Francis J. Lippitt’s A Treatise on the Tactical Use of the Three Arms is a nineteenth-century military manual examining how infantry, artillery, and cavalry should be employed together on the battlefield. Drawing on the doctrine of the period and the lessons of contemporary wars, it sets out principles for coordinating the three branches in attack and defense.
The work addresses formations, the timing of charges and supporting fire, the strengths and limits of each arm, and the role of terrain in tactical decisions. Aimed at officers of the volunteer and regular forces, it reflects the professional military thought of the American Civil War era. As a concise statement of combined-arms tactics before the age of breech-loading weapons transformed warfare, it is a useful document for students of military history.