LIGHT INFANTRY.
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LIGHT INFANTRY.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
I.
Object of Light Infantry Movements. --The duties of troops employed as light infantry in the field, are both varied and
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important; to them, the safeguard of the camp is usually entrusted, and by them, the cantonments of the army are protected from the sudden or unexpected approach of the enemy. When the army is in motion, the light infantry reconnoitre the country in its front, feel for the enemy, or clear the way for the columns when advancing, and protect them from being too closely pressed upon or harassed when retreating; they conceal and cover the movements and manoeuvres of the line, watch the motions of the enemy, and ascertain the nature of the ground and country in advance of the main body; upon their efficiency, the General often very much depends for the necessary information to enable him to regulate and direct his columns.
V.
1. Relative Duties of Skirmishers, Supports, and Reserves. --The movements of the skirmishers must depend in a great measure on the position and movements of the enemy. Care must be taken that the skirmishers protect and overlap the flanks of the main body they are intended to cover.
2. It is the duty of the supports to assist and support the skirmishers in every way. The movements of the former must therefore correspond with those of the latter. Each support should be, as nearly as possible, in the rear of the centre of its own skirmishers. The reserve is the point on which both supports and skirmishers may rally. It will also send relief to them when necessary; it should therefore be placed as nearly as possible in rear of the centre of the formation.
3. When the skirmishers are sent out to a distance, the field officers must take care that they are always so situated, as to protect, in the most effectual manner, the front and flanks of the main body.
VII.
Cover. --1. When under fire, skirmishers, whether halted or in motion, must take advantage of all cover, and although they are not required to preserve their distances and dressing while so doing, they must, when advancing or retiring, take care that they never get in front of each other, and that they never retain their places of cover so long as to interfere either with their own fire or with that of their comrades.
2. Officers commanding supports must, with due regard to the assistance they should afford to the skirmishers, take advantage of all inequalities of ground and other objects affording cover to protect their men, and should make them lie down when cover can be obtained by so doing; they must examine the ground well, and select positions that will protect them from cavalry, in case of attack, without preventing the skirmishers from forming upon them.
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3. The officer commanding the reserve should also keep his men under cover when practicable; but, as the reserve is not immediately under fire, his attention should principally be directed to the selection of positions, favourable to the relief and assistance of the skirmishers and supports, with due regard to the protection of the main body.
4. When in the presence of cavalry, the reserve should be kept in column; but under the fire of artillery, it should be deployed into line.
X.
How Arms are carried. --The skirmishers and supports move with trailed arms, except in close column of sections, or in files, when they move with advanced arms; reserves move with sloped arms.
XII.
Words of Command and Bugle Sounds. --1. Light infantry movements must in general be regulated by word of command. Commands must be repeated by the captains and every supernumerary belonging to the line of skirmishers. The connecting links may be employed, when necessary, to pass words of command, or convey intelligence backwards and forwards betwen the reserve and supports, and between the supports and skirmishers. When on account of the distance, or from noise or wind, the voice cannot be distinctly heard, the connecting links should run up and deliver their orders to the officers, for whom they are intended, and then resume their places.
2. Calls on the bugle may occasionally be necessary as substitutes for the voice, but as they are liable to be misunderstood, and as they reveal intended movements to the enemy, who will soon become acquainted with them, they should seldom be used, unless for purposes of drill.
3. Bugle sounds must be as few and as simple as possible. None but the following sounds must ever be used in light drill.
4. One G sounded on the bugle denotes the right of the line. Two G's the centre. Three G's the left.
5. The G's preceding any sound denote the part of the line to which it applies. For instance; two G's before the Extend, signifies, to extend from the Centre. One G followed by the Close, to close to the Right. One G followed by the Incline, to incline to the right. Three G's followed by the Wheel, to wheel to the left.
S. 1. Extending.
In extending, as a general rule, it is the business of the rear rank man of each file to regulate the distance, and of the front rank man to look to the direction.
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The number of paces that files are to extend from each other may be specified in the caution by the commander thus:-- THREE PACES FROM THE RIGHT--EXTEND. When no number is specified, six paces will be the regulated distance between files.
From the Right, (Left Centre, or No. --, File)--Extend.
Bugle Call, No. i.
1. From the Halt. --On the word extend, or on the last sound of the bugle, the captain will place himself in rear of the centre of the company, the senior supernumerary in rear of the right, and the second senior in rear of the left.
The file on the named flank, or the centre or named file, will kneel down, the remainder will advance arms (or shoulder with short rifles), face outwards, and extend in quick time.
The front rank men will move direct to the flank, covering correctly on the inarch, the rear-rank men will cast their eyes over the inward shoulder, and tap their respective front-rank men as a signal to halt, front, and kneel when they have gained their proper distances.
Men must be taught to extend from any file of a close column of sections, without previously re-forming company; the named file will kneel, and the remainder will face outwards and extend as already described.
From the Right, (Left Centre, or No. --, File.)-- Extend.
Bugle Call, No. i.
2. On the March. --On the word extend or on the last sound of the bugle, the file on the named flank, or the centre or named file, will continue to move straight forward in quick time, the remainder will make a half turn to the flank to which they are ordered to extend, and move off in double time. As soon as each file has extended to its proper distance, it will turn to its front and resume the quick time; the rear-rank men covering their front-rank men, and the whole keeping in line with the directing file.
Men in extended order may be directed to increase the distance between their files any given number of paces, from either flank, the centre, or any named file. The command will be given thus, to eight paces from the right, --Extend; if no number of paces is specified, or if the bugle sound the Extend, the skirmishers will open out one half more than their original extension; thus, if they are at six paces distance, they will open to nine.
When a company, extending on the march, is halted before all the files are extended, the remainder will make a half turn outwards into file, break into quick time, advance arms, and complete their extension as from the halt.
S. 2. Closing.
On the Right (Left, Centre, or No. --, File,)--Close.
Bugle Call, No. II.
1. On the Halt. --On the word close or on the last sound of the bugle, the file on the named flank, or the centre, or named file, will rise, order arms, and stand at ease; the remainder will rise, face towards it, and close at quick time, halting, fronting, ordering arms, and standing at ease in succession as they arrive at their places; the officers will remain in the rear unless directed to take post.
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The file on which the skirmishers close, may be faced in any direction; the remainder will form upon it, facing in the same direction.
On the Right (Left, Centre, or No. --, File)--Close.
Bugle Call, No. II.
2. On the March. -On the word CLOSE, or on the last sound of the bugle, the file on the named flank or centre, or the named file, will move steadily on in quick time; the remainder will make a half turn towards it and close in double time, turning to the front and resuming the quick time as they arrive at their places.
When a company, closing on the march, is halted before all the files are closed, the remainder will make a half turn inwards into file, break into quick time, and complete the formation as from the halt.
S. 5. Retiring in Skirmishing Order.
Company--Retire.
Bugle Call, No. VII.
On the word RETIRE, or on the last sound of the bugle, the men will rise, face to the right about, and step off in quick time, rear-rank in front, keeping their distance from the centre.
Men in extended order will invariably face or turn to the right about, whether they are advancing, retiring, firing, or not firing.
S. 8. Skirmishers changing Front or Direction from the Halt.
A line of skirmishers halted, can change front on any two named files that may be placed as a base for the rest to form upon.
A change of front in this manner may be made at any angle, but it is not likely to be required to a greater extent than the sixteenth, or at most the eight of a circle.
Change Front to the Right (or Left) on the two centre (or on No. --, and No, --, ) Files.
1. From the Halt. --On the caution, --the two named files will rise, and the captain of the company will dress them in the direction required; as soon as they are placed they will again kneel.
Double March.
On the word march, the whole will rise, and if all the files are to be thrown forward on a flank, they will make a half-face inwards, and move across by the shortest way to their places in the new line, dressing on the two base files, as they successively halt, and then kneeling.
Iif all the files are to be thrown back on either flank, they will make a three-quarters face in the direction of the base files, then move across and halt, front, and kneel successively as they arrive at their places in the new line.
If the change is on two central files, part of the company will be thrown forward and the rest back, as above described.
Recruits should first be taught this movement in quick time, and by separate words of command; thus, after placing the base files, rise; left sub-division right half-face; right sub-division left about three quarters-face, the whole, quick-march.
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Skirmishers (Right or Left) Wheel.
Bugle Call one G (or three G's) Followed by No. x.
2. On the March. --A line of skirmishers on the march may change their direction gradually, on the same principles, as a company wheels on a moveable pivot. On the word wheel, or on the last sound of the bugle, the pivot file will halt, and the remainder will circle round it, the front-rank men looking outwards for the dressing, and the rear-rank men keeping the distances from the pivot flank.
Forward.
On the word FORWARD the whole line will advance by the centre.
S. 9. Firing in Skirmishing Order.
The men of a file must always work together. Both men should never be unloaded at the same time; they should always load when practicable under cover; before moving to the front, when advancing, and after falling back, when retiring.
Commence Firing.
Bugle Sound, No. V.
1. Firing on the Halt. --On the words COMMENCE FIRING, or on the last sound of the bugle, the front-rank men will make ready, fire, and load; the rear-rank men when their front-rank men are in the act of capping, will make ready, fire, and then load.
A line of skirmishers may bo ordered to lie down, or single soldiers may lie down for the sake of cover. When firing in this position both elbows must rest on the ground to support the body and rifle; the men will load on their knees. Riflemen may fire on their backs in favourable situations; in this position the feet are to be crossed, the right foot passed through the sling of the rifle, and the piece supported by it. If in very exposed situations a soldier wishes to load lying, he will roll over on his back, and place the butt of his firelock between his legs, the lock upwards, and the muzzle a little elevated.
Commence Firing.
Bugle Sound, No. V.
2. Firing when Advancing. --On the words, COMMENCE FIRING, or on the last sound of the bugle, the whole of the skirmishers will make a momentary halt, the front-rank man of each file will fire (kneeling if prefered), and take a side pace to his left; the rear-rank man will then pass on, and the front rank man will follow close behind him, loading on the march; when in the act of capping he will give the word "Ready" in an under tone of voice, on which the proper rear rank man will fire, and both men will proceed as above described.
When men find difficulty in loading on the march, they may halt and load, and then double up to their file leaders.
When cover presents itself, the men must be taught to take advantage of it, by running forward from place to place as soon as they are loaded; when any large object affording considerable cover comes in their way, several files may run up behind it, fire, load, and then move on and regain their distances and places in the general line.
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Commence Firing.
Bugle Sound, No. v.
3. Firing when Retiring. --On the words COMMENCE FIRING, or on the last sound of the bugle, both ranks will halt and front, the front rank man of each file will fire, face to the right about, and retire in quick time, passing by the left of his rear-rank man, (who will follow close behind him) and loading as he retires; when his loading is completed, both ranks will halt and front, the rear rank man will fire and proceed in the manner described for the front-rank man.
On rough ground, files will run back from one place of cover to another, taking care before they leave one station, to select another to fall back upon. One man of each file should fire previous to moving, and re-load when he is again under cover. As the principal object is to keep the enemy in check, skirmishers when retiring, should hold each station as long as possible without risk of being cut off by the enemy, or of being shot by their comrades.
When a line of skirmishers halted, is ordered to advance or retire firing, the front rank men will first fire, the whole will then rise, and proceed as already described.
4. Firing while inclining to a Flank, or taking Ground to a Flank in Files.
When skirmishers are ordered to fire, or the bugle sounds the fire, while they are inclining to the right or left, or taking ground to a flank in files, the front-rank men will halt, take steady aim and fire, the rear-rank men moving on; having fired, the front rank men will double up to the proper rear of their rear-rank men, and then load on the march, or load at the halt, and then double up. When their loading is completed, the rear-rank men will proceed in like manner.
When skirmishers either halted, or on the march, are directed to cease firing, they will complete their loading, and the rear-rank men will resume their places in the proper rear of their front-rank men, if not there already.
Whenever skirmishers are directed to halt, by word of command or bugle sound, they will halt and kneel, facing to their proper front, and it firing, they will continue firing.
S. 20. Passing a Bridge or Short Defile in contact with an Enemy.
1. Advancing. --The skirmishers, on reaching the margin of the river, or the beginning of whatever other impediment may form the defile, will (when the flanks cannot be gained,) lie down and cover themselves, keeping up a brisk fire upon the enemy. The supports, on approaching the bridge (or defile) will close upon that support which may be opposite to it, and supported by the reserve, charge and force the passage with the bayonet; this
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point gained, and the reserve having crossed the bridge, the supports will gradually extend from their centre, the reserve maintaining possession of the bridge, the old skirmishers will keep up their fire, until clouded in succession by the new line; when the new line has completed its extension the reserve will send out fresh supports, and the old skirmishers will assemble in rear of the reserve. The whole will then move forward according to the original formation.
2. Retiring. --In retiring, the reserve will first pass, and take post at the bridge-head, or the outlet of the defile, immediately detaching parties to both flanks to line the river, in extended order. The supports will close upon the one which is opposite the bridge, and in compact order, halt in front of it, until the line of skirmishers is withdrawn; in order that this may be effected without unnecessary delay, the skirmishers should incline towards the bridge when at some distance from it, and on arriving near it, they should run briskly over it, and form in rear of the reserve. The supports will then cross, and in like manner joining the reserve, the whole will be prepared to defend the bridge or to retire, as may be ordered. The new line of skirmishers will commence firing as soon as their front is clear; and if the retreat is to be continued, supports will be again thrown out between them and the reserve.
ADVANCED AND REAR GUARDS.
S. 21. Advanced Guards.
1. General Intention of Advanced Guards. --Advanced guards are formed in front of a column, or of the columns of an army, for the purpose of feeling the way through a country--to gain intelligence of the enemy, and to give timely notice of his vicinity or approach, in order that the main body may have time to prepare either for making or repelling an attack.
2. Their Strength and Composition. --Advanced guards are sometimes pushed a considerable distance in advance of the column, for the purpose of seizing a post, or of anticipating the enemy on some important point; their strength and composition, therefore, must depend on the distance they are required to precede the main body, the object contemplated, the nature of the country, and a variety of other circumstances which can only be appreciated on the spot.
3. General Rules applicable to all. --The general rules and principles which should govern an advance guard in one situation, are, with a few obvious exceptions, applicable to all. To guard against surprise or unexpected collision with the enemy, --to watch his motions, or to gain intelligence of his situation, --and to cover and conceal the movements and formation of the main body, --are manifestly the great leading principles upon which
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advanced guards should be conducted, whether the object be to fall suddenly on the enemy's piquets, to dislodge him from a post, or merely to give warning of his vicinity.
4. Specific Rules cannot be laid down. --No specific rules can be laid down for the conduct of an advanced guard, where every instance of falling in with an enemy must vary; the officer in command of the guard must depend on his own intelligence for the proper execution of this most important duty, and allow nothing to escape his personal observation. The following remarks will be found useful in cases of the more frequent occurrence.
5. Approaching a Village. --An advanced guard, on approaching a village, must proceed with great precaution, if feeling for an enemy. The reserve and the advanced parties on the road must be halted beyond the reach of musketry from the village, while strong flanking parties are sent round the outskirts to threaten the rear. The corporal's party on the road may then move on, in single files, with a considerable interval between them, followed by as many files in succession, from the support, as may be deemed expedient; and the supports and reserve will move forward when it has been ascertained that the place is not in the occupation of the enemy.
6. Entering a Defile or Hollow-way. --The head of an advanced guard must never commit itself by entering a defile, or hollow way, without previously occupying the heights on either side by flanking parties. When the heights are thus crowned, the leading party on the road will send on a single file, which will be followed by others in succession, near enough to keep the preceding one in view, the flanking parties on the heights on either side continuing to precede the centre until the defile is passed, when they will gradually fall back to their former stations, and the whole move forward in the original formation.
7. The Flanks of all Objects to be turned --Generally speaking the flanks of every object capable of affording concealment to an enemy, will invariably be turned, and the rear threatened previously to its being felt in front; by this means the enemy will be discovered and most frequently dislodged without loss,
8. Ascending a Hill. --On coming to a hill the flank files will first move in both directions round the base; a leading file will then ascend, creeping up when near the top so as not to show itself upon the summit, but making its observations from behind the brow; it will then signal to the rest of the party whether the enemy is in sight or not.
9. Bogs, Morasses, &c., to be examined. --All bogs, morasses, &c., must be carefully examined before they are passed by an advanced guard, lest an enemy should be left concealed in them and the advanced guard cut off.
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10. Patroles. --All houses, copses, enclosures, &c., that are too distant to be inspected by the advanced guard, should be examined by patroles, which may consist of a subaltern party, a serjeant and twelve, or a corporal and six according to circumstances; the rules laid down for advanced guards apply equally to patroles.
11. A good, View of the Country to he obtained. --All heights from which a view of the surrounding country can be obtained should be ascended by the advanced files of the guard, or by the patroles. The top of a church, a tower, a mound, &c., afford good positions for observations. The men thus employed must take care they are not seen by the enemy.
12. Preconcerted Signals. --The leading files of an advanced guard or parole should be instructed to give immediate intelligence of the presence of an enemy, by some preconcerted signal. One man of the leading file holding up his cap on a firelock, may signify that a small body of the enemy is in sight, both men holding up their caps on their firelocks, that the enemy is near in force. A firelock held up horizontally may signify that no enemy is in sight.
13. Conduct in case of Attack. --If the front of an advanced guard formed on a road is attacked, the leading files will at once fall back on their support; the commanding officer of the guard will then use his discretion in ordering his reserve to move up and reinforce the support, or the support to fall back on the reserve, according to the nature of the ground, the strength of the attacking party, and the distance he may be from the main body; remembering always that his principal duty is to give time for the column to prepare to receive the enemy, without unnecessarily exposing his own men. A patrole should never commit itself in action, if it can be avoided.
14. Advanced Guards to be reformed after Dislodging the Enemy. --No advanced guard or detached party of any kind, after carrying a post, should ever be permitted to advance without re-forming. The men should on no account pursue the flying enemy, but re-form rapidly, and wait for further orders.
15. To be provided with Intrenching Tools. --Every advanced guard should be provided with a proportion of axes and intrenching tools.
16. Formation of an Advanced Guard on a Road. --When a column is marching along a road, the advanced guard will be composed of one or more companies, divided into four parts or sections; the two rear sections (under the command of the senior officer) will form the reserve in front of the column; the second section from the front will form a support 200 yards in front of the reserve, under command of the third senior officer; the leading section will be 100 yards in front of the second section, and will detach a corporal and two files 100 yards in front and two files to each flank, 100 yards from the road and
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about 50 yards more retired than the corporal's party. The senior subaltern will accompany the leading' section. The detached files must carefully examine all houses, enclosures, &c., within their reach; but should more distant objects present themselves, patroles must be detached from the second section for their particular examination. Single files of communication will be placed between the different divisions of an advanced guard, and also between its reserve and the head of the column. The distance between the two latter must be regulated by circumstances; but it will generally be about 500 yards during the day and about 300 during the night.
If the company is weak it may be advisable to send on only one file and a corporal in front and one file on each flank.
17. Method, of forming the Guard. --The simplest method of forming an advanced guard will be to draw the company or companies up, in column of four sections or parts, in front of the main body, and then march off the different parts in succession, commencing with the corporal and two files who are to lead. If right is in front, the movement will commence from the right; if left is in front, it will commence from the left of the leading section or part. The connecting files in front of the reserve will be sent on from the reverse flanks of the second and third parts or sections, the connecting file in rear of the reserve will be dropped from the pivot flank of the rear section; one connecting file should be sent out from the leading company of the main body.
18. Formation of an Advanced. Guard on a Plain. --An advanced guard on a plain, is simply a line of skirmishers with support, and if far distant from the main body, with a reserve. When the leading files of an advanced guard on a road come out on a plain, they will halt and lie down, the flanking files will move up and lie down in line with them at their usual distances of 100 yards. The remainder of the leading section or subdivision as it comes up, will extend from its centre; the second section or subdivision will also extend from its centre, and reinforce the leading section or subdivision. The skirmishers thus formed will advance, correcting their distances from the centre on the march, the reserve will form subdivision or company and act as a support to the skirmishers. This formation will occasionally be found useful when the leading files have discovered an enemy without having been themselves observed.
An advanced guard thus extended, may resume its original formation by the leading files moving on and the remainder halting till they have gained their proper distances, and then following on in succession, the remainder of the first and the second sections or subdivisions closing on their centres.
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S. 22. Formation of Rear Guards.
1. Formation of Rear Guards. --Rear guards will be formed in precisely the same manner as advanced guards only facing to the rear. When on a road the guard should be marched to the rear and formed in column facing to the rear; if the main body is right in front the rear guard will be left in front and vice versa. If no enemy is near, and the column is on the march, the guard may be formed by the different parties facing about in succession, and marching oif as the column gains the proper distances from them.
2. General Intention of Rear Guards --A rear guard is an advanced guard reversed; it covers the retreating column from any sudden assault in the rear, and it prevents the enemy from stealing round, and gaining on the flanks of the main body. The prevention of straggling is also an important part of the duties of a rear guard.
3. Preparations for Retreat are made in the Rear. --All preparations for retreat, before the enemy, should be made in the rear. For example, a line, previous to tailing back, will extend its skirmishers behind it, concealed from view as much as possible, and with supports and reserves ready to sustain them: these become the rear guard. In many cases an intended retrograde movement is concealed under a demonstration of attack, and the troops so employed in deceiving the enemy, will naturally become the rear guard, after that object is attained.
4. Strength and Composition dependent on Local considerations. --The strength and composition of a rear guard can only be determined on the spot, according to the force and vicinity of the enemy, the nature of the country, and the degree of resistance that may probably be required, to give the column time to surmount any obstacles or difficulties in the route. The object being that of securing the retreat from interruption or annoyance, resistance will generally cease when that end is gained; but when the pursuit is close and vigorous, every hedge-row, copse, or defile becomes a post, which a rear guard must defend with obstinacy to the last.
5. To be well provided with Intrenching Tools and Axes. -- Every rear guard should be well provided with axes and intrenching tools, to enable it to block up defiles and bridges, to break up the road, and throw impediments in the way of a pursuing enemy.
6. The Rear Guard to be informed of all Obstacles in the Route, and reinforced when necessary. --When a retreating column meets with obstacles in its route, or has to pass a bridge or defile, an officer will be sent back to apprize the rear guard of the circumstance, in order that it may be prepared to hold the
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enemy in check, during the delay which must ensue; and when hard pressed it will generally be advisable to halt a detachment at any defile or bridge the column may have passed, to make preparations for defence, to protect the rear guard in passing over, and afterwards to assist it in maintaining the post as long as may be practicable or expedient. Posts of this description may often be defended until dark, and thereby afford the greatest relief to the retreating column,
7. Flanking Parties to be constantly on the alert. --While the rear guard is disputing any point, the flanking parties must be particularly on the alert, to notice any attempt the enemy may make to turn its flanks, by a ford for example, when the stand is made at a bridge. Indeed, it may always be presumed that a pursuing enemy will lose no opportunity that may present itself of stealing round the flanks of his opponents.
PIQUETS.
S. 23. Piquets and their Sentries.
1. Use of Piquets. --All armies or smaller bodies of troops in camp or bivouac must be protected by piquets.
2. Descriptions of Piquets. --Piquets are of two descriptions, outlying and inlying, varying in strength according to the extent of front to be guarded, and the liability to be attacked. The outlying piquet is thrown forward a considerable distance in front of the camp or cantonments; the inlying piquet usually remains in camp accoutred, and ready to turn out, and support the former at a moment's warning, having sentries advantageously posted for hearing and observing any alarm in front, and communicating, when necessary, by patroles with the advanced posts.
3. Principal Duties of an Outlying Piquet. --The principal duties of an outlying piquet are to secure the safety and repose of the camp, to prevent reconnaissances being made by the enemy, and to gain intelligence of his movements, and even of his intentions, by patrolling, by careful watching, by examining the peasantry of the country, and by all those indications with which every officer ought to be familiar, such as the strengthening of the enemy's posts, unusual bustle or movement in his lines, the sound of troops or artillery on the march at night, the diminution or the increase of fires, &c., &c.
4. How Piquet Duties are furnished. --Piquets in the field may be taken by brigades, the different regiments furnishing one or more companies, as may be required, a field officer of the day being in charge of the whole; or an entire regiment may be employed on piquet duty under its own officers.
5. Piquets to be extended as Light Infantry. --Outlying piquets will be posted with a complete chain of double sentries in
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front, on the same principles that light troops are extended to cover a line. When they are posted near the main body, supports only will be necessary in rear of the line of sentries, hut when distant, a reserve will also bo required, and if the line is of considerable extent more than one reserve may be requisite. The post of the field officer of the day will usually he with the reserve.
C. Piquets to be divided into Reliefs. --In order that each company may he able to relieve its sentries periodically, it must be divided when on piquet duty into three reliefs; one relief only will be extended on sentry, the other two will remain in support. Sentries should be relieved every hour during the night.
7. Detached Parties. --If the chain of sentries should be so far extended as to make it inconvenient to relieve them all from the piquet in support, one or two small parties, forming intermediate supports to the chain, and under command of officers or noncommissioned officers, may be detached to convenient situations for the purpose of furnishing the sentries.
8. Piquet Sentries. --All piquet sentries must be double except the connecting sentries between the front line and the parties in rear, which may be single.
9. Positions and Conduct of Day and Night Sentries. --Piquet sentries by day should be placed on heights and in commanding positions, whence they may see all the country in their front without exposing themselves to view; but at night they must be placed lower down so as to have the highest ground before them in order that they may see any approaching party against the sky without being themselves discovered. By day it is not necessary to leave more sentries on duty than are sufficient to watch thoroughly the country in their front; each sentry should be able to see the files on his right and left, as well as the intermediate country between them; at night or in thick weather a greater number will be required, and one man of each file should always remain on his post, looking out vigilantly to his front, while the other patroles to his right, till he comes up to the sentry next to him; in this mode they will alternately relieve each other. Sentries will also patrole to their front to a distance of twenty or thirty yards.
When sentries hear people approaching them by night they must challenge them, order them to halt, and allow only one person to advance until they are satisfied they are friends. By day sentries must not allow more than one stranger at a time to approach their posts on any pretence.
10. Line of Sentries. --In selecting the line for the chain of sentries, care must be taken not to extend it too much, --to post the men in the most advantageous situations for observing the roads and country in front, and to keep them as much concealed
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from the view of the enemy as the nature of their duty will admit. It is very desirable that every elevated spot, which overlooks the communications in the rear, shall be taken within the chain of sentries; but if this cannot be effected without extending the sentries too far, a party must be sent to occupy the height during the day, and care must be taken to support and ensure the retreat of this party if attacked. Sentries must be so placed, moreover, as to secure one another from being cut off, and at such distances as to prevent any enemy from passing unperceived between them during the night. Sentries should never be posted near any copse or cover from which a sudden rush might be made upon them; but all woods, ravines, &c., in the neighbourhood of the post, must be watched, and occasionally visited by patroles, to prevent the enemy from assembling a body of troops, unobserved, in the vicinity.
11. Flanks should be protected. --The flanks of a line of piquet sentries should be thrown a little back, and if not protected by the nature of the country, a detached party under the command of an officer should be posted in the most favourable position to prevent the flank from being turned.
12. Connecting Sentries. --Communication should be kept up by means of single sentries, between the front line of sentries and the supports, also between the supports and the reserve.
13. Officers to examine Ground. --Officers going out on piquet duty must examine all the country over which they pass on their way from the camp, and select favourable positions for disputing the ground in case they are driven in by the enemy.
14. Posting a Company on Piquet. --When an officer in charge of a company sent on piquet duty arrives on the position he is to occupy, he will first look to the immediate safety of his own party, and place sentries on its flanks and front; he will then send a file to the most elevated spot in the vicinity to get a good view of the surrounding country, and proceed himself with a patrole to examine all objects near him capable of concealing an enemy. Having thus secured himself from surprise, he will proceed to throw out his chain of sentries and communicate with the parties on his right and left.
15. When Piquets are Attacked. --When piquets are attacked, the same rule will be observed as in all other skirmishing, and the detached officers' parties will not run in on the main body, but support the skirmishers; and when compelled to retire, they will, if possible, retreat on the flank of the main body, and thereby afford mutual support to each other. When a sentry is satisfied that the enemy is moving on to the attack, he should not hesitate to fire at once, although the enemy may be far beyond the range of his musket.
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16. An Officer to strengthen his Post. --An officer ought to strengthen his post when practicable, by constructing abbatis, breastworks, &c.; where the defence of a bridge or ford is intrusted to him, he ought never to omit throwing up something of the kind to protect his men, and impede the advance of the enemy. An officer ought not, however, without permission, to block up a main road with other materials than such as are easily removed.
17. A Piquet must not shut itself up without Orders. --A piquet ought not to shut itself up in a house, or an enclosure, with the intention of defending itself to the last extremity, unless particularly ordered to do so, or that circumstances may render it necessary at the moment, for the preservation of the party, in the expectation of support.
18. Under what Circumstances a Piquet should retire. --A piquet may with safety defend its front as long as its flanks are not attacked; but as soon as the enemy attempts to surround the post, the piquet must begin to retire.
19. Flags of Truce. --On the approach of a flag of truce, one sentry will advance and halt it at such distances as will prevent any of the party who compose it from over looking the piquet-posts. The other sentry will acquaint the officer commanding the piquet of the circumstance, who will, according to his instructions, either detain the flag of truce at the outpost, until he has reported to the field officer of the day, or he will forward the party blindfolded to the camp, under an escort. If the flag of truce is merely the bearer of a letter or parcel, the piquet officer must receive it, and instantly forward it to head-quarters. After having given a receipt, the flag of truce will be required forthwith to depart, and none of the piquet must be suffered to hold any conversation with this party.
20. Precautions to be taken when Fires are allowed. --When a piquet is permitted to have a fire, it should always be as much as possible concealed from observation; and the alarm post of the piquet, in the event of an attack at night, should invariably be fixed at a short distance in the rear of the fire, so as to prevent the piquet from being seen, when drawn up, and to compel the enemy to expose himself while passing the fire should he advance.
21. Advanced Piquets to be under Arms an Hour before Day-light. --Piquets will get under arms in the morning an hour before day-light; and if every thing appears quiet in front, the officer will, as soon as he can discern objects distinctly, proceed to occupy the same posts that he held the day before; but he must previously send forward patroles to feel his way, and should any change be remarked in the enemy's posts or position, he will report it immediately to the field officer of the day.
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22. When advanced Piquets should he relieved. --As attacks are most commonly made about day-break, a desirable accession of force will be always obtained by relieving the piquets at that hour.
23. Arrival of the Relief. --When the new piquet has arrived, the officer commanding it will accompany the officer of the old piquet along the chain of posts, and this officer will point out the situation and strength of all the enemy's posts, and afford every other information to the relieving officer, in his power.
24. Duty of the Officer of the old Piquet. --When the sentries are relieved, and the weather is sufficiently clear to ascertain that there is no indication of an attack, the officer who has been relieved will forward a written report to the field officer of the day, fall back upon the reserve piquet, and march to camp in the same order as when he advanced; but if the advanced piquets should be attacked before he arrives in camp, he will consider it his duty to face about instantly, and march to their support.
25. Patrolling. --One of the most necessary and effectual methods of preventing surprise and of gaining information remains to he noticed, viz., patrolling, without which, however active and alert the sentries, the service of the outpost never can be properly done. The mode of conducting these patroles, their strength, and the distance to which they may be sent, are all necessarily dependent on the ever varying local circumstances in which piquets may be placed; but it may be laid down as a good general rule, that, when near the enemy, a patrole should be sent out once between every relief during the night.
26. Vigilance, Silence, and Circumspection indispensable in patrolling. --Vigilance, silence, and circumspection must be strictly enjoined upon all patroles: no noise must on any account be made, and when any thing is to be communicated, it should be done in a whisper.
It is not possible to lay down exact rules for conducting patroles in every case that may occur on service, but one or two of the most usual modes of carrying on this important duty may be briefly adverted to.
27. Patrolling in front of the Line of Sentries. --The patrole on leaving the piquet, should, when practicable, communicate in the first instance with the next post upon the right (or left), and patrole cautiously along the whole front of the line of sentries, just near enough to see them, and communicating with the next post upon the left (or right) return again to the piquet by the rear of the chain. The sentries must not be thrown off their guard by the frequent appearance of these patroles, but be taught to expect an enemy in all who approach them: some preconcerted signal, or interchange of countersign in a low tone, should be used, and which should be changed at every relief.
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28. Patrolling when the Enemy's Posts are distant. --Patroles must also be sent along the roads in the direction of the enemy's posts, to such distance as may he deemed expedient. These patroles must be preceded by feelers, quick intelligent men selected for that duty, whom no sound will escape, and whose experienced ears will detect the approach of danger long before it reaches them. A patrole must above all things avoid unnecessary firing, or, in other words, false alarms: on hearing the approach of footsteps the feelers should instantly fall back to the patrole; and should the sounds indicate the advance of a larger body than a patrole, one or two men should be sent back with all haste to inform the officer of the piquet, who will make immediate preparations for defence. The patrole will retire steadily and unobserved, if possible, upon the piquet; but if perceived and overtaken by the enemy, an incessant fire must be maintained, in order to apprise the camp that the enemy is coming on in force. Although it may safely be inferred, that if the piquets know their duty, and are judiciously drawn up for the defence of the roads, it will be extremely difficult for an enemy, however strong, having failed in his plan for taking the advanced posts by surprise, to make head, under all the disadvantages of a night attack, against men who know the ground, and whose plans have been previously concerted for disputing those points in their line of retreat, and where the disparity of numbers must, in the dark, be in a great measure neutralized.
29. Patroles to avoid exchanging Shots with the Enemy. --In falling in with an enemy's patrole in advance of the chain of sentries, it will always be most prudent to retire at once without exchanging shots, which can only tend to harass and disturb the troops in their rear.
30. A strong Patrole to he sent out just before Day-light. --A strong patrole will always be sent some distance on towards the enemy's posts just before day-light, and this patrole, above all others, must proceed with redoubled caution, for fear of falling in with the enemy's columns, waiting for day-light to attack.
31. The principal Object of Piquets in case of Attach. --In the event of an attack, the commander of a piquet must ever bear in mind that the great object of his efforts is to gain sufficient time to enable the main body in his rear to get under arms and prepare for action. The points he is to dispute in falling back having been previously selected, few cases can occur in which it will be impossible to attain that end, without endangering the safety of his piquet; but even in an extreme case, he must remember that it is his duty to sacrifice himself, rather than be driven in upon the main body, before it has had time to form.
32. Outlying Piquets pay no Compliments. --Outlying piquets pay no compliments, but when approached by a general officer, the field officer of the day, or by any armed party, they will fall in and stand to their arms.
Sentries on out-post duty pay no compliments.
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I. EXTEND.
II. CLOSE.
III. ADVANCE.
IV. HALT.
The Halt annuls all previous Sounds except the Fire.
V. COMMENCE FIRING.
VI. CEASE FIRING.
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VII. RETIRE.
VIII. ASSEMBLY.
This sound will be used to turn out troops in cases of alarm by day or night. Neither the whole call nor any part of it must ever be used either in camp or barracks for any purpose, but that above stated.
