vention of the rifle with the conical ball of Mini6, the breech-loading needle gun of Dreyse, and a number of other modern improvements, have caused a very considerable change in the organization and manoeuvring of infantry ; and now the general introduction of the breech- loading rifle, with the improved system of field defences, has completely altered the phenomena of the battle field. United States. The infan- try of the regular army of the United States since the civil war has been reduced in num- bers several times, and now consists of but 20 regiments, each composed of 10 companies, and each company on the peace establishment of 63 enlisted men. The officers of the regiment are a colonel, a lieutenant colonel, a major, a regimental adjutant, and a regimental quarter- master. Each company is commanded by a captain, and has one first and one second lieu- tenant, and may have an additional second lieutenant, a graduate of the military academy. The non-commissioned staff consists of a quar- termaster sergeant and a sergeant major. Each company has one orderly sergeant, three com- mon sergeants, and four corporals. Congress, when the necessity arises, authorizes the presi- dent, as commander-in-chief, to increase the army to the maximum standard. In each state there is a militia, in time of peace under the command of the governor, in time of war in certain contingencies, under that of the presi- dent of the United States, which conforms in all respects to the regular army in tactics and arms. (See MILITIA.) The arm of the United States infantryman is the Springfield breech-loading rifle. (See RIFLE.) The equip- ments are a knapsack with greatcoat straps, a haversack, a canteen, a cartridge box, and a bayonet scabbard. The uniform, for pri- vates, consists of a single-breasted dark blue . basque coat, sky-blue trousers, blue cloth cap with a white pompon; for officers, a double- breasted frock coat of dark blue cloth, the rank to determine the number of buttons, and light blue trousers with black stripes. The overcoat is a dark blue double-breasted surtout. (For detailed description, see gen- eral orders No. 92, war department, adju- tant general's office, Oct. 26, 1872.) Privates and non-commissioned officers are liberally supplied with underclothing, blankets, and waterproof blankets. They can either draw their clothing in kind or commute it. Officers and men are allowed a definite amount of camp equipage, consisting of wall tents, shelter tents, mess pans, camp kettles, hatchets, axes, and spades. In the field, officers are allowed a definite amount of baggage transported at the expense of the government. Privates are obliged to carry their personal effects on their person. The pay of the United States infantry is as follows : colonel, $3,500 per annum ; lieutenant colonel, $3,000; major, $2,500; captain, $1,800; adjutant, $1,800; regimental quartermaster, $1,800 ; first lieutenant, $1,500; second lieutenant, $1,400; chaplain, $1,500; first sergeant, $22 per month ; sergeant, $17 ; corporal, $15 ; private, $13. An increase of 10 per cent, is allowed for every five years' ser- vice, provided the total amount of increase does not exceed 40 per cent, of the whole pay. Mounted officers are allowed forage for their horses. If quarters are not furnished by the government, commutation is allowed. An in- crease of $1 a month for the third, fourth, and fifth years of the first enlistment is allowed to non-commissioned officers and privates. The great lesson taught by the civil war in Ameri- ca was, that the defence derived an immense benefit from shelter, however slight. The rifle pit in the last years of the war was per- haps the most marked feature in the American system. Though generally not armed with a breech-loading weapon, but simply with the Springfield muzzle-loading rifle, experience showed that, so long as the men behind in- trenchments preserved their morale, the dam- age inflicted on the enemy was frequently nearly ten to one. Skirmishing, which was adapted to the character of the American hun- ter and backwoodsman, and which was first introduced to general notice in the war of the revolution, received a new impetus in the civil war, and was constantly employed on both sides. The character of the ground, broken and timbered, also generally favored this sys- tem of warfare. The Prussians have since adopted the skirmish line as the normal for- mation for battle, having been compelled du- ring the Franco-German war to abandon the attack in masses in consequence of the destruc- tiveness of the breech-loader. They have since adapted their tactics to the new method of fighting. Cavalry cooperating with infantry was rarely used ; but field artillery was brought to a state of great perfection, and was exten- sively used to open engagements and coope- rate with the foot. The infantry was generally drawn up in one or two lines of battle in two ranks, with a reserve at a proper distance in the rear to supply gaps and strengthen that portion of the line most heavily pressed. The skirmishers were in advance whenever the enemy's position was not known. The attack was generally opened by a fire of artillery, fol- lowed by a gradual advance of the whole line, and finally a charge at a run. The system of