It is hoped that this work will have its share in em phasizing the experiences of the war that have been pur chased with so much blood, and which experiences may easily run the danger of being lost in the dissolution of our old, tried army. May these pages call back to mind what our troops have performed, the equal of which can not be found in military history, by heavy work against an enemy so superior in numbers and equipped with all possible auxiliary means. But the heroic achievements of our troops were possible only because all members of the army performed untiring and devoted work in time of peace, in the matter of training the men to faithful per formance of duty, willingness to assume responsibility and audacity. I have but brie?y touched on the end of the army; my theme ends upon the battlefield; the awful dissolution process and the failures at home, are beyond the limits of tactics. Therefore, I have purposely avoided touching on the unfortunate struggles in the interior of our country. This book of mine is not for the purpose of accusing, neither is it for the purpose of excusing errors that have been committed. I have merely touched where it was abso lutely necessary. My only endeavor has been to show how our present day tactics had their being and how they, starting from an excellent peace training, adapted them selves to the continually more difficult demands of battle. Though the war could not end with victory on the battle field, that surely was not the fault of the army, nor of its leaders. I shall be very thankful for any corrections and addi tions.