270 



MILITARY TACTICS. 



fKCaitra. 

 mutation. 



Communi- 

 cations. 



Posts and 



field- 



guards. 



cient that it be rendered difficult. An army is never en- 

 i-iiniped with the front to the sea, unless to prevent a 

 landing ; and in that case we mubt endeavour to con- 

 centrate the tire upon those points, where the nature of 

 the coast is favourable for a descent. Ponds, lakes, and 

 inundations, so far as they cover the front, present such 

 obstructions as render it unattackable. A river is also 

 a great obstruction, the greater in proportion to its 

 breadth and depth, the paucity of fords or bridges, and 

 the more those situations at which the enemy can cross 

 are exposed to our fire. A perfect morass renders the 

 front unattackable, and it also affords a good covering 

 when it cannot be passed without difficulty. Woods in 

 front are of no use, but rather a disadvantage, because 

 they conceal the motions of the enemy. Glens, ravines, 

 hollow-ways, &c. are a great proteation to the front, 

 when they run parallel to it ; but when they run at 

 angles into the camp, they must be occupied along their 

 length. Villages, when tenable, and lying near the 

 front, may be of great service ; but the directions form- 

 erly given with respect to those objects, must be attend- 

 ed to. Single houses, castles, and other buildings, ly- 

 ing before the front, must be occupied so as to enable 

 us to maintain a fire upon all that comes within a gun- 

 shot of the troops. 



The fourth rule requires that no river, morass, ra- 

 vine, or considerable hollow-way, or impassable wood, 

 should run through the army, much less between the 

 two lines. When such objects occur, sufficient and 

 permanent communications must be made over them, 

 according to circumstances. 



The sixth rule requires that regard be had to the ob- 

 ject we have in view. The rule is, that as soon as an 

 army enters the camp, roads must be made on all sides, 

 to enable the troops to march out conveniently. But 

 in all circumstances this rule cannot be observed. For 

 a strong camp, affording at the same time facilities for 

 marching out, will not easily be met with. If the ob- 

 ject, therefore, be to have the facility of marching for- 

 wards on the enemy, less attention is paid to the 

 strength of the camp. If, on the other hand, it be our 

 intention to await the attack of the enemy, less regard 

 is paid to the facility of marching out in front, provid- 

 ed only that the march towards both sides, and espe- 

 cially towards the rear, be open and convenient. 



Finally, it is obvious, that if there be heights in the 

 neighbourhood of the ground where we wish to encamp, 

 the camp should be placed on them, and not in the low 

 grounds. 



. In order to secure a camp from surprise, it is neces- 

 sary to establish posts and field-guards. These posts 

 must be placed in such manner, and at such distance, 

 that the army, in whatsoever order it may happen to be, 

 may be enabled to prepare for defence before the ene- 

 my can make their attack. They must therefore form 

 a chain round the army, each supporting the other, so 

 that nothing can pass through unobserved. They con- 

 sist of infantry or cavalry, with light-troops, or troops 

 of the line. On plains, and where objects can be seen 

 at a considerable distance, cavalry are posted ; but in 

 broken ground, infantry are required. A post of light- 

 horse must be supported by one of heavy cavalry be- 

 hind ; which last is also supported by light or regular 

 infantry. In woods, behind hedges, &c. light infantry 

 are commonly placed ; the regular infcutry in villages, 

 houses, and, last of all, behind entrenchments. Every 

 large post places a smaller one at some distance, but in 

 such a manner as not to be liable to be cut off. The 

 sentries of all these posts, two of which always stand 



7 



together, must be able to sec and hear each other. The Of cutra- 

 cavalry posts are frequently placed at greater distances jnetatjon.^ 

 during the day, and drawn closer at night. The field- s "V^ 

 guards of the cavalry are placed, not for fighting, but 

 for watching ; as soon, therefore, as a superior enemy 

 approaches them, they must retire. The infantry posts, 

 on the other hand, are almost always placed so as to 

 be able to maintain their ground, and therefore they 

 ought generally to defend themselves as long as they 

 can, in order to give more time to the army to prepare 

 for defence. As soon as any danger approaches a post, 

 or is observed, notice must not only be communicated 

 to the proper quarter, but when forced to retire, the 

 circumstance must be made known to the next post. 



Every camp should have a facility of obtaining sup- 

 plies of water and wood, and the army should also be 

 provided with the necessary forage for the first few 

 days at least. Care must be taken, therefore, that the 

 wells, ponds, springs, &c. be not wantonly spoiled, nor 

 the forage in and around the camp. 



The camp is generally marked out before the arrival 

 of the army. For this purpose, the regimental quar- 

 ter-masters, with the pioneers of the regiments, and 

 some detached troops, march inadvanre under the con. 

 duct of the quarter-master-general. The latter having 

 chosen the situation for the camp, and determined, ac- 

 cording to its length, how many paces should be al- 

 lowed to each battalion or squadron, including the in- 

 tervals ; the aides-de-camp then assign to each regi- 

 ment, according to the number of its battalions and 

 squadrons, its proper place in the first, second, or 

 third line ; after which the regimental quarter-mas- 

 ters set off the ground for each, according to a scheme 

 established in the war-order of every nation, by marking 

 out the space of each tent, those of officers as well as 

 privates, with stakes. When the army enters the 

 ground, every battalion marches to the front of its 

 encampment in order of battle ; the tents are erected, 

 and the camp is complete. 



The main principle in encampments is, that the ar- j> r ; nc jpi e 

 my be placed in the same order as for battle ; so that O f encam 

 nothing more is necessary than to march out ready for menu, 

 fight. But as this principle is not always without ex- 

 ception, such measures must be taken as shall enable 

 the army to make the necessary alterations in its order 

 of battle, before an actual attack is made by the ene- 

 my. In order to be enabled to form more rapidly, and 

 also to encamp in places where there is otherwise a 

 want of depth, the King of Prussia, to whom the art of 

 war is so much indebted in modern times, invented 

 what has been called the method of encamping in or- 

 der of battle ; in which there are no passages for the 

 companies, and the tents are placed close together in 

 three rows for the three lines. 



SECT. III. Of Foraging. 



By foraging is meant bringing in food for the horses, ^ F or a- 

 when it is done by the cavalry themselves. Forage, . " 

 as we have already observed, is either green or dry. 



The first thing to be done in foraging is to ascertain, 

 whether there be forage sufficient for the number of 

 horses. In dry foraging, therefore, the magazines are 

 inspected ; in green foraging, an experienced officer is 

 sent out to reconnoitre the quantity. This officer en- 

 deavours to ascertain how much corn and hay are con- 

 tained within a certain space, which he measures by 

 the square steps of his horse. He then prepares the 

 field, and determines the number who can forage upon 



