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Frederick the Great's Particular Instructions

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The "Particular Instruction of the King of Prussia to the Officers of
his Army, and especially those of the Cavalry" were written by Frederick
the Great and translated from French into English by Lieut.-Colonel T.
Foster at the end of the 18th century and published together with the <a
href = "http://tetrad.stanford.edu/Frederick.html">"Military Instruction
from the Late King of Prussia to His Generals" in one book. The
dedication to Major General Goldworthy is dated March 1797. I have typed
in the 5th edition of 1818.



Ed Allen

[e-mail]

 Last updated  1/27/96

Particular Instruction of the King of Prussia to the Officers of his
Army, and especially those of the Cavalry.

ARTICLE I.

Of advanced Guards.

When the whole of an army, or a part of it, is on the march, the guards
in front and rear, as well as the flank patroles, are furnished by the
light troops. They are intended also, for the most part, to form the
advanced guards. When the army is arrived at the ground of encampment,
the guard in front divides itself into several parties, so extended as
to cover the whole front of the camp, whilst the infantry are employed
in pitching tents and posting sentries. The same precautions are to be
observed by the rear guard and flank patroles. Whilst the army is thus
employed, it is the peculiar business of the light troops that are
advanced to send forward patroles to search and scour minutely all the
woods, copses, ravines, or defiles that may be in their front, and it
may be, occupied by the enemy, who taking advantage of the army's being
employed in arranging their camp, might fall upon it, and throw it into
confusion. When all this business is finished, and the camp properly
settled, the major-general of the day, or some other commanding officer,
arrives, places the guards, and appoints to every officer his proper
post.

All the advanced posts should be so contrived, that the piquets be
placed on elevated situations and concealed by trees: the main body of
the guard should be posted seven, eight, or nine hundred paces in the
rear of the piquets, either in some small wood or behind houses, to
prevent being seen, and their force discovered by the enemy, but the
advanced guards should never allow the piquets to be out of their sight.

When the officer has taken possession of his post, and the advanced
guards are properly placed, if he be a stranger tot he country, he must
procure a man from some neighboring house or village, and question him
(whilst he carefully examines his map of the country) concerning the
names of the surrounding villages, if there be in the neighbourhood any
defiles, swamps, ravines, or other necessary objects of his attention:
he must also carefully observe all the roads and bye-paths that are in
his front, enquiring particularly whither they lead, if passable by
cannon, and if the enemy can advance to his post by any indirect
approach. He must get himself informed of all these particulars as
minutely as possible, that he may be qualified to give satisfactory
answers if called upon, be able to take proper measures if occasion
present, and give particular instructions to his patroles who are to
march in front.

When he is perfectly acquainted with these circumstances, he must repair
to his vedettes, who should always be double on each post, and assign to
each his particular charge, on what part of the neighbourhood he is
continually to have his eye, especially on the ravines, causeways, or
villages.

These dispositions having taken place, and the posts sufficiently
instructed, if there be time, the officer may allow the advanced guard
to dismount and feed their horses. But if his post be not perfectly
secure, one half of the detachment must remain saddled and bridled till
the other half are fed and mounted. No feeding or dismounting is to be
allowed at night, as that is supposed to have taken place just before
dark; so that during the night the horses may be saddled and bridled,
and at least one half mounted, to be prepared for any accident that may
happen.

If the main body of the advanced guard should be placed near a village,
the commanding officer may send a man or two to the top of the steeple,
or of some high house, that he may be able to discover the enemy, and by
discharging a pistol, give notice of their approach.

When the general of the camp comes near the advanced guard, they are to
mount and advance their carbines; but if the body of the guard be so
situate as to be entirely discernible by the enemy, it will not be
advisable to mount, as the enemy will thereby be informed of the
presence of the general or some superior officer, who may, in
consequence, be disturbed in the visiting of his posts. If any
detachment passes in front of an advanced guard, the guard also mount
and advance their carbines.

The officer must scrupulously examine all persons who come towards his
post from without, of whatever degree, whether peasants or travellers;
enquiring whence they come, whither they are going, what their business
in camp or elsewhere, or if they have any knowledge of the enemy or
their situation; after which he will either suffer them to pass on, or
send them back, agreeably to the orders he has received. He must conduct
himself in the same manner towards the people who bring provisions into
the camp, and, if he be forbidden to suffer them to pass, send them back
in a civil manner, doing every thing in his power to conciliate the
affections of the inhabitants, as by this means he may often gain
information very material to the army.

The officer must visit his vedettes both by night and day, enquiring of
them what their duty is on that post, and what they have observed there,
to convince himself that they are properly acquainted with their charge.
He should also be provided with a good spy-glass, to enable him to
reconnoitre the environs of his post. During the night, his posts are to
be visited hourly by a non-commissioned officer, and once by himself, to
keep his people waking and alert.

If an advanced guard be placed so near the enemy as to be able to
discover all their movements, much attention is required to discern if
any number of troops arrive, what they are, if they again quit the camp,
and what route they take. Troops are often detached from the enemy's
camp, especially from the second or third line, without striking tents,
the better to conceal their march.

It is for this reason, that an officer commanding an advanced guard is
required to be particularly attentive, to be provided with a very good
glass, and when such event takes place, to report it immediately to the
general commanding. This precaution is more particularly necessary at
day-break, that he may be assured whether the enemy's camp retain it's
old position, or if any change has taken place in the night.

By night it is easy to discover if troops enter or leave the camp, by
the noise that is made: their arrival will be known by the clashing of
fire-arms, the voices of the waggoners and artillery drivers, the
cracking of whips, and the neighing of horses. If there be any cavalry
amongst them, it will also be manifested by the driving in of
piquet-posts, and the lighting of fires. In this case the officer should
be constantly in front, perfectly quiet, and observing all that passes.
But if the army or a part of it decamp during the night, it will be
discovered, in addition to the foregoing circumstances, by the gradual
decrease of noise, and lessening brightness of the fires. To this last
circumstance, however, it is not always prudent to trust, as the fires
are often kept up by the light troops after the army has decamped.

When the army moves by day, the advanced guards should mount at the
moment that the drums beat to march, watching the enemy, and moving
forward as soon as their posts are fallen back, and have formed (as they
generally do) the rear guard. The moment of departure for the advanced
guards is at all times to be ordered by the general commanding. On these
occasions no particular movement is to be made before the time, but they
are to remain in their former position till the moment of departure, for
by repeated movements, or too much hurry in mounting, the enemy may
conceive that the army is retreating, and send immediately some troops
in it's pursuit.  It is not even necessary that the private soldier
should be informed of what is going forward; for which reason an officer
or non-commissioned officer must be sent round in proper time to relieve
at once all the detached posts and vedettes.

As soon as the vedettes perceive the approach of an enemy's party, they
are to fire; he that has fired is then to hasten instantly to the
advanced guard, and report what he has seen; the guard ready and
concealed, will remain on it's post, sending forward a non-commissioned
officer with a few men to reconnoitre the force of the enemy, and then
reporting immediately to the general commanding all that has passed,
that he may make his dispositions accordingly, and reinforce the
advanced guard if necessary.

It often happens that the generals of the enemy approach the advanced
guard under an escort, in order to dislodge the vedettes from their
heights, that they may gain possession of them, and reconnoitre our
camp. As soon as the officer commanding shall be informed of this by his
vedettes, he must betake himself to the spot, and if he see several
people approaching the height under an escort, send the intelligence
instantly to the general officer under whose orders he acts, exerting
himself to the utmost of his power in defence of the height, that the
enemy may not become possessed of it and discover the situation of our
camp.

When a trumpeter from the enemy's camp, either alone or accompanied by
an officer, comes toward a vedette and sounds a parley, one of the
vedettes must advance towards him and conduct him to his post, placing
him with his face towards the country from whence he came, to prevent
his discovering any thing in our camp to our disadvantage: a vedette is
then to repair to the officer commanding the advanced guard, and to
report him,  who will immediately go himself or send a non-commissioned
officer to blind his eyes and conduct him to his post. He is then to
enquire of him the object of his visit, report it to the general, and
obtain his leave to conduct him to the camp. The same ceremonies are to
be observed  with respect to deserters from the enemy, who are to have
their arms taken from them at the advanced guard, and be conducted to
the general commanding under a proper escort. This circumstance
happening at night furnishes an additional reason for attending
particularly to these cautions.

When an advanced guard is placed with a deep ditch, river, or brook in
it's front, the officer commanding the post is to survey the whole
length of his district, to discover if there be any bridges or fords
which render the passage easy; if so, he will place his vedettes in such
a manner as to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of such
circumstances to fall upon him. In this case, the vedettes are not to be
drawn in at night, as they generally are, but to remain constantly on
their posts. The bridge should be stripped, and the planks laid by, in
readiness to be replaced if any detachments or patroles should have
occasion to pass. During the night, small patroles should be pushed the
whole extent of the ditches or rivulets, marching with great caution and
circumspection, and if the bank be much covered with brambles, stopping
frequently and listening to find if there be any rustling amongst them,
as a company of infantry might easily lie there concealed and annoy the
patroles.

It is to be observed as a general rule, that the vedettes are on no
account whatever to be placed out of sight of each other.

Towards the close of the evening, the officer commanding the advanced
guard must report by a non-commissioned officer all that he has observed
at his post, and also all that he has learnt from the peasants or his
patroles: to be correct in this, he would do right to commit to paper
the occurrences of the day, and, if necessary, make his report in
writing. At the same time he will learn the parole and countersign.The
countersign is to be given to each vedette the moment he is posted,
which will take place every hour, or every two hours, according to the
season and the weather. Neither the parole, or any order of material
import, is to be imparted by the officer to any person whatever.

When the darkness of the night prevents a distant view, and especially
in the vicinity of the enemy's posts, the officer must fall back with
his detachment two or three hundred paces; the vedettes also must do the
same, still preserving a convenient distance.

When the night is perfectly obscure, the horses are not to be allowed to
feed, or even to be unbridled. If occasion require, or if from
contiguity of situation, a surprise be to be feared, the detachment
should remain mounted the whole night. If there be no danger, a part may
dismount, and if the season require, and circumstances allow, a little
fire may be kindled, provided it be in a hollow place, and not easily to
be discovered. On the least alarm, the fire is to be extinguished, to
effect which, earth or sand may be used for want of water; otherwise it
would serve as a guide to the enemy, and prove an annoyance to the post.

The officer commanding an advanced guard should be particularly
attentive tot he keeping his people waking and alert, not allowing them
on any account whatever to sleep, or fasten their horses, but hold them
by the end of the halter, with the reigns, the bit and bridle on the
saddle, that at the first signal, they may be in readiness to mount.

Small patroles, according to the strength of the guard, are to be sent
in front of the vedettes every hour, or oftener, if necessary, who will
advance two hundred paces beyond the vedettes and traverse their whole
front, halting frequently to discover if there be any noise or footstep
near; if it be the case, one of the patrole is to return immediately
with the report to the advanced guard, whilst the remainder place
themselves as near the noise as possible, to discover the cause: if it
prove to proceed from a party of the enemy, the patrole will fire and
fall back quickly, under cover of the night, on the grand guard.

Whenever the vedettes hear any noise by night one of them should advance
four or five hundred paces, challenge and demand the countersign, and if
he receives no answer, he should fire and fall back quickly.

When troops detached from camp approach the vedettes, they are not to be
allowed to come within the line, even though they be provided with the
countersign: the commanding officer of the advanced guard must order the
officer of the detachment to come forward in charge of a
non-commissioned officer and two men, and question him minutely, (unless
he happen to know him personally,) making him remain with the him whilst
his detachment files off towards the camp; as soon as the detachment has
passed the post, the officer may be permitted to follow. But if it
happen that the detachment has been many days absent from camp, and
consequently ignorant of the countersign, it behoves the officer
commanding the advanced guard to redouble his care and diligence in
making the most scrupulous examination, and if he find no reason to the
contrary, he may suffer the detachment to file off one by one, in front
of his guard.

If an advanced guard should not be able, for want of sufficient
strength, to extend properly it's vedettes, particularly if the country
be hilly or intersected with many little vallies or defiles, or the
night should be dark and gloomy, the vedettes must visit each other
alternately from left to right, taking care that one be always fixed on
his post, that nothing may pass unobserved in the hollow ways: on these
occasions, the patroles should also be on the march, and the advanced
guard constantly in motion.

It frequently happens, that a general wishing to reconnoitre the enemy,
takes the officer of the advanced guard with him in front of his post,
as a protection: in this case, the officer, leaving his vedettes on
their posts, must form with the remainder of his party a guard in front
of the general, and patroles on his flanks, to cover him and his suite:
if the general proceed the whole length of the line, the officer must
keep himself four or five hundred paces towards the enemy on the
general's flank, in such a manner that he may be always covered: besides
this, he may detach a part of his troop towards the enemy, who marching
by the general, one by one at a certain distances, with their eyes
constantly looking towards the enemy, will prevent any thing from
approaching to the annoyance of the general whilst making his
discoveries. When the general is returned to camp, and safe within the
line, the officer may return to his post.

When an officer commanding an advanced guard has reason to expect an
attack by night, he must give such instructions to his vedettes and
non-commissioned officers that are detached, that if the accident should
arrive, they may not fall back immediately on his post, but a little to
one side of it. The advantage arising from this caution will be, that
the enemy, though superior in numbers, will not have it in their power
to fall on the main body with the whole front of their party, or even
attack them on the flank or in the rear, and put them to route by favour
of the night. In these circumstances, the advanced guard, are to keep up
a constant firing, and to retire very slowly, skirmishing as they go, to
allow time for the troops who are ordered to their support to arrive,
and that the army may have proper notice of the enemy's approach.

If any man of the advanced guard should desert during the night, the
officer must immediately change the countersign, and send it to the
piquets and vedettes, lest the enemy, profiting by such intelligence,
might present themselves as friends, and surprise the detachment. the
same rule should also be observed on any desertion whatever. It is
likewise very material, that he change the position of his troop, lest
the deserter may conduct the enemy immediately upon him.

It often happens during the night, that the army decamps very quietly,
either on an expedition or from some other motive, leaving their
advanced guards on their post till daybreak, to conceal their intentions
from the enemy: in this case the greatest circumspection is required,
that no patrole of the enemy approach and discover it's being marched.
To effect this, the whole of the guard should be mounted, and small
patroles be constantly moving four or five hundred paces in front of the
vedettes, to hinder their approach.  But if at day-break, the enemy
should discover what has happened, the officer must draw in his posts
insensibly, and betake himself to the station assigned him, leaving a
non-commissioned officer as a rear guard to cover him in the same manner
that he covers the army.

His eyes should nevertheless be often turned behind him, to discover if
the enemy follow, in what force, and what troops they are, which
circumstances he is to report to the officer commanding the rear guard.
It happens too often, that on quitting their ground, the soldiers,
servants, women, or other followers of the camp, set fire to the huts,
discovering by such practice the march of the army. The greatest
attention and most positive orders must be enjoined to prevent such
accidents.

If an advanced guard be placed in a very hilly country, it is not enough
that it is covered in front of the enemy, but the officer must also
visit during the day all the neighbourhood, to select proper situations
in the low places and copses for night-posts, where he may be safe from
being surprised or surrounded: the patroles also should visit during the
night every situation where there is any kind of danger.

When an officer, placed in a country with which he is unacquainted,
receives orders during the night to change the position of his guard, he
is not to do it instantly without care or caution, but first have
recourse to his map by a light procured from an adjacent house, or some
other means, and examine particularly the neighbourhood to which he is
about to remove. The situation of his main guard, his vedettes, and the
route his patroles are to take, should be particularly clear and
manifest to him. He should endeavour to lay hold of some countryman,
learn from him all necessary circumstances, be conducted by him to the
ground which he has observed on his map, and then post his vedettes
according to the plan that he has formed.

Finding himself in a strange country, and particularly if there be an
enemy in the neighbourhood, he must keep his party mounted all night,
constantly sending out patroles.

At day-break, when he is able to look about him, the little errors and
mistakes which took place owing to the darkness of the night, may be
rectified. The safety and security of an entire army often depends on
the vigilance and intelligence of an officer commanding an out-post or
detachment. He ought consequently to pay the most particular attention
to the exact execution of his duty, as the least negligence on his part
may be productive of the most disastrous consequences, both to himself
and the whole army. Supposing, indeed, that he should be attacked by a
force greatly superior to his own, it is his duty to maintain his post
as long as possible, and if forced at length to retire, it should be
done coolly, skirmishing and keeping up a constant fire, that the body
of the army which he covers may have time to take up a good position,
and be well prepared to receive the enemy.

It is a general custom for the new guard to advance at day-break within
five or six hundred paces of the old guard, to support it in case of an
attack, which often happens at that period. If all be quiet, the new
guard advances, and salutes at the distance of five hundred paces,
taking ground to the left. The officer commanding the old guard gives
the word to mount, and to salute, as soon as he sees the new guard
arrive. The two officers then meet each other, and the relieving officer
learns from the retiring one all the necessary particulars. The officer
of the new guard chuses and appoints the men that are necessary as
vedettes, and followed by a non-commissioned officer, learns from the
officer of the old guard the situation of the posts.

A non-commissioned officer should attend him, that he may be informed
how to place and to relieve the posts. This business being settled,
every particular communicated, and all the patroles of the old guard
called in, it files off, and at the distance of one hundred paces,
recovers arms; the new guard immediately comes also to the recover. The
one officer conducts his party in good order to the regiment, and
presents himself to the general commanding, whilst the other takes
possession of the spot occupied by the old guard, and orders his people
to dismount.

ARTICLE II.

Of Patroles and Reconnoitrings.

Patroles are of two kinds, those that are made by night, and those by
day. The difference between the two consists only in the manner of
making them. I shall now proceed to give a concise idea of what ought to
be the conduct of a commissioned or non-commissioned officer, who is
ordered to take charge of a patrole by day.

When a commissioned or non-commissioned officer shall be ordered with
five or six men to endeavour to make observations on the enemy's army,
or to reconnoitre a part of the country near the enemy, he must detach
one of his most trusty men four or five hundred paces in front; if it be
in a flat country, he may send another man to the same distance on that
side where he supposes the enemy to be placed, and if danger be to be
apprehended on both sides, a third man may be detached to the other side
at the same distance. These men must march in a parallel line with the
main body; but if the day should prove foggy, the advanced guard and
flank patroles would do well rather to approach the main body, than keep
at a distance from it, to prevent their being cut off, or inclining too
much to one side.

In dark cloudy weather, firing is of very little service;  in these
circumstances, therefore, a more than common share of caution is
necessary.

Nevertheless, it sometimes happens, that patroles can be pushed with the
greatest advantage under cover of a fog.

If there should be discovered on the sides of the heights any copses or
villages at more than four or five hundred paces distance, the patroles
are not to go absolutely into them, but to approach them very nearly,
and if nothing be to be discovered by this means, they will pass quietly
along the skirts of the woods or villages, to learn if they are occupied
by any party of the enemy.

If a detachment, whether large or small, be obliged to enter a forest,
the men marching on the flanks must keep so near as not to lose sight of
the main body of the party. The man who is in front of all, must always
maintain the same distance, searching all the bushes and thickets that
he meets with, and paying the greatest possible attention to whatever he
sees or hears. If a hill or any height should be before him, he must
creep up very quietly, and look very narrowly all around him; and if no
party of the enemy or any other object of impediment be to be
discovered, continue his route.

If a commissioned or non-commissioned officer be detached with eight,
ten, or twelve men, he must always send two men four or five hundred
paces in front; and on whatever side he expects the enemy, he will for
safety have a man on each flank, who must attend to the foregoing
instructions.

If we pass by a forest, two men should be stationed at such a distance
in the rear, as never to lose sight of the main body of the party, to
prevent thereby a surprise from the enemy in that quarter, if any be
concealed in the wood.

The two men who are sent forward, may march side by side in a flat
country, but if a village or small wood should be in their front, one
must proceed some hundred paces before the other to survey such object;
the second man should follow at a regular distance, traversing the whole
extent of these objects, observing the same cautions with the man before
him, that he may discover the enemy, though they may have been passed
unperceived by the other.

If these two men should arrive at a mountain or height, they are not
both to ascend it, but one is to advance at a gallop, observing all the
afore-mentioned rules for the discovery of the enemy: if he see nothing,
he is to remain on the summit till the other man, at a walk, has joined
him, when they may pursue their route as before. If the men in front or
on the flanks perceive the enemy without being discovered themselves,
they are to fall back immediately on the body of the party without
firing, that they may take some other route without being observed.

But if these men meet the enemy, and are perceived by them, they are
immediately to give notice of it, by discharge of musket or pistol; and,
if they be not too suddenly surprised, and their retreat to the party
cut off, hasten to report to the commissioned or non-commissioned
officer what they have seen: and as detachments of this kind are not
always intended for fighting or engagement with the enemy, the officer
commanding must fall back with his party as soon as he is assured by
discharge of pistol of the presence of the enemy, without waiting to be
informed by any of his people who are upon the flanks.

If the man who has met the enemy advances upon him, and is superior in
number, he is not to wait their arrival to risk an engagement, but
disperse his people one by one,  before the enemy be too near.

These scattered men must endeavour to gain the woods or villages, for it
is hardly to be supposed that the enemy will follow them thither, from a
fear that a corps de reserve lies there concealed. This is often the
case, and naturally proves fatal to  the enemy that are too eager in
their pursuit. Indeed, though a few men should be taken in a retreat of
this kind, some will remain to report to the general or the officer who
sent out the detachment; whereas, if they retreated in a body, it is
more than probably that every one would be taken.

When a commissioned or non-commissioned officer is ordered to march with
two, three, or four men into a country occupied by a party of the enemy,
he must avoid the high roads, and even the bye-paths that are much
trodden, and steal along, if the country will allow it, by the side of
bushes and in hollow places, where he and his people may be covered. In
this case, he must not regard how much he winds about, so that he
ultimately attains the object of his mission. If in his march he meet
with any heights, he must halt his people, and ascend them alone very
gently, looking on every side for the enemy: if all be safe, he should
silently pursue his route, attending to the foregoing instructions. If
this expedition be undertaken by night, it is to be conducted in the
manner which will hereafter be explained.

Every person who is met by the advanced guard, or the flank patroles,
should be conducted to the officer commanding the detachment, to be by
him examined; and if they were going towards the enemy, they should be
kept under charge of two or three men in the rear, as long as the
officer may think necessary to prevent their giving to the enemy any
intelligence of his operations.

An officer sent on a reconnoitring party (where it is his duty to get as
near the enemy as he conveniently can) should decline, on his march
through suspected places, any kind of engagement with the enemy, unless
it be absolutely unavoidable. On the discovery of an enemy's patrole, he
should do all in his power to avoid them, even though he be superior in
force, and much less should he busy himself in plundering or taking
prisoners, as by those means he would certainly be discovered, the enemy
fall upon him, and his project miscarry.

If it be an object to gain a height which is in possession of the enemy,
it should be approached as quietly and as closely as possible, and then
attacked with the greatest precipitation to dislodge the enemy; and,
after all the necessary observations have been made, the party should
retire through bye-paths and covered ways. In an expedition of this
kind, it would be prudent to leave in the rear at a certain distance
from the enemy, along the side of a village or hedge through which the
party must again pass, a few men with some of the worst horses, and if
possible, those that are white, that they may be seen at a distance, and
give the idea to the enemy who are pursuing the patrole, of a corps de
reserve being posted there. This will abate their ardour of pursuit, and
give the patrole time to save itself. A trumpeter also may be placed
behind a hill, who should shew himself and sound a march when he sees
the patrole closely pressed, to make the enemy believe that a corps de
reserve  is concealed also on that side. The men who are left behind, on
seeing their comrades pursued, should shew themselves now on one side of
the bushes, and now on the other, with the appearance of reconnoitring.
They may also now and then discharge a pistol, as if to give notice to
troops behind them, of the enemy's approach. When the patroles come near
them, they are to be the first to retreat with the bad horses. If this
scheme should not succeed, but that the enemy still continues the
pursuit, the officer should order his people to disperse, making them
well acquainted with the place of rendezvous.

In patroles of this nature, the retreat ought never to be conducted with
too much hurry, but now and then a halt to be made, and a force shewn to
the enemy at every defile or bridge, to endeavour to keep them in check,
suffer the bad horses to gain ground, and the good ones to get wind. The
pursuing enemy should always be kept upon a run to put their horses out
of wind, but if they also are found to come near the defile or bridge,
the party should retire very alertly, so as not to give them an
opportunity of slackening their pace. If, in these circumstances, there
be any bridges or villages to pass, the former, if the enemy be not too
near, should be stripped or destroyed, and the entrance to the latter
barricadoed with poles, pieces of timber, carriages, or whatever is near
at hand; the good horses will always be able to follow fast enough, and
the enemy will find themselves checked.

 In a word, an officer should do his utmost to prevent any of his people
being taken unguardedly, or through his negligence, for the losses to
which light troops are daily subject, fall sufficiently heavy, and
though men are readily replaced, it is no easy matter to procure
seasoned soldiers. An officer should also be particularly careful that
his people do not tarry in the villages at the doors of the public
houses, and that all his orders are executed with the greatest
exactness.

When an officer is sent in front on an expedition of this kind, he ought
to avoid going through the villages as much as possible, even though
they may have been scoured by his advanced guard. If he must of
necessity, pass them, it must be done cautiously, halting at a
convenient distance till the advanced guard has made it's report. This
report alone, however, is not to satisfy him, but he must visit in
person every barn and stable, to convince himself that no enemy lies
there concealed: for it often happens, that an enemy will suffer a
patrole to pass, cut off its retreat, and fall with advantage on the
main body of the party.

 Two men should be left as a guard on each defile or bridge, which is to
be passed and repassed towards the enemy, who by a frequent discharge of
pistol are to inform the officer commanding the detachment, if the
enemy, who lay concealed as he went forward, should wish to take
possession of the bridges or defiles, and cut off his retreat: in such
case, these men are to retire immediately. If an accident of this kind
should happen to an officer, he ought to be prepared before hand, from
his knowledge of other bridges or fords, learnt from his map or
otherwise, to make good his retreat without falling into the hands of
the enemy.

The same line of conduct should also be observed with respect to rivers,
whose banks are to be traversed when patrolling on the side of the
enemy.

Possession should be kept of all the bridges, and every avenue guarded,
so that if the enemy should approach with a view to cut off the retreat,
the detachment, informed of it by discharge of pistol, may take another
route. No harm can arise from weakening the detachment by this means, as
on these occasions they are not designed to fight.

Provided that care be taken of the men and horses, and that the soldier
is convinced that you feel an interest in his comfort and safety on
every occasion, you are sure to gain the confidence and good-will of all
who are under your command.

The people who are left behind to guard the bridges and the avenues,
have nothing to fear except from their own negligence, as on the
approach of the enemy, they have always sufficient time to retire.

Every officer who is ordered on an expedition of this nature, should
exert himself to execute his commission with all possible prudence, and
reconnoitre minutely whatever he sees. If he be to reconnoitre the
enemy's camp, to discover it's situation, to learn how it is protected
on each side, whether by a river, wood, mountain, swamp, or village, he
ought to know of how many lines it is composed, the extent of it's
front, the situation of head-quarters, and the park of artillery;
whether the camp be entrenched, what are the names of the villages in
front, rear, and on the flanks; if the enemy has any advanced posts, of
what troops composed, and where placed; if the neighboring towns and
villages furnish the camp with provisions and forage, what articles they
deliver, and in what quantity. These are questions which will certainly
be put to him by the general commanding, whose dispositions will be
influenced by his answers.

Nothing can reflect so much discredit on an officer as making erroneous
reports, and then endeavouring to excuse himself by saying, "I must have
been mistaken," or "my eye-sight must certainly have deceived me." In
cases of this importance, every thing should be examined with the most
perfect attention; he must endeavour to attain an accurate distinction
of objects, be provided with an excellent spy-glass, never trust to
appearances, and above all, not suffer himself to be imposed upon
through fear. He has it is his power to communicate his observations to
old confidential soldiers, and hear their opinion, by which means he
will be convinced of the reality of things, and not in danger of
mistaking an hundred horse for a whole regiment, or a flock of sheep for
a body of infantry.

When an officer is about to make a patrole to some distance, which will
require three, four, or more days' absence, he should take with him the
countersign for as may days as he may think necessary: he should also be
provided with one day's forage for his horses, and see that his people
be supplied with bread and other necessaries, that they may not be
obliged to go into the villages and ask for such articles, a practice
which should never take place but by night, and then without making
themselves known.

If it can be avoided, he should take no guide, but be able to direct his
march from the information gained from his map, even though he be an
entire stranger to the country: he must avoid also as much as possible
all conversation with the inhabitants, especially in an enemy's country,
and not suffer his people to form any sort of connection with them, for
he certainly will be betrayed if the object of his mission be once
discovered. He should select, as much as possible, those of his people
who speak the language of the country,  that he may the more easily pass
as a friend, learn whatever is necessary, and keep himself unknown. If,
during his march, he should be obliged to go near the enemy, he must lie
hid by day in some thick wood, and use no fire. Both the horses and men
should take this opportunity to rest, and a few dismounted men should be
posted as guards in the thickest part of the wood towards the enemy. If
the flat country can be discovered form the top of a high tree, a man
should be sent thither, but the people who are on this duty are not to
fire if they see the enemy, but give the alarm by whistling, or striking
their hands upon something, so that if the enemy be advancing in a
direct line on the detachment, it may be able to withdraw in silence.

All persons who may come near the place where the detachment lies
concealed, such as woodsmen, shepherds, or women, should be secured and
confined near the detachment till night. The officer is not to ask them
any particular question, using only common conversation about the
different roads, to keep them ignorant of that which he is about to
pursue: in other respects he should treat them very civilly, and suffer
them to depart when he wishes to begin his march. As soon as they are at
a sufficient distance to prevent their seeing any thing he is to
continue his route.

ARTICLE III.

Of Night Patroles.

When a commissioned or non-commissioned officer is sent by night with a
small party to reconnoitre if the enemy be actually arrived at such a
place, and in what force, or indeed on any expedition whatever,  he is
to form his advanced guard according to the strength of his detachment:
this guard should never be far from the main body of the party, but
march in such a way as to keep it always in sight, and let its movements
be a guide for their own. The men who march in front and on the flanks
will hear any sort of noise, such as the barking of dogs or trampling of
horses, much sooner than those who compose the body of the troop, on
account of the noise made by the feet of their own horses. The whole
detachment should halt every now and then to listen, and frequently
dismount to apply their ears to the ground, as by this means footsteps
are heard at a great distance.

If dogs frequently bark, it may naturally be supposed that there are
some people not far off: in this case, the officer commanding the
detachment must endeavour to steal forward to the spot from whence the
sound proceeds, with some of the most intelligent of his people, and try
to discover, with great caution and silence, what there is going
forward.

If the sound proceed from a village where nothing is to be discovered,
he should go on dexterously to the first house where he sees a light,
and leave his horse in charge of one of his comrades, whilst he creeps
along by the hedges, passes through the gardens, and inner yards,
(sometimes even on all fours if necessary) till he arrives at the window
where he saw the light, and then examine if any soldiers of the enemy be
there, by knocking gently at the window, and calling out the master of
the house. From him he must enquire, in a polite manner, what troops
there be in the village, of what force, and if there be any others in
the neighbourhood, and then retire quietly to report to the officer
commanding the detachment.

If he perceive a fire in any part, he must approach it quietly, (giving
his horse in charge, if obliged to go on foot,) to learn if they are
enemy's troops, and observe as particularly as possible their number and
description. But if it prove to be nothing more than a party of
shepherds or countrymen, he may learn from them all he wishes to know.

In a strange country, the detachment should always be provided with a
guide, and unless satisfied of his fidelity, he should be kept
constantly in sight, and tied to one of the party. He may also every now
and then be threatened to have his brains blown out if he dare to
conduct the detachment into the hands of the enemy.

As long as the night patrole remains in an open smooth country, small
patroles on the flanks (as has already been mentioned) may constantly be
sent out. But when it has to pass through a forest, these small patroles
should fall back on the main body, particularly if the wood be thick, or
the night very dark. -- If the wood be not very thick, they may,
however, be continued, taking care never to lose sight of the
detachment, for fear of going astray and losing themselves.

The officer should order two men on whom he can depend, to march in
front at a certain distance, and halt his party often to listen for
whistlings or any other signals that have been agreed on between them,
that the party may not fall into the hands of the enemy.

When, in a dark night, an officer is to form the advanced guard of a
larger detachment, he should order some of his people to go before, and
some to follow the party, one by one, so as to form a sort of chain from
the advanced guard to the main body, and at every crossing he should
leave a man to point out the road which the others have taken.

 The greatest attention must be paid to keeping the people awake by
night, for if a few in the front should fall asleep and stop suddenly,
the people in the rear, being ignorant of the real cause, will halt
also, and produce very probably the most disagreeable consequences.

It should be an established rule in all patroles, particularly by night,
to select those soldiers who can speak fluently the language of the
country, especially if it be that of an enemy, that they may easily pass
as friends, and gain from the inhabitants all the information that is
required.

The greatest silence must also be observed in the march of patroles by
night: no dogs or white horses should be allowed, nor the horse be
subject to neighing:, neither must the men be suffered to speak, strike
fire or smoke, as all these circumstances not only prevent their own
hearing, but also serve as information to the enemy on their approach.

If an officer wish particularly to know the hour, he must examine the
dial by a piece of lighted  armadou under his cloak, and the moment he
is informed the  armadou must be extinguished.

 The cloaks also which the men wear at night, should not be of a bright
colour, as the white or yellow shoulder belts render them sufficiently
distinguishable.

When a patrole has to pass bridges or defiles in the night, it's first
object should be to visit carefully the environs on each side, and not
to proceed till perfectly convinced that no party of the enemy be in the
neighbourhood.

If it be the intention to return the same way, one or two men should be
left, who are to give intelligence by discharge of pistol if the enemy
be near, that the party may take a different route.

If a night expedition of this kind be to take place near, or in front of
the enemy's posts, the flanks on the side of the enemy must be opened by
small bodies of four or six men belonging to the party, so that if any
detachment of the enemy should approach, the march of the main body may
not so easily be interrupted: these small bodies may always keep the
enemy in check for some little time.

If the detachment should be partly composed of infantry or chasseurs, it
becomes their duty, particularly in woods, to cover the march of the
cavalry.

 When a detachment wants forage by night, a few of the men who
understand the language of the country should be sent into a village to
enquire for it, and bring it to the detachment on their horses,
studiously avoiding every kind of outrage or excess, to keep the
inhabitants ignorant of the strength of the whole party, as well as of
their station. Civil behaviour will often prevent their informing the
enemy that you have been there.

When a patrole by night shall perceive, without being observed, the
approach of an enemy, it should endeavour to ascertain their force,
which may be done with tolerable exactness by attending to the tread of
their horses. This intelligence must be immediately conveyed by trusty
soldiers to the camp, headquarters, and advanced posts, to put them on
their guard. The patrole is then to retire very quietly, and if
convinced that the enemy marches with it's camp or head-quarters, the
general commanding should be immediately be informed of it: but if the
patrole itself be discovered, after a few pistol shots, it should rejoin
the grand guard, and endeavour with it to restrain the enemy as long as
possible, that the troops of the camp or quarter may be prepared to
received them.

It often happens, that the frequent and sudden appearances of the enemy
are only intended to alarm and fatigue our posts: it therefore sometimes
becomes necessary to inform the camp or head-quarters of such
circumstances, without firing or any kind of noise; by this means the
enemy are defeated in their intent, and by misconceiving that they take
us by surprise, they themselves are routed and beaten. Another material
advantage is, that by avoiding firing, noise, and hurry, all orders that
are issued are more regularly executed. Men who are soundly asleep in
camp or quarters, on being suddenly awoke, and not aware of the cause,
often take to their heels, every one upon his own account, instead of
repairing to the places appointed for the squadrons in case of alarm.

But it is often the case, that the enemy does not come slowly on, but on
full gallop, in order to mix themselves with the patroles and grand
guards, and by that means reach the quarter. under those circumstances
information cannot be too quickly conveyed; it therefore becomes
necessary to fire a good deal, and not fall back immediately on the camp
or quarter, but take a different direction. Thus the enemy will be
pursuing in the dark, going from the camp instead of approaching it,
occasioning, it may be, some fortunate circumstance in our favour. But
to accomplish this, it is very essential, that the people who are
advanced, should be before-hand well instructed that they may be quite
prepared when such circumstances arrive.

When the approach of the enemy is early and silently discovered, the
great advantage accrues of mounting the people and posting them where
the enemy is expected to pass: to entice them still more effectually,
the advanced guards may be allowed to remain, and be ordered to post
themselves on that side where you are placed. When these retire, they
are to keep up a constant firing, and when near the spot where the main
party is placed, pass it rapidly: the enemy will of course wish to enter
the village with them, expecting support from those without, and as soon
as entered, will disperse themselves for the sake of plunder: it is then
that the officer who is advantageously posted can fall on the enemy who
are without the village, and though he be inferior in numbers, attack
them to advantage, and acquire great reputation. The grand guard, which
hitherto had been drawing on the enemy, now returns and falls on those
dispersed in the village, who are unable to resist, and seek their
safety in flight. If they find that their companions are beaten, they
are very easily made prisoners; but if it be evident that the enemy is
so very superior in number, that no advantage can arise from the attack,
the troop which was ready to engage must silently retire, inclining to
one side.

If an officer commanding a patrole by night has with him some infantry
or chasseurs, he should order them to compose his flank patroles; but
when he comes to a forest, he must only suffer two men to march in
front, followed by the infantry, divided into two or more parties,
according to his force, which are again to be followed by the cavalry,
who should also have a rear guard of two men: the flank patroles are to
be furnished by the infantry the whole extent of the detachment, as they
can pass more easily along the narrow paths, or between the bushes, than
the cavalry. As soon as the enemy are perceived, or any firing be heard
in front, the infantry must disperse to right and left, out of the road,
marching along on each side at certain distances, to the end that whilst
the enemy are falling on the two men in front, the course may be clear
for them to fall back on the main body, and put themselves in good order
to receive the enemy and put them to  the route.

When the firing of the infantry has obliged the enemy to retire, great
success will frequently attend the pursuit of the cavalry; but if the
cavalry should happen to be repulsed, they must fall back through the
infantry, who are to support them in their turn. IF the whole detachment
be obliged to give way, the rear guard is to be furnished by the
infantry in the woods and the cavalry in the open country.

If the officer commanding find that he is pursued by a large body of
cavalry, he must divide his infantry into three parties, and his cavalry
into two, making only one front if his detachment, so that the cavalry
may be in the centre and the infantry on the wings. He may also place
here and there a good infantry marksman in the rear of the cavalry: in
this manner a good retreat may always be conducted, by making one part
support the other. The infantry will keep up a constant fire as they
retreat, and being supported by the cavalry, will be less exposed than
them. The flanks are to be covered by the infantry, and the enemy's
cavalry, though superior in number, will not expose itself so readily to
fire as the infantry. But if, on the other hand, each corps be
individually put in motion, it often happens that the one abandons the
other, and that party which ought singly to have sustained the attack,
chooses rather to retire under cover of the night.

If it be impossible to hold out any length of time, some trusty soldiers
should be sent to the camp or quarter for a reinforcement, to avoid the
risk of losing the whole party.

ARTICLE IV.

On the Conduct of an Officer on an advanced Post.

When an officer is ordered to go on the wing of an enemy's post or army
with thirty or forty cavalry, in order to observe its motions, or cover
some part of the country, he should endeavour, by means of maps or more
particular information, to gain a perfect knowledge of it. In the first
place, he ought to know how to choose his post, which should be as much
as possible on a height covered with trees, from whence he can discover
all the motions of the enemy, without allowing himself to be perceived.
The post being well chosen, he is to repair to it by night in the
greatest silence possible, (particularly if the country be hostile,)
avoiding all the villages, and every other means of discovering himself;
when arrived, the kindling of fire and every kind of noise is strictly
to be forbidden. At day-break he should place some dismounted men on the
slope of the hill towards the enemy, behind trees or bushes, who may be
able to discover all that is in their front. If sufficient information
cannot be attained by this means, people must be placed on the tops of
high trees to observed every thing with attention, and the officer is to
be acquainted, in the most exact circumstantial manner, with all that
they can discover.

He is also to observe in person all the enemy's motions, note them in
his tablets, and mark the hour, and even the moment, when each
particular circumstance happened, so that he may be enabled to render an
exact account to the general commanding every evening.

As the chief design of a detachment is to discover others whilst it
keeps itself concealed, it is essential that both men and horses should
be provided with provisions and forage for three days: at the expiration
of this time, it is generally relieved, but the officer who understands
his duty will rather wish to remain on his post.

The new detachment is to be conducted by night with all the foregoing
cautions by a man belonging to the old detachment, who knows where to
find the officer who brings it: by this means he may remain making his
observations a long time before he is discovered. But as soon as he
finds himself perceived by any means, his attention and vigilance must
be redoubled: by day he must strive to maintain his post to the best of
his power, but as soon as it becomes dark, he should choose some other
place in the neighbourhood to pass his nights. From this place (of which
no person should be informed beforehand) he will constantly send forward
small patroles to secure himself both on the right and left. Before
day-break he should quit his nocturnal situation, to prevent discovery,
and secure for some nights to come quiet and peaceable possession. By
day he must ascend some neighboring height from whence he can discover
the enemy: through this means he will always be able to maintain his
ground, being the only person informed where he shall pass the following
day and night. The night post may be changed, now here and now there, as
often as he deems necessary. His choice, however, must always be so made
as to enable him to attain the object of his mission. He should have no
fixed post, nor should any person have an idea of his designs. The
detachment should only be informed of the rallying point at camp, or
some other place, in case he should be obliged to disperse them.

No fire should, on any account, be permitted during the night, but in
case that any thing is absolutely wanted, it should be sought for in the
villages that are in the rear: even this however, is to be avoided if
possible.

On the whole, an officer entrusted with so hazardous a commission, must
do all in his power to get acquainted with the neighbourhood, its
defiles, its copses, and its heights, that he may be enabled frequently
to change his position. He is, however, always to keep himself
concealed, that neither the enemy or the inhabitants may be absolutely
certain of his situation. by this means the enemy, if they have any
designs upon him, must first find him out, which attempt will discover
their intentions.

On these occasions, the horses should never be unsaddled, or at farthest
not more than one half at a time, should such indulgence prove
absolutely necessary. With regard to the men, the officer's personal
example and kind treatment will keep their spirits up by day, and their
eyes open by night.

As the chief design of an officer commanding a detachment of this nature
is to observe the enemy, and reconnoitre a country with which he is
acquainted, he ought by no means to busy himself with prisoners or
plunder, but execute with judgment the task which has been assigned him,
without being discovered or obliged to abandon his post, and having the
mortification to see his design miscarry. he ought (if the phrase may be
allowed) to be constantly creeping round about the enemy, be very shy of
entering any houses by day, and especially of putting the inhabitants to
any expence, for in such case they will spare no pains and neglect no
means to discover his lurking place, unkennel him, and drive him out of
the neighbourhood.

An officer with such a charge has to encounter, most undoubtedly, much
of danger and fatigue: but on the other hand, his success will be
eminently glorious, for he has to cover an extent of country with a
handful of people, which would naturally require a much greater number,
especially if the party have less activity than light troops: by this
means, therefore, he performs a very essential service to the army.

 As to what remains, he is to put in practice (if he well knew how to
apply them) all the rules laid down for  the conduct of patroles and of
advanced guards.

ARTICLE V.

On the Conduct of an Officer who is sent out to make Prisoners.

This business is to be executed in a variety of ways, depending on the
officer's particular idea, local situation, it's being day or night, &c.
&c. The task itself is not very arduous, but often of great service and
utility to the general commanding, when he is unable by spies or other
means to gain intelligence of the enemy.

The approach to the enemy is to be conducted in the manner already laid
down for the patroles by day. In order to keep concealed, all the
villages and high roads are to be avoided, and he must steal across the
defiles and villages, from copse to copse and height to height, keeping
a sharp look-out on every road that the enemy may take.

If he wish to make any discovery from a height, he must ascend it alone,
and on foot, leaving his horse at the bottom of the ascent: if the
height be entirely void of shelter, he must not wear his hat or any kind
of clothing that will make him distinguishable at a distance. He should
also alter his appearance, when on the height, to that of husbandman for
instance: in a word, he should have nothing about him that looks
soldier-like, as a man who sees at a good distance will easily
distinguish a military man from a rustic.

In this manner he must examine very minutely on all sides, and if he
discover a party of the enemy of nearly his own force, fall on them with
fury, and take some of them prisoners.

During their first surprise, he will ask the most material questions,
promising them their liberty if they speak truth and threatening them
with death if they refuse: he is not, however, to place implicit
confidence in all they say, but be able to distinguish the possible and
the likely from the untrue, to avoid doing himself an injury by making a
false report. In an expedition of this nature, an officer must not allow
his patience to be exhausted by waiting, lest by being too precipitate,
he fall into the snare which he had designed for others.

If he be posted in a copse, and see many people coming towards him from
the enemy's country, a man should be sent softly forward in a
round-about way, (to conceal from whence he came,) who in some thick
part of the copse should put the necessary questions to them; for if he
went on strait forward, and a party of the enemy happen to be in the
neighbourhood, the detachment would run the risk of being discovered.

In general, it is necessary on these occasions to make use of many
little stratagems, which must depend entirely on the ingenuity of the
officer.

 When it is dark, the rules laid down for the night patroles are to be
observed: the officer must keep a sharp lookout in the enemy's advanced
guards, to see if it be not possible to take advantage of the night to
approach them as near as possible, fall on them with the greatest
activity, and carry off all that he can lay hold of.

If any of the officer's party speak the language of the country, he must
suffer them to go in front, close to the vedettes, where, by calling
themselves deserters, and speaking to them on indifferent subjects, they
may often approach very near to their posts.

 When an officer goes on an expedition of this kind, he should always
have with him people on whom he can depend; and that neither he nor they
may lose their money, they had better be cautioned before hand, and have
it lodged in the regimental chest, or some safe hands, taking a proper
security for it: for it will sometimes happen that a man, who on other
occasions is very brave, will neglect to execute his duty where there is
a chance of losing his property.

 If the detachment want provisions or forage, they are to be procured by
night, in the manner already mentioned.

ARTICLE VI.

Of the Manner in which an Officer should attack a Body of the Enemy's
heavy Cavalry.

In case that an officer is detached with thirty, forty, or fifty men, as
a patrole, or with any other view, and he meets with a party of
cuirassiers or heavy dragoons belonging to the enemy, he should
endeavour, as much as possible, to conceal the strength of his own
party,  not discovering more than are barely necessary to observe the
force and appearance of the enemy.

 If he know how to profit of this advantage, he will be enabled to make
a stand against them, tho' they exceed his numbers by more than half. He
ought to examine if they have marched any distance, if the horses be
tired, and their baggage with them, if the road by which they came be
bad or otherwise, if the country be swampy, if the horses sink or the
soil be firm, if they march on a plain or in a defile, and whether
possible to surround them.

He should be master of all these circumstances at one view, concealing
himself at a distance, or shewing but a small part of his force. His
future arrangements must depend entirely on circumstances.

If he perceive that he cannot attack them to advantage on their march,
he must suffer them to pass quietly on, keeping at a certain distance
with a few of his people, (the major part being concealed,) as if
disinclined or afraid to attack them, till they arrive at a situation
more favourable  to his design. He is then to divide his detachment into
four, five, or six parties, and begin the attack on the weakest side, of
which an intelligent officer ought always to be a judge.

 A very little time will convince him of the capacity of the officer
opposed to him, and the good or bad order of his people, from whence he
will easily conclude if any advantage be to be gained.

It should ever be an officer's design to fatigue and harass the enemy's
horse, by drawing them on to soft ground where the heavy cavalry readily
sink, and obliging them to a variety of manoeuvres, with a view of
throwing them into disorder. If he carry this point, his success is
certain.

 The attack is then to be made on all sides, and when every fear of
resistance be done away, he may give quarter: if it be necessary,
however, the horses may be killed till he finds himself completely
master of the enemy, and that they are flying: at this period he may be
allowed to take some prisoners.

 All that can be done by the officers of the enemy in such situation is,
either to send a part of their people towards us, or wait steadily and
without moving to receive us. In the first case, they must be attacked
and beat back to the body of the party as soon as possible, our troops
mixing with them: during this period, the other parties are to make a
general attack on all sides, occasioning universal disorder. In the
second case, we should endeavour to surround them on all sides, keeping
up a general fire; and as they will be obliged to turn against those who
take them in the rear, that favourable moment should be employed in
charging them to advantage.

 But if the enemy's officer be a man of experience, the moment he sees
any people coming towards him, he will take such a position as to secure
his rear, and only subject himself to be attacked in front. It will then
be very difficult, if not impossible, to make any thing of him. In this
case, the wisest part to take is, to withdraw to a certain distance, and
suffer the enemy to continue their march, but to follow sufficiently
close to take advantage of any favourable position to employ the means
already laid down.

ARTICLE VII.

On the Conduct of an Officer towards a Party of Hussars, of equal
Strength with his own.

When an officer falls in with a detachment of hussars of equal strength
with his own, fortune generally decides in favour of the best men and
the best horses, who attack their adversary vigorously, though they
should be fired on, and never suffer themselves to give way, but fall
resolutely on them without making any use of their fire arms.

 There are, however, many advantages to be derived from being in an open
country, which will more happily forward this design.

Supposing his detachment to consist of forty men, the first line should
be composed of twenty -five, and the second of fifteen, to shew a larger
front to the enemy, but this arrangement must take place without the
adversary's knowledge: the rear rank is then to be so disposed, that the
flank files of the front rank be always covered, to give the appearance
of the ranks being complete; the enemy, conceiving  of course that the
detachment is stronger than it really is, will be the more afraid to
attack it. In this order we may march directly towards them, and when
the horses are on a full trot, oblique a little, I will suppose towards
the right, to take the enemy on the left wing, and if they have not paid
immediate attention to this manoeuvre, they will be easily outflanked on
the left and beaten. But if the enemy perceive the intention, they will
naturally make a movement to the left, to avoid being flanked: as soon
as we find this, five or six men filing from our left (who have been
well instructed how to proceed) should fall on the enemy's right wing,
whilst the rest attack the left, sword in hand. By this means you
endeavour to throw them into disorder and confusion, which will occasion
their defeat.

ARTICLE VIII.

On the Conduct of an Officer in an Affair of Consequence.

An officer who is commanded with a body of men to cover an army or
regiment whilst they are deploying, (any are often employed on this
service,) should have his eye as well towards the enemy as towards the
army which he is designed to cover. He must send out flankers towards
the enemy, who, by keeping up a constant firing, will endeavour to
disperse them: in this interval he is to pay attention to the movements
in his rear, so that he may be always near his own party, and be able to
take up the same position that is adopted by the larger body. As soon as
he hears a retreat or march sounded, he should collect his people as
expeditiously as possible, and fall into the interval allotted for him.
If he be to cover another body of cavalry besides his own, and to which
he does not belong, he must betake himself to the nearest wing, join in
the attack, and cover the flank, if the enemy wish to make an impression
there. If he succeed in breaking the enemy, he must endeavour, if
possible, to put them entirely to the route. As soon as the enemy
attempt to rally, he must strenuously exert himself to prevent them,
taking care that he is properly supported, and not run the risk, by
advancing too far, of being surrounded.

ARTICLE IX.

How an Officer ought to cover a second Line.

Supposing that the first line has six squadrons to cover it, and the
second line only four, these last must nevertheless be placed directly
behind the right wing of the first line. With these four squadrons the
officer commanding is to check the enemy, should they be disposed to
make an impression on the flank of the second line. If he perceive that
the enemy makes an impression on the flanks during the attack, he must
hasten to their support, and attack the enemy's flank himself, taking
care in doing this, that he does not expose the flank of the second
line, and abandon it to the enemy.

 If the first line has broken the enemy, and is mixed with it, the
second line will naturally come up to it's support; but if the second
line be composed of heavy cavalry that cannot move quickly enough, the
officer with the party must still follow the first line, keeping himself
compact, in order to receive prisoners. What follows, regards the
officers of each wing of the second line.

ARTICLE X.

On the Conduct of an Officer on an advanced Post, when the main Body of
the Army is in Cantonments.

The welfare and safety of an entire army  often depends on a detachment
of this nature. An officer, therefore, who is appointed to such a
command, cannot use too much circumspection for the safety of the army
behind him. I will imagine his force to consist entirely of light
cavalry.

Supposing, then, that an officer has thirty or forty men given to him,
with which he is to occupy a certain village: as soon as he arrives he
must make a patrole of a third or fourth part of his force, and push it
as far as he can with safety to right and left, even to the enemy's
posts. He should reconnoitre all the villages, copses, and defiles that
are in his front, placing the remainder of his detachment, during this
examination, under cover behind the village, but if he fear an attack,
they should all accompany him.

When the patrole is finished, he must take with him a man of the village
on horseback, to shew him all the particular objects in the
neighbourhood of his post, on which side the enemy is situate, and by
what roads or defiles they can approach him, having recourse at the same
time to his chart, in order to gain a more perfect knowledge of the
country.

 As soon as this business is completed, he must place his vedettes in
such a way, that they can see the whole extent of the country towards
the enemy, as has been already said with respect to the advanced guards:
a few of his people should also be sent to the top of the village
steeple with some of the peasants who are well acquainted with the
surrounding country, to observe attentively all that passes, and when
they discover the enemy, give the signal by one stroke on the bell: if
there be no village steeple, he must send one man to the top of the
highest house.

When an officer has made his patrole agreeably to the rules laid down,
he may allow half of his party to go into the nearest peasants' houses,
unsaddle, unbridle, and feed half of the horses, and when they have
finished, suffer the remaining half to do the same. But if the enemy be
in the neighbourhood, and an attack to be feared, he must remain hid in
the rear of the village, and feed his horses tide to a hedge.

It is also necessary to have a guard on foot, who can always see the
vedettes, and who are to report the least movement that they may make.
Nor is it of less importance that posts should be placed on both sides
of the village, especially if the country be hilly or abounding in
copses, to cover the flanks, and prevent attack or surprise from those
quarters.

In a word, security is to be regarded as the first object, not only in
front, but also on the flanks and in the rear, particularly at night,
even though we are convinced that we have friends posted in our
neighbourhood.

The officer should frequently send small patroles of two or three men in
front of the vedettes, who are to  endeavour to gain heights which are
at too great a distance for established posts, and try to discover
something relative to the enemy.

 He may also make patroles of this kind in person, with fifteen, twenty,
and even thirty men, to shew himself to the enemy, and by that means,
make them believe that he is stronger than he really is. By doing this,
the advantage will accrue of knowing more intimately the distance and
position of the enemy.

By day, half the horses may be unsaddled, and half the people allowed to
sleep, the other half remaining saddled and bridled. At nightfall, the
patroles should be made in the neighbourhood and in front of the
vedettes, (the officer himself being present,) to discover if any change
has taken place. He is then to report, in writing if possible, to the
general.

When night is quite come on, the vedettes should fall back, and if they
were placed on heights, they should now descend to the low ground, as by
night it is much more easy to discover a person when looking upwards,
than if you have to look into a bottom.

If there be a forest or any defiles leading to the village, which the
vedettes can see only by day, posts should be placed in them: if any
bridges be in front, the vedettes should remain there by day, and fall
back at night, taking care that the bridge be stripped.

All the wide and public entrances to the village should be barricadoed
with carriages, trees, or bars, and peasants placed there as guards, who
should, nevertheless, be frequently visited, lest of themselves they
open the passage.

The officer should inform his people who are without the village, of two
or three secret avenues which are unknown to the enemy: with these
passages the men must make themselves perfectly acquainted, that they
may be able to find them readily by night, or in case of necessity. It
is by these passages, (known only to the detachment,) that the officer
will send out by night small patroles to visit the vedettes, and go
along the whole extent of the chain. About midnight the officer will do
well to be particularly attentive to his guards, and if the enemy
attempt any thing, conduct himself according to the plan laid down for
night patroles. Towards morning, even before day-break, the whole
detachment must mount, and if the officer has thought proper to shift
his ground during the night, the night posts are to be informed of it,
that they may know where to find him. A report is then to be made
immediately to the general commanding, or to the officer who sent out
the detachment, of all that has passed during the night, particularly if
the enemy has made any movement, or has discovered his approach; in this
case the officer's vigilance should be redoubled: he should be
constantly in the open country, and conduct himself in every respect as
has been directed under the article of advanced guards.

As soon as the day begins to dawn, the vedettes must gradually resume
their posts, keeping a sharp look-out on all sides: small patroles
should also be kept ready to move forward and scour the copses and
neighboring country. If no party of the enemy have crept thither, these
men may remain there till broad day: this precaution is particularly
necessary in cloudy weather, and they may disperse themselves and cover
the whole front. If all be quiet, the officer himself should advance,
and endeavour to make some discovery; in which case the patroles should
file away in front, as far as he shall deem practicable. During this
period the whole detachment should be mounted and ready on any
emergency.

When all the patroles are returned, the officer should report to the
general whatever he has learnt relating to the enemy, and then send a
man again to the top of the steeple or highest house, unsaddle and feed
half his horses, and endeavour to prevent any inhabitant of the country
from going towards the enemy, to betray him or discover his position.

It would not be amiss to acquaint all the inhabitants of the
neighbourhood also, that if any of them go in front of the posts towards
the enemy, the vedettes are ordered to kill them immediately. But if an
occasion should offer for sending forwards a trusty man, it should
certainly be done, though it cost a little money, as more intelligence
is to be gained by these means than by the patroles, measures can be
taken more advantageously, and a more exact and particular report made,
which should be done, if possible, morning and evening.

For what remains to be undertaken in this situation, all the means laid
down for advanced guards, day and night patroles, and reconnoitrings,
(made use of as fundamental principles,) may be employed.

ARTICLE XI.

On the Duty of an Officer detached with twenty, thirty or forty Horse,
to occupy a Village in Front, or on the Flank of an Army, whilst it is
in Winter Quarters.

It is to be presumed, that when an officer is commanded to take
possession of a situation with which he is acquainted, that the general
has given him all the necessary instructions; such as, on what side he
is to particularly have his eye, what part he is to cover particularly
more than others, whither he should send his patroles, to what posts of
the enemy his is to pay particular attention, and on what side to
retreat if attacked by a superior force.

An officer in this situation is supposed to remain some time on his
post, being generally relieved every two days or twenty-four hours,
according as the duty of the post may be fatiguing, or require much
attention.

Two cases may here be supposed, -the detachment consisting entirely of
cavalry, or of cavalry and infantry.

The dispositions to be made in these cases are exactly similar to those
already laid down: but as both the climate and roads are materially
changed in winter, the officer will do well to attend to the following
cautions:-

When arrived at his post and he has patrolled to reconnoitre the
neighbourhood, he should take with him a man of the village as a guide,
and amongst other questions inquire of him, if the sides of the road are
passable after a fall of snow: he will also carefully observe all the
country round, that he may take his measures accordingly, cover the
parts most exposed, choose the fittest places for his advanced guards
and vedettes, and appoint an alarm post for the detachment in case of an
alert. Hereafter he will receive more particular instructions. As
neither men nor horses can keep the open field in this season as in
summer, that side of the village should be chosen which is the least
exposed. The people should occupy houses, whose back doors open on the
place of rendezvous, and the officer should take care that they be not
too much dispersed: a non-commissioned officer should also remain in
each house, to have an eye on the rest, and particularly to keep them
awake by night. The officer's quarter should be chosen as near the
centre of his party as possible, with a sentinel on foot to give an
alarm on the first discharge of a pistol. If it be necessary, all the
people may assemble by night in the officer's quarter, that he may be
guarded against every accident. He must not allow carriages, pieces of
timber, or other obstacles to remain in the streets of the village, that
may incommode his people, if they should be obliged to be on horseback
by night.

An officer should never indulge himself in the idea of his being on a
secure post, that he has a superior force, or that the enemy is too far
distant to come on him quickly, as nothing is more deceiving or
dangerous. We have but too many instances where this misplaced security
has been the cause of surprise, and where the watchful and diligent man
has been more than a match for the sleepy and slothful. To avoid
surprise, we should ever be as watchful as if close to an enemy
constantly disposed to attack us.

There is no necessity for attending to a soldier's grumblings, who is
naturally never satisfied; on the contrary, he should be convinced, that
the situation which he occupies requires all such cautions, as the least
negligence might prove of material advantage to the enemy. If,
notwithstanding all these attentions, any misfortune should happen,
(which will seldom be the case), the satisfaction will remain of having
exerted our utmost endeavours to do our duty.

All that can be undertaken or done on a post of this nature, is with a
view to gain time, that the detachment be not attacked unawares, but be
always under arms at the place of assembly, and in a situation to resist
the enemy, or inform the army of their approach.

The patroles should be well instructed how to march, and on which side,
never going out at regular hours, for fear of being observed, and
carried off by the enemy.

If any enterprise on the part of the enemy be to be feared, the whole
detachment should be collected together (no matter at what hour) on the
alarm post, or at the officer's quarter, and wait for day-break in that
situation.

In general the people should be kept awake, during the whole night, even
in their quarters, and for this non-commissioned officers are to be held
responsible.

The officer himself must frequently visit his posts during the night,
and shew himself in the village, for the people, knowing their chief to
be on the watch, will be more alert themselves: he may also take a man
with him, now from this house and now from that, to attend him whilst
visiting his posts. When the detachment finds that the officer does not
spare himself, they will give him there esteem and confidence, and
follow him any where, and at any hour.

A sentinel on foot should always be placed at the officer's door, and if
a trumpeter be with the detachment, he also should be quartered near
him.

 If the enemy approach the posts by day, the officer must immediately
mount his detachment, and hasten to the support of his advanced guards,
or to allow them to fall back on him, if necessary. If it happen by
night, he will immediately dispatch some men in front of the enemy to
those entrances of the village which are only known to the advanced
guards, to support them, and allow them to fall back. Every practicable
means must be employed to attain this end, as the safety of the whole
army is concerned. For this reason, he must try to check the enemy,
though superior in number, and endeavour to draw them away from the
quarter. Immediate report should be made of what passes to the general
commanding, that a reinforcement may arrive, and the detachment be
enabled to fall back on the body of the army.

Further, all the methods before mentioned for the safety of quarters,
advanced guards, patroles, and reconnoitrings, may also here be
employed.

In dark, stormy weather, the vedettes should not only be brought nearer
each other at equal distances, but they should also visit each other
alternately, so that no space be left uncovered, by which through favour
of the night an enemy might pass.

If infantry should compose a part of the detachment, they ought to be
placed in houses fronting the enemy, that they may be ready on the first
signal to throw themselves along the hedges and entrances of the
village, and support the people that are posted without. All the large
avenues of the village which are barred by carriages and pieces of
timber, should also be lined with infantry. By day, these guards may
keep themselves on some heights beyond the barriers, form whence they
can behold the vedettes, but at night they must retire within them.
Posts of infantry should also be placed at those particular entries to
which attention has been paid, and if the cavalry should be obliged to
make use of them, the sentries are to close them again the moment they
are passed, to prevent the enemy from penetrating the village. This body
of infantry should endeavour to keep the enemy in check as long as
possible, and when returning towards the rallying point, should pass
across the courts and gardens, when by meeting the cavalry and mutually
supporting each other, they will often succeed in repulsing the enemy.

 It is very essential, that an officer commanding a post of this nature,
should endeavour to promote a good understanding between the cavalry and
infantry, taking particular care that the latter are well put up, for as
they are not much accustomed to a life of ease, they will do all in
their power to defend and keep possession of good quarters.

For whatever more may be required in these circumstances, regard must be
had to what has been already said under the article of Spies.

ARTICLE XII.

On the Manner in which an Officer Commanding a Party of Cavalry, should
attack a Quarter that is occupied by Hussars.


If an officer wish to signalize himself by engaging in an affair with an
enemy of superior force, he should propose to himself an attack on a
quarter that is occupied by hussars, as being the most agreeable, easy
and certain way of acquiring reputation.

But to insure success in this enterprise, he must begin by procuring the
most exact information of all the particulars of the village and
neighbourhood which the enemy possess. He should know for a certainty
what officer commands the post, if he be experienced or young, ignorant,
and wedded to self-opinion. For an officer of the latter description
always fancies himself sufficiently secure when he has posted his
vedettes, occupied the avenues leading to the village by a sorry guard,
and sent out patroles at certain hours, and on well-known roads.

He ought also to know if his adversary trust to the superiority of his
troop, for in that case he generally thinks himself wrong if any of his
arrangements betray a fear of the enemy, and from that circumstance
often exposes himself from too much caution.

He should likewise be instructed of all the means of defence which the
enemy possess in the village, on what side their people are quartered,
and where the alarm post is situate: what description of troops they
are, if picked men or drafts from different corps: if in case of alarm
by night, the people are all assembled in one house, or suffered to be
scattered about in their quarters: if any assistance can be sent to
them, and from what point, and how much time it would require to arrive
at the post attacked. He ought to know in what manner the advanced
guards are placed by night and day, and what are the hours, and what the
destinations chosen by the patroles.

When sufficiently informed on all these subjects, he will of course make
his disposition for the attack, which could not possibly commence
earlier. The affair may take place by night or day: I shall begin with
the latter--

If he be convinced that the officer keeps a good look-out by night, and
conducts himself in such a manner as entirely to prevent being
surprised, he must endeavour to gain his point by day.

The advanced guards of the enemy are not to be disturbed, but we are to
pass by them on one side through open roads where there is no wood or
hollow way; this understanding is big with difficulties, if not
altogether impracticable, but in a mountainous country, or one that is
full of copses, the following method may be observed:--

If the enemy's quarter be far distant, the march should be begun at dark
night or in a fog, and continued towards a village, copse, or valley in
the neighbourhood, or on one of the flanks of the enemy: to obtain this
point, we must avoid falling in with the enemy's patroles, and when
arrived, wait patiently the coming day, or until their patroles are
returned into their quarters. If we have escaped their sight, and they
in consequence have reported that they have met with nothing, their
officer will most probably put his people under cover, order them to lay
by their arms, feed their horses, and even unsaddle them, for they will
conclude themselves to be in safety, and be glad to procure a little
sleep, which is denied them by night.

The advanced guard then fall full gallop on the enemy's advanced guard,
to prevent their mounting, or entering the village with them: enter the
village and disperse themselves, firing their pistols through the
windows to increase the confusion. The officer's quarter should be
pointed out to some daring fellows, who will immediately repair thither,
and seize his person, or at least prevent his getting on horseback. If
the advanced guard can arrive at the village without engaging the
advanced guard of the enemy, so much the better, for when they see that
we are possessed of the village, they will not expose themselves by
endeavouring to enter, but rather decamp, by which means we shall have
fewer enemies to encounter. The officer, with his troop divided into two
parts, should follow pretty closely the advanced guard: one part must
support the advanced guard, and cut to pieces every one who presents
himself, without taking prisoners, till the enemy is entirely in their
power: the other part should remain without the village, regularly
formed: if there be not a second officer, the command must be given to a
non-commissioned officer, who should post a few men here and there on
the heights, to be able at the same time to observe the approach of a
reinforcement, and inform the detachment of it.

The officer himself should visit different parts of the village to give
his orders, keep his people together, and prevent pillaging: against
this practice he must give particular cautions beforehand, and threaten
those that may offend with the most exemplary punishment, explaining to
each individual what he has to do.

All prisoners are to be delivered up to the party who remain without the
village, to hinder the people from dragging them about here and there,
which would prevent their taking others. they should be instructed
beforehand, that when they give their own names, and those of the people
whom they have taken, that after the business is over, every man may
know his own prisoners. For want of this precaution, the soldiers often
keep their prisoners with them, and the officer finds himself left
alone, instead of every man being employed in making as many prisoners
as he can.

The trumpeter, if there be any with the detachment, should remain with
the party without the village.

The officer must be very attentive to the time he stays on this
expedition, lest it fail by the arrival of a reinforcement to the enemy,
or himself with his detachment be surprised and made prisoners.

When all the prisoners that can be taken are secured, the officer should
order the retreat to be sounded, and the non-commissioned officers to
assemble without the village: the prisoners are then to be given in
charge to the men who are the worst mounted, and put into the shortest
road. The officer with the rest of his party will follow at a convenient
distance, forming himself, for the sake of security, into a rear guard.

ARTICLE XIII.

On an Attack by Night on a Quarter occupied by Hussars.

If, for the reasons laid down in the preceding article, an attack be
proposed on a quarter of hussars by night, it should be begun by
approaching as near as possible to the village where they are cantoned,
avoiding the advanced guards, arriving at the intended point, if
possible, from behind by going about, and endeavouring to prevent the
enemy from assembling.

In order to attain the first object, the advanced guard with the
flankers near to each other must move forward in silence, and endeavour
to approach the enemy. As soon as the flankers find they are discovered,
they should fall on the enemy full gallop, and endeavour to mix with
them, without allowing them to mount, or accompany them into the
village.

The distribution of his party is first to take place, which cannot
properly be done without having some idea of the force of the enemy.
Suppose the party  attacked to be fifty in number, and the  attackers
only twenty-five or thirty, the arrangements are to be made in the
following manner:--

A non-commissioned officer with ten men forms the advanced guard, who
are already acquainted with the enemy's rallying point, in case of an
alert: as soon as he has entered the village with the enemy, he must
make directly for this spot, and take possession of it, killing and
dispersing whatever comes in his way.

The second party, consisting also of ten, will follow the first pretty
closely, enter the village with them, and then disperse to prevent the
enemy from rallying, hashing every individual as he presents himself:
this is not the moment for making prisoners, but must be delayed till
the enemy can no longer resist, or that they have surrendered
themselves.

The third party of five will also follow the first, keeping their files
close, that they may be in readiness to repair to any spot where the
enemy appear to intend resistance, or where the greatest uproar
prevails, in order to support the suffering party.

 The fourth party, composed also of five, must remain drawn up without
the village, to receive the prisoners that are brought to them. But if
they perceive that the enemy are beaten, a part of them may also be
detached to ramble round the village, and pick up those who wish to
escape on foot.

The quarter of the officers, as has been already said, should be the
first object of the people appointed to that service, and the officers,
if possible, made prisoners. The other men should scatter themselves
about the village, to prevent the enemy from mounting, or assembling
together.

The officer will most certainly endeavour to escape, by passing through
the garden or some other opening, that he may be able to rally his
people: but though he should succeed in this, the third detachment will
be sufficiently strong to disperse them again, and when the officers are
once taken, no one will remain to give orders, or get the people
together.

The officer who commands should be personally present to give all the
necessary orders, and as soon as the affair is finished, he ought to
retire in the manner proposed for an attack by day.

In a night expedition of this nature, every kind of pillage must be very
particularly forbidden, for if this be suffered, the soldier neglects
his chief object, and thinks he can in security commit such baseness as
tarnishes the most noble exploit, forfeits the reputation of an officer,
makes the whole enterprize miscarry, and leads the detachment into the
very snare which they had prepared for the enemy.

The retreat is to be conducted in the same manner as proposed in the
attack by day.

In night expeditions it is also necessary to make use of some mark or
signal to know each other, such as, the turning of the pelisses, wearing
the cloaks, or putting a piece of white linen on one arm, a green bough
in the cap, or choosing some particular word, which must be given to the
people beforehand, that they may know each other in the dark: for want
of this caution, very serious inconvenience often happens.

ARTICLE XIV.

On the Conduct of an Officer who is ordered to put a Country under
Contribution.

It is to be supposed, that when an officer is sent to put a country
under contribution, or to procure provisions for the army, that they
country is quite free of the enemy.

Under these circumstances, the general will give him all the orders and
means that are necessary to the execution of his commission, as it is
seldom left to an officer to receive on his own account the
contributions of a whole country. He is in general only charged to make
good the requisites to the general, by means of hostages, threats, or
even force. So that as long as the country in question refuse not the
contribution demanded, it is by no means to be distrained on: and the
officer must keep his people in perfect good order, forbidding the least
excess, and ordering them to be content with common fare both for
themselves and horses. By these means he will the more easily accomplish
his end, and the inhabitants will be better able to comply with his
demands, than if tormented by too much teasing or pecuniary extortion.

On these occasions, the officer should never suffer his private interest
to render him forgetful of the object of his mission, viz. the welfare
of the whole army. Moreover, he must remain with his detachment till
ordered by the general to remove, or till the inhabitants have furnished
the necessaries demanded.

Besides this, he ought not to neglect his personal safety, as it is very
easy to imagine that he stands in some danger from people whoa are
obliged to come down largely. the peasants, whilst they are supposed to
be employed in getting their goods together, will use every means to rid
themselves of their guests, and inform the nearest enemy of what is
going forward, that by their arrival the project may be defeated, and
their property preserved. In this case the officer will do well to keep
patroles, constantly moving round the villages under contribution, which
are situated near the enemy, to gain from them certain intelligence of
their appearance, whether they be still or in motion, and if any
reinforcements arrive. --According to these circumstances he must
regulate his conduct, either hastening the contributions, or allowing
more time to the inhabitants, without proceeding to extremities. He
should report to the general every motion or change of the enemy, so
that if it be their object to prevent the contribution, measures may be
taken accordingly, and another detachment sent to his support. Thus
situate, he will be able to accomplish his purpose. In a word, every
part of his duty must be strictly attended to, and executed with the
utmost exactness.

There still remains a case, where an officer may be ordered to levy a
contribution on a country which is not absolutely occupied by the enemy,
but rendered suspicious by patroles or continual detachments.

This only happens when the country in front is unfavourable for him, but
convenient for the enemy to halt, and pay troublesome visits. For this
reason every means should be used to prevent the enemy from tarrying
there, and exerting themselves to rob us of the necessaries of which we
stand in need. It is also possible that a party may want provisions, or
may have received express orders from the king to raise contributions in
a country, for punishment or some other reason. In both these cases, the
officer will be obliged, to enable him to gain his point, to make
arrangements totally different from those which he would employ, if he
had no enemy to fear, or if they were at such a distance as not to
disturb him in his expedition.

To insure success, it will therefore be necessary for him to have a
perfect knowledge of the country: he should also be informed, if the
enemy come thither with whole detachments, or only sent frequent
patroles, how they behave to the inhabitants, whether by pillage or any
other outrage they render themselves disagreeable. He must also
endeavour to make the people his friends, that he may gain intelligence
relating to the enemy.

To give some security to his patroles, he should know whither and into
what villages the enemy have been most accustomed to send patroles, of
what force, what route they take, the moment  of their arrival and
departure, at what distance the troops are that furnish the patroles;
and, in short, whether the country be hilly, swampy, or intersected by
small woods or any other object. To learn these particulars, he should
be furnished with an intelligent spy, and an accurate map of the
country.

 As expeditions of this nature will not allow an officer to divide his
people without great risk, he had better attempt his march in form of
patroles, with an advanced and rear guard, and flank patroles,
endeavouring nevertheless to conceal himself as much as possible.  He
must consequently instruct his people, that on the least discovery of
the enemy, they are to halt and inform him of it, that he may take
another road: but if he be so lucky as to gain the village unperceived,
he must not go directly into it, but halt in the nearest copses or
vallies. From thence, he should detach one or two trusty
non-commissioned officers, with six or eight men, into the villages
which are not occupied by the enemy, and which are nearer to the army
than that where he is posted. In general it is necessary that the
greatest prudence be observed, unless the officer chooses to return
empty handed, or run the risk of being carried off.

But in order to gain his point, the officer and non-commissioned
officers (who received their instructions beforehand) should so place
their advanced guards that they may discover every thing on the side of
the enemy, not neglecting to send forward frequent patroles. They must,
however, avoid every village, marching in such a way as to conceal
themselves, and still observe every thing. The officer should remain
with his detachment, without the village which ought to contribute, in a
copse or some covered place, shifting his position has often as he shall
find necessary, to prevent being found by the enemy, from a deserter, or
by any other means. He Must, however, never change his post without
informing his people who are out where they may find him. The
non-commissioned officers commanding the detached posts should also be
informed of the place of assembly, in case of being surprised by the
enemy.

These precautions being observed, the officer must send some men into
the village, who are to bring back with them the magistrate and other
chief inhabitants. But to prevent their seeing the strength of his
detachment, he should order one party to fall back into the wood, that
he may appear in more force than he really is. He must acquaint these
inhabitants what they are to deliver, and by what time. They will, of
course, make all the difficulties and remonstrances possible, in order
to gain time and delay the delivery. But as these situations will not
allow of much parley, he must explain himself to them very seriously,
detain the most wealthy of them, and send the rest back to the village,
threatening to set fire to it at the four corners, if the requisition be
not delivered by the time appointed.

The advanced guards and patroles must take good care that whilst the
contribution is raising, no person goes from the village towards the
enemy, and lay hold of every one they meet who wishes to pass.

As soon as the requisition is got together, it is to be loaded on
waggons, and sent away by night in charge of a non-commissioned officer
and a few men: the officer also will follow by the same route given him
for the army, having obtained a certificate from the inhabitants to
produce  to the general, and prove that every thing has been done for
the good of the service. All the non-commissioned officers also, who may
be detached in other villages, must behave in like manner, receiving
certificates of what has been delivered, to prevent any excess being
committed, either by themselves or their people.

The officer may also take with him some of the inhabitants to attest the
good behavior of the party. When the different deliveries are made, the
parties must acquaint each other of their departure, and every part is
to be charged with the covering of the waggons that are in front of it,
till they all arrive at the army.

ARTICLE XV.

On Alarm Posts.

By an alarm post we are to understand a certain point where a party is
to assemble, in case of alarm, surprise, or approach of an enemy. It is
not a matter of indifference how this place is chosen, so as to be in a
condition to assemble, and shew a face to the enemy.

When the place is to be fixed on, the village and all its environs are
to be well examined, to know if the country be smooth, hilly, or
intersected by woods or rivers. Distinction should also be made,
whether it would answer the purpose by day or by night, if the ground
can contain many different bodies of troops, or only light troops.

If there be any hussars in the village, the alarm post must not be in
front towards the enemy, but in the rear, (particularly at night,) and
towards that side from whence we can be supported; as otherwise the
enemy might prevent our rallying, and disperse the people as fast as
they come out of the village. By day, a spot may be chosen in front of
the village, and on that side where the advanced guard is placed, to
cover that as well as the quarters.

 If the environs are too level, and the enemy can approach the village
on every side, the detachment had better assemble in the rear of the
village, and be kept awake the whole night. From this spot small
patroles should constantly be sent out. The officer or non-commissioned
officer of the advanced guard must also be made acquainted with this
situation,  that in case he has a report to make, or is repulsed by the
enemy, he may know where to find the main body of the party.

If the country be much intersected, the alarm post, both by day and
night, should be chosen behind some defiles, through which the enemy are
obliged to pass, as by this means a small party can defend itself
against a much superior force.

It would be an egregious error, to choose an alarm post in front of a
defile, at least if it be not covered by a body of infantry.

The moment any alert happens during the night, the detachment must
assemble as quickly as possible in the rear of the village, to keep the
enemy in check, till the whole of it be got together. If then, on
account of superiority, it should be obliged to retire, it should be
done very coolly, to allow time for the troops in the rear to put
themselves in good order to support you, receive the enemy, and make a
glorious affair of it.

The place of rendezvous, both by night and day, should be pointed out to
the people by the commanding officer, and the officers ought always to
be the first on the spot to give their orders, and form the people as
they arrive.

ARTICLE XVI.

On the Military Coup D'OEil.

According to the Chevalier Folard's system, the knowledge of the nature
and qualities of a country which is the theatre of war, is a science to
be acquired. It is the perfection of that art, to learn at one just and
determined view, the benefits and disadvantages of a country where posts
are to be placed, and how to act to the annoyance of the enemy. This is,
in a word, the true meaning of a coup d'oeil, without which an officer
may commit errors of the greatest consequence. In short, without this
knowledge, success cannot be promised in any enterprise, as the business
of war requires much practice and experience to be well understood. To
learn this before we begin a campaign, and, when engaged in it, to be
able to join practice to theory, is the business of every good officer.

But as we are not always at war, as the army is not always campaigning,
and the regiments only assemble at certain periods for exercise, we must
endeavour to improve ourselves by means of our own genius and
imagination, so as to learn, even in time of peace, a science so useful
and necessary.

In the opinion of the Chevalier Folard, field diversions are the best
calculated to give a military coup d'oeil, for we not only learn from
thence to distinguish the difference of countries, which never resemble
each other, but we also get acquainted with a variety of stratagems, all
of which have some connection with the business of war. One of the great
advantages which we derive from hunting, is the knowledge of different
countries, which gives us a coup d'oeil almost imperceptibly, which a
little reflection and practice will soon make perfect.

Besides hunting, by which few people have an opportunity to profit,
travels and walks have their advantages.

Whilst travelling, we can look with a penetrating eye over all the
country that we pass, figure to ourselves an enemy's post at whatever
distance we please, conceive ourselves on another, judge of all the
benefits and disadvantages peculiar to each party, arrange in
imagination the plan of attack and defence of our post, and as the
unceasing variation of country offers incessantly new discoveries, an
imagination a little warmed will never want employment.

Whilst walking, the eye may judge and measure the distance of one place
or thing from another; and to be certain that we are not mistaking, we
can walk it over and convince ourselves of the justness of our coup
d'oeil.

Every country will furnish an officer, who wishes for instruction, with
the means of exercising his eyes and ideas: whilst he who engages in the
profession from necessity, without any taste, will let slip the most
happy opportunities of improving himself without turning them to any
advantage.

THE END.