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THE Passing of an Army over a River, is a Theater where the Conduct of a Ge∣neral is more taken notice of then upon any other occasion, because a whole Army not being able to march a brest, but only file by file, and by little and little, it is no difficult matter for their Enemies to cut them off as fast as they come on, un∣lesse good order be taken to prevent it. So Timoleon defied the Carthaginans in
Sicilie, upon passing the River Crimesus. The most proper order that can be in such occasions is, first to choose the Fords, so that the Horse may march over by Squa∣dron, to make way for the foot, which cannot passe, but upon Boats, and that in small numbers, that thereby they may rallie and bring themselves into Order, whilst they stand the first shock of their enemies. A Squadron of choise Horse is most proper to bear the first brunt upon such occasions, it being a hard matter to break or disorder men, who are stout and lusty, well ranked and lockt as it were one within t'other. Indeed nothing can so much conduce to the passing of an Army over a Ford or River, as a good Battery of Cannon, which forceth the Enemy to retire from their violence and fury, and giveth them leave and issure to passe with more ease, and to put themselves in Batalia before they come to any fight at all.