Reveries, Or, Memoirs Concerning the Art of War

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1759 edition. Excerpt: ...in being diligently sought for. The inhabitants themselves may perhaps be ignorant of them, because necessity never obliged them to look for any. One must therefore never give credit to their intelligence upon such occasions; for, in general, they have no other authority but tradition, for the principal part of what they know concerning their own country. I have very often experienced their ignorance, and the falsity of their informations; for which reason, it is necessary either to reconnoitre the ground one's.self, or to employ those who are not afraid of encountering difficulties. By industrious examination, one is always sure to succeed; and, after having discovered passes which the enemy is unacquainted with, he will be at a loss what measures to take; and, finding that his projects have miscarried, will, in the next place, think of providing for his security by flight. CHAP. IV. Of war in inclosed countries. AS, in situations of this kind, an enemy must be equally as imbarrassed as one's self, there is therefore no great danger to be apprehended from him. The engagements which happen in them not being general, are never decisive, and usually terminate in favour of the most obstinate. But there is one essential essential thing to be observed with regard to them; which is, that one's rear must be always kept free, in order to be able either to make detachments, or, in case of necessity, to retreat. A vast deal depends upon the disposition of artillery in actions of this kind; for as the enemy will be afraid to quit his posts, batteries that have been judiciously erected must do great execution: and although he abandons them, yet, as retreats are usually attended with difficulties, he may probably become thereby exposed to at least as...