CHAP. 



III.] 



ROMAN CAVALRY. 



109 



obtain orders what to do, and the conference took place 

 at the outposts.^ 



Crassus had reconnoitring parties of horse in his 

 front and considerably advanced. Cyrus the Great 

 posted advanced guards and outposts beyond and around 

 his camp, and also sent small patrols of five or ten in 

 number continually and quietly to make the circuit of 

 the camp during the night, as a guard against the 

 approach of an enemy.^ On the march also he used 

 explorers or scouts who went in advance of his cavalry, 

 which always marched before the main army.^ 



Hannibal had his patrols of Numidian cavalry and 

 reconnoitring parties, continually swarming over the 

 country in the neighbourhood of his army, nor do we 

 read of his being ever surprised from the want of proper 

 outposts. 



The Romans understood the art of camping and 

 entrenching their camps better than any other nation, 

 and their system of outposts and patrols was equally 

 good* They always had a guard before the gates of the 

 camp, especially on the side facing the enemy.* There 

 were also inlying pickets inside of it, in readiness to 

 sustain the guards, but in addition to these precautions 

 outposts composed of both infantry and cavalry were 

 placed well in advance to guard the avenues to the camp, 

 and to sustain the patrols and reconnoitring parties. 



The cavaliy alone furnished the most advanced posts, 

 and they formed a chain of videttes and smaller posts. 

 Their outpost system was so perfect that Roman generals 

 were rarely or never surprised, and never except by 

 neglecting their usual precautions.^ The most exact 

 vigilance was required of the advanced troops and 

 videttes, the least fault was severely punished, and the 

 soldier who left his post was put to death without pity. 



^ Herodotus, ix. 44. ^ Xenophon, Cyi'opsedia, iii. 3, 28. Ibid, 



iv. 5, 5. 3 Ibid. vi. 3, 2, 6. * Guischai-dt, i. 146, 147. ^ Ibid, 

 ii. 181, 182. 



