Harass

( harceler, Fr. ) In a military sense, signifies to annoy, to perplex, and ince antly turmoil any body of men, to hang upon the rear and flanks of a retreating army, or to interrupt its operations at a siege by repeated attacks. The troops best calculated for this duty are hu ars, mounted riflemen, and light dragoons. The general most celebrated among the ancients for this kind of warfare was Sertorius. By means of the most subtile and ingenious manœuvres, aided by a thorough knowlege of military tactics, he disconcerted all the plans, and finally defeated all the attempts which were made by Pompey and Me tell us to subdue him. It has been shrewdly remarked by the commentator on Polybius, that had there been one Sertorius within the walls of Lisle, when that city was besieged in 1708, the whole combined force of the allies that was brought before it would have been rendered ineffectual. This wise and sagacious officer was constantly upon the watch; no movement of the enemy escaped his notice; and by being master of his designs, every measure which was attempted to be put in execution, was thwarted in its infancy. When he received intelligence that a convoy was on its way to the enemy, such was his activity, that no precautions could save it from his attack; and however seemingly advantageous a temporary position might appear, every po ible peril or surprize crouded upon his mind, and the instant he judged it nece ary to decamp, such was his sagacity and shrewdne , that no foresight or information of the enemy could circumvent him on his march. He was full of expedients, master of military feints, and indefatigably active. When pursued in his retreats, he had always the ingenuity to avoid his enemy by getting into inacce ible places, or by disposing of his troops in such a manner, as to render it extremely hazardous to those who might attempt to harra or perplex him.