MILITARY TACTICS. 



275 



,- however, rourt be reflated chiefly by the probable 



operations of the enemy. It consists generally of ca- 



**~~r~~ valry, infantry, and light troop-i ; but the description 



of troops must depend much upon the nature of the 



ground. 



, An advanced guard precedes the convoy, which bears 

 conducting a certain proportion to the whole covering party. The 

 COIMOT. infantry occupy all the villages, bridges, wood- 



through which either the convoy is to pass, or an at- 

 tack is to be apprehended from the enemy. The light 

 troops scour the country in front, as far as they can 

 with safety, and examine every place in which the 

 enemy might conceal themselves. In a flat open coun- 

 try, the cavalry of the advanced guard spread out, to 

 cover the convoy in front, and to support the advanced 

 parties of hussars ; but always in such a manner that 

 they can easily draw together, and unite to oppose the 

 enemy. A part of the covering party marches in small 

 tectioni beside the convoy, either on both sides, if 

 both are exposed to an attack from the enemy, or, as 

 is generally the case, only on one aide. While the 



convoy is passing along, 



all the approach 



kept 



occupied, and the light troops continue to examine the 

 emmUy around. 



Tl>v iiurt also have a rear guard, which fol- 



lows at a proper distance, and has its light troops be- 

 hind. Tl. v relieves all the posts of the ad- 



vanced guard and the flank-covering party, and occu- 

 pies them aa long aa is necessary. On plains the 

 cavalry covers the rear of the convoy by ha ma- 

 ncruvres. 



A large convoy occupies so much ground, that k is 

 possible to aViw it against aa attar IT ina; many, 

 when the Utter approaches by a way which u known 

 IB sufficient tine to adroit of their passage being op- 

 posed. Otherwise, it U nrcrssary to make the convoy 



drive up, in order that it may occupy less space. 1 n 

 this case, the different posts and detached parties must 

 be at such a distance from the convoy as to give suffi- 

 ciently early inulligiafiii of the approach of the ene- 

 my ; and they must also do every thing in their power, 

 by defensive operations and manoeuvres, to detain 

 him. In passing a defile, the convoy must drive up 

 before entering it. An investigation must then be 

 made, aa tar as posaiblf, to ascertain whether any at- 

 tack is meditated by the enemy, and if none is 

 bended, the passage commence, after a 



portion of the covering party has been advantageously 

 posted on the other aide of the defile. The waggons, 

 they effect their passage, drive up again, the re- 

 mainder of the covering party then passes, and the 

 whole proceed in their march. In all situations where 

 intended to rest, the waggons must be driven up, 

 and form a barricado; the horses placed within, and 

 all the necessary dispositions previously made for the 

 protection of the convoy. 



Defence of When an attack is to be made by the enemy, the 

 s Convoy, convoy should be formed into a barricado, in an ad- 

 vantageous position, as, for example, with one or two 

 of its aides leaning on a village, on a large strong build- 

 ing, a river, a wood, a ravine, eke. or upon a height, 

 which the enemy must climb before he can make an 

 attack. In order to form this barricado, the carriages 

 are driven up close to each other, and the troops place 

 Ihanmliia behind, and fire. The cavalry are advan- 

 tageously placed in the vicinity, in order to molest the 

 enemy during the attack. Should the enemy, how. 

 ever, attack with cannon, more especially with howit- 

 zers, the defence of the convoy, in this manner, could 



hardly prove successful. The best plan, in stich cir- Of Con- 

 cumstances, would be, to advance towards the enemy, ""?* 

 to take an advantageous position between him and the ~ ~'<~ 

 convoy, in which he would be compelled to attack us, 

 and there to fight him. But even upon this plan the 

 convoy must be driven up ; for to cover it on a march 

 by such a manoeuvre, could only be practicable in ex- 

 tremely favourable and rare circumstances, in respect 

 to the situation of the ground, when the enemy had 

 only one approach to the convoy, and that one capable 

 of being occupied and defended. 



SECT. VI. Of Detachments. 



BY a detachment is meant a body of men sent to Of Dttach- 

 act separately from the main army on some particular meats. 

 service. It may consist of infantry or cavalry, or of 

 both ; sometimes it is composed of light troops only ; 

 but in general some of these are combined with the 

 others. The number of men comprehended under the 

 name of detachment cannot be accurately determin- 

 ed ; but when several battalions and squadrons are 

 combined, they are called a detached corps. 



The object for which a detachment is sent out must Object* of 

 determine the description of troops to be employed, as a Detach- 

 well as the conduct which the leader has to pursue. ">cm. 

 The reasons for sending out detachments may be re- 

 duced to the following : 1. To carry a reinforcement 

 to some particular quarter. 2. To occupy a post which 

 is rtncaaaary for the security of the army, or to keep up 

 the communication. S. To execute some enterprise 

 * the enemy. 4. To procure information by 

 means of prisoners, or otherwise, and to reconnoitre. 



The description of troupe to be emploved on a <le- Troops to 

 tached service must be determined by the nature of b employ- 

 the ground, and by the object to be accomplished. If cd - 

 a post, such as a village, abridge, an entrenchment, 

 &c. is to be attacked or occupied, the detachment 

 should consist of infantry. If rapidity be the chief 

 requisite, it should consist of cavalry. When the fili- 

 ation and the object seem to require a different kind of 

 troops, dragoons, who can serve on horseback or on 

 foot, may be employed with advantage. 



The general rules for every detachment are : 1. To General 



rrect information relative to the views of the ruler. 

 ay, in order to provide for our own safety. 2. To 

 form an advanced guard, in proportion to the strength 

 of the detachment, for the purpose of reconnoitring in 

 front. For this service, as well as that of flank pa- 

 troles, light troops arc especially useful. The nature 

 of the ground must determine to what distance this 

 advanced guard should proceed, but at all events it 

 must not run the risk of being cut off. S, Such ob- 

 jects as woods, villages, ravines, heights, growing 

 earns, &c. must not be passed, without being certain, 

 from a strict examination, that no party of the enemy 

 is concealed among them. 4. On entering a defile, 

 the whole troop must be drawn nnd nt ven- 



ture in, until all the neighbourhood has been search. . I, 

 and we are sure of being able to pass and form, before 

 the enemy can attack us. .".. In retiring through such 

 a defile, the detachment should leave a party behind to 

 occupy it, which is afterwards drawn off. 'The duties 

 of such a post are to investigate and ^ivc notice of 

 every thing that can interest the detachment, and t<. 

 oppose every attack as long as possible. 



I. With regard to the object in view, the special Dcuch- 

 directions for a detachment which is sent somewhere ITKnt * cnt 

 as a reinforcement, are, 1. To march secretly, if ne- " * ^" t 



