MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 213 



Its commander should take advantage of every favorable op- 

 portunity to delay the pursuers by obstructing the road, or by 

 taliing up specially favorable positions from which to force the 

 enemy to deploy. In this latter case care must be taken not 

 to become so closely engaged as to render withdrawal unneces- 

 sarily difficult. The position taken should be selected with ref- 

 erence to ease of withdrawal and ability to bring the enemy 

 under fire at long range. 



Section 6. Flank guards. 



A flank guard is a detachment detailed to cover the flank of 

 a column marching past, or across the front of, an enemy. It 

 may be placed in position to protect the passage, or it may be 

 so marched as to cover the passage. The object of the flank 

 guard Is to hold the enemy in check long enough to enable the 

 main body to pass, or, like the advance guard, to enable the 

 main body to deploy. Like all other detachments, it should be 

 no larger than is necessary, and should not be detailed except 

 when its protection is required. 



When a flank guard consists of a regiment or less, its dis- 

 tance from the main body should not be much over 5 miles. 

 Practicable communication must exist between it and the main 

 body. The flank guard is marched as a separate command; 

 that is, with advance or rear guards, or both, as circumstances 

 demand, and with patrolling on the exposed flank. 



Section 7. Outposts. 



Troops not on the march provide for their security by out- 

 posts. The general duties of an outpost are reconnoissance, 

 observation, and resistance. 



The specific duties are: 



1. To protect the main body, so that the troops may rest un- 

 disturbed. 



2. In case of attack, to check the enemy long enough to en- 

 able the main body to make the necessary dispositions. 



During an advance the outposts are usually detailed from 

 the advance guard. During the retreat the outposts for the 

 night usually forms the rear guard the next day. If the com- 



