506 MACHETECHNICS. 



region, or frontier, or fortress, or chain of fortresses, with supplies 

 in the vicinity, the plan is then limited to the best arrangement of the 

 troops for this object ; recollecting that they should not be so much 

 subdivided, nor so far separated, as to expose them to defeat in 

 detail ; and that the best defence may sometimes be made by carrying 

 the war into the enemy's own country, or meeting him in advance. 



But if the objects proposed be offensive, the plan of operations 

 becomes much more complicated. Considering the whole field or 

 theatre of war as one great parade ground, the side towards the ene- 

 my is called its front; the opposite side, its rear; and the other 

 sides are called the right and left flanks. If the army draws its sup- 

 plies and recruits from the rear, the space where they are assembled, 

 or whence they are procured, is called the basis of operations. As 

 the army advances, the roads or routes by which these supplies are 

 carried forward to overtake it, are called lines of operation. As 

 these lines usually require to be guarded by detachments, stationed 

 at successive posts along them ; and as the army, if obliged to retreat, 

 ought generally to be concentrated at some one position ; it is gene- 

 rally preferable to have only one principal line of operations, which 

 may then be guarded more strongly. The posts, for this purpose, 

 should of course be carefully selected ; and, if possible, fortified, at 

 least with field works. 



2. Marches, are generally performed in column, on account of the 

 narrowness of roads ; and, if long, they require nightly Encampments* 

 to give rest to the troops. The column of march, should be so disposed 

 that it may readily deploy, or display in line, by oblique marches of its 

 centre and rear to the right and left, if it should be necessary to give 

 or sustain battle. It should be protected by strong van and rear 

 guards ; with scouts and skirmishers on the flanks, and in all the en- 

 virons ; to guard against surprise, and gain useful information. The 

 greatest precautions are required, in passing forests, ravines, bridges, 

 or other defiles ; where an enemy might lie in ambush, and where 

 there would be no room to form in battle array. The baggage 

 train, should be placed either in the column, or so near it that it 

 may be speedily defended, in case of an attack ; being of course well 

 guarded. Detachments are often required, as guards, or escorts, or 

 foragers : and they should neither be so weak as to be easily over- 

 powered, nor yet so strong as greatly to weaken the main army. 



The crossing of rivers, in presence of an enemy, and especially 

 in retreating, is one of the most hazardous warlike operations. To 

 the means of constructing bridges for this purpose, where bridges 

 are wanting, we .have already briefly referred, (p. 497.) If they 

 are to be built in the face of an enemy on the opposite shore, he 

 must be driven back by a powerful cannonade ; by which the troops 

 that are to cross should also be protected. If we are to retreat across 

 a river, with the enemy pursuing, it is very desirable to have defen- 

 sive works near the entrance to the bridge; forming a tetc-de-pont, 

 by which the enemy may be held in check, and within which our 

 troops may be sheltered, till all have crossed except the rear guard ; 

 which then evacuates the works, and destroys the bridge, the mo- 

 ment that it has crossed it. It is only by keeping the enemy at a 



