i A -atechism of Outpost Duty INCLUDfNG Advance Guards, Rear Guards AND Reconnaissance BY ARTHUR L.WAGNER PTAIN, SIXTH INFANTRY, U. S. ARMY ; INSTRUCTOR IN ART OF WAR AT THE U.S. INFANTRY AND CAVALRY SCHOOL; AUTHOR OF "THE SERVICE OF SECURITY AND INFORMATION," "ORGANIZATION AND TACTICS," ETC. ARTHUR WILLIAMS, — Capt. 3cl Infantry, N Abridgmknt, in the form of Questions and Answers, of "The Service of Security and Information." KANSAS CITY, MO. : • HUDSON-KIMBBRLY PUBIvISHING CO. 1014-1016 Wyandotte Street. F.ntered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1895, by HUDSON-KIMBERLY PUBIvISHING CO.. In the Office of the lyibrarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. ARTHUR WILLIAMS, Capt. 3d Infantry, 2223277 1 OUT-/=' OS T /='OS/ r/ OA/ A^ore— Tht pfsptctiift in sketch "i s'sbJiu.J'Aal dutoriid. fe as fe j,^,^;rty if^tc proTninence fAe dt^- ~-^t c^ n t - t i nr s. . , i I \ L. 1 r PREFACE. The favorable reception accorded to "The Service of Secui'ity and Information" by the Regular Army and the National Guard seems to render unnecessary any other preface to this little book than the statement that it is an abridgment of that work, pre- sented in a portable form, and containing the main essentials of the larger book. "The Service of Security and Information" being a text-book at the U. S. Artillery School, the U. S. Infantry and Cavalry School, and the U. S. Cavalry and Light Artillery School, and being officially recognized as a standard in the examination of officers of the Army for promotion, the formations and methods herein set forth may be accepted as having the authority of official sanction. The author desires to express his obligations to First Lieu- tenant Rowland G. Hill, 20th Infantry, for valuable assistance in the preparation of this abridgment. U. S. Infantry and Cavalry School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, October 1, 1895. CONTENTS. ,:' ^ • Page. PRELIMINARY DEFINITIONS 5 INTRODUCTION 8 THE ADVANCE GUARD 9 Strength of the Advance Guard 10 Formation of the Advance Guard 11 The Vanguard -. 12 Distance of the Advance Guard from the Main Body 15 The Commander of the Vanguard 17 The Commander of the Advance G uard 19 Cavalry Advance Guards 20 OUTPOSTS 24 Subdivisions of the Outpost 26 Distances between the Several L,ines of the Outpost 26 Two Systems of Outposts 27 Position for Outposts 28 Strength of the Outpost 29 Composition of the Outpost 30 Distance of Outposts from the Main Body 85 The Commander of the Outpost 36 Sentinels and' Vedettes 39 Examining Posts 44 Detached Posts 44 Pickets .'45 The Supports 49 Cossack Posts 50 The Reserve 52 The Outpost at Night 54 Outjjost Patrols 57 Posting the Outpost 60 The Defence of the Outpost 63 Relieving the Outpost 65 RECONNAISSANCE 66 Special Reconnaissance 68 Patrolling 69 Small Infantry Patrols 73 Strong Infantry Patrols 93 Expeditionary Patrols 94 Harassing Patrols 97 Flank Patrols 98 The Advance Guard Passing through a Town 99 Cavalry Patrols 100 Officers' Patrols 105 REAR GUARDS 106 Strength of the Rear Guard ; 107 The Commander of the Rear Guard 108 Formation of the Rear Guard 109 The Intermediate Body 117 Defence of Defiles '. . . . .119 Negative Measures 120 The Rear Guard in a Forward March 125 APPENDIX I., THE CAVALRY SCREEN 125 APPENDIX II., ADVANCE GUARD DRILL 127 PRELIMINARY DEFINITIONS. A6a^is— Rows of felled trees, with the smaller branches lopped off, and the others sharpened and turned towards the enemy. Z?(xse— "A base of operations is the portion of country from which the army obtains its reinforcements and resources, from which it starts when it takes the offensive, to which it retreats when necessary, and by which it is supported when it takes position to cover the country defensively. The base of operations is most generally that of supply- though not necessarily so, at least as far as food is con- cerned." — Jomini. Billet— Qusivters provided for troops in private houses, barns, etc. Soldiers biUeted generally obtain from the inhabit- ants food and drink for themselves and forage for their horses; payment for these supplies being usually made at the rates and in the manner prescribed in regulations and orders. Bivouac— A temporary place of repose for troops, in which they are sheltered by shelter-tents, bowers, or improvised shel- ter of any kind, or sleep in the open air. A camp differs from a bivouac, in that the men are sheltered with regular tents. Troops are cantoned when sheltered in huts or bil- leted in villages. Communications— The routes (roads, railroads, etc.) by which an army communicates with its base, or by which the sevc-al parts of an army communicate with each other. 6 UATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Complwie7its— Ceremonious marks of respect paid by officers and soldiers to tlieir military superiors; such as saluting, stand- ing at attention, etc. Containing Force— A. body of troops charged with the duty of holding in check a body (generally numerically superior) of the enemy, while the main efforts of the army are di- rected against anotlier portion of the hostile force. Deptli^-TXie space occupied by a body of troops from front to rear. Distance—The space between bodies of troops, or individual sol- diers, from front to rear. Escort Wa(;o?i — A four-horse wagon, lighter than the "army wagon." Fro7it— The extent of ground occupied by the front rank of a body of troops in any formation. Glacis— A mound of earth, with a gentle slope, thrown up a few yards in front of the ditch of a fortification. Inipedimenta—Bi\fi:ga}ie, and, in general, anything accompanying troops, whicli tends to impede the celerity of their move- ment. Interval — The latei-al space between bodies of troops or individ- ual soldiers. Moral — The condition of troops as to discipline, bravery, confi- dence, or discouragement, etc. Provost-Guards A guard under the orders of a provost-marshal. P rovost-3f arsTial— An officer attached to the headquarters of the commanding general to superintend the police of the army; to provide for the protection of the inhabitants "of the coun- try from pillage and violence; to preserve order among camp-followers; to take charge of stragglers, prisoners, and deserters; and to superintend the secret service. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 7 Shrapnel— Called the "man-killing projectile." A shell filled with bnllets, and having a bui-sting charge only sufficient to break the case and release the bullets, which then move forward with the velocity which the projectile had at the moment of bursting. Stratc(/!j— The art of moving an army in the theater of opera- tions with a view to placing it in such a .position relative to the enemy as to increase the probability of victory, in- crease the consequences of victory, or lessen the conse- quences of defeat. Tactics— The art of handling troops on the field of battle. Terrain— The topography of a field, considered especially in its relation to tactical operations. Theater of TTflr— "The theater of war comprises all the territory upon which the parties may assail each other, whether it belong to themselves, their allies, or to weaker states who may be drawn into the war through fear or interest. When the war is also maritime, the theater may embrace both hemispheres. * * * The theater of war may thus be un- defined, and must not be confounded with the theater of operations of one or the other avmj."—Jomitu. Theater of Opcrations—''The theater of operations of an army embraces all the territory it may desire to invade, and all that it may be necessary to defend."— /6Jd yedette—A mounted sentinel. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. INTRODUCTION. Q. What would be the effect if the entire army were kept constantly on the alert? A. Its surprise would be impossible, but it would be ruined by physical hardship. To guard against surprise without mak- ing undue demands upon the endurance of the soldiers, use is made of covering detachments, which should be strong enough to hold the euemy while the main body is preparing for action. Q. How is the security of an army provided for on the march, and at a halt? A. On the march the secm*ity of the army is provided for by advance guards, rear guards, and flanking detachments; at a halt a chain of outposts protects it from surprise. Q. The information necessary for a commander is of what two kinds? A. 1. That relating to the geography, topography, and re- sources of the theater of operations. 2. That which relates to the strength and composition of the enemy's forces, and their position, movements, and moral. Q. How are these two kinds of information obtained? A. Among military nations, the first kind of information is now generally obtained in time of peace. The second class of information is gained in two ways: 1. From spies, deserters, prisoners, newspapers, etc- 2. By reconnaissance. To gain reliable information of the enemy, contact with him should be quickly gained n^d never lost. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY THE ADVANCE GUARD. Q. Wliat would be the effect if troops moving in one -body should come suddenly upon the enemy ? A. They would certainly be thrown into confusion, and per- haps defeated, before deployment for action could be effected. Moreover, insignificant bodies of the enemy could seriously de- lay the march of the column by causing it to halt and deploy for action. Q. How is a column of troops on the march, therefore, divided ? A. Into a main body, an advance guard, a rea?' guard, and such Hanking parties as may be necessary. Q. What, in general terms, are the objects of the advance guard? A. To observe and resist the enemy. Q. What are the specific objects of the advance guard? A. 1. To provide for the security of the main body by giving it time for deployment when the enemy is encountered. 2. To clear the way for the main body and j)revent its march from being delayed. 3. To seize and hold important points until the arrival of the main body. 4. To support the reconnoitering cavalry, and afford a rally- ing-point for it in case it is driven in by the enemy. Even when a cavah'y screen is operating in front of the advance guard, the latter should not relax its vigilance. The cavalry may be driven in, and the advance guard must then check the enemy. On ad- vance the security of the column must, therefore, depend essen- tially upon the advance guard. (For a description of the cavalry screen, see Appendix I.) 10 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. • Strength of the Advance Guard. Q. How does the proportionate strength of the advance guard vary ? A. No absolute iTile for the strength of the advance guard can be given, but it varies with tlie size of tlie main body, the object of the march, the topography of the country, and the nature of the enemy. In a close, rugged, country and against an enemy inferior in numbers and moral, it should be less tlian in an open country, against a strong, aggressive enemy, or when the intention is to bring on a decisive engagement. With a large force the proportionate strength of the advance guard is larger tlian in tlie case of a small colunm. Q. What is the danger in having the advance guard too weak, or too strong? A. If too weak, it can not fulfill its proper functions; if too strong, there will be a hurtful waste of energy, for service with the advance guard is much more fatiguing and exhausting than marching Avith the main colunm. ^Moreover, a strong advance guard has a tendency to engage an enemy seriously, even when its duty requires that it should merely fight a delaying action to gain time tot the main body. Q. As a rule, w^hat portion of the entire force is assigned to the advance guard and to the rear guard on advance— and what on a retrograde movement? A. As a general rule (subject, however, to a multitude of ex- ceptions), we may assume the strength of the advance guard to be one-sixth of the whole force, and the rear guard to be half as strong as the advance guard. On a retrogade movement the relative strength of the advance and rear guards Tvould be reversed. As the flanking parties are taken from the advance and rear guards, except in the case of very large forces, when they would be separate bodies of a strength according to^cir- GATECHliiM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 11 cumstauces.we have about a foui'th of the whole force on duty with the eoveriug d^tachmeuts on the march. Q. With a small force, why may the proportionate strength o*f the advance guard be less than with a large one? A. The time required for the deployment of a large column (such, for instance, as an army corps) being much greater than in the case of a small force, the delaying action of the advance guard must be much longer, and its strength much greater; therefore with a small force the advance guard might often be reduced to one-eighth, or even one- tenth, of the whole. Formation of the Advance Gnard. Q. AVhat is the object of each of the constituent detach- ments of the advance guard ? A. The object of each detachment is to guard against sur- prise the stronger body which follows immediately in its rear, and give the latter time to prepare for attack. Q. Into what two parts is the advance guard primarily divided, and what is the strength of each? A. Into the reserve and the vanguard. The reserve consists of from one-third to one-half of the entire advance guard. The remainder constitutes the vanguard. Q. Into what two parts is the vanguard divided, and what is their relative strength? A. Into the advance party and the support, the latter being generally twice as strong as the former. Q. How are these proportions varied? A. In large advance guards this proportion is often differ- ent; the support, relatively to the advance party, and the re- serve, relatively to the vanguard, being considerably greater. These proportions are, moreover, varied according to the most convenient subdivisions of the organizations composing the ad- 12 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. vance guard. They may be regarded as suitable in most cases. (For a typical formation of a company of infantry as an advance guard, see Plate I.) The Vanguard. Q. What "may be given as a typical formation for the ad- vance ptirty when the advance guard consists of a company? A. The advance party, consisting of one section, throw^s forward a "point" consisting of three or fom* men under a non- commissioned officer. On each side a flanking group of four men marches about 150 yards from the main route to the right and left rear respectively of the point. Each flanking group should be under a corporal or old soldier, and would habitually march with two men in front and one in rear of the group-leader, though the formation adopted would depend upon circum- stances. The rest of the advance party follows 100 yards in rear of the point. Q. How is the support formed, and how does it march? A. The support (one section) follows the advance party at a distance of 200 yards, throwing out two flanking gi'oups of four men each to its right and left front, and somewhat farther out than the flankers of the advance party. These groups can safely move farther out than those of the advance party, thus extending the field of view; while each can, if necessary, protect by its fire the outer flank of the group in front. A connecting file, de- tached from the advance party, marches between the advance party and the support to aid in the transmission of intelligence from one to the other. Q. How is the reserve formed, and how does it march? A. The reserve marches about 500 yards in rear of the .•support, a connecting file ma;'ching between them. The reserve PLATE I. COMPANY OF INFANTRY AS ADVANCE GUARD FLANKERS *.,,J??I.''A.;^-'5°JCPf...,^ FLANKERS • "'■•-. 2; .--■'' • 1 section" "t*' ADVANCE PARTY. Ij FLANKERS J!.,.^ 8| _...VfLANKERS • '*"*'--,. i ....-- — • 1 SECTION '•f'' SUPPORT Main body 4 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. may throw flanking groups to the front or to the front and rear, the groups being slightly farther out than those of the support. The flankers from the reserve can generally be dispensed with, and should be thrown out only when reasonable prudence re- quires them; for, as a rule, the reserve should be kept entire and well in hand. Q. Where does the main body march? A. The main body follows the reserve at 500 yards, one or two connecting files marching between the two bodies. Q. Are the distances (as given above) invariable? A. No, they are variable; but those from the support to the reserve, and from the reserve to the main body, can not piTi- dently be made more than 600 or 800 yards, respectively, in the case of so small a force as the one considered. In the case of a single company acting as an advance guard, the rule for the pro- portionate strength of the advance party and the support is necessarily modified to accord with the most convenient sub- divisions of the company. Q. If the nature of the country is such as to render the use of flanking groups impracticable, what is done? A. Both tlie advance party and the*support move forward entire, with the exception that the advance party is always pre- ceded by a point. Q. When marching in an open country, how may the ad- vance guard be formed? A. It may be deployed as skirmishers, with considerable intervals, the support following in line of squads. Both Hues may be straight or echeloned back sliglitly from the center to- ward the flanks. The reserve should ordinarily be kept in column. Q. As another typical case, take a force of two battalions acting as advance guard for a brigade; how should this advance guard be formed ? CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 15 A. Tlie advance party may consist of one company; the support, of three campanies; and the reserve, of one battalion. The distances may be as follows : From point to advance party, 150 yards ; from advance party to support, 200 yards ; from sup- port to reserve, GOO yards; from reserve to main body, 800 yards. (See Plate II.) Distance of Advance Guard from Main Body. Q. What might result if the distance of the advance guard from the main body were too great? and what, if it were too small? A. If the distance were too great, the advance guard might be forced into a heavy engagement while beyond the assistance of the main body, and might even be entirely cut off by an attack upon its flank and rear. If, on the other hand, the distance were not great enough, time could not be afforded for the preparation of the main body for action. Q. Give the "rough rule" which will answer in most cases for determining the distance of the advance guard from the main body. A, A rough rule is, that the minimum distance should be equal to the depth of the main body; as the time required for the rear troops to deploy on the head of the column would not be greater than that taken by the advance guard in falling back. Q, When a large force is acting with energy and aggressive- ness for the purpose of bringing on a battle, what is the rule? A. The main body must be drawn nearer to the advance guard, as the latter mnst be promptly supported. Q. How do the nature of the country and state of the weather affect this distance? A. If the country is full of defensive positions, such as to admit of ^ sturdy delaying action on the part of the advance PL A TE II. TWO BATTALIONS AS ADVANCE GUARD OF BRIGADE • • • • S • • *„.,160 .-♦—150-:* • •"">., I /'• • 1 COMPANy'^-P' ADVANCE PARTY :. — -? 8 COMPANIES S! i--" I BATTALION ■ ReSERVE MAIN BODY CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 17 guard, the distance may be decreased. In foggy weather, or at night, or during a storm of rain or snow, the distance should be decreased, as well as the front covered by the scouting groups or Hanking parties. If, on the other hand, the country is open, the weather clear, and there is danger of the advance gTiard being driven back, the distance must be increased. Q. What important fact must be constantly considered in regard to the vanguard and the reserve? A. That the vanguard is the rcconnoiter'DKj part, and the re- serve essentially the fightinfj part, of the advance guard. The reserve is therefore the first body that really demands time for deplojnnent. The Coimnandcr of the Vanguard. Q. By whom is the vanguard commanded, and where should he march? A. The vanguard sliould always be commanded by an offi- cer, who should be mounted, if possible, and furnished with a detailed map of the region through which the force is marching. He habitually marches with the support, but goes to^ny part of the vanguard where his presence may be necessary. He may take immediate command of the advance party, if it seems ad- visable to do so, leaving the support under the immediate com- mand of the officer or non-commissioned officer next in rank. If guides are present, they should accompany the support and be under the orders of the commander of the vanguard. Q. Describe the duties of the commander of the van^ard. A. It is the duty of the commander of the vanguard: 1. To see that the proper road. is taken by the point. 2. When cross-roads are passed, to see that a man is left to guide the main column. 3. To send out special patrols to examine all ground that 18 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. might afford shelter to the enemy, such as woods, farm-houses, hamlets, etc. 4. To send out special patrols to watch and oppose any hos- tile patrols that may be seen, or whose presence may be sus- pected. 5. To cause necessary repairs to be made in roads, bridges, approaches to fords, etc. G. To transmit promptly to the commanding officer of the advance guard all information tliat lie may gain about the ene- my, first testing its accuracy as far as possible, but being care- ful not to delay the transmission of important news to the commander. 7, To see that the march of the column is not, under any circumstances, unnecessarily delayed. Q. How are losses in the advance party replaced? A. The support rejilaces any men of the advance party who may be relieved or placed hors dc combat. When a scout of the advance party brings in important information, he should, if practicable, be sent to the commander of the advance guard. Plis place with the advance party is at once supplied from the support. He is retained with the reserve, from which another man is sent forward to the support. The number of men with the point and flankers should, if possible, remain unchanged; but they shoidd be frequently relieved, as the duty is very fatigu- ing. When there are particular reasons for sending the man back to his former post, the man who replaced him should be returned. Q. In a command of considerable size, who is charged with the duty of selecting a camp or bivouac for the main body? A. A staff officer, who usually accompanies the vanguard, is charged with the duty of selecting a camp or bivouac for the main body. When he has selected the place, he remains there, with such a detail as may be necessary, until the arrival CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 19 of the main body, the advance ^uard marching on and forming the outpost, at least temporarily. The Commander of the Advance Guard. Q. Where does the commander of the advance guard march? A. He is generally with the reserve; but, on approaching the enemy, should go wherever his presence is most needed. He should always be mounted, if practicable, even in the case of a small advance guard. Q. AVhat qualities does the commander of the advance guard need, and why ? A. Courage, self-reliance, and good judgment. A timid officer in command of an advance guard would suffer the col- umn to be delayed by small parties of the enemy; a rash one would plunge into combat, and might thus impose upon his superior a com-se of action at total variance with his plans. Small parties of the enemy should always be quiclily driven baclv. On the other hand, an engagement should generally be avoided, unless the commander of the advance guard has orders to touch upon the enemy and bring him to a stand at all hazards. Q. What should the commander of the advance guard con- tinually consider, and what, in general, should he do? A. He should continually consider the measures necessary for tlie security of the march, and for rapidly gaining reliable information of the enemy. He should carefully observe the ground, and consider the tactical use that might be made of it, and should have a clear idea as to what he intends to do in case the enemy is encountered. Q. What is done when the advance guard halts? A. All approaches should be reconnoitered and guarded, and an officer should be sent to get an extended view from the higliest available point. 20 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q. How is information conveyed from one part of the ad- vance guard to another ? -^• A. By some code of signals. Shouting and unnecessary fir- ing should be carefully avoided. The point and flankers fire only when they are certain that they have heen seen by the ene my and that he is not retiring. Q. What compliments are rendered by advance guards? A. None whatever. Cavalry Advance Guards. Q. How does a cavalry advance guard compare with one composed of infantry ? A. It is similar in its formation, except that the distances and intervals are greater. Q. How is a troop of cavalry formed as an advance guard? A. If the troop consists of bat two platoons, the first consti- tutes the vanguard, and the second the reserve. If there are three platoons, the first and second compose the vanguard, and the third the reserve. When there are fom' platoons, the first and second form the vanguard, and the third and fourth the re- serve. The point consists of foiu- troopers. The flanking groups, each consisting of four troopers, march about 100 yards in rear of the point, and from 300 to 500 yards from the line of march. The advance party consists of the point and flankers, and is under command of a sergeant, who is generally witli the point. In some cases the comniander of the advance party may reduce the point to two troopers, holding the other two in rear of the point and abreast of the flankers, or he may march in this position himself without reducing the point. He should be where he can best control the reconnaissance of the advance party. The flanking groups are each commanded by a corporal CATECHIISM OB' OUTPOST DUTY. 21 or tiu old soldier. The groups may be kept together in any suit- able formation, or distributed along the front so as to make an arc of scouts from one extreme flanker, through the point, to the other extreme flanker. The support follows the point at a distance of 500 yards, a flanking group of from four to eight men being sent out on each flank about half a mile from the column and slightly in advance of the reserve. In an enclosed country these groups would march on the nearest roads parallel to the one taken by the main col- umn, and should keep up communication with the advance guard. The reserve follows the support at a distance of TOO yards. As a rule, it is kept entire; but, if necessary, flanking parties may be thrown out in such a manner and to such distances as circumstances may require, (See Plate III.) Q. When the advance guard consists of two troops of cav- alry, how may it be formed ? A. The first troop may constitute the vanguard, and the sec- ond the reserve. In this case the advance party consists of a half -platoon, if there are but two platoons in the troop; or a platoon, if the troop contains three or four. The members of the advance party not employed as point and flankers form a center group, which marches in rear of the point and abreast of the flankers. Q. What would be the composition of the advance party in" a very large advance guard? A. It would consist of an entire troop, and it, instead of the support, would furnish the flanking patrols. Q. Why are the distances and intervals greater in the case of a cavalry advance guard than in one composed of infantry? A. Cavalry possessing much greater mobility than infantry, the different covering troops can be safely separated from each other by greater distances in the former than in the latter arm. PLATE III. TROOP OF CAVALRY AS ADVANCE GUARD «*- 500 YDS ■-*♦*-•■ SCO YOS---*^ i ADVANCE PARTY t. JMILE * MILE. CATECHTSM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 23 Moreover, the resisting power of cavalry is less than that of in- fantry, and when a cavalry advance guard is driven in by the enemy, the ground is passed over more rapidly in retreat than in the case of a corresponding infantry force. Hence, in order to give each successive body in rear time to prepare for action, the distances must necessarily be greater for cavalry. Q. Why should an advance guard be composed of all arms V A. Because reconnoitering duty can be performed more efficiently and more easily by cavalry than by infantry; be- cause infantry has more resisting power than the cavalry; and because artillery is of great value in preparing the way for the advance guard and in compelling the enemy to deploy at a distance. Q. How would the different arms be distributed in the ad- vance guard? A. The cavalry would constitute the vanguard, and the in- fantry the reserve. The artillery would habitually be with the reserve, though in some cases a few guns might march with the support. Q. How are engineers used with the advance guard? A. A few engineers should march with the support, to re- pair bridges, remove obstacles, etc. If the rest of the support consists entirely of cavalry, the engineers should be mounted. Q. Upon what does the proportion of each arm with the ad- vance guard depend, and when is each preferable? A. It depends upon the nature of the country, the object of the march, and the strength, composition, and proximity of the enemy. In close or mountainous country, the proportion of in- fantry should be increased. In an open country the cavalry should be strengthened. If the enemy is strong nn#near, and a battle seems imminent, the advance guard should be very strong in infantry and guns. If, however, it is desired merely to de- the enemy without seriously engaging, the advance guard 24 CATECniSAI OF OUTPOST DUTY. should consist of cavalry and light artillery (horse artillery, if possible), as these troops can be more readily withdrawn than infantry. In the pursuit of a beaten foe, or whenever the ob- ject is to follow and keep touch with the enemy, the proportion of cavalry shoidd be as great as possible. Q. What should be done by tlie advance guard when the enemy is encountered ? A. As soon as the enemy is seen, the advance guard must endeavor to ascertain promptly whether it has to deal with an outpost of a stationary force, an advance guard of a marching body, or a flanlving detachment of a column. It should lose no time in discovering where the enemy's main position is, or how far away is the marching colui¥in. The relative numbers and position and tlie orders under which the advance guard is acting will decide the question of nttacking or taking up a defensive po- sition. The offensive is generally the best if an attack seems at all likely to succeed. If between the advance guard and the enemy there is an exceptionally good position, the enemy should be attacked vigorously, in order that the position may be occu- pied and held for the deployment of the main body. If the de- fensive has been decided upon, and a good defensive position has been passed a short time before the enemy is encountered, or if the latter is in such force that the advance guard can not hold its oavu against him, it will be necessary to fall back slowly and stubbornly to the position or upon the main body; the commander of the advance guard sending to the commander of the main body prompt warning of tlie threatened or actual attack, (For the drill in forming advance guard, see Appendix II.) OUTPOSTS. Q. What are outposts, and with what duties are they charged ? CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 25 A. Outposts are detachments thrown out from a force when halted, for the purpose of protecting it from sm-prise. Like advance guards on the march, outposts are charged with the duties of observation and resistance. They prevent the recon- naissance of the position by the enemy's scouts and patrols, give warning of the approach of hostile bodies, and offer sufficient resistance to the enemy's attacks to enable the main body to prepare for action. Q. What effect has a system of outposts on the health and efficiency of an army ? A. Unbroken rest at night being necessary for the preserva- tion of the health and efficiency of troops undergoing tl.e hardships and fatigues of a campaign, it is of the utmost importance that the repose of the army in camp or bivouac should not be dis- turbed by needless alarms. The army must feel that the vig- ilance of its outposts enables it to sleep in security. Q. What effect on an outpost has a good cavalry screen in its front? A. When a cavalry screen is in front of the army, the duty of observation may become much less important to the outposts than would otherwise be the case; but while a strong and en- terprising cavalry screen greatly increases the security of an army, and thus materially lightens the duty of the outposts, it furnishes no excuse for the latter to be careless, or to forget that the duty of obsei'vation is inseparably connected with that of resistance. Q. How may the duties of an outpost be classified? A. The duties of the outposts may be classified as follows : Observation : 1. To observe constantly all approaches by which the enemy might advance. X 2. To watch, and immediately report, the move- ments of the enemy. 26 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Resistance: 1. To prevent reconnaissance by the enemy. 2. Above all, to checlv the advance of the enemy long enough to enable the main body to prepare for action. Subdivisions of the Outpost. Q. Into what four parts is an outpost divided? A, Into four parts, namely: 1. Sentinels or vedettes; 2, Pickets; 3. Supports; 4. Reserve. Q. Who occupy the line of observation, and who the line of resistance? A. The sentinels or vedettes occupy the line of observation. They are sent out from the pickets, and supported by them. The supports usually occupy the line of resistance, and are supported bj^ the reserve. Distances Between the Several Lines of the Outpost. Q. What are the normal distances between the subdivisions of an outpost of infantry? of cavalry? A. In an infantry outpost the pickets are from 100 to 400 yards in rear of the sentinels; the supports, from 400 to 800 yards in rear of the pickets; and the reserve, from 400 to 800 yards in rear of the supports. In a cavalry outpost the distance from the vedettes to the picket is about 000 yards, and the oHier distances vary between the limits of 1,200 and 2,000 yards. These distances can not be definitely fixed, as they depend upon many circumstances of ground, weather, and the natm-e and proximity of the enemy. The distances given above are to be regarded only as approximations to those that would be adopted in most cases. Q. To what may the general plan of an outpost be likened? GATEGHIl^M OF OUTPOST DUTY. 27 A. To an open fan, the sentinels being along the outer edge; or, better yet, to a hand with the fingers extended and widely opened. A line along the tips of the fingers would represent the chain of sentinels; the first joints, the line of pickets; the sec- ond joints, the line of supports; and the knuckles, the line of the reserve; while the wrist would represent the position of the main body. (See Plate IV.) Q. What portion of the strength of the outpost is generally assigned to the reserve, to the supports, and to the pickets? A. The resei-ve generally consists of not less than one-third nor more than one-half of the entire outpost. The strength ot the supports and pickets would consequently vary from two thirds to one-half of the outpost. Q. On what does the strength of a picket depend, and what principle regulates the strength of each support? A. The strength of each picket depends upon the number of sentinels and patrols that it has to furnish, and the size of each support is regulated by the principle that it should be equal to the aggregate strength of all the pickets supported by it. As a general rule, one-third of the outpost would be assigned to the reserve, one-third to the supports, and one-third to the pickets and sentries. Tzvo Systems of Outposts. Q. What two systems of outposts are there, and what are their general characteristics A. Outposts are of two kinds: the cordon system, in which the entire front is covered with a chain of sentinels; and the patrol system, in which only the roads and other avenues of approach are guarded by sentinels, closely backed up by pickets, while the intervening country is constantly patrolled. ,„ The best results are generally obtained by a combination of the two systems. 28 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Position for Outposts. Q. State the requirements of a good outpost position. A. The outpost must cover the front of the army and over- lap its flanks, unless the latter are secm'ed by impassable obsta- cles. A prominent natural feature should be selected to mark the general line, such as a ridge, a river, or the farther edge of a wood. The most favorable position is one Avhich furnishes a good view and field of fire to the front, while affording con- cealment from the enemy and shelter from his fire. Q. State what furnishes one of the best, and what one of the worst, outpost positions. A. One of the best positions is a wood held at the edge to- ward the enemy, and one of the Avorst is a wood held at the nearer edge. Q. What should be done when the outpost is compelled to occupy a wood, the farther edge of which is too distant to be occupied ? A. If the farther edge is too distant to be occupied, and no broad roads or continuous clearings exist in the wood, the meas- ures to be taken will depend upon the length of time the posi- tion is to be occupied. If the outpost is to hold the position for some time, as, for instance, in the case of the investment of a fortified place, a belt at least twenty yards Avide should be cleared, an entanglement made of the felled trees, and the senti- nels posted along the near edge of the belt. If, as is usually the case, time and opportunity do not admit of making such a clear- ing, and the outpost line must traverse the Avood, the line of sen- tinels should be along a stream, ordinary road, or ridge over- looking a valley, so as to get the best vIcaa^ practicable under the circui^tances. In holding the outpost line in a heavy forest, it would he ^ve\l to make use of Cossack posts closely backed up by the supports, the posts sheltered by barricades of timber, patrolling in front being constant. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 29 Q. If the outpost be not compelled to occupy the wood, in this case, what is generally advisable? A. Instead of carrying the outpost line through the wood when the farther edge can not be occupied, it is generally advisa- ble to place the sentinels under cover of some kind, facing the wood, and at least 200 yards from the near edge, the wood being patrolled. Q. Where a stream, canal, or other obstacle havijig but few passages, lies parallel to the outpost line, what may be done? A. In this case the sentinels, or even the pickets, may some- times be posted beyond it; but the supports should be kept on the near side for fear of so large a body being cut off before it could make good its retreaf. It would generally be best to keep even the line of sentinels on the near side, and merely patrol be- yond the obstacle. The sentinels may be withdrawn some dis- tance from the obstacles, especially durtng the day, if they can thus get a more extended view or find better cover. Q. What should generally be the shape of the outpost line? A. It should be convex towards the enemy, or straight with its extremities thrown back. Unless the nature of the ground compels, it should never be concave, even when that is the shape of the position which it covers. It does not necessarily con- form strictly to the line of the position in any case. Strenglh of the Outpost. Q. On what does the strength of the outpost depend? A. It depends upon various considerations, such as the unture of the country and the strength, proximity, and charac- ter of the enemy. In a country well adapted to defence, smaller numbers suffice than in an open country. When the enemy is near and aggressive, the outposts must be strong and vigilant. The strength of the outpost will also depend upon the plan 30 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. of aetiou determined upon iu case of attack. If the line chosen for tlie deployment of the main body coincides with the line of resistance of the outpost, the latter force must be strong enough to hold the chosen position to the utmost. If it is de- cided to fall back upon the main body, the outpost not only may be, but should be, weaker than in the former case, as a strong force would be more likely to become compromised in a serious en^igement than a weaker one. Q. As a rule, what is the maximum strength of the outpost in proportion to the entire command? A. As a rule, the maximum strength of an outpost is one sixth of the entire force. This proportion should not be exceed- ed, except in case of absolute necessity, and it should be less whenever a reduction is consistent with prudence. Composition of the Outpost. Q. When the army is marcliiug, from day to day, what constitutes the outpost at each halt? A. When an army is on the march from day to day, the advance guard constitutes the outpost at each lialt; but if its duties during the day's march have been arduous, it must be relieved, as soon as practicable, by fresh troops. Q. If outposts are required on the flanks and rear, of what are they composed? A. They are composed of the flank and rear guards, when such guards exist in sufficient strength; otherwise such outposts are taken from the main body, which will also fiu-nish them when the duties of the flank and rear guards during the day liave been especially trying. (For a typical disposition of a regiment of infantry forming the outpost of a division, see Plate IV.) CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 31 Q. In the disposition of an outpost, what attention is paid to the different tactical units? A. They should, as far as practicable, be kept intact. Thus, supposing the outpost of a division to consist of a regiment of infantry, the reserve might be composed of the first battalion; the support of two companies of the second battalion and two of the third, each supporting the remaining companies of its own battalion, which would constitute the pickets and sentinels. (See Plate IV.) (For a typical disposition of a squadron of cavalry forming the outpost of a cavalry brigade, see Plate V.) Q. State how the outposts for divisions and brigades are generally furnished, and give the alternative formations of a brigade outpost. A. Each division will generally furnish the outpost for its own front. In a large force especially this principle may be advantageously applied to brigades. In this case the outpost of the division might consist of a battalion (four companies) from each of the three brigades. The brigade outpost would then have two companies in reserve, one in the support, and the other furnishing the pickets and sentinels. As alternative for- mations, one company might furnish the reserve; two, the sup- ports; and one, the pickets and sentinels: or ^le reserve and support might each consist of one company, the pickets and sentinels consisting of the other two. Q. ^ What provisions for the command of the outpost are made in this case? A. The outpost of each brigade would be under the com- mand of the officer commanding the battalion composing it, and would constitute a section of the general outpost. An officer should be detailed to command the entire outpost. PLATE IV. --.4'o SQA OCOe KQOi NIVW OJ. 30NV±Sia PLATE V. SQ.UADRON OF CAVALRY, OUTPOST FOR CAVALRY BRIGADE LINE OF OBSERVATION--4000 YARDS fooo ' ^ 10O0 \.i.-^-— *« —fi—'^—\jt -,V-*^-— 4>--°-° * > 4 i T PICKETS i cS*" suppoafs cji \ RESERVE [j^ ''c"'and"'D' 34 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q, If two brigades encamp in the first line, with the third in reserve, whence are the outposts talven? A. The outposts for the division are taken from the first two. If outposts for tlie flank and rear should be necessary, they should be taken from the reserve brigade. Q. Where is the baggage of the outpost troops kept'? A. It remains in rear with the main body, the only vehicles brought up being those containing intrenching tools and a part of the reserve ammunition. Q. State when infantry is preferable to cavalry for outpost duty, and the reverse, and state how the two arms may be ad- vantageously combined. A. In an open country, in daytime, the duty can be best performed by cavalry. In a close country, at night, and when the enemy is near, infantry is preferable. The best performance of outpost duty requires a combination of the two arms. Cavalry is of tlie greatest value when pushed well to the front as a screen, but it may often be advantageously combined with in- fantry in the outpost proper. It may thus occupy lookout sta- tions too distant to be held by infantry, or to patrol to a dis- tance beyond the outpost that would be impracticable for the latter arm. When a considerable portion of the outpost line is in wooded or enclosed country and the space adjoining it is open, the former portion may be held by infantry and the latter by cavalry. As a rule, however, when it is impracticable to use the cavalry as an advanced screen, its use with the outposts should be limited to patrolling and to furnishing orderlies, when necessary, to the pickets, supports, and reserve. Q. Why should not cavalry be employed too freely on outpost duty in connection with infantry ? A. Cavalry is an expensive arm; its efficiency is more easily impaired than that of infantry; and its peculiar uses are CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 35 of such vital importance to an army that its sti'ength should not be needlessly frittered away. Q. How should artillery be used with an outpost? A. Artillery is of great value to an outpost when it can be so posted as to command an important road or defile and be at the same time beyond the effective range of the enemy's rifle fire. It may aid materially, with shrapnel fire, in supporting the advanced portions of the outpost and in covering their re- treat. It should be in constant readiness to move from one point to another, the liorses being l^ept harnessed, and only a portion fed or watered at a time. Only the limbers should be with the battery, the caissons and other carriages being at the rear. All cover afforded by the ground should be utilized for the con- cealment of the guns from the enemy; and the pieces should not be exposed, except when some definite object is to be gained. As a rule, they should not take position within artillery range of ground on which the enemy's batteries could take post unper- ceived; should it be necessary to do so, they must be carefully concealed and their prompt withdrawal provided for. The ar- tillery, when not posted to command bridges or roads, should be with the reserve, preferably near a road. Machine-guns may be used with the outpost to command approaches with long-range fire. Horse artillery is best suited to the requirements of out- post duty. Distance of Outposts from the Main Body. Q. State the considerations on which the distance of the outpost from the main body depends. A. The outpost must be far enough from the main body to give the latter time to form for action before the outlying troops are driven in. On the other hand, it must not be so far distant as to be in danger of being cut off by the enemy. The distance 36 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. will also depend upon the strength that can be spared for the outpost line, the length of the line increasing almost in direct proportion with the distance. When the country is open, the distance will generally be greater than in an enclosed country which offers good positions for defence. When the main body is under the enemy's artillery tire, it can not form for action in the security which it needs; but if the line of resistance is at a distance from the camp or bivouac equal to the limit of the effective range of artillery, the outpost must be driven from that line before the main body can be subjected to the fire of the hostile guns. Q. What is the usual distance, and what is the maximum distance? A. The supports (occupying the line of resistance) should be at a distance of about 3,000 yards from the main body. This fixes the line of supports, at proper distances from which the other parts of the outpost are established. The maximum dis- tance from an infantry outpost to the body which it covers is about three miles, supposing the outpost to be of considerable strength and strongly posted. The Commander of the Outpost. Q. How is the outpost divided, and where are the several headfronts. Q. What instructions does the outpost commander receive from the commander of the forces, and what does he (the out- post commander) then do? A. The outpost commander receives from the commander of the forces instructions as to the general front to be occupied by the outposts, their object, and the amount of resistance they are expected to make. He is also informed about the avenues of approacli from the direction of the opposing force, and is made acquainted with everything known in regard to the posi- tion and probable intentions of the enemy. He then determines the strength of the reserve, supports, and pickets; decides upon the distance of the line of resistance from the main body, and selects a line of observation farther in advance. A good topographical' map of the position selected for the camp and the surrounding country would enable him to choose these positions at once. In the absence of such a map they must be determined by reconnaissance, and in any case the ground must be carefully examined before the detachments move out. The station of the reserve is next fixed, the positions of the supports pointed out, places for the pickets approximately designated, and the general line of the sentinels roughly indicated. The outpost commander sends to the commander of the main body all i^forfciation received, first testing its accuracy as far as practicable, without unnecessary delay in its trans- mission. Q. What instructions does- the outpost commander give to his subordinates? A. He instructs them as to: 1. The general front of the outpost line. 2. The ground to be occupied by each. 3. The positions of neighboring supports and pickets. 38 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 4. The night positions of the pickets and supports. 5. What is known of the enem^ and his probable move- ments. 6. The approaches by which the enemy might advance. 7. The direction and method of patrolling. 8. What is to be done in case of attack. 9. How flags of truce and deserters are to be received. 10. The kind of reports required. 11. Where he himself is to be found. 12. The countersign and parole. Q. When the outpost has been posted, what does its com- mander do? A. When the outpost has been posted, its commander makes his inspection; orders such changes in the positions of supports, pickets, or sentinels as may seem advisable; sees that the roads and paths leading from the enemy are properly guarded; gives directions for the fortification of such parts of the position as need strengthening; and is especially careful that the flanks are secured by resting them on impassable obstacles, or by refusing them and protecting them by detachments. Q. As a rule, how should the outpost be intrenched? A. As a rule, the outpost should strengthen its position by intrenching. A continuous line of intrenchments is out of the question, as it would require too much labor t^^ make it and too many men to hold it; but each picket and, above all, each sup- port should intrench when practicable. Whether the reserve should intrench or not will depend on circumstances. If the outpost remains in the position for some time, the sentinels should shelter themselves in pits about two and a half feet in depth, the earth being thrown up toward the enemy and cov- ered with sod or twigs, in order that it may not attract attention. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. » 39 Sentinels and Vedettes. Q. How are seiitiuels geuerally posted, and how may the group system be used? A. Sentinels must be so posted as to have a good view to the front and flanks, and be concealed as much as possible. They do not walk their posts, but remain stationary, being gen- erally posted double, so that one man may go to examine any suspicious point while the other remains on post. They may also be posted in groups. In the former case the reliefs not on post remain with the picket; in the latter case the group accom- panies tlie sentinel to his post and remains in concealment a short distance behind him. When the group system is used, a single sentinel for each will suffice by day, but double sentinels should be used at night. As the group furnishes the reliefs, it should consist of three or six men, and every two or three groups should be under charge of a non-commissioned officer. Q. What are the requirements of a good post for a sentinel? A. There should be easy communication with neighboring sentinels and with the picket, and a clear view of all approaches; and the post (especially at night) should not, if it can be avoided, be so situated that the noise of falling water or the sough- ing of the wind through the trees would deaden the noise of approaching footsteps. Q. How far apart may sentinels and vedettes be?— mini- mum and maximum distances. A. Sentinels are generally not less than 100 nor more than 400 yards apart— the lesser limit being usually the minimum for single sentinels, and the greater limit the maximum for double ones. Vedettes may be as far as 600 yards apart. But no definite rule can be laid down in this matter, except that the number of posts should be sufficient to insure a vigilant watch on all points at which the enemy might approach. 40 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q. How are the sentinel posts numbered? A. The posts furnished by each picket are numbered from right to left. Q. What are the general duties of a sentinel? A. Sentinels should watch and listen without betraying their own presence; but observation is the first consideration, and concealment is of secondary importance. They must not smoke, and such conversation as may be necessary between them must be conducted in a whisper. The sentinel must not have about him any glittering accouterments; and, except in foggy weather or on a dark night, must keep his bayonet in its scabbard. Q. What should each sentinel clearly understand? A. 1. Tlie countersign. 2. The number of his own post. 3. The number and position of his own picket and the name of its commander. 4. The position of the neighboring sentinels aild the ex- amining post, where there is one. 5. Tlie direction of the enemy and the probable line of his advance. 6. The points to which all roads, paths, and railroads in sight lead. 7. The names of all villages and rivers in view. 8. The signals by which he should communicate with the pickets or detached posts. The principal thing is that he should know where to look for the enemy, and what to do if he sees him. Q. What persons are alloAved to cross the line of sentinels, and what is done with the others? A. Only persons in the performance of duty with the out- post, or having authority over it, are allowed to cross the line of sentinels. All other people, with the exception of deserters CATECHT^M OF OUTPOST DUTY. 41 :ind bearers of flags of truce, are halted, not more than one being- advanced at a time, and then conducted, by one of the sentinels, back to flie piclvet, or detained until the arrival of the visiting- patrol. If they refuse to halt, or attempt to escape, they must be shot down. If there is a special examining post, people are conducted to it instead of to the picket. Q. How are deserters from the enemy received at the outpost ? A. They are halted at some distance from the post, and re- quired to lay down their arms. The commander of the picket is at once notified, and he sends out a patrol to bring them in. If the deserters are pursued by the enemy, tliey are ordered to throw down their arms, the picket being at the same time alarmed. If they refuse to obey tlie order, the pi civet opens fire on them as a necessary precaution against a possible ruse on the part of the enemy. As a rule, inhabitants and deserters are not alloAved to cross the line of .sentinels at night. An excep- tion to this rule, in the case of deserters, is when the demorali- zation of the enemy is known to be such that wholesale deser- tions are to be expected. Under any circumjatances too much care can not be exercised in receiving deserters, as an enemy might by means of sham deserters quietly gain possession of picket posts, and thus have a foothold for a sudden attack. Q. When a flag of truce approaches, how is the bearer re- ceived by the sentinel? A. The bearer and his escort (if he have one) are halted in front of the line of sentinels and ordered to face in the direction from which they came. Word is then at once sent back to the commander of the picket. While the bearer and his escort are halted, the sentinel must not converse with them nor alloAV them to reconnoiter. Q. What compliments are paid by sentinels? A. The vigilance of the sentinel in watching the enemy 42 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. iiiust not be disturbed by the usual requirements of military etiquette. He pays no compliments, and takes no notice of any of bis officers who come upon bis post, unless addressed by tliem, except so far as may be necessary to challenge and iden- tify them. Q. Everything observed by the sentinel is how communi- cated ? ' A. Everything observed by the sentinel in regard to the enemy should be communicated at once to the picket, especial care being taken to report promptly all indications of the ene- my's approach. If the sentinel is satisfied that the enemy is advancing to attack, he gives the alarm by firing. Q. AVhat are the general iiiles in regard to sentinels firing? A. When immediate alarm is not necessary, firing should be avoided; it disturbs the repose of the troops, and if ground- less alarms are frequently given, the troops grow careless and fail to heed the warning when real danger comes. The senti- nel, by firing, often needlessly alarms his own outpost, and gives a certain amount of information to the enemy by betray- ing his own position; while by remaining hidden and watching carefully he might bo able to give a valuable report of the dis- position of the opposing outpost. Q. How are sentinels posted, and how often should they be relieved ? A. It is advisable to keep the same men on the same posts, instead of changing them to new ones each time they are posted. For very important posts the most intelligent men should be selected, and on double posts the well-instructed and intelligent man is placed with one who is less so. The sentinels should be relieved every two hours during the day and every hour during the night. In very inclement weather they should be relieved every hour during the day. Q. How are vedettes posted ? CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 43 A. Vedettes, like sentinels, are posted in pairs, and for similar reasons. One is habitually six or eight yards to the right or left rear of the other; a greater distance would make the horses uneasy, and thus distract the attention of the riders, while a less distance would encourage conversation between the vedettes. Q. How may vedettes sometimes perform their duty dis- mounted ? A. When cavalry is operating in a close or wooded coun- try, the vedettes may dismount, one holding the horses while the other keeps watch. Whenever the vedette can perform his duty dismounted, he should do so as a means of sparing his horse. The horse may sometimes be held, with the lariat, behind the brow of a hill, while the vedette, lying down, peers over the crest. In any case, the mode of action must be determined by the two considerations of observation and concealment, it being always remembered that it is more important to see than to avoid being seen. Q. What is a connecting sentinel? A. When the sentinel post is not in plain view of the picket, a connecting sentinel is posted at a point where he can see the post and be seen by the picket. It is his duty to transmit sig- nals from one to the other. Connecting sentinels are always single. A connecting vedette is generally moimted by day, and always at night. If dismounted, his horse is Avith the picket. Q, What is a picket sentinel? A, A single sentinel posted at the picket to keep a lookout on the sentinels or connecting sentinels, and report all signals made by them or any unusual occurrence. In a cavalry picket this sentinel is dismounted. 44 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Examining Posts. Q. What is the object of an examining post, and of what persons does it consist? A. An examining post is stationed on a main road, for the purpose of examining persons wlio are allowed to cross the line of outposts. It usually consists of six men (three reliefs of a double-sentinel post) under the command of an officer or a specially selected non-commissioned officer. Examining posts are of doubtful necessity when the sentinels are intelligent and faithful. Q. How is a person received at the examining post? A. On the approach of any person to the examining post, one of the sentinels advances and halts him at some distance from the line, while the other notifies the commander of the post, who examines the stranger, and either allows him to pass or conducts him to the commander of the picket. Any person approaching the line of sentinels at any other than a designated point is passed along from post to post until he is brought to the examining party; care being talien that he is not given an opportunity to observe the location of the pickets and supports. The bearer of a flag of truce, or a suspected spy, should be blind- folded before being conducted to the examining post, if he be conducted thither instead of direct to the picket. Detached Posts. Q. What are detached posts? A. They are small parties detached from a picket to pro- tect exposed points or support isolated sentinels. They consist generally of from three to t^velve men, and are under an officer or non-commissioned officer, according to their strength and the importance of their position. They are, in fact, small pickets, CATECHISM OF OUTPOST liUTY. 45 aud must act in concert with the pickets from which they are talieu. Q. What points may be advantageously held by detached posts ? A. A bridge on a flank might be held by a detached post. An isolated hill, affording a good outlook, too far .to the front to be included in tlie general line, but near enough to be occupied without extreme risk, should be held by such a post, communi- cating with the outpost by signal. Q. How often are detached posts relieved, and what is required of the men composing them? A. If practicahle, detached posts should be relieved every six hours. They are not allowed to light fires, and the men are required to keep on their equipments and have their arms con- stantly at hand. In a detached post composed of cavalry the horses are kept constantly saddled and bridled and held by horse-holders, three-fourths of the men being ready to fight on foot. The sentinels or dismounted vedettes are posted close in front of the party. Vedettes may be pushed farther forward. Pickets. Q. What is the usual strength of a picket, both infantry and cavalry? A. An infantry picket generally consists of from 25 to 50 men, and a cavalry picket usually varies between 20 and 30. Q. How many double sentinels or vedettes does a picket usually furnish? A. From two to four double sentinels or vedettes, there be- ing three reliefs for each post. Q. What regulates the strength of a picket, and what por- tion of the picket is used in patrolling? A. If detached posts are to be sent out from the picket, 46 CATEGEIHM OF OUTPOST DUTY. corresponding- additional strength must be given it, and an allowance must be made for patrolling. The requirements for patrolling vary so much that the proportion of the picl^et to be used for that purpose can not be fixed. Generally, about a third of the picket should be used in patrolling. In a close country, the patrols, rather than the sentinels, should be in- creased; and at night the patrols are the principal reliance for observation. There should be enough men for three patrols, so as to admit of one patrol being out, one ready to go out, and one resting. This is especially the case with a cavalry picket. The strength of the picket will thus vary; but ils nnnimuni strength must allow six men for every double-sentinel post, three for eacli connecting sentinel, three for the picket sentinel, and at least three non-commissioned officers. These are the barest re- quirements, without considering patrols. The picket com- mander should always, if possible, be a commissioned officer. Q. What are the maximum and minimum fronts of an in- fantry picket? A. The minimum front covered by the sentinels of a single picket may be placed at 400 yards. The maximum front, even when the picket furnishes four double sentinels, may be placed at 800 yards. Q. What are the maximum and minimum fronts of a cav- alry picket? A. The front covered by the vedettes of a cavalry picket varies from 1,000 to 2,000 yards. Q. Pickets are generally about how far apart? A. Infantry pickets are generally from 600 to 800 yards apart, and cavalry pickets from 1,000 to 1,500 yards. All these distances vary with different circumstances of ground and weather; the distances given above have been found by experi- ence to answer in many cases, but they must often be materi- ally changed. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 47 Q. What liue is the first consideration in selecting the ground for the outpost? A. As a rule, the line of sentinels or vedettes~the line of observation— should be made the first consideration in select- ing the ground for the outpost; the position of the sentinels regulating that of the pickets, and not the reverse. Q. What are the six requirements of a perfect picliet post? A. 1. It should be near enough to the sentinels to give them prompt support, but not so close as to be involved in their disaster if they should be surprised and suddenly driven in; 2. It should be posted on, and command, some route lead- ing from the enemy; the largest pickets on the most imiDortant routes; 3. It should be in a good defensive position, should have € good field of fire to the front, and should be so far concealed that the enemy could not discover it without attacking; 4. It sliould, as far as consistent with the foregoing require- ments, be in rear of the center of its line of sentinels; 5. It should have free approaches to its sentinels, neighbor- ing pickets, supports, and reserves, and should have a good line of retreat; 6. It should be close enough to the neighboring pickets for mutual support, and a mutual flanking fire should be provided for. A position fulfilling all these requirements can scarcely be hoped for; the best position will be the one which fulfills the greatest part of them. Q. If a picket is posted in a defile, what should be done? A. Its front should be covered with obstacles, in order that it may not be overpowered by a sudden rush of the enemy. Q. What is the general rule in regard to posting a picket in a house or enclosure; and what exception is there to the i-ule? A. A picket should not be posted in a house nor in an en- 48 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. closiu^e. Au exception to this rule is found in the case of a be- sieging force, whose front is covered with formidable obstacles. Q. How should the picket be situated relatively to a junc- tion of roads leading from the enemy's position? A. Any junction of roads leading from the enemy's posi- tion should be in front of the picliet, and roads passing the flank should be carefully guarded. Q. When an impassable obstacle lies along a portion of the front of the outpost, what may be done? A. When an impassable obstacle, such as a swamp, lake, or stream, lies along a portion of the front of the outposts, the strengtli at that part of the line may be limited to the require- ments of observation, the sentinels being few, and the chief reliance being placed upon patrolling. Q. What are the general rules concerning fires with the picket? A. Fires should not be lighted by a piclvet unless they can 1)0 well concealed from the enemy. If a tire is allowed at nighty tlie rally ing-point should be some distance in its rear, so that tlie light would be cast upon an advancing enemy. Q. What is required of the men composing the picket, both infnntry and cavalry? A. The men composing the picket stack arms and may re- move their equipinents, with the exception of the cartridge- belt. Tliey nuist not leave the immediate vicinity of tlie picket, and must be ready to fall in at a moment's notice. Part of the men must be constantly under arms at night, and separated from the rest, who keep their arms close at hand while sleep- ing. If danger seems imminent, the entire picket must be awake and imder arms. In a cavalry picket, or in the case of mounted orderlies attached to au infantry picket, the horses should be kept constantly saddled, and the bridles should be taken off only for feeding and watering. Not more than one- CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 49 third, or at most oue-lialf , of the horses should be fed at a time. When there is uo water close to the picket, only a few horses should be taken to the water at a time, the men in charge of them being under arms and fully equipped. Saddles should be adjusted once every twelve hours, or as much oftener as neces- saiy, under direction of an officer or non-commissioned officer. Q. What should be done if a noise is heard from a neigh- boring picket? A. The commander of the picket should cause it to stand to arms at once if a noise is lieard from a neighboring picket; and if that picket is attacked, he should endeavor to relieve it by an attack upon the enemy's flank. If an attack is not evi- dent, but the noise seems suspicious, a patrol should be sent to investigate. The Silppcrts. Q. What do the supports constitute? A. The supports constitute a force upon which the pickets fall back if driven in by the enemy, or with which (in excep- tional cases) the pickets may be reinforced. Q. What regulates the jiosition of the supports, and what should be its general requirements? A. The ground regulates their position, as they should occupy the line of resistance. The position selected • should afford a good general line of defence, ground uniformly mod- erately good being preferable to that whicli is very strong in some parts and weak in others. The supports should not be too far away from the pickets' to render timely aid, nor so close as to be involved in their defeat if suddenly driven in. They should be located as centrally as practicable in reference to the pickets in their front, and should preferably be upon, or near, the main routes by which the enemy might advance. A 50 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. defile on the road leading from the enemy's position to the eauip is generally a good position for a support. Sometimes the best line of resistance lies close to the line of observation, or even coincides with it. In such cases the supports may be close to the pickets or merged with them. One support is gener- ally sufficient for two or three pickets. Q. What arrangements should the commander of a support make with a view to defence? A. He should make arrangements with the commanders of the pickets in his front for concerted action in case of attack, and should maintain communication with them, with the neigh- Ijoring supports, and with the reserve. This conmiunication is generally kept up by means of patrols. Q. What is required of the men composing the support? A. The support should have one or more sentinels or vedettes posted the same as a picket, but may relax to some extent the watchfulness exacted from the pickets. The men stack arms and are allowed to remove their accouterments (ex- cepting always the cartridge-belt), but they are not permitted to wander away from the post of the support, and must be ready at all times to fall in. They are usually allowed to light tires, and may be required to do the cooking for the pickets as well as for themselves. The horses with the support are kept in the same degree of readiness as those with the pickets. No shouting or unnecessary noise of any kind should be permitted in any part of the outpost. ^^\ ^ ,^ ^^ y V , u i.^ ^ ^vi o, , „ CaDt. 3d Infantr Cossack rosts. Q. What are Cossack posts? A. They are small posts sent out directly from the supports. 10a cli of these posts consists of four men; namely, three reliefs of a single sentinel, and a non-commisioned officer or old sol- dier for the command of the post. G ATE C II ISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 51 Q. How many Cossack posts are furnished by each support, and how are they placed? " A. Each support fui^nishes from fom- to twelve Cossack posts, which are placed from 300 to 400 yards in advance of it, and from 100 to 300 yards ^.part; the smaller limit of distance in the case of very close and rugged ground, and the latter in the case of very open ground. The sentinel is stationed from 10 to 30 yards in advance of the post, the other members of which remain concealed and keep him constantly in view. Q. How often are the sentinels and posts relieved, and how is the patrolling done? A. The sentinels are relieved every hour and the post every three hours. One or two men may be sent from the post, from time to time, to patrol to the post on either side; but, as a rule, all the patrolling is done frojn the support. Q. What are the disadvantages and advantages of Cossack posts? A. It would seem at first thought that a line of Cossack p();^ts must lack the resisting power of the two lines of senti- nels and pickets,- and that it should, therefore, be used only when the ground affords strong defensive positions. It is not, however, without many positive elements of strength. The sentinels are more likelj^ to be free from the timidity of loneli- ness, and to be more resolute in the performance of their duty, when they are closely backed up by a friendly post, than when they are at a considerable distance from a picket. Each post could be intrenched, and should be so stationed as to be able to cross its fire with that of the posts on its right and left. It is reasonable to suppose that the posts could thus hold their own long enough to enable the supports to prepare fully for action. In consideration of these facts and the still more important one that the system of Cossack posts is in thorough keeping with the nature of American warfare, its adoption in most cases 52 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. may be safely recommended. It is, finally, more economical of men than the other system. (See Plate VI.) Q. Should either system be exclusively employed? A. Not as a rule. A combination of the two is usually pref erable. If a wood or a broken piece of ground exists in the line, Cossack posts would generally be more suitable; but on the open ground the picket system would usually be preferable. The Reserve. Q. What does the reserve constitute, and of what does it generally consist? A. It constitutes the general support and pivot of resist- ance of the whole outpost, and usually consists of all three arms. Q. What considerations influence the selection of its posi- tion? A. It should be concealed from the enemy, and should be posted as centrally as practicable, so as to enable it to move quickly to any endangered point. It may sometimes be divided into two parts, to facilitate supporting the more advanced bodies; and it should be upon the principal line or lines of re- treat to the main body. Q. Should the position of the reserve be intrenched? A. It may be intrenched or strengthened with obstacles; but, as a rule, the reserve will advance to reinforce the supports, and the intrenchments sliould be on the line of resistance. Q. What rules obtain in regard to the men and horses of the reserve? A. The same as in the case of the supports. The reserve is allowed to light fires; and in the exceptional cases where fires are prohibited to the more advanced parties, it must do the cooking for them. FIG. 1 PLATE VI. LINE OF OBSERVATlON-2400 y^^ .>C' -V .--A* :f*- -A^.^ y PICKETS V o X K ^S^ SUPPORTS •..-- RESERVE — F/G. 2 ^^NE OF OBSERVATION.-2400 y^^ COSSACK POSTS ^^ """''^4|£'' SUPPORTS M,0^-J^"""' \ f \ / RESERVE 54 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q. When may the reserve be dispensed with? A. In the case of a small force which can prepare quickly for action, or when the main body bivouacs in order of battle, the reserve may sometimes be dispensed with. Q. What is the advantage of the omission of the reserve, and why can it but rarely be omitted? A. When the reserve is not needed, its omission greatly re- lieves the troops from the pressure of outpost duty; but it can rarely be safely omitted from the composition of the outpost. The line of resistance being 3,000 yards from the main body, it is evident that, unless the latter were in a state of instant readi- ness, the supports might be overwhelmed before they could re- ceive assistance, if there were no reserve. To keep the main body in such a state of readiness Avould, to a great extent, de- feat the prime object of the outpost. In rare cases, where the supports occupy a very strong defensive position, and the main body can be held close at hand sheltered from the enemy's artillery fire, the reserve may be omitted. Q. Are compliments paid by the outpost? A. No compliments are paid by the outpost; but when a reserve, support, or picket is approached by a general officer, the commander of the outpost, or an armed party, the men fall in in rear of the stacks, ready to take arms. The Outpost at Night. Q. What is the obj(^ction to retaining the cordon system at night? A. It would be necessary either to increase the num]^er of sentinels greatly, thus adding to the burden of outpost duty, or else to draw in the outpost line closer to the main body, thus contracting the front. The greatest objection to the latter alter- native is, that valuable ground would thus be abandoned, which, if the enemy were enterprising, might be regained only CATEGHItsM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 55 at the cost of an eng:agement. ' If it can be avoided, the outpost line must never be drawn in at night; but should such a meas- ure become necessary, the position should be resumed again at early dawn, and the outpost should occupy it with as much caution and vigilance as when it was first taken up. Q. What system is generally adopted, in its essential feat- ures, at night; and on what is it based? A. The outpost system of Marshal Bugeaud is generally adopted in its essential features for night. This is based on the idea that in making a night attack, in any but an exceptionally open country, the enemy's movements must necessarily be con- fined to roads and clearly defined paths. In a close country movements off the roads can not, in fact, be made by any force larger than a patrol; while, in an open country, roads and paths must be followed for guidance, unless the ground is thor- oughly known and there is a bright moon. The uncertainty of effecting the necessary combinations at night, and the danger of columns losing their way and not arriving at appointeci des- tinations at the proper time, render night attacks in force very infrequent. They must, however, be carefully guarded against; and partial attacks for the purpose of alarming the outpost, cap- turing sentinels or pickets, or reconnoitering the position, must be expected. Q. Give the important details of the outpost system at night. A. If double sentinels are placed on the roads and paths, and clos€'ly backed up by tlieir reliefs, the advanced posts thus formed will give timely warning of the enemy's approach in force. But the inten'ening ground must not be neglected, or hostile patrols might push through and reconnoiter the posi- tion. The ground between the sentinels is, therefore, tlior- oughly patrolled, the number of men available for this purpose being increased by the diminution of the number of sentinel 56 C ATE CHIASM OF OUTPOST DUTY. m posts. Nothing more than careful observation and warning sliould be expected of the advanced posts, the duty of resistance falling first upon the pickets, which should be nearer the senti- nels at night than during the day, and should be in strong de- fensive positions on the roads, in rear of the advanced posts furnished by them. Q. In cavalry outposts, where are the pickets posted at night, and what precautions are taken? A. In cavalry outposts, the pickets are placed on the roads, double vedettes being pushed out in front. The picket must be on the alert and prepared to fight on foot. Its position may be strengthened by barricading the road; but care must be taken to leave a passage by which the vedettes may retire, and the barricade must not be so constructed as to prove an obstacle to the advance of the troops in rear. Q. When the enemy is close at hand and aggressive, what may sometimes be advisable? A. When the enemy is close at hand and aggressive, it may sometimes be advisable, in addition to barring his advance on the main roads, to post a cordon of sentinels near the camp or bivouac, to check small patrols of the enemy, which might oth- erwise annoy and alarm the main body and destroy its repose. Asa rule, however, patrolling between the advanced posts Avill be sufficient to check such hostile parties. Q. When are the changes in the position of the outpost ar- rnnged and made? A. All changes in the position of the outpost must be ar- ranged during daylight, and made at late dusk. Even if the cordon system is retained and the line is not drawn in, the posi- tions of the sentinels and pickets should be changed, in order to prevent their possil)le capture by the eneiny, who may have noted their iDositions during the day. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 57 Q. What change is made in the positions of the sentinels for night? A. The sentinels, who are habitually posted on high ground during the daj^ should be moved to lower ground at night, so as to bring an approaching enemy in view on the sky line. As a rule, the sentinels should be pushed forward from the high ground rather than drawn back, in order to retain possession of the ridge. Outpost Patrols. Q. Of what two kinds are the outpost patrols? A. Visiting patrols and reconnoitering patrols. Q. Describe the composition and duties of a visiting patrol. A. Visiting patrols usually consist of a non-commissioned officer and two or three men. They are sent out from the picket, and keep up communication between it and its sentinels and de- tached posts, the neighboring pickets, and the support. They examine any suspicious points which the sentinel can not in- spect without going too far away from his post, take charge of persons detained by the sentinels, and relieve any sentinel who may be sick or wounded. Q. How does the patrol habitually make its rounds? A. In making its rounds the patrol first touches upon the nearest sentinel of the picket on its right (or left), and then passes along the front of its own sentinels to the nearest senti- nel of the picket on its left (or right), returning by the rear to its own picket. The patrol (especially if composed of cavalry) may often find it expedient, as a means of concealment, to pass in rear of the sentinels. Q. When are visiting patrols mainly used, what extent of front do they cover, and how far to the front do they go? 58 CAT ECU IBM OF OUTPOST DUTY. A. Visiting patrols are mainly used at night. When the sentinels can be seen from the picket, the patrol would not ordi- narily make the rounds, during the day, oftener than once each relief. At night, the patrol should not cover a front of more than 500 yards in its operations. When the picket is weak, the reliefs nmst be used as visiting patrols. Q. What is the object of recounoiteriug patrols? A. The sentinels guard against siu-prise, but the informa- tion they can gain in regard to the enemy is generally very slight. This information must be sought by reconnoitering patrols sent out towards the enemy, to watch his movements, and, if possible, examine his position. Q. What is the size of reconnoitering patrols, and how far do they go beyond the line of sentinels? A. Reconnoitering patrols are either small or stromj. A small patrol varies in size from three men to a squad. If com- posed of infantry, it should not, as a rule, advance more than half a mile beyond the line of sentinels at night; in daytime it may often prudently advance farther. Cavalry is generally used for this duty by day, and may push out five or ten miles, or even farther, according to the discretion of the patrol com- mander. The patrol should go far enough to see the enemy's sentinels, if not too distant, and may even penetrate his line .of observation. When bicyclists are with a command, they could be used for distant patrolling, and on good roads would have ad- vantages over horsemen in swiftness and secrecy of movement. Q. What patrols should be used at night, and what must be constantly varied in regard to them? A. It is a good rule to use at night the patrols that have scouted the same region by day. The time, direction, and man- ner of sending out patrols must be constantly varied, in order that the enemy may not be prepared to cut them off. A small patrol must constan1;ly bear in mind that its business is not to CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 59 tight, but to observe. Tt should accordingly be careful to avoid eug-agements, unless ordered to take prisoners. Q. When is tlie 6.uty of a reconnoitering patrol best per- formed ? A. When it comes baclv with valuable information without having been seen by the enemy. Q. What are patrolling posts? A. They are small patrols, of four men each, which are sometimes used at night instead of the advanced posts in front of the pickets. Q. How does the patrolling post preform its duties? A. Tt nmst not leave the road or path assigned to it; but it may either keep moving or remain stationary at the distance to which it is ordered to patrol. In the latter case a sentinel or vedette is posted and the rest of the patrol remains near at hand and well concealed. The members of the patrolling post nmst preserve the strictest silence and must not smoke or light fires. The sentinel is relieved every half -hour, and the patrol- ling post every three hours. Q. If the number of patrolling posts is such as to weaken the picket materially, what must be done? A. The support must then be moved up close enough to it to render prompt assistance; or, if this can not be done without abandoning a strong position for a weaker one, the support must send reinforcements to the picket, and draw corresponding- reinforcements from the reserve. Q. From what part of the outpost are strong patrols taken, and how do they vary in size? A. They ai'e generally taken from the support or reserve. They var;\' in size from nine men to a company or troop; and if composed of less than two s(iuads, may be taken from a picket. 60 CATECHTHM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q. How far from the lino of sentinels may a strong patrol advance, and liow may it sometimes be used? A. As a rule, the movements of a strong patrol are not so cautious as those of a small one. Its object is to gain informa- tion that can not be acquired by sentinels or small patrols. It rarely goes more than a mile and a half from the line of senti- nels, and if composed of infantry, it should have one or two mounted men (or cyclists, in suitable country) with it to insure the rapid transmission of intelligence back to the outpost. If the patrols return without reporting anything, vigilance must not be relaxed; for it is possible for patrols to take a wrong direction, or to pass close to the enemy without discovering him. Q. Are patrols of frequent or only of occasional use? A. As a rvde, patrols are frequent; aijd when the enemy is in force and close at hand, they are constant. Posting • the Outpost. Q. With what should the men detailed for outpost duty be supplied ? A. They should have a proper supply of ammunition, and (when practicable) one day's cooked rations. Their canteens should be filled with coffee. Q. What should each officer detailed for outpost duty have? —each non-commissioned officer? A. Each officer should have a watch, compass, field-glass, memorandum pad and lead-pencil; and, if possible, he should be provided with a topographical map of the ground to be occupied by the outpost. Every non-commissioned officer should have a lead-pencil and a small memorandum pad. Q. How is the posting of the outpost, both infantry and cavalry, conducted? CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 61 A. The troops detailed having been inspected, and the subordinate officers having taken down in writing the instruc- tions of the outpost commander (if time admits), the force moves out, with an advance guard, to take up the designated positions. The reserve and supports may each march inde- pendently from camp directly to its position; or they may march together and be detached from the column at suitable points. Each body moves to its position cover'^d by a point and flanking groups, and the pickets especially move with extreme vigilance. When the picket is halted, slightly in rear of the selected line of observation, two or more squads are deployed as skirmishers, with suflicient intervals to enable their front to cover approximately the front of the sentinels of the picket, and are pushed forward cautiously to reconnoiter, being followed by the first relief of sentinels. The picket commander halts on the line of observation, and the skirmishers move «n to recon- noiter in its front, not going farther than 100 yards if the coun- try is close or wooded. AVhen the relief comes up, the picket commander posts the sentinels quickly, the posts afterwards being changed as may be required. Any tree, building, hay- stack, or other object affording a good view should be occupied at once as a lookout by two men, one of whom should, if prac- ticable, be provided with a field-glass. As soon as the sentinels have been tentatively posted, the skirmishers are recalled and sent back to the picket; after which the picket commander touches upon the nearest sentinel of the picket on his right (or left), and passes along his own line of observation to the near- est sentinel of the picket on his left (or right). He assures him- self that his sentinels are in positions best suited for observa- tion and concealment, sees that the number of posts does not exceed the requirements of efficient observation, and then re- turns to his picket. He then posts such connecting and picket sentinels and detached posts as may be necessary, details a por- 62 ' CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. tion of the picket for patrol duty, orders the picket to stack arms and fall out, and sends to the commander of the outpost or section a report of his position and dispositions, accompanied, if practicable, with a hasty sketch or map of the same. Q. After the picket is posted, what does its commander do? A. After the picket commander has sent in his first report, he visits his detached posts, and makes such inspection of the ground as may be necessary to familiarize him with the roads, paths, and other topographical features of his position, but should not go beyond reach of his picket. If he has not a map of the position, be should make or have made as good a one as lie can for reference, report, and giving instructions to subordi- nates. If streams or other obstacles exist in front of his posi- tion, he ascertains at what points they are passable; and he Qiust satisfy himself that the picket occupies a post fulfilling as far as pdlsible, the requirements already set forth. He take* such measures in regard to strengthening his position as may be required by circumstances and be in consonance with orders received by him. He must be especially careful to see that the picket post at night is prepared for a stubborn defence; and he nuist, at all times, consider what he would do in case of attack. Q. As soon as the outpost is in position, and while taking l)osition, what should all the officers, non-couimissioned otficers, and privates do? A. All, especially the officers and non-commissioned offi- cers, should note carefully the ground in the vicinity. No mem- ber of the outpost can know too much on this point. Q. When, at the close of the day's march, the advance guard forms the outpost, wliat portions of it constitute the vari- ous parts of the outpost? A. The advance party then furnishes the pickets and senti- nels (being reinforced, if necessary, from the support until the two bodies are equal in strength); the support furnishes the sup- CATECUISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. • 63 ports; and the reserve constitutes the reserve of the outpost. When the place for camp or bivouac is selected, the advance guard marches to its post as an outpost in the same general manner as though detailed from camp. Q. Whenever practicable, what should be done to make an equitable division of sentinel duty? A. Whenever practicable, the outpost should be divided into three equal parts, which should so relieve each other as to make an equitable division of the duty on the line of observa- tion. At the end of each eight hours the reserve should take the place of the support, the support should relieve the pickets, and the latter should march back and unite at the position of the re- serve. To equalize the burden of sentinel duty, it might often be expedient to change the typical formation as given in Plate IV. so as to have one entire battalion in each line. The Defence of the Outpost. Q. How is the defence of an outpost conducted? A. The outpost should, as a rule, avoid unnecessary move- ments tending to bring on an engagement; but if attacked, it should resist stubbornly, in order to give the main body time to prepare for action. The chief resistance is generally made on the line of supports, though in some cases it may be best for the supports to advance to the line of pickets. In the former case, the picket usually deploys as skirmishers, and advances to reinforce the line of sentinels; the whole line then falling back slowly upon the supports, taking advantage of every de- fensive feature of the ground, and fighting resolutely. In order that the fire of the support may not be masked, the pickets will direct their retreat upon its flanks, instead of falling directly back upon it. The skirmishers then form on a line with the skirmishers of the support. In the latter case, the pickets should 64 ^ CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. be intrenched. The sentinels fall back upon them, moving to- wards their flanks to unmask their fire; and the sui3ports are brought up and deployed in the intervals between the pickets. In either case, the reserve is brought up to reinforce the troops in front, as soon as the nature and direction of the attack be- come apparent. Q. If the enemy is repulsed, by whom, and to what extent, is pursuit made? A. In case the enemy is repulsed, the infantry should re- sume its former positions, but should not ordinarily pursue. The cavalry should send out patrols to discover where the ene- mj^ halted. These patrols should beware of ambuscade, and must not push beyond an indicated distance. When the out- post is composed of infantry alone, small detachments deployed as skirmishers may sometimes be sent in pursuit, but the out- post must not be much weakened for this purpose. Q. Soon after the repulse of the attack, what should be done? A. The pickets and supports should shift their positions (unless by so doing it would be necessary to abandon strong points), in order to deprive the enemy of profiting by the knowl- edge of the position gained by attacking. Q. When knowledge of the enemy's approach is gained in time to admit of full preparation, how should he be received, and why? A. He should be received with volleys. This w^ould enable the officers to keep the troops better in hand, and would have a desirable moral effect on the enemy, as volleys may be re- garded as an indication of coolness and readiness on the part of the troops delivering them. Q. When should the pickets be under arms, and why ? A. They should be under arms an hour before daybreak, as an attack is most likely to occur at dawn. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 65 Relieving the Outpost. Q. When is the outpost relieved, and why at this time? A. The outpost is relieved at daybreak, in order that there may be double strength on the outpost line at the time when an attack is most to be feared. Q. Describe the manner of relieving the outpost. A. Tlie new reserve marches to tlie post of the old one, where both rest with arms stacked, and the new commander receives from the old all information possessed by the latter in regard to the enemy, and the standing orders for the reserve. Each support marches to the post of the support which it is to relieve, and both supports rest, while information and orders are turned over as in the case of the* reserves When a new picket arrives to relieve an old one, each stands at ease while the new and the old commanders visit the sentinel's posts to gether, folloAved by the first relief from the new picket. The old commander points out to the new the important topograph- ical features of the vicinity, and the known or suspected posi- tions of the hostile posts; and. gives him all the information that has been gained in regard to the enemy.* When the old sentinels and detached posts have been re- lieved, the commander of the old picket (unless there appears to be danger of an attack) sends in a written report to the com- mander of the outpost or section, and marches his picket back to its support. As soon as the supportjtias been joined by its pickets, it marches back to its reserve, and the entire old out- post returns to camp; or each support may march directly back to camp as soon as it is joined by its pickets. If, while the old outpost, or any part of it, is returning, the enemy should attack. ■'■■ There is a complete absen-^e of ceremonv in relieving an outpost There is no position prescribed for the new reserve, supports, or pickets. They rest solely to avoid fatigue, and the pickets 'stand at ease merely to insure silence. 66 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. it must be at once marched back to the assistance of the new outpost. Q. How often are outposts relieved ? A. As a rule, outposts should be relieved every twenty-four hours. With cavalry this is necessary; but in the case of in- fantry, if the enemy is not near and enterprising, it may some- times be advisable to keep the same troops on outpost duty for forty eight hours, if the command remains in camp. Q. If the army is on the march, when is the outpost re- lieved? A. As soon as the advance guard has passed the chain of sentinels. The pickets will not, as a rule, fall back to the sup- ports, but will join them at some designated point on the line of march, in order to save the fatigued men from unnecessary marching. The reserve follows the rear of the column, and the supports and pickets, united at designated rendezvous, form the rear guard of the column. Q. If the army is retreating, what does the outpost form? A. If the army is retreating, the outpost each day (when practicable) forms the rear guard. The manner of relieving the outpost in this case is considered in the chapter on Rear Guards. RECONNAISSANCE. ,. Q. What is the object of reconnaissance? A. To gain a knowledge of the strength, position, and prob- able designs of the enemy, upon which the commander can base his own plans. Q. Under what three heads may reconnaissance be con- sidered ? A. 1. Reconnaissance in force; 2. Special reconnaissance; 3. Patrolling. * CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 67 Q, By whose order, and how, is a reconnaissance in force made? A. Reconnaissances in force are made only by the orders- of the commander-in-chief, and the force employed generally consists of all three arms. They are often made just before an action, for tlie purpose of discovering the enemy's strength and dispositions, and frequently lead to a battle. The reconnais- sance is conducted in the same general manner as a regular attack. Efforts are made, while driving in the enemy's pickets, to capture prisoners. Staff officers, advancing witli the skir- mishers, rapidly sketch the different features of the enemy's position, and note his apparent strength. at different points. Q ^^''lIat arms are especially valuable in a reconnaissance in force, and why? A. Cavalry and horse artillery are especiallj' valuable in a roconnaissnnce in force, as they can be withdrawn from action more easily than infantry; and it would be well to limit the rocounai^sMuce to these two arms when tliey are in ample force, and ( iiT-umstances render their action sufficient. To be success- ful, hovvever, a reconnaissance in force should impose upon the enemy the belief that he is encountering a real attack; and this consideration will determine the kind of troops to employ and the hour at which the attack should be made. If infantry be employed in the attack, it will be hard to break off the action; but if it be not employed, it will generally be manifest that the attack is not serious. Q. What are the advantages and disTidvantages of making a reconnai sauce in force in the evening, and what in the morning ? A. If it be made late in the afternoon, the troops may be withdrawn under cover of the darkness; but if made at that h^ur, the enemy will probably suspect the true nature of the operation. If made in the morning, the enemy will doubtlesg 68 GATEGHWM OF OUTPOST DUTY. believe it to be a serious attack; but it may very easily precipi- tate a battle. Q. To what three serious objections js a reconnaissance in force open ? A. 1. It often results in committing the troops so completely to action as to bring on a battle through the necessity of bringing up other troops to their assistance. 2. The withdrawal of the troops in pm'suance to the general plan of the reconnaissance may often present the appearance of defeat, and thus injure the moral of the army. 3. It is always a costly means of gaining information. Special Reconnaissance. Q. What IB a special reconnaissance? A. Reconnaissances of this class have some limited and definite object in view: to discover whether a certain point is occupied in force by the enemy; whether a bridge is broken, or a defile is fortified; to capture a picket, with a view to gaining information; or to attack a post for the purpose of discovering the intentions or moral of the enemy. Q. How is a special reconnaissance conducted? A. Tlie manner of conducting a special reconnaissance de- pends upon its object and the circumstances under which it is conducted. A good rule in one case might be a fatal guide in another. It may be effected secretly, by a bold attack on a picket, by personal daring, or by any means which will carry out the object in view. Q. How is an attempt upon a hostile picket carried out? A. In an attempt upon a picket of the enemy, the most favorable place for crossing his line of sentiijf^is is sought out, and the necessary dispositions are made, before dark; tBe attack being made at night or at late dusk. The great object of CATECHISM OF OUT^pST DUTY. 69 the attack is, of course, to captui-e prisoners, with a view to ob- taining information from them. The prisoners are hurried away, and the reconnoiteriug force makes its retreat without delay. Q. How may a force employed on a special reconnaissance vary in size? A. The force employed in a special reconnaissance varies in size from a company or troop to a division. The dividing line between a special reconnaissance and a reconnaissance in force is often very dim, and in many cases the same operation could be designated by either term. Patrolling. Q. How are patrols primarily divided, and how does each vary in size? A. Patrols are divided into small patrols and strong patrols. A strong patrol varies in strength from nine men to a troop of cavalry or a company of infantry. A small patrol varies from three men to a squad. A patrol should never consist of less than three men; for if it were composed of only two, it would be impossible to send back a report of anything seen or heard, without leaving one man alone, without support, in the prox- imity of the enemy. Q. Patrols are also classified as what kinds? State briefly the duties of each. A. In our service, patrols are also classified as officers^ re- connoiterinff, visiting, covering (fianking), and connecting patrols. To these may be added exploring, harassing, expeditionary, and pursuing patrols. The classification into small and strong patrols is the important one; for without changing its size, and without material modification of its methods, the patrol mav combine the functions of several of the different kinds of patrols 70 CATECHISM* OF OUTPOST DUTY. contained in the second classification. In fact, the latter classi- fication is mainly for convenience of description. Q. State what should be reported by an exploring patrol in regard to the following: roads, railroads, bridges, rivers, woods, canals, telegraphs, villages, defiles, ponds and marshes, springs and rivulets, valleys, heights. A. Roads. — Their direction; tlieir nature (macadamized, corduroy, plank, "dirt," etc.); their condition of repair; their grade; the nature of lateral roads, and the points where they leave the main road; their borders (woods, hedges, fences, or ditches); the places at w^hich they pass through defiles, across heights or rivers, and where they intersect railroads; their breadth (whether suitable to column of fom's or of platoons, etc.). Railroads.— Their direction; the number of tracks, stations, and junctions; their grade; the nature of the cuts, embank- ments, and tunnels. Bridges.— Their position; their width and length; their construction (wood, brick, stone, or iron); the roads and ap- proaches on each bank. Rivers (and other Streams).— Their direction, width, and depth; the rapidity of the current; liability to sudden rises and extreme fluctuations in depth, as indicated by driftwood, etc.; fords; the nature of the banks; kind, position, and num- ber of islands at suitable points of passage; heights in the vicinity and their command over the banks. TFoo^s.— Their situation, extent, and shape; whether clear or containing underbrush; the number and extent of "clear- ings"; whether cut up by ravines, or containing marshes, etc.; nature of roads penetrating them. Canals.— Their direction, width, and depth; condition of towpath; locks, and means for protecting or destroying them. CATKCUISSM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 71 TcJrgraphs.— Whether they follow railroads or common roads; stations; number of wires. Villages.— Their situation (on a height, in a valley, or on a plain); nature of the surrounding country; construction of the houses; nature and width of the streets; means of defense. Defiles.— Their direction; whetlier straight or crooked; whetlier heights on eitlier side are accessible or inaccessible; nature of ground at each extremity; width (frontage of column that can pass through). Ponds and il/f/r.s//f,5.— Means of crossing; defensive use that might be made of them as obstacles against enemy; whether the marshy grounds are practicable for any or all arms. Springs and Rivulets. — Nature of approaches; whether water is drinlvable and abundant. Valleys. — Extent and nature; towns, villages, hamlets, streams, roads, and paths therein; obstacles offered by, or in, the valley to the movements of troops. Heights. — Whether slopes are easy or steep; whether good defensive positions are offered; whether plateau is wide or nar- row; whether passages are easy or difficult; Avhether the ground is broken or smooth, wooded or clear. Cultivated round. —'Nature of cultivation and kind of crops. Q. When should the report of the patrol be sent in? A. The report should be renderedas quicklyas possibleafter the return of the patrol, accompanied, when practicable, with a map. Q. What should a patrol of any nature always do? A. A patrol of any natm*e should endeavor to note care- fully the different features of the ground over which it passes, whether required to make a report or not. In every case a rail- road, emhanlment, a ditcli. or any otiier ohjerf that wonld fnrni.^h a good, defensive position should he noted. Good camping-places should also always be noted by exploring patrols. 72 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q. AVhat are reconnoiteriug patrols? A. Rcconnoitcr'uKj patrols are used to recounoiter the posi- tion and watcli tlie movements of tlie enemy. Q/ What are liarassing patrols? A. Harassiiuj patrols are for the purpose of disturbing and annoying the enemy, and thus depriving him of sleep and rest. Q. Wliat are expeditionary patrols? A. Expeditionary patrols have for their mission the capture of sentinels or patrols, or the destruction of roads, railroads, or telegraphs. Q. What are connecting patrols? A? Connecting patrols are used to preserve communication between columns of troops on the march or between different bodies in battle. Q. What are pursuing patrols? A. Pursuing patrols hang upon a retreating enemy, and render prompt information as to his movements, location, and moral. Q. What is tlie size of the different kinds of i>titrols? A. Exploring, reconnoitering, harassing, expeditionary, and pursuing patrols may be either strong or small; connecting pa- trols are always strong. Q. What arm is generally best suited to patroUing, and why is the union of infantry and cavalry on this duty not desirable? A. Cavalry is the arm par arcellence for patrolling. The composition of the patrol will, however, depend upon the ground to be reconnoitered, the distance to which the reconnaissance is to be extended, and the hour at which the patrol is sent out. The union of infantry and cavalry seems of doubtful value in any case, and worse than useless when the cavalry can take care of itself with its own fire action. Infantry is preferable to cavalry for patrolling only at night, or in a very close and broken counti*y. It is often advisable to CATECHIHM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 73 attach a few troopers to an infantry patrol merely as mounted orderlies, but no further union of the two arms on this service should ordinarily be contemplated. When bicyclists are with a command, they will, on good roads, be valuable for patrolling. Small Infantry Patrols. Q. What is the composition of a small infantry patrol? A. Experienced soldiers should be detailed, and if no non- commissioned officer is available, an intelligent private should be selected to command the patrol, and the others ordered to obey him. It is desirable that at least one member of the patrol should be able to speak the language of the country in which the army is operating. Q. How should the patrol be instructed? A. The patrol commander should be given clear and defi- nite instructions in regard to the duty to be performed, and he should be required to repeat them to the members of the patrol in the presence of the officer giving them. These instructions should inform him of the object of the reconnaissance, what is known about the enemy, the nature of the ground to be recon- noitered, whether he is to reconnoiter in one direction or in several, how long he is to remain out, where his reports are to be stot, and, if other patrols are sent out at the same time, the particular route which he is to follow. The patrol commander must be sure that he understands his instructions. If he has the slightest doubt about it, he must ask for a repetition. Q. How should the pati'ol be inspected? A. The patrol commander inspects the patrol, being careful that each man has the proper amount of ammunition, and that none are sick, intoxicated, or foot-sore. If any man has a cold which causes him to cough, he must be replaced by another man, even though he be not on sick report. The patrol commander 74 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. also sees that tlie arms and accouterments of his men are so arranged as neither to rattle nor to glisten in the sunlight. He also points out to the members of the patrol the positions of troops of their own army, and a place of assembly for men who may be detached. Q. What signals should be used by patrols? A. In addition to the signals described in the Drill Regula- tions, the following should be used: Attention, or, Do you see anything? Wave the hand across the face, or whistle once. Affirmative signal: Raise and lower the arm vertically twice, or whistle twice. Negative signal: Extend the arm horizontally thrice, or whistle thrice. Enemy in sight or hearing: Hold the rifle horizontally above the head with both hands, holding it steadily if the enemy is in small bodies, and raising and lowering it repeatedly if he is in force. To signal by whistle, whistle four times. To ask for reinforcements: Extend the arm horizontally and ware it rapidly with a circular motion, or give a long, con- tinuous wliistle. Q. When should the whistle be used? A. In a very close country, in foggy weather, or at night, the w^histle must be relied upon, but at all other times its use should be avoided. In giving the signals, the whistle must be used softly, as a loud noise might be heard by the enemy. In every case, except when asking for reinforcements, the note should be short. If tlie men are not provided with whistles, they should give the whistle signals by mouth. Q. What other signals may be devised, and what care should be exercised in signaling? A. Many different signals may be devised, such as waving the hat or handkerchief, striking the butt of the piece with the CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. , 75 knuckles, etc. No signals should be made unnecessarily, and when near the enemy the greatest care should be exercised that the signals be not dete«.'ted by him. Q. Every patrol should have what general formation? A. The patrol should have the general formation of main body, advance guard, rear guard, and flankers, even Avhen each can be represented by only one man. If the patrol consists of less than five men, the rear guard or one or both flankers may be dispensed with; but tlie advance guard should always be retained. It is generally better to do Avithout one, or even both, of^the flankers than without the roar-guard man, whose vjgilance prevents the patrol from being attacked in the rear and cut off. On nearing the enemy, the patrol should generally extend in line to facilitate observation. Figm*es 1 to 6, Plate VII, give typical formations of a small i^atrol.* Q. What is the only definite rule that can be laid down for the formation of a patrol? A. The only definite rule that can be laid down is the fol- lowing: Tlw patrol must always he so formed as to facilitate the gaining of information, and to insure, if possible, the escape of at least one man, if the patrol should he cut off. Amj disposition that complies with this rule is right. Q. What considerations influence the distances and inter- vals betAveen the members of a patrol, and what are generally the minimum and maximum distances? A. The distances and intervals depend upon circumstances. They are rarely less than twenty-five or more than one hun- dred yards. The men should be close enough to see and hear each other's signals, and for mutual support. On the other hand, they should not so crowd together that the patrol could *It must be borne in mind that these tvpica* formations are r^erely hints, the formation of the patrol always depending- uprn its cbject, the nature of the ground, and the character and position of the enemy. -FIQ. 1 — — PATROLS — FK3. 2 PLATE VII. FIG 3 — i 3 MEN 5 MEN DISTANCES AND INTERVALS VARY FROM 25 TO 100 YARDS ACCORDING TO CIRCUMSTANCES — FIG. 5 - « 6 MEN 7 MEN 8 MEN — FIG, 9 — f.9 MEN 15 MEN MARCHING ALONG ROAD WITH PASSAGE ON THE. FLANKS CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTf. 11 uot see more than a single man could — a fault to which men are prone through anxiety about being cut off. The commander should not lose sight of the point, and the other members should Iveep the same man in view; or, in the case of a large patrol, or one on an extended front, each man should endeavor to keep in sight the man next him towards the point. Q. Of what should the point generally consist? how are the signals to and from the commander trasmitted? and how is the patrol assembled ? A. The point should, when practicable, consist of two men, in order that one may scout vigilantly towards the enemy while the other watches for signals from the men on the right and left and from the commander. The signals from the other members of the patrol are generally transmitted to the com- mander through the point. To assemble the patrol, the com- mander signals to the point to halt, and moves up to it, followed by the rear-guard man. The other men at once close in on the point, conforming their pace to that of the commander. Q. How does the patrol move? A. The patrol moves cautiously, hut not timidly, along hedges, walls, ditches, ravines, etc., seeking in every way to see without being seen. It halts frequently to listen, and to make careful observation of the ground. At each halt the men should note their bearings relatively to certain landmarks, and the commander should frequently turn about to observe the general appearance of the landscape and note particular ob- jects, in order that he may not lose his way even if compelled to make a hasty retreat. It may be well in some cases to mark the route by blazing the trees, fastening wisps of straw to posts, or marking the path by dropping small stones; but such meth- ods are open to the objections that they take time and might betray the trail of the patrol to the enemy. Q. How should a patrol generally retm-n? 78 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. A. It is advisable for a paa*ol to return by a different route from tlie one foJ' >wed on advance, if it be practicable for it to do so, as it thus extends its reconnaissance and lessens the danger of b(nng cut off; but a small patrol rarely goes more than three- quarters of a mile beyond the force which sends it out, and in this limited distance it does not often have a choice of more than one road. Q. What should the patrol do in regard to great roads? A- Generally, the patrol should avoid moving on great roads and entering villages and inhabited places. But this does not mean that observation of great roads is to be neglected. On the contrary, they are the very ones that should be most carefully watched; for they are the routes that must be fol- lowed by any bodies of the enemy whose movements are really worth reporting. The patrol, while moving across fields and along such objects as have been already mentioned, should en- deavor to keep a constant watch on the great roads. Inhabited places should be turned and carefully observed, but should not ordinarily be entered by a small patrol. At night, or in a fog or snow-storm, the patrol m.ust of necessity move on the great roads, in order to avoid losing its way, unless it is moving over ground with which it is perfectly familiar. Q. What is the general rule in regard to a patrol halting? A. The patrol should not halt to rest before its return, un- less circumstances render it imperatively necessary to do so. In such case it should rest in concealment in some place which offers advantages for defence, and from which a retreat can be easily effected. In the case of a small patrol, the latter consid- eration is the more important. The position chosen should not be near any habitation. During the day it should be on hi eh ground, from which an extensive view may be obtained; at night it should be on low ground, so as to bring approaching people into view on the sky-line. CATECHISM OF OUT POST DUTY. 79 Q. If another patrol of the saiAe army or any friendly force is met, what sliould be done? • -' A. The patrol commander should exchange information with it, and inform himself of its strength, its destination, and the name of its commander, in order that he may report the same on his return. Friendly 'patrols should recognize each other without noise; but at night, the one that first discovers the other must challenge and demand the parole and coun- tersign. Q. What should be done if a hostile patrol is discovered? A. If a small hostile patrol is discovered, it is generally better to remain in concealment than to attack; for the noise of combat might cause enough mischief to more than counter- balance all that could be gained by defeating the hostile patrol, even if prisoners were captured. If the patrol is discovered by the hostile patrol, and finds itself unable to escape without fight- ing, it should attack boldly, and should endeavor to take prison, ers. If the hostile patrol has penetrated so far as to make it probable that it has gained important information, nn attempt should be made to ambuscade and capture it. If surprised, a patrol should fight resolutely, unless the enemy were in such force as to make resistance hopeless. In the latter case, or if defeated in any case, the patrol should disperse, each man mak- ing his way back to the rendezvous designated beforehand. It should then, after uniting, continue its reconnaissance, sending one man back to the command with a report. It should be an invariable rule not to quit the reconnaissance until some result has been obtained. Q. What should be done if the enemy is near at hand and in force? A. If the enemy is near at hand and in force, the patrol must open fire, and keep up a lively fusillade in retreat, as the only means of giving prompt warning of impending danger. 80 GAT EG Him OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q. What should be done if the patrol falls into an ambus- cade, and what if a hostile sentinel or patrol is suddenly en- countered in the dark? A. If, notwithstanding its prudence, the patrol falls into an ambuscade, it should boldly attack. If a sentinel or patrol of the enemy is suddenly encountered in tlie dark, no answer should be made to his challenge, but the patrol should remain halted and silent. The enemy may think himself mistaken and pay no fm-ther attention. If the challenge is repeated, the patrol should sneak away as quickly as possible, unless it has orders to capture prisoners, in which case a sudden rush upon the sentinel might enable the patrol to overpower him and carry him off before he could receive assistance. If some members of the patrol can speak the language of the sentinel, they may succeed in allaying his suspicions with a plausible answer to his challenge, Q. What questions should be asked of civilians coming from the direction of the enemy, or whose neighborhood has been visited by hostile troops? A. Whenever the approach of people is signalled, the patrol remains concealed in observation. If they prove to be civil- ians coming from the direction of the enemy, they should be questioned carefully, as they may sometimes give valuable in- formation. They should be asked whether they have seen any of the enemy's soldiers: where they were, what they were do- ing; whether they were infantry, cavalry, or artillery; whether they were regular troops or militia; what kind of uniforms they wore; whether the horses and men were in good condition, or seemed to be worn out and fatigued; how tne troops of the enemy behaved themselves; how the road leading to the ene- my is situated, and its condition; Avhether the enemy has scout- ing parties out; whether he seems to be vigilant; Avhether be has taken any guides from the village, etc. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 81 Q. What should be avoided when questioning country people? A. Military terms should be avoided when questioning coun- try people. It is best to ask them when the enemy's troops began arriving, when thej' all got in, etc., and thus get data from which to compute the enemy's strength; for the estimates of country people as to the numbers of a military force are almost sm-e to be worthless. Questions formulating a statement to which the person questioned may answer "yes" or "no" should be avoided. The questions should be such as to draw out a narrative from the person interrogated. Q. What precautions should be observed in questioning civilians ? A. It should always be borne in mind that the questions asked may be repeated to the enemy, and the questioner must, therefore, be careful so to frame them that they will not give a key to his designs. When several persons are questioned, they should be examined separately. Q. What should be done in regard to people going in the direction of the enemy ? A. They should be haltt^l, and never allowed to proceed, unless they have undoubtedly genuine passes from proper authority. If they are contumacious, they must be threatened, and sometimes roughly handled. It may be necessary in some cases to tie them to trees or posts, or even to gag them or threaten them with death if they cry out; but it should be an invariable rule never to resort to harsh measures when gentler means will secure the same end. Q. Give the general rules in regaiMl to the selection and treatment of guides. A. If it be necessary to take a guide from among the peo- ple of the country, he should be kindly treated, but warned that he will pay with his life the penalty of treachery. The de- 82 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. gree of intelligence and education possessed by the guide will decide the measiu-es proper to employ with him; but he must always be carefully guarded, and must not be discharged until there is no longer danger of his betraying the patrol. No one but the commander should communicate with the guides, and the soldiers should not, under any circumstances, be allowed either to chaff or threaten them. Drovers, peddlers, livery- stable employees, and country doctors will generally be the best guides. If a man can be found who has served as a guide to the enemy, so much the better. Q. What precautions are talien by the patrol with reference to concealment? A. Whenever possible, the men composing the patrol should keep under cover. If there is a bank or cover of any kind par- allel to the line of march, they will keep it between them and the supposed position of the enemy. If the different features affording cover lie perpendicular to tho line of march, the patrol will halt a moment behind eacli, peer cautiously about, and then pass rapidly to the next, the men moving one at a time, stoop- ing and running. No country is so open that small folds of groimd affording some degree of concealment can not be found. Q. How are cross-roads reconnoitered ? A. When the patrol comes to a cross-road, two men should be sent along it on each flank until they come to the first turn, the patrol halting. If the men see nothing suspicious, they re- tiu'n, and the patrol pushes on. If anything suspicious is seen, one man rushes back quickly to the patrol, while the other re- mains in observation. If the patrol is very small, two men should be sent first to one side and then to the other, in prefer- ence to Rending a single man in each direction. Q. How is a height reconnoitered? A. In reconnoitering a height, if the patrol is large enough to admit of detaching them, one or two men climb the slope on either fiank, keeping in sight of the patrol if possible. In any CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 83 case, oue mau moves cautiously up the hill, followed by the others in single file at such distance that each can keep his pred- ecessor in view. Q. How is a defile reconnoitered ? A. On approaching a defile, if time permits, the heights on either side should be reconnoitered by flankers before the patrol enters. If the heights are inaccessible, or time is urgent, the patrol pushes through, in single file, at double time, the distance being the same as in ascending a hill. The same method should be adopted in reconnoitering a railroad cut or sunken road. Q. How is a bridge or ford reconnoitered? A. At a bridge or ford, the front of the patrol is contracted so as to bring all men to the passage. The patrol then crosses rapidly, and takes up a proper formation. A bridge is first examined, to see that it is safe and has not been tampered with by the enemy. Q. How are woods reconnoitered? A. The patrol enters a wood in skirmishing order, the inter- vals being as great as may be consistent with mutual observa- tion and support on the part of the members of the patrol. On arriving at the farther edge of the wood, the patrol should re- main concealed and carefully look about before passing but to the open ground. When there is such a growth of underbrush as to make this method impracticable, a road through the wood must be reconnoitered as in the case of a defile, though not usu- ally at double time. If in this case a cross-road is found in the wood, the patrol must be assembled and the lateral road recon- noitered before passing beyond it. Q. How is an inclosure reconnoitered? A. In reconnoitering an inclosure (such as a garden, park, or cemetery), the leading patrollers first examine the exterior, to make sure that the enemy is not concealed behind one of the faces of the inclosure. They then proceed to examine the in- 84 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. terior. Great care should be taken in reconnoitering and enter- ing an inciosure, as an imprudent patrol might find it a veri- table ti*ap. Q. How is a house reconnoitered? : A. When a house or farm-building is approached by a patrol, it is first carefully reconnoitered from a distance, and if noth- ing suspicious is seen, it is then approached by two men, the rest of tlie party remaining concealed in observation. If the patrol is large enough to admit of it, four men approach the house, so as to examine the front and back entrances simul- taneously. Only one man enters the door, the other remaining outside to give the alarm, should a party of the enemy be con- cealed in the house. The patrol should not remain in the vicin- ity of the house any longer than necessary, as information rela- tive to its numbers and movements might be given to the ene- my, if a hostile party should subsequently visit the place. Q. How are villages reconnoitered? A. If the village is seen to be in possession of the enemy, the patrol must be content with reconnoitering it from the out- side. If the presence of the enemy is not apparent, the patrol should enter the village, being disposed in any way conforming to the general rule. A formation suitable in many cases would be in single file at proper distances for observation and support, each man being on tlie opposite side of the street from his pred- ecessor. Tlie patrol should push through the village as rapidly as possible; and wlien it lias reached the opposite side, two of the party might be detached, if expedient, to reenter the village to seek further information, the rest of the patrol remaining in some position affording good observation and secure retreat. If the patrol is strong enough, it should seize the post-oflice, telegraph office, and railroad station, and secure all important papers that may be there. If the patrol is part of an advance guard, it should seize the mayor and postmaster of the place, CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 85 and turn them over to the commander of the vanguard with the papers seized. At night, a village must be even more cautiously approached by a small patrol than by day. The patrol should glide through back alleys, across gardens, etc., rather than move along the main street. If there are no signs of the enemy, they should make inquiry. If no light is seen, and it seems imprudent to rouse any of the people, the pati'ol must watch and capture one of the inhabitants, and get from him such information as he may possess. The best time for a patrol to approach a village is at early dawn, when it is light enough to see, but before the inhabit- ants are up. It is dangerous in the extreme for a small patrol to enter a village, unless it is certain that it is not occupied by the enemy; for the men could be easily shot down by a fire from wandow^s, cellarways, etc., or entrapped and captured. Q. How are cities and large towais reconnoitered? A. As a rule, cities and large towns should not be entered by a small patrol, but should be merely watched from the outside. Q. How is the reconnaissance of the enemy in position effected? A. The patrol endeavors to asertain the direction and ex- tent of the line of observation, how its flanks are supported, the positions of the sentinels, their number, the number of pick- ets, the places where the line may be penetrated with the least risk of discovery, the strength of the hostile patrols, and the routes taken by them. It is also of great importance to ascer- tain whether good roads extend laterally behind the enemy's pickets, as such roads could be used by a force sent out to cap- ture them. If the enemy's line of sentinels is penetrated, the patrol may, perhaps, approach near enough to the picket to 86 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. overhear the countersign and parole; but it must be certain that the advantage to be gained is worth the risk, as the patrol will be in great danger of capture. If a point can be found on the flank of the enemy's position from which a view of his disposi- tions in rear of the line of sentinels can be obtained, the com- mander of the patrol endeavors to gain such point, and, conceal- ing his patrol near at hand, makes careful observation. The best time for such observation is at daybreak, and the selected point should be gained before dawn, so as to enable the patrol to observe the relieving of the outpost. The longer the patrol remains, the more it will see, but the greater will be its danger of being discovered. The patrol commander should have suffi- cient courage to remain long enough to gain valuable informa- tion, and sufficient prudence to withdraw in time to escape capture. If any important movements are observed, such as the with- drawing of the sentinels, the changing of their positions, prep- arations for advance or retreat, etc., the patrol commander sends a man back at once with a report of what has been seen. Q. How is the reconnaissance of the enemy on the march effected? A. If the enemy is on the march, the patrol should conceal itself close to the hostile column, but far enough away to escape* discovery by the enemy's flankers. Conspicuous places should be avoided, even if at some distance from the column, as they would probably be carefully searched. The best place is a ditch or wallow, Avhich will conceal the patrol and not be visible even at a short distance. The patrol carefully observes the progress of the column, noting its breadth of front, its rate of march, and the time it talves to pass a given point. Q. How can the strength of a column be estimated? A*. A given point is passed in one minute by about 20() infantry in column of fours; by about 150 cavalry in fours at a CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Sj walk, or, if in rear of the infantry, by about 100; by about 260 cavalry in fours at a trot, and by about 4 giuis if in rear of infantry. If tlie whole column can be seen, and its length can be ascertained by the know^n distance between any two points which it passes, its strength can at once be estimated by allow- ing 1 yard for every 2 infantry soldiers, 1 yard for each cavalry soldier, and 20 yards for each gun or caisson. An allowance of from one-fourth to one-half must be made for opening out, de- pending upon the state of the roads and weather and the disci- pline of the troops composing the column. Q. For what must the patrol carefully watch? A. The patrol must carefully watch for all signs and trails of the enemy, as information of the greatest value is thus some- times obtained. Q. What indications are furnished by boats and abridges in the vicinity of the enemy? A. If boats in great number are seen assembled on the bank of a sti'eam, it is an indication of preparation to cross. If they are found burned, it is an indication of retreat. If important bridges are found broken, it is a sign of a long retreat. If at some distance above the point where we are preparing to throw a bridge, large boats heavily laden with stone are found, it is ■an evidence of the enemy's intention to destroy the bridge and oppose the crossing. Q. What indications are furnished by the flames and smoke of the enemy's camp-fires ? A. If at night the flames of tlie enemy's camp-fires disap- pear and reappear, sometliing is moving between the observer and the fires. If smoke as w^ell as flame is visible, the fires are very near. If the fires are very numerous and lighted suc- cessively, and if soon after being lighted they go out, it is proba- ble that the enemy is preparing a retreat and trying to deceive us. If the fires burn very brightly and clearlj^ at a late hour, 88 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. the enemy has probably gone, and has left a detachment to keep the fires burning. If, at an unusual time, much smoke is seen ascending from the enemy's camp, it is probable that he is engaged in cooking preparatory to moving off. Q. What indications may be -noted of the arrival and de- parture of troops ? A. The rumbling of vehicles, cracking of whips, neighing of horses, braying of mules, and barking of dogs of ren indicate^ the arrival or dopartiu'e of troops. If the noise remains in tht. same place, and new fir^s are lighted, it is probable that rein- forcements have an-ived. If tlie noise grows more indistinct, troops are probably withdrawing. If, added to this, the fires appear to be dying out, and the enemy seems to redouble the vigilance of his outposts, the indications of retreat are very strong. Q. What characteristic noises are made by troops on the march, and at what distances can the various arms be heard? A. The noise made by a strong column on the march is distinct and continuous; that of a small body, feeble and inter- rupted. Tlie distance at which the noise of marcliing can be heard depends upon the nature of the ground marched over, the direction of the wind, and the presence or absence of other soimds. -On a calm night, a company of infantry, marching at route step on a hard road, can be heard at a distance of 500 or GOO yards; a troop of cavalry at a walk. 600 or 700 yards; a troop of cavalry at a trot or gallop, artillery, and heavywagons, 900 or 1,000 yards. Q. What indications are afforded by the dust raised by a marching column ? A. The dust raised by the march of a column furnishes an indication not only of the direction of the march, but the strength and composition of the column. When infantry is marching, the dust is low and thick. With cavalry, the dust is CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 89 bisher; and as this arm moves rapidly, the upper part of the cloud is thinner and disappears more quickly than in the ease of infantry. The clouds of dust raised by artillery and wagons are unequal in height and disconnected. Hence, t)y noting the length of a line of dust and the intervals in it, the strength and composition of the column may be estimated. The effect of the wind in dissipating the dust must, however, be taken into con- sideration. Q. What indications are furnished by the reflection from the weapons of marching troops? A. If the reflection is very brilliant, it is probable that the troops are marching towards the observer; otherwise, it is i^re- sumable that they are marching in the other direction. Q. At what distances can various objects be seen, on a clear day, by a man with good vision? A. At a distance of 9 to 12 miles, church spires and towers. " " 5 to 7 " windmills. " " 2 to 21/4 " chimneys of light color. " " 2,000 yards, trunks of large trees. " " 1,000 " single posts, At 500 yards the panes of glass may be distinguished in a window. Troops are visible at 2,000 yards, at which distance a mounted man looks like a mere speck; at 1,200 yards infantry can be distinguished from cavalry; at 1,000 yards a line of men looks like a broad belt; at 600 yards the files of a squad can be counted, and at 400 yards the movements of the ai*ms and legs can be plainly seen. Q. What are some of the conditions which cause an object to look farther or nearer than it really is? A. The larger, brighter, or better lighted an object is, the nearer it seems. An object seems nearer when it has a dark background than when it has a light one, and closer to the ob- 90 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. server when the air is clear than when it is raining:, snowing:, foggy, or tlie atmosphere is filled with smoke. An object looks fartlier off when the observer is facing the sun than when he has his back to it. A smootli expanse of snow, grain jflelds, or wnter makes distances seem shorter than they really are. Q. What information may be gained from the trail of the enemy ? A, If the ground is evenly trotlden, the column was com- posed of infantry alone. If there are many prints of horse- shoes, the column also contained cavalry. If the wheel tracks are deep and wide, artillery was in the column. If the trail is fresh, the column has recently passed. If the trail is narrow, the troops felt seciu-e, as tliey were marching in column of route; if broad, they expected an action, as they were marching in column of platoons or companies, ready to deploy. If the fields on each side of the road are cut up with many tracks, the cav- alry marched on the flanks of the column, and the enemy was pushing on with his troops well in hand for action. A retreating army makes a broad trail across fields, especially before the rear guard formed and the retreat is regularly organized. Q. What indications are furnished by an abandoned camp or bivouac? A. They are found mainly in the remains of camp-fires. These will show, by their degree of freshness, whether much or little time has elapsed since the enemy quitted the place, and the quantity of cinders will give an indication of the length of time he occupied it. They will also furnish a means of estimat- ing his force approximately, ten men being allowed to each fire. Other valuable indications in regard to the length of time the position was occupied and the time when it was abandoned may be found in the evidences of care or haste in the construction of huts or shelters, and in the freshness of straw, grain, dung, or the entrails of slaughtered animals. Abandoned clothing, equip- C ATE GIT ISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 91 ments, or harness will ,^n o a clue to \hv arms and regiments composing a retreating force. Dead horses lying about, broken weapons, discarded knapsacks, abandoned and broken-down wagons, (4c., ai'e indications of its fatigue and demoralization. Bloody bandages lying about, and many fresh graves, are evl. deuces that the enemy is heavily burdened with wounded or sick. Q. AVhat inferences ma.f bi' drawn from the manner and bearing of the inhabitants in a hostile country? A. If the inhabitants are gloomy and anxious, it is an indi- cation of a want of confidence in their cause, or that their troops are distant. If they are excited and insolent, it is an indica- tion that their army is strong and near, and that they antici- pate success. If they are friendly and pleasant in their de- meanor, it is probable that the war is not popular, and that the Government lacks cordial suppai't. Q. When should reports be sent in, and what should be reported ? - A. Reports should be sent in whenever anything of import- ance is seen, or anything happens which should be known by the officer Avho sent out the patrol. Trivial matters should not be reported; but if there is a doubt as to the importance of something seen or heard, a report should be made; for it is bet- ter to report an insignificant matter than to let one of great mo- ment go unheeded. Q. How should a verbal report be sent, and when are such reports better than written ones? A. Reports may be either verbal or written. If a verbal re- port is sent in, it should be intrusted to an intelligent man, and he should be required to repeat it before starting, so as to be sure that he understands it. The man who carries the report should, if possible, himself deliver it to the officer for whom it is intended. If the country is dangerous and carefully watched 92 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. PATROL NO. 2. . KEPORT HOA FROM &n4zrAJ SLc^uMi PLACE llj^^cAyiav ar^ccl OCtAyr TO lujuU'' XtrviLi, . AT JI^aJLUuw-cJL 6/irVl^A>C4A.a, SENT ^H. /(/'M., /2.Mm iii^ /^I8dj, Icutvju QrrojL. Juu^ (Unou£ld iun AiM^ M {Signature of Sender.) ^..^.?!iMljiA4A^....}dMiMi^f^!^J.. REPORT NO. ;^ 1/ PATROL NO RECEIVED, ^ H,/"^ M. ^ M. {Signature of Receiver.) ./>^, y^.. ^. •» !m.m m ...M0 t.... CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 93 by the enemy, the same report should be sent in by several men, each taking a different route. In this case a verbal report is better than a written one, as the enemy can not get possession of it by capturing the bearer, and the report of each man will be a check upon the accuracy of the others. Q. What are the indispensable qualities of a written report? A. Scrupulous acciu-acy as to facts, simplicity, clearness of diction, legibility of handwriting, and correct spelling of proper names. Surmises should never be given as facts, and the person making the report should carefully separate what he himself knows from what has been told him by others. Brevity is desir- able, but not at the price of obscm'ity; a report should not be expressed ambiguously in ten words when it can be stated clearly in twenty. When the spelling of proper names does not correspond with their pronunciation by tlie people of the coun- try, their phonetic spelling should also be given in parentheses. Thus: "The enemy is reported in force at Saguache (Siwash), and we have seen small hostile parties on the Cebolla (Savoya)." Note. — A convenient form of report is given on the opposite page. Q. With what should the commander of the patrol be fur- nished? A. If practicable, he should be fiKuished with a pad of printed report blanks. The receipt should be signed, torn off, and given to the bearer of the report as his voucher for its deliv- ery. A report, either written or verbal, should invariably be made whenever the patrol returns. Strong Infantry Patrols. Q. To what should the strength of a patrol be proportionate? A. To the object to be effected by the patrol. It should neither be so weak as to be obliged to retire before small par- ties of the enemy, nor so strong as to attract attention. 94 CATECHISM OF OUTPOIST DlfTY. Q. What should always be specified, and with what should the patrol commander be provided? A. The object for w^hich the patrol is sent out should be distinctly specified, and the commander should be provided with a good map, by means of which he may select his route. But if he chooses his route by map, it is none the less imperative that he pay careful attention to the various features of the ground (not always clearly indicated by the best maps), with a view to utilizing them in approaching the enemy, in avoiding him, in retreating, or in defence. Q. What is the general nature of the formation of a strong infantry patrol? A. The larger the patrol, the less secret are its movements, and the more nearly does its formation correspond to that of a column on the march, or a line deployed for action, as the case may be. As a rule, at least half the strength of the patrol should be in the main body; but its point, flanking, and rear groups each constitute a small patrol, and are each guided by the princi- ples alreadj^ laid down for the conduct of a small patrol, modi- fied by their dependence on the main body.* Expeditionary Patrols. Q. How do the operations of an expeditionary patrol gen- erally differ from a special reconnaissance? A. Expeditionnry patrols are generally strong patrols, al- though in some cases the object in view may be better attained * Some typical formations of a strong patrol are given in the last three figures on Plate VII. Figures 7 and 8 explain themselves. In Figure 9 the men detached to reconnoiter and guard the bridge would ordinarily be sent out from the point, their places being taken, at double time, by men from the main body of the patrol. The patrol moves slowly, or halts if necessary, while the bridge is being reconnoitered. After the patrol has passed on, the detachment follows as rear group, the former rear group closing up to the main body of the patrol at double time. The detachment may in some cases be left to guard the Uridge. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 95 by small ones, The object of an expeditionai^v patrol is always a special one, and the operations of a force of this kind generally differ from a special reconnaissance only in the size of the force employed. Q. In general, how does an expeditionary patrol effect the capture of a sentinel'? of a patrol? of prisoners generally? A. If the object in view is the capture of a sentinel, the patrol should ordinarily be a small one. A sentinel is chosen whose post can apparently be easily approached, who appears to be isolated, and who, as far as can be judged, is not in plain sight of his picket. The patrol cautiously steals up close to the sentinel's post, being extended as circumstances may require, and, upon a pre-arranged signal, rushes forward, and endeavors to surround the sentinel and seize him before he can fire. Even if he fires, the patrol can probably run him off before he can re- ceive assistance, if he has been surprised. If the object is the captm*e of a patrol, the expeditionary force should be a large patrol. It must prepare an ambuscade, or take up a position such that it can surround the enemy's patrol, or at least cut off its retreat. If the opposing patrol is equal or superior in numbers, the attack must be a siu'prise, must be audaciously pushed, and the surviving members of the enemy's party must be hurried away before they can be succored by their friends. In all cases when a large patrol is charged with the capture of prisoners, its commander must seek a place of observation for himself and a place of concealment for his men; tlie two places being either coincident or near each other. He then waits until one or a small party of the enemy draw far enough aAvay from their camp or column to be beyond the reach of prompt assistance, and waylays or gives chase to them In these expeditions the prime object is to bring in the prisoners, and harsh measures to hasten their march are excusable. 96 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q. When is the most favorcible moment for questionmg prisoners, and why? A. When they have just been captured. They are then agi- tated and have not suflBcient >• elf -control to deceive. The longer the questioning is postponed, the more evasive and smdied will their answers become. Their answers at the place of capture may to a certain extent be verified. Such is not the case after the lapse of some time and in another place. Q. By whom are the prisoners questioned? A. The prisoners are questioned at once by one of the officers of the detachment which captures them. Their replies are written down and transmitted with the prisoners to the De- partment of Intelligence, where they are questioned more at length. Q. What is the relative value of different izrades of prisoners? A. It is more desirable to capture an officer than an enlisted man: an officer of high rank rather than a subaltern; a staff officer rather than a line officer. In brief, the object should be to captm-e those who are likely to possess the most extended information. Q. If enlisted men are captiu-ed. what should they be ques- tioned about? A. They should be questioned in regard to their regiments, brigades, and divisions; the length of time they have been in the position: whether their rations are satisfactory: whether certain commanders are popular and have the confidence of their men: whether there are many men on sick report; what news has lately been received in camp, and what the rumors are — in brief, all questions calculated to elicit information in re- gard to the enemy's position, movements, and moral. If tact bo exercised in questioning, much information may be gained: for the prisoner will probably consider the questions as prompted merely by natural citriositv. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 97 Q. When the object is the destruction of roads, raih-oads, or Telegraphs, or the tapping of a telegraph, how should the expedi- tionary patrol act? A. When the object is the destruction of roads, railroads, or telegraphs, the expeditionary patrol should generally be a large one; but in some cases a small patrol may answer the purpose better, as it can move to its destination more secretly, and the use of high explosives gives it a great destructive power. In any case, the patrol should endeavor to reach its objective unseen, and part should be on the alert watching the enemy while the rest of the men are engaged in the work of destruction. A patrol may be sent out to gain information by "tapping" a telegraph line. In this case, a telegraph operator, using a small pocket insti'ument. taps the line and learns the messages passing over it. The rest of the men. carefully concealed, look out for the enemy. An expeditionary patrol for the purpose of tapping a telegraph line is geiioraUy a cavalry patrol, sent out from the cavalry screen or from a raiding column. Harassing Patrols. Q. When may harassing patrols be used? A. When an army halts in a position to await reinforce- ments, or because of the irresolution of its chief, the opposing commander (even if bis army be inferior in numbers) may often raise the moral of his own troops, and impair the coui'age and efficiency of those of his adversary, by causing frequent alarms, destroying the enemy's rest; compelling the hostile outposts re- peatedly to rush to arms, and exciting their sentinels to such a degi'ee that they fancy a foe in every shadow, and imagine a hostile attack in every rustling lAif . Q. Are harassing patrols small or strong? 98 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. A. They are generally strong; for their object being not to seek information, but to annoy the enemy, they must be pre- pared to fight. In some cases, however, better results may be obtained by reducing the size and increasing the number of the patrols, Q. What is the method of operating with a harassing patrol? A. If the patrol is smaU, the enemy's sentinels should be shot down or captured in a noisy rush. If the patrol is large, the attack should be made upon the enemy's pickets; the object being the creation of alarm and the infliction of loss rather than the capture of prisoners. If many small harassing patrols are employed, strong patrols should be sent out, from time to time, to make vigorous attacks on the pickets; as the enemy would otherwise find it siifticient merely to redouble the vigilance of his sentinels and patrol to the front. The method of attack should be continually changed, and the point selected, the size of the assailing force, and the hour of attack should all be variable. Flank Patrols. Q, What are the nature and duties of flank patrols? A. They are always strong patrols, and usually operate on roads parallel to the line of march of the main body. They re- connoiter defiles, farms, woods, etc., at some distance from the flanks of the main column. They usually consist of from ten to twenty men (but may contain the maximum strength of a patrol), and are generally detached for a specific reconnaissance, with orders to rejoin the main body at a designated rendezvous, when the object of the reconnaissance has been gained. The patrol should avail itself of every practicable opportunity of communicating witli the main* column. Q. When may flank patrols be called covering patrols? CATECrnSM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 99 A. Flanking patrols of the maximum strength are often de- tached from a marching column to reconnoiter and guard roads crossing the line of march dm'ing the passage of the main body. They are sometimes called coverUuj patrols. The forces employed on this duty are, however, generally larger than patrols, and are covering detachments charged with the duties of a containing force. The Adz'Qjicc Guard Passing Through a Tozvn. Q. How does an advance guard pass through a town? A. On approaching the village or town, the advance guard halts, and the advance party moves forward to reconnoiter; the point, well in advance, acting as already prescribed for a small patrol. If the enemy's presence is suspected, the village must be turned by a portion of the advance party or support, and en- tered simultaneously by the front and flank. If, on the contrary, all seems well, the point signals to the rear and advances up the principal street, the advance party following at a suitable dis- tance, its flanlvcrs worlving up the side streets, always keeping up communication with the advance party and with the flank patrols— if tliere be any. The support follows at a suitable dis- tance, tlie reserve remaining at the edge of the village until the patrols haA'e gone through. If the point discovers that the vil- lage is occupied by the enemy, it falls back quickly and quietly to th^ advance party, whose commander immediately sends in- formation to the rear. The support at once comes up, and the commander of the support in the case of a large advance guard, or of the advance guard in the case of a small one, makes dis- positions for a- reconnaissance of the village, with a view to ascer- taining the most practicable point for forcing it. A village is approached at night in the same manner as by day, with the exception that the distances and intervals between the different parts of the advance guard are less. 100 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. Q. How does a strong patrol reconnoiter and enter a village? A. In the same manner as the advance guard of a larger force. Cavalry Patrols. Q. What are the essential differences between a cavalry and an;inf antry patrol ? A. Owing to the greater mobility of cavalry, the distances and intervals separating the scouts from each other and from the main body of the patrol are greater than in infantry. In very open country the cavalry scouts may sometimes be as far as 1,000 yards apart. Another essential difference in the con- duct of infantry and cavalry patrols, depending also upon the superior mobility of the latter, is the detaching of scouts from strong cavalry patrols. These scouts are not merely detached after the manner of the flankers, or even the flank patrols, of an advance guard; but work quite independently, joining the main body of the patrol at fixed rendezvous, or maintaining connec- tion with it by occasionally sending in reports to its commander. These detached scouts usually work in pairs, one man being in command, and may be sent as far as five or six miles from the main body of the patrol. Each scout should understand what he is to look for, and how and where he is to make his report. Q. What cavalry soldiers should be selected for patrol duty, and what is required in tlieir inspection? A. Intelligent and well-mounted soldiers. Before starting out, the patrol is carefully inspected by its commander, who, in addition to seeing that his men are in proper condition and prop- erly equipped and supplied, assures himself that his horses are in good condition and well shod. The same precautions in re- gard to arms and accouterments are taken as in the case. of an infantry patrol. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 101 Q. What general rule may be prescribed for the formation of a cavalry patrol, and how do the members of the patrol carry their firearms? A. As in the case of infantry, no rules for the formation of the patrol can be positively prescribed, except the general and important one, that the patrol must always be so formed as to facilitate the gaining of information, and insure, if possible, the escape of at least one man if the patrol should be cut off. It may be said, however, that every patrol, however small, should, if possible, have a scout detached as advance guard, and another as rear guard. When the size of the patrol permits, flankers should also be thrown out. All the men of a small patrol, and the point, flankers, and rear guard of a strong one, should have their carbines loaded and advanced, or the pistol at the position of "raise" or "lower." Q. What are the distances and intervals between the differ- ent parts of a cavalry patrol? A. The distances and intervals between different parts of a patrol depend upon circumstances. They should not be so great that the commander could not easily convey his commands by voice or signal, and would rarely exceed 100 yards except in open country. At night, the flankers and detached scouts should always be drawn in, unless their communication with the main body of the patrol is perfectly secured. Q. How do the signals of a cavalry patrol differ from those of an infantry patrol, and what additional signals may be used on open ground ? A. They are the same as in the case of the infantry (substl- tiiting cardine for riite), with the exception that in the signal "Enemy in sight," the carbine is held up in one hand by the small of the stock, and to ask for reinforcements the arm is ex- tended horizontally, holding the piece vertically, and given a c'r cular motion several times. LIBRARY LOS A'NCELES COUNTY MUSEUM EXPOSITION PARK 102 CATECtili^M OF OUTPOST DUTY. On open ground the following signals may sometimes be found useful: Enemy in sight: Move in a circle at a walk, and halt: to the right, if the liostile troops are cavalry; to the left, if they are infantry. For a mixed force, describe a figure eight. This movement may be repeated as often as necessary, but the halt Bliould always be distinct. Enemy advancing: Same as above, except that the circling is continuous and at a trot. If the enemy is advancing rapidly or in heavy force, mal^e the signal at a gallop. As tlie movements of the scout, wliile making these signals, would probably be seen by the enemy, they should be used only when the signals with the carbine might, owing to distance, be misimderstood. Q. How does a cavalry patrol conduct itself at night? A. At night it must rely mainly upon its sense of hearing. Strict silence should be maintained, and smoking should be pro- hibited. Each scout should watch his horse for indications of danger, not only at night, but at all times; and if the animal pricks up his ears attentively or snorts excitedly, the Avarning should never be neglected, but the cause should be investigated. Q. Why must a cavalry patrol move along good roads, and what precautions should it take? A. Though exercising the utmost vigilance, and endeavor- ing to avoid being discovered, a cavalry patrol must move along good roads. To do otherwise would be to follow by-paths and traverse difficult ground, where the horses would often have to be led. The mobility which gives a cavalry patrol its special value would thus be lost, and the patrol would not be worth ^as much as one composed of infantry; for the horses would become a mere bm-den. The patrol should, however, always move upon soft ground or sward at the side of the road, if it be practicable to do so, and should always move with the least possible noise. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. ,103 Q. Why should the patrol commander adhere to the road selected ? A. He should carefully select his route before starting out, and should adhere to it unless driven away by force. He should clearly indicate the places of rendezvous, and explain to the scouts, as far as practicable, how to reach tlaem. If the route is changed after the scouts are sent out, they are likely to miss the patrol, and the patrol commander will thus be left in great perplexity for the want of reports upon which his subsequent movements may depend. The position of the scouts who miss the patrol will be equally embarrassing; and the patrol being helplessly scattered, its reconnaissance will probably come to naught. Q. In what details of the reconnaissance of different kinds of ground do the operations of a cavalry patrol differ from those of an infantry pati'ol ? A. The general manner of reconnoiterinj* different kinds of ground is the same as in the case of infantry patrols; but the following details should be noted: Scouts should peep around every corner or turn in the road before riding on. If they come to an object too extensive to be reconnoitered without assistance, they must signal for reinforcements, or one man must ride back and report to the patrol commander, while the others remain in observation. If obstacles are encountered on the road, such as barricades or felled trees, the patrol must, if possible, move round them and continue its reconnaissance. If the patrol can remove the obstacle, it does so; otherwise, or if a bridge is broken, word must be sent back, if a column is following. In ascending a hill, a scout should not ride quite to the top; but, unless time is urgent, should halt at a short distance from the crest and then advance with caution. It may often be well for two scouts to approach the crest together, one of them dis- x04 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. mounting and reconnoitering the crest on foot while the other holds his horse. A cavalry patrol or advance guard approaches a town or vil- lage in practically the same manner as corresponding bodies of infantry. A city or large town should ordinarily be avoided by a reconnoitering f)arty; but after a victory, when the enemy is demoralized, more may be dared than would otherwise be possible. Q. If necessary to halt to feed or water, what places should be avoided, and what selected ? A. As a rule, a patrol should not halt at inhabited places, taverns, etc., or enter an inclosure. If it is necessary to halt to feed or water the horses, some secluded place should be selected, which could be guarded by sentinels in concealed positions. Q. Are patrols generally expected to fight? A. As a rule, patrols do not fight, except to escape capture; but when there is a line of patrols whose front is covered with detached scouts, each scout and each patrol may be charged with a certain amount of resistance, in order to gain time for the bodies in rear. Q. Of what are connecting patrols always composed, and how do they operate? A. They are always composed of cavalry. They keep in the intervals between the different bodies, and detach scouts to the front and flanks. The scouts to the front watch the enemy; those on the flanks observe all movements and changes of position of the body of troops nearest them, with which they keep in constant communication. The commander of the patrol keeps the body of troops on either flank informed of the movements of the other. If the army is moving on parallel roads, in a close country, the connecting patrols must be detached from the cavalry at the head of each column. In this case they communicate at each lateral road, and each column is thus kept catechi>;m of outpost duty. 105 informed of the progress of its neighbor, and of the condition of affairs along the entire front. If the army is marching on par- allel roads in a sufficiently open country, a chain of patrols ex- tends along its front, tlius linking, as it were, the different col- umns. Connecting patrols are always strong. Q. What are the composition and duties of "pursuing patrols? A. They are always composed of cavalry, and may be either small or strong. They keep on the trail of the enemy, do not lose contact with him, and keep their own army fully informed of his movements. T\iqj should have definite orders as to the distance to which they are to pursue, and the matters which it may be specially desirable to report. Pursuing patrols must not beconfoimded with a pursuing force following headlong upon the heels of a routed army to complete the destruction of battle. They merely follow, watch, and hang on an arniy that is retreat- ing without demoralization, in order that touch with it may not be lost. To gain and transmit information are the objects of a pursuing patrol, and the capture of prisoners, or the picking up of stragglers, must be sought only with a view to gaining in- formation. Officers' Patrols. Q. What is an officer's patrol? A. It is a patrol under the command of a commissioned offi- cer, generally varying in strength from two to ten men. Some- times it consists of one or two officers alone. Q. How far does an officer's patrol ordinarily go from the command from which it is taken? A. Generally not more than six miles; but it may be called upon to make very long and exhausting rides, and the men and horses should, therefore, be very carefully chosen. It may go very much farther than the ordinary scouting patrols, de- pending while gone entirely upon its own resom-ces. 106 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. • Q. When should a patrol sent out on a special mission return V A. It should return the moment its object is accomplished, without undertaking other objects on its own responsibility. Care should be taken that neither too many missions nor too great an extent of ground be assigned to a single patrol. Q. What precaution should tlie members of a patrol take in regard to papers on their persons ? A. They should not have on their persons any papers that could give information to the enemy. They shoald commit their orders to memory, and then destroy the printed or written copy. Q. For what duty are officers' patrols especially valuable, and in entering a village or town Avhat should they do? A. Owing to the superior celerity and efficiency of officers' patrols, they are especially valuable in seizing post-offices, tele- graph stations, etc. In entering a village or town in the enemy's country, tlie greatest safety is found in the sudden appearance and prompt disappearance of the party. The patrol should luickly ga'n the desired information, or seize the persons or docu- ments constituting its object, and should disappear before the inhabitants recover from their astonishment sufficiently to appreciate how small, or how isolated, the party is. REAR GUARDS. Q. How is the withdrawal of a defeated army covered on the field of battle, and when does the duty of the rear guard begin? A. On the field itself the withdrawal is covered by the artillery and cavalry, especially the latter when the ground favors its action; and it is only when the first halt is effected that the rear guard can be organized and a regular retreat begun. Q. Why is it that a retreating army can be protected by a fiHiction of itself? CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 10? Q, Because the enemy must change from order of battle to order of march to pursue, and he can at first bring only the heads of his columns against the rear of the retreating force. Q. Why must a rear guard be organized as soon as possible? A. The rear guard must be organize(i as soon as possible, even at the expense of a delay comparatively near the enemy; for to trust to speed entirely in escaping would be to make such long and continued forced marches as to ruin the efficiency of the army and disintegrate it by straggling. Q. By what must the rear guard profit, and what two courses of action are then open to the enemy's choice? A. The rear guard must profit to the utmost by the defensive features of the ground, and at every opportunity take up a defensive position. The enemy will then have but two coiu^ses of action open to his choice: either to attack with the heads of his columns, or to deploy for action. In the former, his advanced troops should be easily repulsed; in the latter, he Avill be compelled to lose time in deploying, while the rear guard (which should wait imtil the enemy's . \. 1 PLATOON "ipi*' RESERVE ./ ■^^ 1 SECTION ■ SUPPORT 1 SECTION ^^REAR P*"I^ POINT PLATE IX. TROOP OF CAVALRY AS REAR GUARD •/■•.., I ^/. ^^. \. ,^^^" .^^^ •r .600"*^ A- .^''" ! '^K ^ SUPPORT »0c, "OS. 4 ^t 300 YDS..— -^ 300 YDS.- -f * * REAR o PARTY. < 116 CATECnhSM OF OUTPOST DUTY. the rear guard should then endeavor with celerity to slip past the menaced point; failing in this, it should form a strong front towards the attacking force. Q. If the two armies are of approximately equal strength, why should the rear guard have, at first, an advantage over the opposing advance guard; and why does not this advantage continue ? A. If two armies are of approximately equal strength, the rear guard will be about as sti'ong as the advance guard of the force pursuing it, and the advantage of a good defensive position should give it a superiority over the latter. But this superiority will be only temporary at best; for the advance guard is receiv- ing constant accessions of strength from the rear, while the dis- tance between the rear guard and the main body of the retreat- ing force is constantly increasing. Hence, the longer the rear guard remains in its position, the greater will be the odds against it. If it does not remain long enough, the enemy's advance will not be seriously delayed; while if it remains too long, it will suffer heavily in the engagement. Q. In regard to what is the pursuing army always in doubt? A. The pursuing army will always be in more or less doubt as to the strength of the force which it finds barring its way, and it must act with prudence, or run the risk of a serious and costly repulse. The moral of the retreating force is also a matter of uncertainty to the pursuers, and this consideration also for- bids rash action. Q. What advantage has the rear guard over the pursuing force in regard to the ground? A. It is not obliged to reconnoiter the ground over which it has to march. All necessary information as to the roads is fm*- nished from the front, and a well-qualified staff-ofiicer with the main body should select defensive positions for the rear guard, and furnish its commander with a description (and, if possible, CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 117 a topographical sketch) of the same. The positions would be ridges, sunken roads, villages, woods, bridges, or defiles. Q. When should the rear guai'd make use of defensive positions? A. When it is essential that the army should put distance between itself and the enemy, the rear giiard must make use of every good defensive position to delay the pursuers; but no halt should be made for fighting when the necessity of checking the enemy and gaining time is not imperative. Q. How long should the rear guard occupy a defensive position? A. The rear guard must not be tempted by the great natural strength of a position to occupy it at the expense of being sepa- rated at too great a distance from the main body, nor to hold it so long as to become compromised in a regular engagement. The amount of resistance to be made by the rear guard will depend upon the judgment of its commander, or on the orders of the commander-in-chief. Q. To what extent should the commander-in-chief supervise the operations of the rear guard ? A. At very important positions, he should join the rear guard, if necessary, superintending its formation for resistance, or even conducting its action. It is best, however, never to in- terfere with the commander of the rear guard, if he understands his business and performs his part properly. The nature of his duty requires that he should have even greater independence of action than the commander of an advance guard. Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having an intermediate body between the main body and the rear guard ? A. The advance guard of the pursuing force, its strength constantly increasing, can act boldly to the flank; and the rear guard is in danger of being intercepted, and finding a force of 118 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. the enemy barring its way at some one of the positions selected for its own defensive stand. This danger increases with the stubbornness of the stand made by the rear guard. In view of these considerations, an intermediate body might march midway between tlie reserve of the rear guard and the main body. It would thus be in a position to hold important points until the arrival of the reserve, which points it might even have time to fortify, while preparing at the same time for the destiiiction of the passages at tlie selected positions. This intermediate body should have artillery, especially if the country is open and the enemy's forces are able to make turning movements with celer- ity. When the enemy shows a particular tendency to execute flank movements, with the intention of separating and cutting off the different detachments, and the country is such as to favor his movements, the principal column might leave a detachment to hold an important position until the arrival of the intermediate body. Under some circumstances, these detachments might be imperatively necessary; but the system is open to the objection that the detachments, unless composed of cavalry, would be un- able to rejoin the main body, which would thus be constantly reinforcing the rear guard. Q. Why must contact with the pursuing force be preserved ? A. Contact with the pursuing force should not be lost, but its movements should be continually watched; otherwise the army might be flying from a mere phantom, or it might be de- ceived as to the objective point of the enemy's attack. The ene- my might continue the pursuit with a small force on the main route, and move the bulk of his army on a parallel road, whence, after making unobstnicted progress to the front, he might move in to cut off the rear guard or assail it in flank, Q. If the pursuit seems to slacken or cease, how is contact maintained, and what will often be necessary to ascertain the nature of the pursuit? CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. llg A. If the pursuit seems to slacken or cease, contact must be maintained by strong patrols, each patrol generally consisting of a platoon under command of an officer. Small patrols could not drive back any but the most insignificant forces of the ene- my, and could not, therefore, learn whether the pm-suit were conducted by a large force or merely by small parties. The pa-trols should be given great liberty of action, and, after having been informed of the route to be taken by the main body in re- treat, and given such general orders as may be necessary, they should be left quite independent of the rear guard. It will often be necessary to act vigorously on the offensive with the cavalry, in order to ascertain the nature of the pursuit. If the enemy's advanced troops, when repulsed, fall back upon larger bodies in rear, the enemy is evidently pursuing in force; if, on the con- trary, they are driven back in rapid flight, and are not supported, the enemy either is not attempting a serious pursuit, or is moving on a parallel road. Q. Why do defiles offer good opportunities to an energetic pursuer and to an able rear guard commander? A. To the former they afford a chance of cutting off the rear guard by interposing a force at the entrance of the defile. To the latter they afford a double opportunity of administering a check to the enemy, who is compelled to narrow liis front. Q. How may a defile be defended at the entrance? A. If practicable, the position at the entrance of the defile should be convex towards the enemy, so as to admit of ready withdraAval by the flanks. At the outlet, the position should, on the other hand, be concave, so as to bring a converging fire upon the enemy. In defending a defile, the main body leaves a de- tachment to hold the heights on each side until relieved by the infantry of the rear guard. The artillery is generally stationed at the entrance of the defile, and the cavalry in the best position for dismounted fire action— always at that part of the line which 120 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. is to withdraw last. As soon as the enemy has not only de- ployed for attack, but is well committed to the assault, the artillery fires its parting round of shrapnel, and withdraws rapidly through the defile, followed by the infantry. The cav- alry covers the withdrawal of the other arms, mounting at the last moment, and retreating rapidly through the defile, its re- treat being protected, if practicable, by infantry skirmishers lin- ing the crest on either side of the interior of the defile. Q. How may a defile be defended at the outlet? A. The outlet of the defile always affords a better position for opposing the enemy than the entrance; for in making a stand with a defile at its baclv, the rear guard runs the risk, in case its flank is turned, of being cut off altogether. In making a stand at the farther side, the artillery is posted so as to rake the defile; and the infantry, so as to bring a converging fire on its outlet, detachments of infantry also holding the crest; while the cav- alry is stationed so as to be able to charge the enemy In flank as he emerges from the defile. Enough of the enemy should be allowed to pass to enable the assault upon him to be more than a mere sti'oke at the head of his column; but the mistake of allowing too many to pass would be a fatal blunder. Here the judgment of the rear guard commander must come into play, and no rule or suggestion can aid him. The enemy having been severely handled and thrown back into the defile, the rear guard withdraws without delay. Q. How may the measures of the rear guard be classified? A. As positive and negative; the former relating to the de- lays caused by actual or threatened combat, and the latter in- cluding all measures to impede his progress by blocking his path, destroying bridges, etc. Q. How may bridges be destroyed? A. Bridges may be burned, blown up, or torn down. In the first case, if time permits, the timbers should be coated with CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 121 tar, or saturated with coal oil, by troops from the main body or the reserve, and fired by the last men of the rear detach- ment who cross; in the second case, the charge should be similarly placed and exploded; and in the third case, the planks should be loosened by troops in advance, and thrown into the river by the rear point. In all cases, the preparation for de- struction should be made by the main body or reserve, and the consummation should be the work of the last men who cross. Loaded shells placed under the heaps of combustibles would, by biu*sting at intervals, prevent the enemy from approaching to extinguish the flames. Q. How may fords and roads be obstructed? A. Fords can be obstructed by planting therein pointed stakes, broken bottles,or harrows, plows, and scythes, so arranged that the sharp sides and points are uppermost. Another expedient is to throw in trees with the branches towards the enemy and weighted down with stones in sacks. In addition to these meas- ures, the banks may be scarped, and an epaulement with artil- lery established on the side opposite the enemy. Boats should be taken to the far side and either burnt or sunk. Roads can be obstructed by felling trees across them, or blowing up the road- bed; and gateways and passages can be blocked with heavily laden carts dove-tailed together, one wheel being removed from each. Q. How may villages be utilized by a rear guard? A. Villages may be fortified in some cases, but generally it will be more expedient to burn them, and thus place a barricade of fire, s§ to speak, between the rear guard and the enemy; but this measure will, manifestly, be of value only when the enemy is following close upon the heels of the rear guard. Q. What should always be resorted to b-y the rear guard? A. Any means of producing suffering and inconvenience to the pursuers, such as to cause them to delay, should be resorted 122 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. to by the rear guard, stoppiDg only at such measures as are con- demned by the laws of war. Q. Are these negative measures sufficient in themselves? A. No. They are merely helps, and the safety of the retreat- ing force must depend upon the resolute action of the rear guard itself. Q. What should be done with stragglers, and with the sick and wounded, witli the rear guard? A. The rear guard should collect all stragglers and compel them to move on, and it should not allow the sick or wounded to be left behind, unless they prove a dangei'ous encumbrance. When necessary, transportation must be requisitioned for the sick and wounded, and they should, if practicable, be sent for- ward to the main column every night. When it is found neces- sary to abandon them, they should be formally transferred to the authorities of some village or town, and one or more medi- cal officers, with a liberal supply of medical stores and money, should be left with them. With the exception of such medical supplies, no stores of any description that could be of value to the enemy should be left behind; what can not be carried along must be destroyed. Q. At' each halt, what is done by the rear guard? A. It chooses a good defensive position, and establishes its outposts towards the enemy. It is desirable that the position should not only be strong, but that it should command an ex- tended view. Q. How is the rear guard relieved when practicable? A. On halting for the night, it should, when practicable, be relieved by other troops. The new guard should be halted at a suitable distance from the point selected for the camp or bivouac of the main body, and established as an outpost. When it is passed by the old rear guard, the former assumes Its duties, and the latter joins the main column. In the case of either an ad- CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 123 vance guard or a rear guard, the distance of the outpost from the main body will depend mainly upon the time required for the troops to turn out and form at the designated rendezvous; in the latter case, however, the time required for the longest column to march out in resuming the retreat must be added, no allow- ance being made for time gained by the resistance of the rear guard. The distance of the outpost from the main body will, therefore, be greater in the case of a rear guard than in the case of an advance guard. Q. When an army is retreating by several parallel roads, how are the rear guards formed and commanded? A. Each column will then have its own rear guard, each rear guard having its own chief, and all being united, when practicable, under the command of one common superior. Con- nection should be maintained betw^een the several columns, and between the different rear guards, by connecting groups or patrols. Q. If retreating by a single road, when may secondary rear guards be of use? A. If retreating by a single route to which several other roads are near and parallel, it may sometimes be advisable to place a secondary rear guard on each. This would practically amount to a subdivision of the rear guard, which should, conse- quently, be of a greater strength proportionately to the main body than would otherwise be the case. The necessity for these secondary rear guards would be gi'eatest when there were many lateral roads .joining the parallel routes, and such roads, con- versely, would be necessary in order that a secondary rear guard might not be left entirely without support. Generally, vigilant scouting to the flanks will obviate the necessity of secondary rear guards. Q. When the line of retreat is changed, what may be done with the rear guard ? 124 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. A. It may sometimes be advantageous to leave the rear guard on the old route for the purpose of deceiving the enemy. Artillery should then accompany the rear guard, not only to add to its defensive power, but to give it the appearance of a force of respectable size. A small rear guard should follow the main body in the new direction. Q. How may a rear guard be used in a retrograde movement which is not a retreat? A. A retrograde movement may be designedly made for the purpose of leading the enemy into a theater where the condi- tions will be more favorable for the retiring army; or a move- ment may be undertaken against one of the enemy's armies in such a way as to expose the rear to another. In the first case, the rear guard would be conducted in the manner already described. In the latter (unusual) case, the advance and rear guards would be of equal importance. In the latter case, in fact, it would be better to leave a containing force to hold one of the hostile armies in check Avhile proceeding against the other. Q. In what respects are the duties of a rear guard easier in a friendly than in a hostile country? A. In the former, the rear guard easily finds subsistence; guides are obtained without difficulty; the inhabitants aid in obstructing or destroying roads and passages; they assist in en- terprises against the enemy; and they remove'all supplies upon his approach. In a hostile country, however, foraging is difficult for the rear guard, as it must pass over a country alreadv ex- liausted by the main column; and the inhabitants, far from rendering assistance to the rear guard, are ever ready to turn against it, and are quite sure to throw all manner of annoying obstacles in its way. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 125 The Rear Guard in a Forward March. Q. What are the duties of the rear guard on a forward march ? A. The rear guard should never begin its march until all the baggage has moved off. The provost-marshal and provost guard generally march with the rear guard, which takes charge of all prisoners arrested by them. If marching in a hostile coun- try, the rear guard is charged with the protection of the baggage from the forays of guerrillas, and if the country is suited to par- tisan warfare, and the enemy's raiding parties are enterprising, its duty greatly increases in importance. It should carefully watch the flanks of the baggage train with patrols, of a number and size suited to the danger to be apprehended, and should be ready to repel attacks on the flanks as well as on the rear of the train, APPENDIX I. On the march an army is screened by a veil of cavalry, which covers its movements, reconnoiters the enemy, and prevents him from gaining information in regard to the strength, dispositions, and designs of the force in rear. As a inile, the screening force is at least one march in advance of the main army. When the armies are concentrating, at the beginning of a campaign, the screening force may sometimes be pushed many miles ahead; but when the armies begin their advance, the distance is usually re- ■duced to not more than fifteen or twenty miles, diminishing on contact to five or six, and finally disappearing altogether when tactical operations begin — ^the veil then separating, and uncover- ing the front of the army. As a rule, the front of each army corps on the march is cov- ered with a brigade of .-cavalry, the front of the cavalry brigade on screening duty averagin.a|ten or twelve miles. When the brigade constituting the cavalry screen is operating in an open country, 126 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. one regiment constitutes the reserve, and is preceded by a squad- ron of eacli of tlie otlier regiments at a distance of about two and a half miles. These squadrons, constituting the supports, are separated by an interval of not more than six miles, the reserve being situated centrally in their rear. About two and a half miles farther to the front is the second squadron of each ad- vanced regiment, either in one column, or in two columns of two troops each. These are termed the intermediate squadrons. They are separated by about the same interval as the squadrons composing the supports. About two and a half miles farther to the front, the remaining squadron of each regiment is disti'ibuted along the front in contact troops, which are preceded at suitable distances by patrols, detailed either from the contact troops, the intermediate squadrons, or the supports. When necessary, these patrols detach scouts still farther to the front. This formation may be modified in many ways; the great requirement of the formation of the screen being that it should be able to get in- formation of the enemy and prevent him from getting informa- tion in turn. On gaining contact with the enemy, the cavalry forming the screen should concentrate to fight; for the best way to screen an army is by defeating and driving away the oppos- ing cavalry. The following rules regulate the conduct of the cavalry screen : 1. Explore the country well to the .Tont with small patrols, which must not lose contact with tho eiiemy. 2. Keep the supporting bodies well ia hand, so as to be able to concentrate rapidly. 3. Always maintain a reserve when near the enemy. 4. Keep up constant communication between all parts of the screen and with the troops in rear. 5. Always form and maneuver the ^reen with a view to beating the opposing cavalry. Thi% is the paramount con- sideration. CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 127 APPENDIX 11. * Advance Guard Drill — Infantry. When a single company forms the advance guard, the first section constitutes the advance party, the second section the support, and the second platoon the reserve. The company being in column of fours, at a halt, the captain commands: 1. Form advance guard, 2. MARCH. At the first command the first sergeant takes command of the first section, and the cor- poral of the first four exchanges places with his rear rank man. At the command March, the front rank of the first four, under the second sergeant, moves to the front as a point. The rear rank of the first and the front ranlv of the second four oblique to the left and right, respectively, to form flanking groups. The point and flankers all move out at double time, reducing their pace to quick time as soon as they reach their proper posi- tions. The first sergeant detaches two men from the rear rank of the second fom- to march as connecting files between the advance party and the support, puts the other two in the line of file-closers, and commands: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH, the second command being given as soon as the point has gained its proper distance. When the section consists of only two fours, the first sergeant marches the rear rank of the second fom- forward, and the ^necting files are furnished by the support. The first lieutenai.. remaining with the second section) com- mands: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH, the second command being given as soon as the support has its proper distance. He then adds: 1. Rear four, 2. liiglit and left oUique, 3. DouVe time, 4. MARCH. The front rank of the rear four obliques to the right, and the rear rank to the left, at double time, forming the flankers of the support, and taking quick time on gain'ng their positions. 128 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTJ: » The captain (remaining with the second platoon) commands: 1. Forward, 2. ]MAIICH, tlie second command being given as soon as the reserve has its proper distance. Should flanl^ers be necessary for the reserve, they are then sent out, at double time, by the same commands as in the case of the support, from tho rear (or rear and leading) fours. The entire advance g.ard marches at attention, tiie advance party and support marching on as broad a front as practicable, and the reserve in column of fours. If the command is: 1. Form advance guard, 2. Doultle time, 3. MARCH, the point and flankers move out as alrealy pre- scribed, but do not reduce their pace upon gaining their po.si- tions. The advance party, the support, and the reserve move forward successively at double time. The re ^erve takes quick time at the command of the captain, and the other parts of the advance guard then conform to the pace of the reserve. If the company is left in front, the duties described above for the first lieutenant will be performed by the second lieu- tenant, and the point will be commanded by the third sergeant. In either case the first sergeant commands the section consti- tuting the advance party. When the advance guard consists of an entire battalion, the first and second companies constitute the vanguard, and the third and fourth form the reserve. The vanguard is com- manded by its senior captain. The major command 5 : 1. Form advance guard, 2. MARCH, the commands being repeated by the commander of the vanguard. The point and flankers move out from the first section of the leading company, the first platoon of this company ^constituting the advance party. The first sergeant does not take command of th.' first section. As soon as the point has- gained its proper distance, the lieutenant com- manding the first platoon moves it forward. As soon as the CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 129 adviuice party lias gained its proper distance, the commander of the vanguard commands: 1. Forwanh 2. MARCH, immedi- ately adding, 1. Rear fours first and second companies, 2. Ri^ht and left oMique, 3. Double time, 4. MARCH. The fom-s desig- nated move out as flankers in the manner ah'eady prescribe.!, those of the first company being slightly in advance of, and those of the rear company slightly in rear of, the support. If only one group of flankers is needed on each flank, they are formed by the rear four of the first company. When the sup- port has gained its proper distance, the major moves the reserve forward, and orders flankers out from the reserve, if necessary, in the same way as from the support. In the case of tw^o battalions forming the advance guard of a brigade, the major commanding the first battalion, upon re- ceiving instructions from the commander of the advance guard, commands: 1. Form advance guard, 2. MARCH. The com- mands are repeated by the captain of the first company, who adds: 1. Fonvard, 2. MARCH, in time to move his entire com- pany forward as advance party as soon as the point has gained its proper distance. The majt)r commands: 1. Forioard, 2. MARCH, the second command being given the moment the advance party has gained the proper distance. The major then adds: 1. Rear four (snch) company or companies, 2. Right and left oblique, 3. Double time, 4. MARCH, the flankers being taken from the second, fourth, or third company, or from all three in the order mentioned, according to the number of groups required on each flank. When the support has gained the proper distance, the major of the second battalion moves the reserve forward. The major commanding the reserve should ordinarily be the senior, as the commander of the advance gTiard is habitually with the reserve. To assemble the advance guard, the reserve is halted, and 130 CATECniSM OF OUTPOST DUTY. the other parts of the advance guard at once halt. The coui- mand is then given: 1. Assemble, 2. MARCH, or the com- mander gives the signal of assembly as prescribed in the drill regulatiQns. The command is repeated by the commander of the vanguard, and then by the commander of the advance party. At the command Marcli, the point, flankers, and connecting files move on the shortest lines to the body from Avhich they were sent out, and take their places in the column. The detached men having thus rejoined, the advance party marches back and joins the support, and the united bodies then march back and join the reserve. Should the advance party or support not be in column of fours, such column should be formed before its commander gives the order for assembling. If it is desired to assemble on the advance party, the com- mand is: 1. Assemhlc on the advance party, 2. MARCH. The com-^ mand is executed as prescribed above, except that the advance party remains halted, and the support and reserve move for- ward and close upon it. The assembly may be similarly made on the support by the command: 1. Assemble on the support, 2. MARCH. In this case the assembly is made as prescribed above, except that tlie ad- vance party marches back, and the reserve moves forward to join the support. In all cases the assembly may be made either at quick time or double time. The rear guard is formed as an advance guard, and immediately faced to the rear. Advance Guard Drill — Cavalry. The troop being in column of fours, the captain commands: 1. Form advance guard, 2. MARCH. At the first command, the commander of the first platoon takes command of the vanguard, and the guidon sergeant takes position abreast of the leading CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. 131 four of the reserve. At the command March, the first four, under the command of the right principal guide, moves forward at a trot, constituting the point. The second and third foui's oblique to the right and left, respectively, at a trot, until they are about 300 yards from the line of march, and then move forward until they are on a line about 100 yards in rear of the point, increasing their pace, if necessary, in moving forward to their position. The right principal guide is the commander of the advance party, and regulates the movements of the pout and flanking groups. When the point has gained a distance of 600 yards, the commander of the vanguard moves the support forward at a walk, and the advance party (consisting of the point and flank- ing groups) at once takes the same pace. The commander of the vanguard, as soon as he has put the support in motion, detaches two flanking groups from the last three fours. These patrols, which are always under a non-commissioned oflicer, march, one on each flank, about half a mile from the column and slightljv in advance of the reserve. As one flank is generally more ex- posed than the other, the pati'ol on the dangerous flank would consist of eight and the other of fom' men. If both flanks appear to be equally exposed, each patrol should consist of six men, but it is not otherwise advisable to break up the unity of a four. These patrols move to their positions at a trot, and take such formation as circumstances may require. When the support has advanced about 700 yards, the cap- tain moves the reserve forward. When flanking groups are thrown out from the reserve, they should be taken from the rear fours. If the command is: 1. Fofvn advance guard. 2. Trot, 3. MARCH, the advance guard is formed as above described, except that the point and flankers move to their positions at a 132 CATECHISM OF OUTPOST DUTY. gallop, and the support and reserve move forward at a trot. As soon as the support moves forward, the advance party comes down to a trot. The entire advance guard continues to move at a t 'ot until the pace of the reserve is either incavased or reduced, when the other parts at once conform thereto. Unless orders be given to the conti*ary, the reserve always regulates the pace of the advance guard. If the command is: 1. Form advance guard, 2. Gallop, 3. MARCH, the advance guard is formed as in the last case, except that the advance party continues the gallop and the other bodies move out successively at the same pace. The cavnlry should be habitually drilled in forming advan e guard at a gallop. If tlie troop is left in front, the advance party is commanded by tlie left principal guide, and the vanguard by the coire sponding platoon commander. The above method of forming an advance guard will an- swer in the case of a troop of 60 men or more. If the troop numbers only 60 men, it should be divided into thre^ platoons. If the troop is small, the point will be taken fi-om the first four, and the flankers of the advance party may be reduced to two ou each flank, both taken from the second four. The flanking patrols sent out from the support may be reduced to four men each. When the troop is very small, and (as is usually the case) the country is such that these patrols can not be dispense 1 with, it will not be able to furnish the entire advance guar.l, the whole strength being required for the advance party and srppoit. An advance guard consisting of more than one troop is formed by similar commands and means. The assembly is executed as in the case of infantry. It may bo made at a walk, trot, or gallop. THE SERVICE OF Security ^Information By Arthur L. Wagner, Captain 6th Infantry, U S. Armj^; Instructor in the Art of War at the U. S. Infantry and Cavalry School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. CONTENTS. Chapter I. — Introduction. Appendix I. — Spies. Chapter II. — Advance Guards. Appendix II. — Orientation and Chapter III. — Outposts. Map Reading. Chapter IV. — Reconnaissance. Appendix III. — Indian Scouting. Chapter V. — The Cavalry Appendix IV. — Questions for Screen. General Review- Chapter VI —Rear Guards. Illustrated with Fifteen Plates. THIS BOOK has been officially adopted by the War Department as a standard in the examination of officers of the Regular Army for pro- motion. It has also been officially adopted as a text book in The U. S. ARTILLERY SCHOOL, Fort Monroe. The U. S. INFANTRY and CAVALRY SCHOOL, Ft. Leavenworth. The U. S. CAVALRY and LIGHT ARTILLERY SCHOOL, Ft. Riley. NOTICES OF THE PRESS. "Should be in the hands of every one desiring to know his profes- sion." — Army and Navy Journal. "Full of suggestions valuable to even an experienced officer, and inval- uable to one for the first time called to a position of danger and immediate exercise of judgment." — Artny and Navy Register. "A practical and common-sense view of the subject worthy of adoption in our service." — Broad Arrow, London. "This volume ought to meet with a hearty welcome from all arms of the service." ^Journal of the Military Service Institution. "It should be a matter of pride to all officers to have an authorizea American work of such excellence on this s\ih}eci."— Journal of the U. S. Cavalry Association. 12mo, 265 Pages, - ■ Price, $1.50. Sent postpaid on receipt of price by HUDSON-KIMBERLY PUBLISHING CO., 101 4- 1016 Wyandotte St., Kansas City, Mo. LIBRARY FACILITY 004 271 3 ^ if tJrr\