EMPLOYMENT OP FIELD ARTILLERY. 
349 
Cavalry should be employed for tlie protection of artillery when 
moving, while guns in position are better protected by infantry. 
Half a squadron ought, as a rule, to be attached to the artillery of 
the cavalry to search the ground, and to protect it against the smaller 
detachments of the enemy. 
Gruns attached to small detachments require, usually, special and 
relatively large escorts, as the fronts of such detachments in action are 
too short to allow of the artillery being effectively employed in close 
proximity to them. 
A stronger escort has frequently also to be attached to the artillery 
of the cavalry; its rapid action, and the unexpected direction it fre¬ 
quently takes, not giving time to make special arrangements for the 
protection of the guns. 
The immediate duty of an escort is to protect the artillery. Both 
on the march and in battle it must therefore be stationed where danger 
is most to be expected, in a formation best suited for early discovering 
and effectually repulsing any attack. 
An infantry escort ought as a rule to be stationed in front of, and a 
cavalry one in rear of, the exposed flank of the batteries, and the latter 
must secure them against surprise by throwing out vedettes. 
Where guns are placed on the crests of heights whose slopes cannot 
be overlooked, part of the escort must ensconce itself in the dead angle 
to prevent the enemy creeping up there. 
The flanks ought to be sufficiently watched to the rear to guard 
against a surprise of the wagons. 
As soon as an attack directed against the guns is recognised as of 
a decisive character, the escort must take up the best position for 
meeting it. 
When positions are being vacated, part of the escort should remain 
in them, after the guns are withdrawn, to keep off the pursuing skir¬ 
mishers long enough for the artillery to get a start. 
This detachment must retire on the flank of the artillery, so as to 
leave its line of fire free. 
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