TACTICAL PROBLEMS. 
527 
IV.—Pontsericourfc road. 6 p.m. 
To the 2nd battalion, Engineers, and battery. 
Evacuate the Esperance Farm, cross the Serre at Pontsericourt, 
pass through Tavaux, and take up a position two kilometres north of 
it (point 172) to defend the exits. 
To the 3rd battalion. 
Support the retirement of the troops evacuating Esperance 
Farm. When they have crossed the Serre, retire, crossing the Serre 
at St. Pierremont, and move up the road towards point marked 172 on 
map. 
When you reach the plateau, line the eastern edge of the wood 
near the road, so that you can sweep with fire the ravine north of 
Tavaux. 
Observations. 
I. —When a body of troops retreats, especially after a defeat, it 
should seek to place a serious obstacle, such as a stream like the 
Serre, between it and the enemy as soon as possible. If this stream 
can be reached by two roads and be crossed by two bridges, so much 
the better ; once crossed the retreat can be continued in a single 
column, the stream being sufficient to stop the immediate pursuit. 
II. —Once united into a single column, the normal conditions of a 
retreat take effect, the two batteries marching between the last two 
battalions. This precaution is necessary in case the pursuit, again 
becoming active, should oblige the brigade to make head against the 
assailant, and to oppose him as rapidly as possible with all its artillery. 
III. —During the retreat from Clermont to Vervins, the eastern 
flank runs most danger of being turned. And for the following 
reasons :— 
(1.) The passage at Agnicourt is nearest to the enemy, that at 
Bosmont is half as far again. 
(2.) From Agnicourt a hostile detachment could easily push 
forward to seize the heights commanding the right bank 
of the Serre, and take in flank the brigade debouching 
from the Tavaux Yalley. 
(3.) The enemy could further, thanks to the Yal Saint Pierre 
Wood, gain the debouches west of the wood under cover, 
and, passing the Belimont Farm, menace the line of retreat 
on the Brune and Yervins. 
For these reasons a whole squadron is used to guard the passages on 
the east, while half a squadron is sufficient to defend the bridge at 
Bosmont. 
IY.—During the fight the enemy^s cavalry might, instead of coming 
close to Clermont, move on Montcornet and, crossing the Serre there, 
push forward to seize the bridge at Yigneux. To be prepared for this 
eventuality a troop of the squadron at Agnicourt is sent there, a 
