轻步兵外行的悲剧——诺顿的图卢兹目击记

装甲掷弹熊

以下文字摘自《科尔伯恩的联合军种杂志》（Colborn's United Service Magazine）1843年第2部分438-439页

MR. EDITOR, - An unfortunate instance of the want of knowledge of the duties of Light Infantry, and the necessity of covering themselves when engaged with the enemy, occurred to my knowledge at the battle of Tholouse. The 34th Regt., headed by Col. Worsley, stormed a field-work, and after receiving the volley of the French party (by which Major Baker and about thirty non - commissioned officers and men were put hors de combat), immediately drove them out, and sheltered themselves from the fire of a French battery (which was instantly turned upon them ) by jumping into the dry ditch. A young officer of the 34th Regt. ( now no more), observing three men of the 60th German Rifles covering themselves behind one of the numerous stone walls that divided the vineyards, called to them to stand boldly up; they uncovered themselves in consequence, and at the moment a cannon-ball from the French battery killed two out of the three. Had this young officer studied the duties of Light Infantry, or had these men been under the immediate eye of their own experienced officer (Capt. Evans), this needless and unfortunate casualty would not have occurred....
JOHN NORTON, late Captain 34th Regt.

编辑先生，据我所知，由于缺乏轻步兵勤务知识，不懂得与敌军交战时需要掩护自己，图卢兹会战中发生过一个不幸的战例。沃斯利上校指挥的第34步兵团（2营）强击一处野战工事，吃了法军一顿齐射后（贝克少校和大约30名军士、士兵当场丧失战斗力），立刻将其逐出工事，并且跃入干壕，以此遮挡某个法军炮群（它立刻对准了该团）的火力。34团的一位青年军官（他现在不再是了）看到德意志人组成的第60线膛枪团有3名士兵隐蔽在分割了葡萄园的无数石墙后方，就招呼他们，让这些人勇敢地站起来。于是，他们就此暴露，三人中立刻有两人被法军炮群打来的一发实心弹杀死。要是这位青年军官研究过轻步兵勤务，或是这些人由他们自己的那位军官老手（埃文斯上尉）直接指挥，这种毫无必要的不幸伤亡就不会发生……
约翰·诺顿，原34团上尉