Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/282

 270 INFANTRY tactics used was that known as Casey's. It was an improvement on Scott's " Tactics," which was substantially a translation of the French Ordonnances of 1831 and 1845. Ca- sey's system, which was succeeded by that of Hardee, was in turn superseded by that of Up- ton in August, 1867. This system, which is based upon a front of four men as a unit, seems the best adapted to meet the require- ments of infantry manoeuvres of the present day. To give the breech-loader its maximum effect, it provides a single-rank formation, and also a new method of deploying skirmishers by numbers, by means of which, without de- stroying the manoeuvring unit of four, a bat- talion in line, in double rank, can promptly furnish one, two, three, and even four succes- sive lines of skirmishers, each equal in strength to one eighth of the battalion. The first line, if too weak, may thus be reenforced by suc- cessive lines till one half of the battalion is engaged, leaving the other half in line in sin- gle rank, ready to advance to the support of the skirmishers if successful, or to receive them if repulsed. If necessary, the entire battalion may be advanced in successive lines or united into a single line of skirmishers. The term regiment is used in the United States for administrative purposes, and tactically is interchangeable with battalion, as it generally consists of but one, differing in this respect from most European armies, where a regiment is composed of two, three, and sometimes as many as seven battalions. Germany. The highest division of infantry solely is the bri- gade, composed of two regiments, each regi- ment, with one or two exceptions, of three battalions of four companies each. Each regi- ment has a colonel, lieutenant colonel, and ad- jutant, besides a commander who is an officer of the staff, and one major as fifth officer of the staff. Each regiment has a band, varying in number. Each battalion, in war, has one wagon with munitions, containing from 16,710 to 16,940 cartridges and 1,290 explosive car- tridges, 12 axes, 10 spades, &c. ; one wagon containing the cash box of the battalion and accounts, articles of uniform in reserve, and the tools requisite for the shoemakers and tai- lors of the battalion ; one cart containing drugs and medicines; one wagon for officers' equi- page; and four horses with pack saddles. There are some slight changes in the arrange- ment for the fusileer and jager battalions. There is little more than a nominal distinction between the different regiments of foot, those called fusileers and the battalions of jagers forming the light infantry. The fusileers have no bayonets on their guns, but use short swords instead. The jiigers are, as far as pos- sible, recruited from persons who wish to be- come game keepers and foresters, and have been assistants to such before entering the army. Each battalion has a major and an adjutant, a surgeon and one assistant surgeon, a paymas- ter, a quartermaster, and two non-commis- COUNTRIES. LINE. CUA8SKUKS. LANDWEHB. Total number of men. f 1 a &

S 1 I I Prussia* Bavaria 845 48 27 M 444 201,272 26,590 J 5.088 12,448 255,408 14 10 2 8.021 6,500 1,100 227 82 17 IT 8,651 612 235 289 212.944 8-2.6112 16,425 12,787 Wurtemberg. Total 26 14,621 298 4,687 j 274,711 WAH FOOTING. Number of battalions same as above. a I

u Prussia. . Bavaria. Saxony. . Wurtem- berg. . . Total. . . IN THE FIELD. IN DEPOT. IN GABRISON. Total nuti.ler of men. 49,844 27,756 24,672 14,864 10,860 2,052 3 189,495 19,408 10,917 9,704 e 1 Landwohr. i 6 4.812 8,050, 616 194.564 27,424 14,544 18,712 8.500 2,500 EOO 710.0S3 112,016 56,885 48,088 455,620 26,676J 179,624 8,008 250,244J 6,600 926,572 sioned staff officers. Each company is com- posed of one captain, one first and one second lieutenant, and 250 enlisted men. The follow- ing table gives the numbers of the German in- fantry on a peace and on a war footing : PEACE FOOTING. The gun of the German infantry during the Franco-German war was the needle gun of Dreyse. It admits of firing five times in a minute, and carries well 800 yards. It is being superseded by the Mauser rifle, sighted up to 1,600 yards, which is capable of being fired 18 times a minute, and the adapted French Chassepot, 400,000 of which were cap- tured in the war. The prevailing color of the Prussian uniform is blue, and the coat is much like that of our own troops. For infantry the coat is a dark blue frock, with a single row of eight buttons, the collar and cuffs faced with red ; pantaloons dark gray, with red cord down the seam ; the boots have tops about 6 in. high ; the cap for undress is of blue cloth, flat topped, with patent leather visor, and red band lace half an inch wide. The helmet is of glazed leather with a front and rear visor, a brass-scaled chin strap, a brass Prussian eagle displayed in front, and terminates at the top in a brass-pointed spike about 2 in. high. The overcoat is long and of the same color as the pantaloons. In addition the men have for fa- tigue and drill common cotton pantaloons and short cloth jacket. The dress of officers is very similar to that of the privates ; the texture of the cloth is better, and their rank is determined by a system of braids and shoulder straps; a sword like the cavalry sabre of the American service is worn. The Prussian soldier ready
 * t6s..4S
 * Including the troops of Hesse, Mecklenburg, &c.