298 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



§ 92. Since the advanced and rear guards are more fatigued than the other troops, on account 

 of their continual state of vigilance and preparation, the commander-in-chief should relieve them 

 by fresh troops from time to time. 



ARTICLE 2. 

 Duties of Ihe commander of the advanced guard. 



§ 93. Upon commencing the march, he sends out front and flank detachments, as explained 

 in §§ 12, 13, and 14. 



§ 94. He places an officer, or non-commissioned officer, in charge of every party detached, 

 and explains to them what patrols they are to send out, and exactly in what direction, and 

 gives them si3ecial instructions as to what they are to do in different cases. 



§ 95. During the march he watches that the detachments and patrols maintain their com- 

 munication with each other and himself, and that they perform their duties strictly. Not 

 blindly trusting to the advanced and flank detachments for security, he should see that his 

 command marches in the best order, and in the habitual formation, according to the nature of 

 the ground. 



§ 96. When in pursuit of the enemy, he should never lose sight of him, follow all his move- 

 ments promptly and continually, and ascertain his strength, direction, and designs, as well as 

 possible. 



§ 97. He should exert himself to obtain reliable and detailed information concerning the 

 enemy and the country in advance, by means of patrols, spies, inquiries from prisoners, and 

 the inhabitants. 



§ 98. He interrogates deserters and prisoners as to — 



1. The names and strength of their regiments, and the detachment to which they belong. 



2. What brigade, division, and army corps they belonged to ; the names of their commanders. 



3. Where their corps are quartered. 



4. What are the dispositions of their regiments, brigades, and divisions. If the corps is in 

 position, the strength of its advanced i^osts, and whether it is carefully guarded. 



5. What corps or divisions are near their own ; where they are, and at what intervals. 



6. When and where they left their regiments ; whether detachments were sent out from the 

 corps, in what force, and whether they expected support. 



Y. Whether there were any orders or rumors in regard to intended movements, and exactly 

 what they were. 



8. Whether provisions and suj)plies were abundant, and the situation of the magazines. 



9. Whether there was much sickness, or any epidemics, and the situations of the main and 

 temporary hospitals. 



In few words, endeavor to obtain information about everything which relates to the arrange- 

 ments of the enemy, his strength, designs, and means of all kinds. 



§ 99. It is impossible to place much reliance upon the testimony of prisoners and deserters ; 

 on the one hand, they may be too ignorant to give a definite answer ; on the other, they may, 

 from fear, reply according to the wishes of the questioner, or they may deliberately falsify. It 

 is therefore necessary frequently to rejjeat the same questions unexpectedly, so as to compare 

 the different answers, and also to compare the statements of different individuals. 



§ 100. The commander of the advanced guard will, without delay, rej^ort to the commander- 

 in-chief everything observed with regard to the enemy, every considerable detention, his arrival 



