Rather than a "chapter 1" from this continuation of the memoirs, I selected a "chapter" from Ney's "Military Studies," or thoughts on deployments and maneuvers.--RL

THE THIRD RANK OF INFANTRY CONSIDERED AS A RESERVE; ADVANTAGEOUS USE TO BE MADE OF IT UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WAR.

A line of infantry cannot, without some danger, march to offensive warfare with bayonets charged three deep. Any unevenness in the ground, indeed the least undulation, forms an obstacle dangerous to the precision necessary in such an attack. The bayonets of the third rank might easily wound the men in the first, because they only reach the shoulders of these men; and because the men in the third rank have no facility to distinguish, like those in the first and second rank, the ground which the line has to pass orer.

To avoid the danger of this kind of attack, the charge with the bayonet should be made only by the first and second ranks; the third should follow with ported arms. The line having reached the ground occupied by the enemy, should fire without moving from the position of charge bayonets; the third rank, and without any other notice than the firing, should advance as tirailleurs. But if the enemy stood the charge, they should not quit their place, but bring down their bayonets to the charge, in order to support and increase the impetus given by the two first ranks.

Supposing a regiment marching in column by sections, platoons, or divisions, to gain a position indicated, and on its way thither to be attacked or harnssed by tbe enemy's cavalry, the colonel, to clear and cover the march, may detach the third rank of the three first, of the four last, or of the whole of the divisions forming the column. The third rank of the uneven platoons shall march to the right of each respective division, in either one or two ranks; the rear of the third rank of the even platoons shall, in like manner, flank thc left of thc column. The same disposition shall be pursued whether the left or the right of the column be in front.

A lieutenant and a drummer from each company shall always march with the men of the third rank when acting as eclaireurs.

In the event of a battalion of infantry being attacked by a body of horse (we suppose here that circumstances prevent the battalion from forming into square, which is the only effective mode of resisting such an attack), after the two first ranks have fired, the third shall advance as tirailleurs; and when the line has reloaded, it shall follow the impetus given by the third rank, with charged bayonets and in double quick time.

But if the tirailleurs were threatened in their turn by the enemy, the lieutenants should order the rally to be beat, and form groups, in the centre of which they should maintain themselves, with their drummers, until the arrival of the line. Should the danger continue, the third rank should resume its original station; in the contrary case, it should proceed with its attack.

Some of the enemy's horsemen might perhaps succeed in passing the wings and attacking the rear: in that case the whole should halt, the rear rank face about, and, after firing and reloading, charge bayonets. The two first ranks should then, after firing, reload, and also come to the charge.

If in defiance of this firing the enemy continued his attack upon the front and the rear of the line, the colonel should command the second rank to carry arms in order to fire at will front and rear, or by the even files to the front and the uneven to the rear.

The first and third ranks should, in the mean time, remain with the bayonet at the charge until the danger was over. In this situation the supernumerary rank should be distributed in the intervals of the second rank, behind the captains and serjeants closing the third rank. Those over and above might be placed to the left of the grenadiers, and between the seventh and eighth platoons of the battalion.

If a column of infantry were obliged to cross a plain in effecting its retreat, and were attacked by a numerous cavalry, it must form without hesitation into close column by divisions, and then into square, if necessary. The men of the third rank of the sections which have doubled, and of those preceding them, may be successfully employed in advancing from the square to repulse the assailants, and even to cover the march when the danger is over.

When a regiment is drawn up in line, in any camp fixed upon or staked out, the third rank shall advance from the line to any distance determined upon by the colonel in command, in order to cover the line, allow it to form the fasces of arms, and order the service of the advanced posts, pickets, and camp guards. When this is done, the third rank shall resume its place.

If the camp were attacked, the third rank should fall in without any word of command, upon the ground it is to occupy, in front of the line, in order to give the remainder of the regiment time to form and prepare for action. A column of infantry sent to search a wood, or a village, or any other part of a covered country, may, during its march, employ the men of the third rank, without deranging in any way the ensemble of the corps.

Chapter One-Der: Memoirs of Marshal Ney, Vol. I: Chapter 1

This text comprises pages 363 through 367 of Vol II. The book has a total of 430 pages and includes maps and dispatches. Vol I covers his early days through the end of 1799 campaign. Vol. II continues through the end of the 1805 Ulm campaign, and includes an extensive collection of his thoughts on deployments and maneuvers as well as a variety of translated historical documents.

The Memoirs of Marshal Ney is available in the US via mail order from On Military Matters (click on the advertisement on the MagWeb home page for contact information). List price is $95 (plus $4 shipping and handling) for both volumes (they are not available separately).

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