302 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



§ 132. In a patrol of 15 men, the commander arranges them as follows : two or three of the 

 most intelligent and best mounted men are sent in advance ; if one is sent back with a report, 

 the others remain in advance, and keep sight of the object reported. The rest of the patrol 

 march according to the arrangement indicated in Plate 5, fig. 1, at 150 or 200 paces behind 

 these advanced men, having their rear guard about 100 paces behind. 



§ 133. Plate 5, fig. 2, shows the arrangement of a patrol of 30 men. 



Remarks. — 1st. With every 10 men a non-commissioned officer is sent ; 30 men and over 

 are commanded by an officer. 



2d. The men in front, on the flanks, and in rear of a patrol, are caWedi patrollers. 



§ 134. The flank patroUers regulate themselves on the position of the patrol, which is on the 

 road, and endeavor not to lose sight of it. They take care not to be separated from it by 

 impassable obstacles ; for this reason, when they meet with such places, they join the advanced 

 patrollers, or the main patrol itself, until the obstacle is passed. 



§ 135. During the night the patrols draw near to their detachment, and endeavor to connect 

 with each other by a chain of men, that the enemy may not slip through the intervals under 

 cover of the darkness. 



§ 136. It is impossible to regulate, with exactness, the space to be covered by patrols, but the 

 following remarks will serve as guides : 



Patrols should cover and protect the march, but ought not to scatter so much as to be unable 

 to assemble quickly if they meet the enemy. In a level country, where they can see a great 

 distance in advance, there is less danger in stretching out than in a broken, wooded, or moun- 

 tainous region. The main consideration is, that the patrol should be able to survey at a glance 

 the whole of the space confided to it ; the extent of this space will, therefore, depend upon the 

 nature of the ground, as well as upon the weather, and whether the march is at night or in the 

 day time. 



§ 137. A detachment destined to attack the enemy by surprise should not send out its jiatrols 

 so far as one intended merely to reconnoitre ; because the enemy, being warned by the appear- 

 ance of the patrols, would be on the alert. 



§ 138. Patrollers should look around carefully on all sides, and often halt to listen. If they 

 hear the slightest sus^jicious noise, however indefinite in its nature, particularly at night or in 

 an obstructed country, or if they observe dust, smoke, the glitter of arms, or any signs whatever 

 of the enemy, such as the sound of footsteps, rumbling of wheels, noise of horses, &c., they at 

 once inform the nearest non-commissioned officer, who reports to the commander of the detach- 

 ment. The whole party then halts, the flank patrols face outwards, the rear guard faces to the 

 rear, and the march is arrested imtil the cause of the noise is ascertained, or the object which 

 attracted attention examined. 



Remark. — Reports should be made in a clear, calm tone of voice. 



§ 139. The flank patrols ascend every eminence on the side of their route, and remain there, 

 facing outwards, until the detachment passes by or sends another patrol to relieve them. 



Remark. — In ascending a hill to reconnoitre, one man should precede the others, riding very 

 slowly ; when near the top he takes ofi" his cap and moves \r\) just far enough to see over, covering 

 himself by trees, bushes, &c., as well as possible; in this manner he may see the enemy without 

 being discovered by them. 



§ 140. Patrols turn their attention to everything which may disclose the movements of troops 

 passing by, notice the direction of their march, &c. 



§141. Patrols should examine carefully everything which may conceal the enemy, such as 



