27-1 



MILITARY TACTICS. 



Of column. The number must depend upon the nature of 

 ! - the ground, and its relative situation with respect to 

 "~>~* the enemy. The following rules, however, are to be 

 observed. 1, In marching forwards towards the ene- 

 my, or rear- wards from him, it is of advantage to form 

 as many columns as the ground will admit of, because 

 the troops can be placed more speedily in order of 

 battle, according as the columns are more numerous, 

 and consequently shorter. The ground will admit of 

 as many columns as there are good roads. But the de- 

 sire of having many columns must not induce us to 

 assign to any one too difficult a road, because whatever 

 detains one column is a hindrance to the whole army. 

 2. When only a few columns can be formed, all our 

 precautions must be doubled, in order to prevent an at- 

 tack from the enemy, or, at least, to have sufficient time 

 to receive it in good order. 3. When on a march our 

 flank is exposed to the enemy, it is necessary to march 

 by lines in order that each line may be able to form 

 immediately by wheeling. This measure, however, 

 must depend very much upon the degree of probability 

 of a sudden attack from the enemy. For if it be known 

 that he cannot make a sudden attack, it is more conve- 

 nient for the army to march in several columns. 



As to the arrangement of the columns, it must depend, 

 in a great measure, upon the nature of the ground. 

 The general rule is : To encamp as we would fight, and 

 to march as we would encamp. But to this rule there 

 are exceptions. In marching through woods and hilly 

 ground, the cavalry must not form the outward co- 

 lumns, bvtt should march under cover of the infantry. 

 The artillery and baggage should always have the most 

 secure road. In marching forwards or backwards, the 

 columns are always composed of portions of both lines. 

 In marching forwards, the regiments of the first line 

 generally form the head ; and in marching to the rear, 

 they follow those of the second. 



Security of For the security of the march, the following precau- 

 the march, tions are taken. 1. In marching forwards, a strong ad- 

 Advnced vanced guard precedes the army, which, according to 

 guard. the nature of the ground, consists either of many ca- 

 valry and few infantry, or vice versa, and of light troops. 

 The latter explore the country through which the army 

 is to march, on all sides, and to as great a distance as 

 possible, in order to give timely notice of the approach 

 of the enemy, &c. The other troops not only support 

 the light troops, but also cover the army in its march, 

 against the enemy's detachments, drive back such of 

 the enemy as come in their way, and keep him in 

 check by their manoeuvres, when he advances with 

 his whole force, until the army has time to place itself 

 in order ; for which reason they frequently carry can- 

 non along with Ihem. In marching backwards, or re- 

 tiring, a rear-guard is appointed, in the same manner, 

 and for a like reason. Its nature, strength, and dis- 

 tance from the main body of the army, must depend 

 upon the nature of the ground, and other circumstances. 

 Both must be able, by their movements, and by the 

 position of their detached posts, to cover all the co- 

 lums of the army against every hostile attack. In the 

 flank-march, troops must be placed on that side where 

 the army has any thing to apprehend from the enemy, 

 in order to cover it ; and light troops must carefully re- 

 connoitre at a distance towards the enemy. 2. The 

 Baggage, baggage in a march must always be covered- by the 

 army ; in marching forwards, it should be placed be- 

 hind, and in marching backwards, before; in the flank- 

 march, it should be placed on that side on which no 

 hostile attack is to be dreaded. When no attack what- 



of 



Mawhcs. 



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guard. 



ever is apprehended, it may be placed close behind or 

 before the columns ; or even, when, in perfect security, 

 between the regiments. 2. At other times, however, it """"V" 1 

 is frequently sent forwards to a distance, or left entirely 

 behind. 3. When marching in full expectation of an Artillery. 

 attack, the artillery is distributed by brigades among 

 the columns of the troops, in order that it may deploy 

 at the same time with them. At other times, the park 

 has its peculiar column. 4. The columns must never 

 cross each other on a march, nor approach too close, 

 nor remove too far from each other; the engineers who 

 direct the route, must attend to the former, the com- 

 manders of the columns to the latter. 5. A defile is 

 every road, or part of a road, where it is not only ne- 

 cessary to break off, but where it is impossible to form 

 in order of battle. In breaking off, upon these occa- 

 sions, a stoppage is always occasioned : Hence the other 

 columns must regulate themselves by that which has 

 to pass such defiles. But if the whole army must pass 

 them, no part must be allowed to proceed, until we are 

 certain that nothing is to be apprehended from the ene- 

 my, so long as we are occupied with the passage. 



For the convenience of the march, it is requisite, Convcni. 

 1 . To prepare as many good roads as can be got ready er|ce f th 

 for the army, and to avoid defiles as much as possible. marcl1 - 

 The artillery, indeed, must have the firmeet and most 

 convenient road ; but the cavalry also must avoid mo- 

 rasses, woods, steep hills, ravines, and such like, and 

 rather take a circuitous route. With infantry, on the 

 other hand, regard is principally had to the shortness 

 of a road, and to the facility with which the soldiers 

 can march upon it. 2. Care must be taken in passing 

 defiles, that the troops pass speedily, and in regular 

 order ; and the head, when out of the defile, should 

 not be allowed to run on, but should shorten their 

 pace. For nothing fatigues troops more than the con- 

 stant change from halting to running, which is una- 

 voidable in the irregular passage evn of the most 

 trifling defile. 3. The marches ought not to be too 

 long, nor too rapid ; and all unnecessary circuits should 

 be avoided. 4. All the columns, so far as is possible, 

 should march out of the old encampment, and into the 

 new one, at once ; and no part of the army should 

 have a perceptibly longer or shorter route than the 

 rest. 5. For the convenience of the army, the four- 

 riers and sharp-shooters are sent on with the advanced 

 guard, in order to mark out the camp, that the troops 

 may march into it without delay. 



On every march, an order is issued, containing an 

 exact description of the number of the columns, and 

 the troops of which they consist; of the strength and 

 composition of the advanced or rear-guard, or the flank 

 covering parties and patroles ; of the precise route of 

 each column, and all else that is to be observed during 

 the march. 



SECT. V. Of Convoys. 



AN army does not always carry all the necessary OfConvoyi. 

 supplies along with it; nor is it always in a situation 

 to receive these supplies from a distance, without the 

 apprehension of their being cut off by the enemy. 

 When supplies, therefore, are to be brought by a road 

 to which the enemy has access, the convoy must be 

 covered by a party of troops. This is one of the most 

 difficult operations in war ; because even a small con- 

 voy suppose one hundred waggons will occupy a 

 line too considerable to be easily covered by a small 

 body of troops. The strength of the covering party, 



