330 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



§ 406. The chain of videttes should cross objects favoring the view of the surrounding country, 

 and its flanks should rest on impracticable places. It should be neither too far advanced, nor 

 too close in ; in the first case, it would be difficult for the videttes to retreat ; in the last case, 

 the troops guarded would not have the necessary time given them. 



§ 407. The chain should not be so placed as to have close in front of it covered places, villages, 

 woods, and such objects; if it is not possible to throw the chain in advance of these places with- 

 out too great an extension, it is best to draw it a great deal to the rear. If this last cannot be 

 done, for want of space, it only remains to redouble vigilance and send out more frequent patrols. 



§ 408. If the chain is placed behind an impassable object, such as a broad river or a very bad 

 marsh, it may be made thinner than usual, or even be entirely dispensed with ; in the latter 

 case, patrols must be sent out, more or less frequently, in proportion to the degree of imprac- 

 ticability of the ground and the difficulty of examining it. In no case should any portion of 

 the ground remain entirely unwatched, however impracticable it may appear to be. 



§ 409. In mountainous regions, where the broken nature of the country embarasses communi- 

 cations and facilitates the concealment of the enemy's movements on all sides, the outposts draw 

 nearer together than the specified normal distances, and sometimes the camp is entirely 

 surrounded by a chain of videttes. 



§ 410. In the general line of the outposts there may be places unfit for the operations of 

 cavalry ; such portions are necessarily occupied by infantry, all the rest by cavalry ; in such 

 cases, one part of the chain will consist of mounted videttes, the rest of pairs of infantry 

 sentinels. In this case, the outposts are formed of cavalry and infantry, each guarding the 

 ground destined for it according to the rules laid down for that arm ; but such a chain of out- 

 posts should form one general whole, and the different parts must maintain a constant union, 

 unless separated by wholly impassable obstacles. 



§ 411. The videttes should be posted at the points commanding the most distant views ; in 

 the day they are placed on the summits of the hills, at night they fall back to the foot of the 

 slope. They should also be concealed by some natural object, which, at the same time, permits 

 them to see all around. Between the pairs of videttes there should be no covered places which 

 might conceal the approach of the enemy. 



§ 412. In the distribution of the supports of the chain, that is, the pickets, main guards, and 

 reserves, they are posted in preference at places around which the enemy cannot pass, or, at 

 least, at places where he may most probably be expected ; therefore, they are usually posted 

 near the roads, especially at cross-roads. 



§ 413. Another condition in the distribution of the supports is that each should, if possible, 

 see the parties directly subordinate to it, and to which it ought to give immediate support. 

 This is particularly important for the pickets in relation to the videttes, because on the approach 

 of the enemy the latter form part of the former. 



§ 414. A third condition for the proper distribution of the supports is that they should be 

 concealed until the moment for action arrives. 



§ 415. Finally, a fourth condition is that they should be placed in positions suitable for their 

 operations ; that is, cavalry should have an open unobstructed space in their front, but infantry, 

 an obstructed country. This condition is of peculiar importance in regard to the reserve, which 

 is expected to make a more obstinate resistance than the main guard and pickets. 



§ 416. In order to preserve the general union between all parts of the outposts, and more 

 especially between the outjjosts and the troops guarded by them, there should be no impassable 

 obstacles between them ; this is to avoid exposing any party to being cut oflFand defeated separately. 



