136 
ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF A POSITION. 
superior red force, which is advancing from the south on Standford 
and Bradfield. The commander of the blue force decides to take up 
a position near Basildon Green. In this position he will directly 
guard the shortest roads to the bridges he has to protect, and if the 
enemy attempts to pass round his flank either by Aldworth or Pang- 
bourne (where the bridge is supposed to be broken), he will be favour¬ 
ably placed to attack the enemy whilst engaged in his flank march. 
The first point the blue General will have to decide after he has 
settled upon his field of battle, is the extent of ground he will occupy. 
It will be observed that on the right flank, the wood near the brick¬ 
yard, with Driftwood in echelon behind it, mark out pretty clearly 
the right of the main position; while the left is placed where the 
crest of the high ground sweeps round to the north above Basildon 
Green. The extent of the front is about 1,500 yards, which may be 
well held by the 9000 men of the division. 
The next point is the arrangement of the troops in the position. 
First, the situations for the batteries have to be chosen. Of these 
one is to be kept at the beginning in reserve, and the rest placed in 
the position. Looking at the ground the enemy will have to advance 
over it will be seen that the most favourable ground for him to bring 
up his batteries is at Ashampstead Common, and on the open ground 
about Blackwell Farm and Buckle Bow. Accordingly the batteries 
of the defence must command those points. They must also be able 
to sweep the ground over which the attacking infantry will move. 
These conditions will be fulfilled to a great degree by the batteries 
being placed as in the plate. Most of the guns command both Ash¬ 
ampstead Common and the Buckle Bow plateau, and the ground in 
front of the position is swept as far as possible, to a great extent by 
cross-fire. Next with respect to the infantry. The General decides t& 
entrust the defence of the position from Kiln Farm to the right to 
the 1st brigade, and from that point to the left to the second brigade, 
keeping back a battalion from each brigade and the divisional bat¬ 
talion as a reserve. 
Then the officer commanding the first brigade having two battalions 
to dispose of, places two companies in Kiln Farm, one in the brick¬ 
yard, and one in the corner of the wood near it. The remaining four 
companies of this battalion are retained in second line. Of the other 
battalion two companies are sent to Quick Green, which is to be held 
as an advanced post, being flanked by the guns behind it; a third 
company is told off as escort to the battery on the flank, and the re¬ 
maining five companies are kept in second line at Driftwood. 
The officer commanding the second brigade places two companies 
in Basildon Green as an advanced post, and two more in the main 
position behind, keeping the remaining four companies of this bat¬ 
talion under cover in a hollow further back. The second battalion 
is kept intact as a reserve at Upper Basildon. 
The three battalions and battery of the main reserve are kept well 
covered in rear of Upper Basildon. 
Thus at first the position is only occupied in skeleton, until the 
