ha's attempt to break through the
investing lines at _Plevna_ (December 10, 1877). With 15,000 troops he
pierced the Russian lines, and another resolute effort would have
carried the sortie through the investing forces. But the 15,000
Supports could not get out of the town as the bridges and gates were
blocked with fugitives and wagons.

THE DECISIVE ATTACK.--The commander must also decide the point and
direction of the Decisive Attack. This will be made on a part of the
front or on a flank, and it may be predetermined in accordance with
information concerning the hostile dispositions, or it may have to be
ascertained by further fighting. The advantages of a _Frontal Attack_
are that, if successful, the enemy's force is broken in two parts, the
separated wings may be driven back in divergent directions and
overwhelmed in detail, and a decisive victory is thus obtained. The
disadvantages are that the force assaulting a part of the enemy's front
draws upon itself the concentrated fire of the whole hostile line, and
unless the Fire Attack can master this fire the decisive blow will be
held up, while an unsuccessful frontal attack invites the enemy to
advance and to envelop the assailants. The advantages of a _Flank
Attack_ are that {61} the enemy's line of retreat is threatened, and
only the threatened flank can concentrate its fire on the assailant.
The disadvantages of a Flank Attack are that the enveloping troops have
to face a similar danger on their own outer flank, for upon this point
the defender will almost certainly direct his counter-stroke, and for
this reason a decisive blow on the enemy's flank must be followed up by
strong reserves. The flank chosen for attack will be that which
affords the best opportunities for converging fire from the supporting
artillery, which gives the best line of advance for the infantry, and
where success will have the most decisive results, the last depending
mainly on the extent to which the enemy's line of retreat is
threatened. Where the various requisites are in conflict, the flank
affording the greatest advantages for converging fire from the
artillery will be chosen. Nothing destroys the moral of men in action
so speedily and effectually as a flank attack, and except by this
method good infantry will seldom be beaten.

A decisive attack, to be completely successful, must be followed up by
fresh troops before the assaulting waves have been checked. Lee had
crossed t