REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. MTLELLAN. 337 



accoutrements close at hand, and they do not undress at night ; their inlying pickets keep their 

 horses bridled and accoutrements on. The guns in position should be loaded, artillery horses 

 ■with their collars on, the detachments close to their pieces. 



§475. All the posts mentioned in this article guard themselves by the various dispositions 

 for outpost service, that is to say, they detach independent posts or surround themselves by 

 chains, according to their distance from the enemy. They send out patrols and flying detachments 

 as far as the position of the enemy, and also patrols to keep up their communication with each 

 other and with the cantonments. 



§476. In order to embarrass and retard his approach, preparations are made betimes to take 

 up the bridges, destroy the causeways, &c., in the direction of the enemy, so that the advanced 

 parties may accomplish the purpose immediately upon their retreat across them. But the 

 communications with the cantonments should be perfectly open ; therefore all obstacles should be 

 removed betimes. 



§477. If the commander of a main advanced detachment receives news of the enemy, he at 

 once reports it to the commander-in-chief, and, if necessary, to the commanders of the nearest 

 posts and detachments. In such cases it is necessary to be unusually circumspect with regard to 

 reports ; and in case of the appearance of the enemy, to endeavor to ascertain his force and 

 designs, in order to avoid alarming the cantonments without cause. 



§ 478. That the commander-in-chief may be constantly informed of what is going on at the 

 outposts, the commanders of the main advanced detachments send reports to him at the hours 

 he may specify, several times a day, even if nothing of importance has been observed. 



§479. Signal stations, telegraphs, &c., are established at convenient j)oints to convey prompt 

 information of the approach of the enemy. 



§ 480. If a main advanced detachment is attacked, its movements must depend upon the 

 orders it has received from the commander-in-chief. 



§ 481. Only their wagons of the 1st class, with a part of those of the 2d, are with the main 

 advanced detachments. 



If the enemy advances, the wagons at once move to the rear, so as not to impede the move- 

 ments of the troops if they are forced to retreat. 



§ 482. On account of the fatiguing nature of the outpost duty, the troops should be relieved 

 from time to time, according to the judgment of the commander-in-chief. 



ARTICLE 2. 

 Precautions to be observed by the main body in cantonments. 



§ 483. In addition to the outposts and advanced detachments for guarding the cantonments, 

 certain measures of precaution are taken by the main body itself, especially in reference to the 

 rapid assembly of the troops in the event of an attack. These measures are regulated by the 

 commander-in-chief, according to the proximity of the enemy and the degree of the danger. 



§ 484. The troops nearest the enemy, being most exposed to attack, are placed in crowded 

 quarters to secure a prompt assembly ; the others may be placed further apart and in more 

 roomy quarters, for the greater facility of obtaining supplies. 



§ 485. In the distribution of the troops, their position in the cantonments must correspond, 

 as nearly as possible, with their position in the order of battle. The artillery is placed near 

 the points where it is destined to act, the men and horses being in the same villages with the 

 parks. 



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