§ 1. Machiavelli would wish it to be restored, but with no advantage to the state and with immense harm to the military. He thinks rightly in this: he judges that armies must be arranged so that all are not endangered by the fear or flight of a few. But in pressing the ancient Roman custom he acts beside the point. For the method of fighting which we now employ is much better and much firmer.
The first principle of the Roman battle-line was that exhausted or defeated velites withdrew into the ranks of the hastati, and the latter into the intervals of the principes. But such a withdrawal is not now approved; instead, one body after another is sent into the place of those who are weary. The Romans would have acted much more prudently if they had established matters so that, if they saw the hastati being hard pressed, they sent the principes to them, and the triarii to these.
For when Machiavelli thinks that disorder and the disruption of ranks would arise from the forward movement of those who occupy the second and third battle-lines, he does not sufficiently consider that graver disorder of the ranks arises from the withdrawal and virtual flight of men who give way or have been repulsed than from the forward movement of men who fight and bring aid. For those who are about to fight possess more reason and courage than those who are fleeing; the former advance forward, while the fleeing move backward. Indeed, to raise courage and sharpen boldness it is more effective to aid a man who stands and fights than one who gives way. Confidence is also taken from the enemy by our manner of fighting but increased by the order of the ancients; for he presses more fiercely upon men who give way but fears the man who stands.
§ 2. Furthermore, it must be observed that the nature of our artillery requires a different order of battle-line. For the guns must be brought before the battle-line and disposed with great care; they too must be avoided. This at least is certain: if skill is applied in aiming the artillery, victory is easy. I shall speak of this in its own place; for now it is sufficient if it is understood that the ancient battle-line cannot be established.
For the bravest soldiers now employ firearms, especially those they call muskets, and men rarely fight at close quarters unless one side is fleeing. Accordingly, missile troops are now the chief men and the body of the battle-line. It is prior in nature, moreover, that battle should be fought at a distance rather than at close quarters. Here the guns and muskets, which are the heaviest arms, are discharged at the beginning.
§ 3. In antiquity men sometimes evaded arrows by a swift forward rush. This cannot now be done, for firearms are not impeded by shields and breastplates.
Ventidius did not lead out his army against the Parthians before they were five hundred paces away; by a sudden forward rush he eluded the arrows and defeated the barbarians through the appearance of confidence. To attempt this now is the act of an insane man.
§ 4. Now the employment of artillery on the flanks requires another battle-line. When it is feared that the enemy may surround the battle-line, the fronts must be extended and artillery placed upon the flanks; during the fighting, however, they must be drawn in, and unexpected missiles discharged. In antiquity the cavalry was spread out; now it is held together and sent forward with the utmost caution.