and only sends out a few sharpshooters.

7. _Ascending slopes_, if not too steep, are not unfavorable to attacks
on infantry; for their shots, as experience shows, will then mostly fly
too high.

8. On a _descending slope_, cavalry charges down on infantry with
terrible effect; as it then arrives with an impetus which nothing can
stop.

At Waterloo, a column of French infantry was ascending a steep slope.
Suddenly the Scotch Greys cavalry regiment dashed down upon it from
above, rode over, and destroyed it.

B. ON SQUARES.

1. Infantry squares are usually charged in _open column_; the distance
between the subdivisions being a subdivision front and a few yards over;
in order that each subdivision may have time to break into the square,
or, if unsuccessful, to disengage itself and retire.

But the distances should never be so great as to allow the square to
reload after firing a volley at the next preceding subdivision.

2. The leading subdivision will usually _draw the fire_ of the square.
If this is delivered at very short range, say at twenty paces, it will
raise up a rampart of dead and wounded men and horses which will
probably suffice to check the following subdivisions, and so repulse the
charge. But an infantry square rarely reserves its fire so long; and if
the fire is delivered at any considerable distance, no such effect will
be produced.

3. A _good formation_ to attack a square is said to be a column of three
squadrons, with squadron front, at double distance; followed by a fourth
squadron, in column of divisions or platoons, to surround the square,
and make prisoners, if it is broken.

4. Before cavalry charges a square, it should be first shattered or
demoralized by _artillery fire_, when this is practicable. In the
absence of artillery, sharpshooting infantry skirmishers may, to a
certain extent, supply its place.

5. A square should be attacked at one of its angles, which are obviously
its weakest and most vulnerable points. But to cover a real attack on an
angle, cavalry sometimes makes a _false attack_ on the front of a
square.

6. When squares are formed checkerwise, cavalry must attack _a flank
square_, and not expose itself to a cross-fire by charging an interior
one.

7. Cavalry charging a square firing irregularly will usually break it.
But when the square reserves its fire, and pours in well-aimed volleys
at short range, the charge will rarely succeed. The cavalry should,
theref