THE liOYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
475 
front, with a few cavalry and infantry; the rest of the battery following, at 
a considerable interval, with an infantry battalion. 1 2 This battalion would act 
as a support to the advance, and the interval in front of it gives space 
for choosing positions for the four guns. At a further interval, the next 
battalion and battery which follow in their turn precede at some distance the 
main body of the advanced guard with the remainder of the guns. The 
bulk of the wagons of the artillery would follow in rear of this main body. 3 
The preservation of considerable intervals between each portion of the 
advancing troops is necessary. The line of march may at any time be sub¬ 
ject to distant artillery fire, and the columns in front are liable to be checked 
and cause confusion among troops following too closely. 
Modifications in the order of march have to be made when the country to 
be traversed presents exceptionally difficult features. A marshy intersected 
plain—like parts of Italy—a densely wooded tract, or very rocky and broken 
ground, have sometimes to be marched through. In all these cases the roads 
become a series of defiles, and many of the foregoing considerations apply in 
consequence. It will be generally found, however, that these obstacles im¬ 
pede equally the defence of an enemy, and restrict his action, more or less, to 
the roads. The route will have to be cleared mainly by infantry, whose 
power is the least trammelled in these cases. The action of the artillery 
would be much limited, and the disadvantages of blocking the roads with 
guns is apparent. The guns, then, will generally march in rear of the main 
body of the advanced guard, detaching a couple to the front if found 
necessary. 
2nd Case.—An Army in Presence of an Enemy. 
When an advanced guard comes in contact with an enemy in force, its 
patrols and skirmishers have to fall back on their supports, which either hold 
their ground or retire, according to circumstances. The main body of the 
advanced guard will have to deploy more or less of its troops, and prepare 
itself either for an offensive or defensive action. 
In theorising on advanced guard actions, care must be taken to denounce 
the very common error of a mere concentration on the advance by the main 
body. This was specially noticeable in the campaign of 1866, where the 
advanced guards “ became usually hotly engaged, frequently got into diffi¬ 
culty, and could only be supported by successive reinforcements from the 
main body/” 3 During the last war, the tactical management of this force 
was much better, though Spicheren is a notable instance to the contrary. 
A most striking instance of the judicious employment of advanced guards 
is afforded by the commencement of the unpremeditated battle of Colo mb ey, 
on the 14th August. 4 The Erench were retiring slowly from, a strong 
1 “To detach, guns, however, in this way, is only exceptional ; the rule being to keep them 
together.”—Verdy du Yernois. 
2 As a general rule, the wagons are with the guns. “ Aux avant-gardes, 1’artillerie doit tenir 
toutes ses voitures bien reunies.—“ Essai sur 1’Organisation de l’Artillerie,” Le Bourg. 
3 “ Tactical Deductions,” Boguslawski. 
4 “Operations of 1st Army,” Yon Schell, 
58 , . 
General 
Considera¬ 
tions. 
