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107
A position in front of the line being out of the question, because
masking the fire of the guns - there will remain for consideration
the rear of the line and the flanks.
The rear of the line will allow the Rams to get at the enemy
either by passing through the intervals between the ships of the
line or by passing round the flanks, either of which movements they
can make by their far greater speed. Passing through the intervals,
however, necessarily brings with it the shutting down the fire
of the main line, which may not follow in case of passing round the
flanks. In other words, if in rear of the line, the rams will advance
more easily, and with less embarrassment to the ships, by being
stationed behind the flank, than from behind the centre of the
line. If numerous, however, the rams stationed behind a flank must
either be drawn up in column which will greatly increase the distance
of the rear rams from the enemy, (besides the other vices of
a column as a formation under fire); or else must spread so far
along toward the centre as to necessitate some of them passing
through intervals. This would seem to compel [compell] dividing them into
two parts, one to be stationed behind each flank, if the rear of the
line be chosen as their post. Taking the number of rams, six, assigned
by our hypothesis to the main body of nine ships of the
line, two being in the Reserve, three stationed in rear of each
flank could pass round the flank, or at worst through the extreme
interval, with ease.
Placing the rams in rear of any part of the line, however, has