KEPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 307 



OF THE REAR GUARD. 



§172. In §19 the duties of a rear guard in a retreat are described as being important, and 

 sometimes even more important than those of the advanced guard in the offensive. Therefore, 

 not only the force but the composition of the rear guard should correspond to the importance of 

 its duties ; if the main body consists of troops of the different arms, the rear guard should be com- 

 posed in like manner. 



§ 173. Its order of march must depend not only upon the locality, the number, direction, and 

 separationof the roads, and the degree of security of the flanks, but also upon the order of march 

 of the main body, and the manner in which the pursuing enemy operates. Frequ entlj^ the 

 march of the rear guard becomes a fighting retreat. If the enemy does not follow directly on its 

 heels, its arrangements will generally be nearly the same as those of an advanced guard in the 

 offensive ; but in this case it is necessary to turn the closest attention to the roads on the flanks, 

 because the pursuing enemy usually endeavors to turn the retreating rear guard with a part of his 

 force, in order to keejJ it constantly in retreat, and prevent it from holding the positions it has 

 selected. For this reason, there should be on the flank roads not only patrols from the rear 

 guard, but parties strong enough to hold the enemy in check. 



§ 174. In districts where there are extensive plains, the rear of the rear guard is reinforced 

 by all its cavalry, so that the infantry may move forward to occupy any hills, woods, or other 

 favorable positions. 



§ 175. As in a mountainous, wooded, or broken country, the cavalry of the advanced guard 

 marches in rear of the other troops, so, in a rear guard retreating through a similar country, the 

 cavalry forms the head of the column, marching under the protection of the infantry, with 

 which latter there is only a small party of cavalry for sending rapid information of the approach 

 of the enemy. 



§ 17G. It is stated in § 115 that, to preserve the requisite good order, the retreat of the rear 

 guard should not be by all the troops at once, but by alternate portions, so that one part may 

 fight to protect the retreat of the other. According to this, upon approaching a defile or brido-e, 

 around which the cavalry cannot pass, the greatest part of it should be sent on early to pass 

 through. 



A few guns are placed in front of such obstacles, under the protection of a party of infantry, 

 to keep the enemy at a distance, while the rest of the infantry and artillery pass the defile, 

 availing themselves of all the heights on both sides to protect those in retreat against the attack 

 of the enemy, and to cover the flanks. Therefore, the ground should be examined early, that 

 it may be occupied betimes for defence by infantry and artillery. After having passed the 

 defile, the cavalry forms in order of battle, out of cannon range. 



If the enemy endeavors to pursue the rear guard beyond the defile, the cavalry should if 

 the ground permits, stop or delay his pursuit by an attack upon the front and flanks of the head 

 of his column, so as to give the infantry and artillery time to gain the necessary ground. In 

 such cases, there is an advantage in having j^assed the defile, so as to attack with a superior 

 front the head of the enemy's column as he debouches. 



§ 177. If a village is to be traversed, it is first occupied by a suflScient force of infantry, and 

 the cavalry then either passes around it, or, which is quicker, rides rapidly throuo-h it, if this 

 can be done without masking the fire of the infantry. Having passed beyond the villao'e the 

 cav.alry and horse artillery come into position to cover the retreat of the infantry. 



