166 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



knees, and if it is rainy weather, or muddy, tuck their pants in the boot tops ; they then put on 

 their accoutrements, the wagons are jjacked, and everything is made ready for starting. 



When the assembly is beaten, the men put on their knapsacks, fall in at the various rendezvous, 

 and the troops are then formed on the markers in the prescribed order. 



The wagons are formed on the left flank of the troops, or in their rear, according to the ground. 

 With each money wagon, 1 sergeant and 2 men are detailed as a guard ; the sergeant in front, 

 and the men behind the wagon. 



Prayers are recited before leaving the general rendezvous. 



On the march, the following arrangements arc made for the advanced and rear guards : 



(a) For a company, they are at 100 paces from it, and consist, each, of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 

 and 6 men. 



Parties less than a company, but having more than 6 files, send out advanced and rear guards 

 of 1 corporal and 2 men, to the distance of 50 paces. 



(6) For a battalion, they are at 150 paces, and consist respectively of a half platoon, commanded 

 by. an officer, and have a drummer. 



(c) For a regiment, at 200 paces, and consist of a platoon each. The grenadier, rifle, and 5th 

 platoons are not detailed on this duty. 



(d) For a brigade, at 300 paces, and consist of a company each. The grenadier and color 

 companies are not liable to this detail. 



(e) For a division, at 400 paces, and consist of a battalion each. 



These guards are sent out from the main body as soon as it has left the town or camp where 

 it jiassed the night. As soon as they have reached their positions, the commanders of the ad- 

 vanced and rear guards command — 



PATROLS TO THE FRONT. 



Upon this — 



(a) In the case of a company, the corjioral, with 2 men behind him, places himself 25 paces in 

 front of the advanced guard ; the remaining 4 men form in 2 ranks, with the sergeant in front. 

 In the rear guard, the corporal and 2 men fall back 25 paces. 



(h) In the case of a battalion, in the advanced guard 1 sergeant and the 2 flank files are 

 detached as patrollers ; the sergeant conducts the 2 front rank men 50 paces to tlie front ; the 

 centre rank men place themselves on the sides of the road, 6 paces in front of tlie half platoon ; 

 the rear rank men, 6 paces in rear of it, also on the sides of the road. In the rear guard, the 

 sergeant falls back 50 paces, with the rear rank men of the flank files ; the centre rank men fall 

 back 6 jDaces, and place themselves on the sides of the road ; the front rank men advance 6 paces. 



If the advanced and rear guards are formed by sections, then the patrollers place themselves 

 opposite the flanks of the leading and rear sections. 



(c) (PL 14.) From the advanced and rear guards of a regiment, brigade, or division, patrol- 

 lers are detached, as in the case of a battalion. 



As soon as the advanced and rear guards have quitted the main body to take their posts, the 

 parties of the day are posted ; in these, the officers do not draw sabres ; their jiosts are as follows : 



(a) In a company marching by itself, at 4 paces in rear of it comes the sergeant of the day, 

 and 2 paces behind him are the 4 jjrivates of the day, in one rank, having a drummer of the day 

 on their right. There is another drummer of the day at the head of the company. 



(6) In a battalion marching by itself, the battalion ofiicer of the day is 4 paces in rear of the 

 battalion ; 2 paces behind him are the 4 sergeants of the day, (1 for each company,) in one rank, 



