ter-attack cannot
usually be organised in such warfare, although Lee managed to employ
17,000 troops for that purpose with complete success at the _Battle of
the Wilderness_ (May 5-6, 1864). Local {159} counter-attacks, however,
are the normal incidents of defensive operations in woods, and in the
Niederwald, at the _Battle of Worth_, several spirited counter-attacks
were made by the 96th French Regiment.

Villages are even more attractive to troops than woods, and they figure
in all battles as local centres of resistance. One of the most
spirited defences of a village took place at the _Battle of Sedan_
(September 1, 1870) when a heroic struggle was maintained by French
marine infantry in the village of _Bazeilles_, and after the white flag
had been hoisted over the Fortress of Sedan the fight was stubbornly
maintained at the village of Balan, the second line of defence of the
Bazeilles position. Visitors to the battlefield of Sedan are shown a
little inn with the title, _A La Derniere Cartouche_, in commemoration
of the struggle. A highly successful Night Attack was made by the
French on the village of _Noisseville_ (August 31, 1870), the normal
difficulties of defending the village being increased by the surprise
and the darkness.

THE ATTACK ON WOODS.--The opening stages of the attack on a wood
resemble those in the attack on any other position, but once the outer
fringe is gained the potential advantages offered by the narrow field
of view and fire must be exploited to the full and surprise at weak
points must be achieved. Flank attacks are exceptionally deadly under
these circumstances, as they may succeed before the other defending
troops are aware of the threatened attack, but the utmost precaution is
necessary to avoid traps, and scouts must precede all movement, while
advances must be made by rapid bounds to avoid aimed fire at close
range. Supports and reserves must follow close to the forward troops
in order to preserve cohesion and to afford immediate help. Machine
guns and light mortars are of very great value to give close support,
the latter taking the place of artillery and inflicting losses on {160}
stockaded defenders. Small woods should usually be attacked from the
flanks under heavy fire from artillery until the attack turns inwards,
while machine guns and Lewis guns are posted to prevent reinforcements
reaching the wood and to cut off the retreat of the defenders. During
the German count