hink, corroborated by considering the
spots, as usually known and visible with ordinary instruments, as merely
greater pores of the same general character.

AN ARMY: ITS ORGANIZATION AND MOVEMENTS.

_FOURTH PAPER_.

In previous papers we have briefly related the history of the art of war
as now practised, stated the functions of the principal staff
departments, and mentioned some of the peculiar features of the
different arms of military service. It remains to describe the
operations of an army in its totality--to show the methods in which its
three principal classes of operations--marching, encamping, and
fighting--are performed.

The first necessity for rendering an army effective is evidently
military discipline, including drill, subordination, and observance of
the prescribed regulations. The first is too much considered as the
devotion of time and toil to the accomplishment of results based on mere
arbitrary rules. The contrary is the truth. Drilling in all its
forms--from the lowest to the highest--from the rules for the position
of the single soldier to the manoeuvres of a brigade--is only
instruction in those movements which long experience has proved to be
the easiest, quickest, and most available methods of enabling a soldier
to discharge his duties: it is not the compulsory observance of rules
unfounded on proper reasons, designed merely to give an appearance of
uniformity and regularity--merely to make a handsome show on parade.
Nothing so much wearies and discourages a new recruit as his drill; he
cannot at first understand it, and does not see the reason for it. He
exclaims:

'I'm sick of this marching,
Pipe-claying and starching.'

He thinks he can handle his musket with more convenience and rapidity if
he is permitted to carry it and load it as he chooses, instead of going
through the formula of motions prescribed in the manual. Perhaps as an
individual he might; but when he is only one in a large number, his
motions must be regulated, not only by his own convenience, but also by
that of his neighbors. Very likely, a person uneducated in the mysteries
of dancing would never adopt the polka or schottish step as an
expression of exuberance; but if he dances with a company, he must be
governed by the rules of the art, or he will be likely to tread on the
toes of his companions, and be the cause of casualties. Military drill
is constantly approaching greater simplicity, as experience show