than from any skilful use of their defensive works.  In the battle of Buena Vista, the efforts of Santa Anna were principally directed to turning the American left.  If he had concentrated his masses more upon the centre at the plateau, the success gained in the early part of the contest would probably have been decisive.  The American right at La Angostura was made almost inaccessible by the deep ravines in its front, and the skilful use made of the artillery from this point enabled General Taylor to gain the victory, even after his left had been completely turned, and a portion of the volunteers had actually fled from the field.

The manner in which Scott handled his troops in the various battles on his line of march from Vera Cruz to the capital, proved him to be one of the best generals of the age.  At Cerro Gordo he so completely turned Santa Anna’s left as to cut off his line of retreat, and nearly destroyed his army, the general himself barely escaping capture.  The turning of Valencia’s position by the village of San Geronimo, at the battle of Contreras, and the charge by Riley’s columns of infantry, were movements well planned and admirably executed, as were also the rapid pursuit of Santa Anna to Churubusco, and the flank and rear attacks by the brigades of Pierce and Shields.  The victory of Molino del Rey was mostly won with the musket, without very material assistance from heavy artillery, and was one of the most brilliant but dearly bought achievements of the war.  The assault upon Chapultepec was preceded by a long and heavy cannonade, which produced a decided moral effect upon the enemy and greatly facilitated the assault.

With respect to the battles of the Crimean war, only that of the Alma is subject to the tactical criticism of ordinary battles; those of Balaklava, Inkerman, and the Tchernaya, were of the nature of sorties made to prevent an assault of the unfinished works of defence, and to prolong the operations of the siege.  They must therefore be judged as such, and not according to the ordinary rules applicable to contests in the open field.  At the battle of the Alma the Russians were attacked in position, the two lines of battle being nearly parallel.  According to the original plan of attack, the Turks and Bosquet’s division was to turn the Russian left, while the main attack was made upon the centre.  But, on account of the division of command in the allied army, there was no concert of action.  The heavy column of Bosquet probably decided the victory, although the battle was general throughout the whole line.  The English army advanced in columns of brigades at deploying distances, its right connected with the French, and its left protected by a line of skirmishers, of cavalry and horse artillery.  With respect to the formation and use of troops in the other battles, it may be remarked that the charge of the English light cavalry at Balaklava was apparently without necessity or object, and led to its inevitable destruction.  In the battle