312 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



■where to stand, and to what their attention should be chiefly directed ; he points out the 

 direction in which they are to retreat in case of necessity, and designates the number of each 

 post. He designates the most reliable and experienced man of each pair of videttes as chief 

 vidette. 



§ 215. In arranging the intervals between the pairs of videttes, he should endeavor to post 

 them in positions whence they can see as far as possible in all directions, and at the same time 

 be as little conspicious to the enemy as practicable ; for this purpose it is best to place' them on 

 the heights during the day, and behind the hill, at its foot, during the night. 



§ 216. The intervals between the pairs should be such that they can see all the ground 

 between them ; no precise rules can be laid down in respect to this, as in some cases the chain 

 will be close, and in others scattered; as in an open country there is no advantage in an 

 unnecessarily close chain, so in an obstructed country it is improper to place the v'dettes far 

 apart. In some localities it may be necessary to post them not more than 100 paces apart, 

 while in others the intervals may be 500 paces. 



§ 217. If the chain, or a portion of it, is placed in advance of a stream, ravine, wide ditch, 

 or other obstacle, the commander of the picket must see that the passages across are in good 

 condition, so that in case of attack the videttes can easily rally on the picket, and the latter 

 have free communication with its videttes. 



§ 218. It is also absolutely necessary that the commander of the picket should see that 

 no pair of videttes is entirely composed of men ignorant of the duty, but that as far as possible 

 one of them should be an experienced and reliable soldier, to be designated as chief vidette; he 

 should also watch that no near-sighted person is placed on the chain during the day, nor any 

 one dull of hearing in the night. 



§ 219. Upon posting the chain of videttes, it becomes evident whether the picket can furnish 

 a sufficient number of men to keep one-third on duty; if there is a deficiency in the chain, the 

 requisite number of men are taken from the picket, which is reinforced from the main guard. 

 If there are more men than necessary, the commander of the picket disposes of the supernumera- 

 ries in accordance with the orders of the commander of the main guard. 



§ 220. Having posted the 1st relief of videttes, the commander returns to his picket, and 

 places it in the best position ; that is to say, one convenient for receiving and supporting the 

 videttes, not visible from the side of the enemy, and which the latter cannot j^ass around ; it is 

 selected in preference on a road leading towards the enemy, and especially at cross roads, j 



§ 221. At the picket a sentinel is posted, mounted or dismounted, according to the locality, 

 and so placed that he can see the whole or the greater part of the chain, and observe what 

 occurs there. If this sentinel is mounted, he carries his weapons as directed for the front vidette 

 in § 194. 



§ 222. After this, the commander orders the men to dismount; during the day, one-half of the 

 men at a time may be allowed to unbit and feed their horses. In the night, all the horses ought 

 to be bitted, and one-half the men in perfect readiness to mount. One-half of the men may be 

 allowed to sleep in the day time. Under certain circumstances it may be necessary to keep the 

 whole or a part of the picket mounted during the night. 



§ 223. Having arranged the videttes and picket, the commander reports his dispositions, as 

 well as everything he has observed, to the commander of the main guard, unless the latter was 

 present at the time. 



§ 224. All reports concerning the outposts are made either verbal!/, through a non-commissioned 

 officer, or in pencil, with the most concise expressions, and not observing the ordinary forms. 



