332 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



each company is directed where to take position, and between what points to occupy the line of 

 observation ; all the parties are posted as explained above and shown in Plate 6. 



§ 424. If, in the example given in Plate 6, the right flank of the advanced guard is not 

 regarded as sufficiently protected by the marsh, then an independent picket, consisting of a 

 platoon, is posted at H, to watch the road leading through the village I; this picket posts two 

 pairs of videttes. 



§ 425. Example of the arrangement of outposts composed of hoth cavalry and infantry, Plate 7. 



It is supposed that the advanced guard A, consisting of a brigade of cavalry and a division of 

 infantry, is placed behind the village B, and that outposts are to be posted to guard against an 

 attack by the enemy arriving from the direction of the village C. 



§ 426. With this arrangement of the advanced guard, it is best to place the outposts on the 

 left side of the creek M, because if the line of posts were limited by the stream it would be difficult 

 to obtain information of the movements of the enemy's advanced guard. 



§ 427. The best line of observation is from the lake N to the corner of the village B, then 

 along the edge of this village to the marsh Q. On account of its shortness and the nature of the 

 objects on which its flanks rest, this line is very advantageous. From the lake N to the village 

 B (about 1\ mile) it may be held by cavalry ; along the edge of the village, (about | of a mile,) 

 by infantry. 



§ 428. To prevent the line from being turned, independent pickets must in this case be posted 

 on the left flank, near the lake N and the height 0, on the right flank on the road L ; to support 

 the pickets and defend the villages and crossings, it is best that all the main guards should be 

 of infantry. 



§ 429. Thus the line will consist of 2 cavalry and 2 infantry pickets, holding the main line of 

 observation, of 3 independent cavalry pickets, and of 4 infantry main guards. To supply these 

 5 platoons of cavalry and about 9 companies of infantry will be necessary ; so that for the whole 

 outpost service, including the reserve, there may be detailed 4 companies of cavalry, 2 battalions 

 of infantry, and 2 pieces of foot artillery. 



§ 430. On this basis the commander of the outposts receives the following instructions: 



1. Four companies of the Nth. regiment of cavalry, the Mtli. and Nth. regiments of infantry, 

 and 2 pieces of the Nth. foot battery are detailed for the outposts. 



2. The cavalry will occupy the line of the outposts from the lake N, along the ravine P, to 

 the corner of the village B ; the infantry, from this last point, along the edge of the village to 



the marsh Q. 



One independent cavalry picket will be posted near the village K, another in front of the 

 village I, a third on the road L. 



3. The main guards will be of infantry, posted as follows : one, of 2 companies, in the cemetery 

 near the end of the village B ; another, of 3 companies, in that village ; a third, of 2 companies, 

 in the village G; a fourth, of 2 companies, in the village I. 



4. The rest of the troops detailed will form the reserve of the outposts, and be posted at U, on 

 the main road, behind the crossing over the stream M. 



5. As long as the enemy does not show a strong force of infantry, every efibrt will be made to 

 keep him beyond the villages. 



Under the forgoing instructions the outposts may be arranged as shown in Plate 7. 



§ 431. Finally, among the examples of the disposition of outposts according to the ground 

 may be considered the case of a locality which permits the enemy to approach only by a few 

 passes. If he is separated from us by a river, a marsh, rough hills, &c., and can approach only 



