oU4 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



acts according to circumstances. If the enemy is the stronger, he falls back upon the detach- 

 ment, covering himself by skirmishers ; but, if it is possible, he endeavors ^to caj^ture the 

 enemy's patrollers, and sends back those taken to the commander of the detachment. 



If attacked by surprise, the patrol should defend itself to the utmost, and fire a few shots, 

 even if in the air, to warn the detachment of its danger. In such cases, it is not always ad- 

 visable to retreat by the direct road. 



Remark. — The commanders of parties must bear in mind that there are few circumstances 

 which can justify the surrender of cavalry ; proper precautions on the march render a surprise 

 next to impossible ; and when a party of cavalry is attacked, no matter how suddenly, or by 

 what superiority of force, a determined and instantaneous charge will always enable the greater 

 part to escape in safety. Officers and men should therefore always have have their wits about 

 them, and their weapons in constant readiness for use. 



§ 151. During the march, patrols are not permitted to wander out of the way, nor to halt to 

 rest at their discretion. 



§ 152. To be certain that their orders are executed, the commanders of jjatrols should be 

 alternately at the head and on the flanks ; in a word, everywhere, that they may see and 

 superintend everything for themselves. 



§ 153. Should it happen that two patrols or patrollers meet on the march, even if they 

 belong to the same regiment, they should challenge each other, as directed in § 337. 



§ 154. During halts, the patrols continue to secure the troops against a sudden attack. 

 Choosing positions from which it is easy to examine the country around, they halt in the same 

 order as that in which they marched, and face outward. 



CHAPTER IV. 



IN REFERENCE TO REGULATING MARCHES ACCORDING TO THE LOCALITY. 

 Of advanced guards. 



§ 155. It is but seldom that any one arm is exclusively employed when near the enemy ; on 

 the contrary, it is usual to operate with a combined force of cavalry, infantry and artillery, so 

 that it may be always possible to employ one or the other arm, according to circumstances and 

 the locality. 



§ 156. If the main body is composed of the different arms, then the advanced guard is simi- 

 larly constituted, that it may be able to act in all localities. 



§ 157. The composition of such an advanced guard depends — 



1st. Upon the object and nature of its intended operations. During marches in pursuit it is 

 reinforced by cavalry; but if it is to make an obstinate resistance, it is strengthened with much 

 infantry and artillery. In general, light cavalry are the best for advanced guards, wherever 

 the nature of the ground permits them to operate, but infantry are necessary to support them. 

 Mounted rifles and mounted engineer troops are of great service in advanced guards. 



2d. The composition of the advanced guard depends also upon the locality ; if the ground is 

 broken, much infentry is required ; if it is open, much cavalry, and, in general, light troops. 



§ 158. The order of march of an advanced guard depends, principally, upon its composition, 

 the order of march of the main body, the locality, &c. The main rule is, that it should never 

 be too much divided, so that there may always be a considerable force in hand to seek the 

 enemy more boldly, and detain him longer. Therefore, even when the main body moves in 

 several columns, the principal part of the advanced guard marches on the main road, sending 

 only small parties on the others to watch the enemy and detach patrols as far as possible in all 



