Battle

An action or engagement between the forces of two armies. A battle is either general or partial; general, where the whole or the greater part of each army is brought into action; and partial, where only brigades, divisions, or corps d’armée are engaged. But, however the numbers may vary, the great principles to be applied in delivering battle are in almost every case the same. Palamedes of Argos is said to have been the first who ranged an army in order of battle, placed sentinels round a camp, and excited the soldier’s vigilance by giving him a watch-word. Battles may be arranged into three general cla es, defensive , offensive , and mixed battles. In a purely defensive battle, an army chooses a position in which to await the enemy, and there to give battle with no other end in view than to hold this position and repulse the enemy. In a purely offensive battle, an army seeks the enemy and attacks him wherever he is to be found. A mixed battle, is a combination of these two. The most common case of this last cla is that in which a position is selected beforehand, where the army awaits the attack of the enemy, and, at a suitable moment, moves from it, and attacks the a aulting columns. This case is sometimes known as a defensive-offensive battle. Details of particular battles and engagements are given under their respective headings in this work.