REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M^CLELLAN. y 321 



which is, in his opinion, of importance, and everything that he has observed in reference to 

 the enemy and the locality. 



§ 309. If the commander of a party, newly placed on duty at the outposts, finds anything 

 wrong in the original arrangement of the videttes, pickets, or main guards, he must report it, 

 through his immediate chief, to the commander of the outposts, and ask his permission to rectify 

 the dispositions ; until he receives this permission he preserves the former arrangement. 



§ 310. The commanders of all posts watch over the punctual despatch of the reliefs of 

 videttes and posts sent out from their commands. It is best to relieve all the parties of the out- 

 posts before dawn ; for the enemy can advantageously avail himself of the darkness to approach 

 the chain, in order to attack at daybreak, and the presence of the reliefs at this time doubles 

 the force of the outposts. 



§ 311. The commanders especially see that the required rounds and patrols are sent at the 

 proper times, never sending them at known hours or regular intervals ; for, as they are sent to 

 verify the exactness of the posts, it is best that they should be constantly expected. 



ARTICLE 8. 



Of the duties of the outposts in covering any march or change of position of the troops under their 



guard. 



§ 312. If the troops, covered by the outposts, are ordered to make any movement, then to 

 avoid a change of troops the parties who have formed the outposts constitute, if there is no 

 special reason to the contrary, the advanced guard, if the march is to the front; the rear guard, 

 if it is in retreat ; in the latter case, it is the duty of the videttes and pickets to cover the retreat 

 of the rear guard. 



§ 313. If the movement is to be concealed from the enemy, particular precautions are required 

 on the part of the outposts. 



They must redouble their vigilance, and take measures to ensure that no one from the side of 

 the enemy, neither patrols nor reconnaissances, penetrates our position ; and they must manage 

 these measures of precaution in such a way that the enemy may not observe what is going on 

 among us, or that anything extraordinary is being undertaken. 



§ 314. Besides keeping all the posts perfectly ready for action, the means of effecting this 

 consist in not sending more patrols than usual in front of the chain, but in sending them behind 

 it as secretly and frequently as possible, to prevent the enemy's patrols from crossing it. 



In addition, if it is necessary to place a party of troops near the chain, under cover, they 

 should be in ambuscade, that they may attack the enemy unexpectedly if he endeavors to break 

 through the chain. 



§ 315. In these cases, the outposts are ordered to resist the enemy as obstinately as possible, 

 not only to prevent him from penetrating within our lines, but to hinder him from seeing any- 

 thing. Sometimes, in order to distract the attention of the enemy, attacks are made upon his 

 outposts during the retreat of our own troops. Such attacks promise greater success in the 

 night than in the day, because when, on the alarm, the supports of the enemy's outposts 

 approach the chain, they may thence perceive things that were imperceptible, even to the 

 strongest vision, from their usual posts. 



§ 316. If a retreat is to be effected secretly, it is best not to relieve the outposts by fresh troops 

 before their retreat, because the sight of the new troops may excite the attention of the enemy ; 

 while, on the contrary, the sight of old troops and posts may tend to diminish his vigilance. 

 41 © 



