udden
disaster, and even the best troops are liable to become unsteady if
their flank is gained.

In the third place, a comparatively small body of fresh troops thrown
into action at the right moment against greater numbers, if the latter
are exhausted by fighting, may achieve a success out of all proportion
to their numbers. For this reason a prudent commander will endeavour
to retain under his control some portion of his reserves, to be thrown
in after his adversary has exhausted his own reserve power.

To be superior at the point of attack is the Art of Warfare in a
nutshell, and for this reason attacks on separate points of a position
must be properly synchronised to be effective. The unbeaten enemy will
otherwise possess a mobile reserve with which to reinforce threatened
points. The attacks must be so timed that he throws them in piecemeal
or fails to reach the point mainly threatened.

McClellan's position with the Army of the Potomac on _Malvern Hill_
(July 1, 1862) was a desperate position to attack in front, but it
could have been turned on the right. The hill dominated the ground to
the north, and also the road on which Lee's Army of Northern Virginia
was approaching, and was crowned with numerous heavy guns, against
which Lee's artillery was powerless. It was Lee's intention to open
with an attack by a division, supported by two brigades, on the right
of the position, and when this force was at grips with the Army of the
Potomac, to assault the centre with a bayonet charge. About 5 p.m. the
sound of cheering was heard near the right of the position, and
mistaking this for the signal, General D. H. Hill launched the attack
on the centre. The first line of defence was carried, but the Northern
Army was unoccupied in the other parts of the line, and reinforcements
quickly {26} beat off the attack with heavy loss. After this attack
had failed, Magruder's division arrived in position and the attack on
the right flank was delivered with similar results. Both attacks were
carried out with superb courage, but partial blows of this nature are
without the first elements of success, and McClellan's movements were
not again molested.

PHASES OF THE BATTLE.--There are three principal phases of every
battle. Information must be obtained by observation and by fighting;
advantage must be taken of information so obtained to strike where the
blow or blows will be most effective; success obtained by fighting must