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right by Cornell University
Library 1991.Cavalry outpost duties,
BY
F. DE BRACK,
General of Cavalry, Commander of the Imperial Order of the
Legion of Honor, Grand Dignitary of the Imperial Order
of the Rose, Chevalier de Saint Louis, etc.;
A Pupil of the Fontainebleau Military School; Outpost Officer
under Generals Lasalle, Montbrun, Pajol, Colbert,
and Maison; and an Officer of the
Old Imperial Guard.
TRANSLATED FROM THE THIRD FRENCH EDITION, 1868,
BY
Major CAMILLO C. 0. CARR,
EIGHTH CAVALRY, U. S. ARMY.
NEW YORK;
JOHN WILEY & SONS,
53 East Tenth Street.
1893.
&Copyright, 189$
BY
C. C. C. CARR.
Robert Drummond,
Electrotyper,
444 & 446 Pearl Street,
New York.
Ferris Broj.,
Printers,
m Pearl Street,
New York.TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
Although this little work has been in existence more
than sixty years and has been recognized by all modern
European military writers as of such unusual merit that
it has been referred to and quoted from by almost every
one writing on the subject of cavalry, yet, by reason of
its never having been translated into English, it is be-
lieved that but few of our cavalry officers have any just
conception of the value of the work as a means of in-
struction for themselves and the men whom they com-
mand.
While the book might properly be called The Art of
War in Miniature for Cavalry, it has this advantage over
most of those written in recent times, especially since
1871, that it is not made up of theories and speculations
emanating from the brains of men having no practical
knowledge of the subject, but, on the contrary, is founded
upon the actual experience of a distinguished cavalry
officer who made eight campaigns under the generals
who raised the fame of the cavalry to so lofty a pitch
during the wars of the great Napoleon.
As it was written with the sole view of training in all
iiiIV
TRANSLATORS PREFACE.
the details of actual service the officers and men of a
newly organized regiment, nothing has been omitted
which could possibly improve the instruction, discipline,
moral tone, and practical efficiency of those for whom
it was intended.
If placed to-day in the hands of the officers and men
of newly organized volunteer regiments, it would, with
some slight modifications rendered necessary by the
improvements in firearms, and their increased range
and precision, furnish them a means of preparing
themselves for field service not to be found elsewhere in
the works of any single author.
Judged solely by his book, de Brack must have pos-
sessed every mental, moral, and physical qualification
necessary to make the successful and distinguished cav-
alry officer; and this judgment is fully sustained by the
testimony of the superior officers under whom he
served.
It is not too much to say that the cavalry which so
distinguished itself during our Civil War, 1861-65, owed
its unparalleled success, in a great measure, to the fact
that its operations were, as far as possible under the
exceptionally trying circumstances attending the organ-
ization and training of volunteer troops, conducted in
accordance with the principles set forth in de Brack’s
work.
To whom we are indebted for early impressing upon
our cavalry principles of such inestimable value cannot
be determined now; but that there was some one to
whom we owe, on that account, a debt of gratitude that
can never be paid, is certain, unless we are prepared to
admit that our methods, apparently new, but really as
old as de Brack’s book, wTere evolved from the innertranslator's preface.
y
consciousness of some one who never made himself
known, but died unrecognized and unrewarded.
These principles, rapidly mastered and vigorously
applied by our active, enterprising, and ambitious cav-
alry officers, produced a corps of mounted men equally
at home whether charging on horseback and using the
sabre against opposing infantry, cavalry, and artillery,
or dismounting to fight on foot; in the latter case show-
ing their contempt for mere theory and tradition, by
displaying sound, practical sense enough to adapt their
methods to the circumstances of the case.
The adoption and utilization as far as possible, by the
Germans, of the instructions given by de Brack, and the
entire forgetfulness of them by the French, are sufficient
to account for the many displays of useless gallantry on
the part of the latter, and the only partial successes
of the former, from the American point of view, in the
Franco-Prussian War.
The American cavalry, Union and Confederate, com-
posed of men versatile enough to adapt themselves to
circumstances as they varied, and fully imbued with de
Brack’s idea of the self-sufficiency of the true cavalry-
man, as expressed in his remark that “a cavalryman,
so long as he has a good horse under him, should be
able to go anywhere,” did not hesitate to charge with
the sabre on unbroken infantry—of a quality never sur-
passed—whether in the open field or behind breast-
works; to dismount and attack it or any other arm when
occasiondemanded it; to perform screening and reconnoi-
tring duties extending over hundreds of miles of broken
and wooded country; and to take care of itself in daily
combat without having to carry infantry with it or call
upon it for assistance.vi
translator's preface.
That these assertions are true can be easily proved by
the records, to the study of which it is to be hoped that
our younger cavalry officers will devote at least a por-
tion of their time, with a view to acquiring a knowledge
of what cavalry, when unfettered by tradition and prop-
erly handled, can accomplish.
For their willing and valuable assistance in revising
the copy of this translation, and preparing it for the
press, I desire to express my obligations to Captain
W. A. Shunk, Eighth U. S. Cavalry, and Lieutenant
J. B. Batchelor, Twenty-fourth U. S. Infantry.
C. C. C. Carr,
Major Eighth Cavalry,
U. 8. Army.PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
The author of this book was on© of the most bril-
liant cavalry officers of the Empire. A pupil of La-
Salle, of Montbrun, of Colbert, of Pajol, he appeared
destined to the highest military honors, when the disas-
ter of Waterloo overtook the Grand Army. In spite of
his youth, his tastes, his instincts, his experience, and
the prospects of a brilliant military career, de Brack
sheathed his sword.
Although withdrawn from.the army, he was, how-
ever, no stranger to its progress and, labors.
After fifteen years’ absence Lieutenant-Colonel de
Brack resumed his place at the head of our squadrons.
From 1815 to 1830 our military organization had been
as much modified as the regimental manners and cus-
toms. The adoption of the new regulations had brought
into high favor theoretical instruction, and de Brack,
who returned with his ideas of war, was struck with
the importance which had been given to theory over
practice in the ranks of the cavalry.
It was believed that war was about to recommence.
The colonel wished to prepare his officers and men for
the approaching campaign, in which, as the commander
of a body of light cavalry, his place would be at the out-
posts.
So this work was conceived, and written in haste, as
though the regiment were already under orders to pass
the frontier; for it should be explained that this book was
intended only for the squadrons commanded by de Brack.
viiViii PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
This haste was indeed a fortunate thing. The author,
not having had time to ransack treatises and consult
books, simply reproduced his recollections of the great
cavalry heroes, Seidlitz, Lasalle, Murat, and Bessieres,
and from memory repeated the practical lessons given
by the colonels and captains who had raised the reputa-
tion of the cavalry to so high a pitch.
Written with an intelligence vast and active, with a
glowing heart, in an observing and delicate spirit, with
a rare love for the soldier, this book, almost improvised,
is a charming little masterpiece. At once witty and
profound, the author, laying aside all prejudice, shows
himself so original that certain parts, without ceasing to
be true, have a perfume of poetry which charms the
military reader.
De Brack never loses sight of the morale of the sol-
dier; he speaks of honor, of courage, of devotion, and
his language makes one thrill. The style moves on at a
cavalry pace, which is well adapted to the subject.
A modern philosopher, M. Cousin, has said: 44 War is
above all an art which requires for its practice the greatest
genius combined with indomitable courage.’' De Brack
had anticipated this thought, which might well serve as
a motto for his book.
More than thirty years have passed away since the
first publication of this work, and during those thirty
years the French army has made war in Africa, in Bel-
gium, in the Crimea, in China, in Italy; the flag yet
flies in Cochin China and in Mexico.
De Brack’s book is as true, as good, and as useful as
on the day of its first publication.
The late wars have been enriched by scientific discov-
eries and much material progress. The cannon-ball,PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
IX
the bullet and bayonet strike at a greater distance ana
more accurately. Some new processes have taken rise
in the particular character of such or such a war, but
the general principles of tactics, of strategy, have re-
mained unaltered. They will always be those which
Frederick, Turenne, and Napoleon made them.
Methodical warfare, for which the book of de Brack is
intended to prepare the reader, will forever be the only
one employed by instructed generals and disciplined
armies.
We had intended to modify the form of de Brack’s
work by fusing together the questions and answers, by
devoting a new chapter to artillery, by completing it, as
it were, by the addition of the modern inventions.
Would these additions have improved the work ? We
think not. It might have lost its original appearance,
its seal of improvisation, its cavalry swing—all charm-
ing things in such a subject.
It was better, then, to reprint the work unchanged,
respecting thus the thoughts and memory of de Brack.
In issuing this new edition we desire to repeat on the
very first page some imperishable truths: First, that the
great principles of war are eternal, as the First Napo-
leon declared, and that well-conducted wars are always
methodical; second, that the cavalry has lost nothing of
its importance by the advancement of the other arms.
The lessons General de Brack gave thirty years ago are
the lessons of Jena, Friedland, Wagram, and Eylau.
Those lessons came from the great Frederick, from Gus-
tavus Adolphus, from Charles XII.; Napoleon com-
pleted, perfected, and gloriously applied them. Beyond
that all would be illusion and vanity.
1863.	A General of Cavalry.“ General Steingel, an Alsatian, was an excellent
hussar officer; he had served under Dumouriez in the
northern campaigns, and was a clever, intelligent, and
extremely vigilant man. To all the characteristics of
youth he joined those of mature years; he was an ideal
outpost general. Two or three days before his death he
was the first one to enter Lezkgno; the French general
who arrived a few hours later found that all his wants
had been anticipated and everything prepared for his
future operations.
“The fords and defiles had been reconnoitred, guides
employed, the cure and postmaster interrogated, friendly
relations established with the inhabitants, spies sent out
in various directions, the letters in the post-office seized,
and all those containing military information had been
translated and abstracts of their contents made, and all
necessary measures taken to establish magazines of sup-
plies for the subsistence of the army.”—Napoleon.
xAUTHOR’S PREFACE.
Dole, May 5, 1831.
To the Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of the
Eighth Hussars: ’
My Companions: Upon re-entering the service after
an absence of fifteen years, to compare the present con-
dition of the service with my recollections of the former,
has been for me a curious and interesting study. I have
recognized on the whole some important improvements,
but I freely confess I have not found the cavalry pre-
pared for war, and I have observed, even with pain, that
the traditions concerning details, useful and indispensa-
ble as they are, have been dangerously neglected.
During fifteen years much has been written, but only
to make books. They have unfolded the history of the
war, have recalled it to general officers; but the instruc-
tion of the trooper in campaign duties has been but little
benefited by their study.
I except from these a small number of works; among
others those of General La Roche Aymon, a model light-
cavalryman, who has very materially added to the in-
structions of Frederick. It is a pity that this general
officer, whose works are only a rlsumS of his judicious
observations upon the field itself, had not arranged a
complete elementary system prescribing the duties of
the cavalryman in campaign; a system which might
have become a guide and a standard work, that would
xiXll
author’s preface.
thus have filled the gap which each commander seeks, in
this the day of need, to fill as best he can.
While awaiting this work, so ardently desired, pressed
by the war which seems to be advancing with the stride
of a giant, taking as a basis that which you have learned
in time of peace, then referring to my memoranda,
which La Roche Aymon’s manual often shows me how
to classify, I shall collect hastily, and in the easiest
form and simplest to retain in the memory (not that of
an essay, but rather of a conversation), the results of the
principles I expressed before you at the time of our
class-room instruction.
The very small number among you who have seen
active service will judge me while recalling your experi-
ences; the remainder will learn that of which they are
now ignorant, and will make use of this knowledge as
a reminder which will, on occasion, recall to them that
which they may have forgotten, and will, I believe,
remove some difficulties from their path.
The spirit of order which has governed you for fifteen
years has done you all the good possible; it has prepared
the ground to receive the seed which must now be sown.
The strictness and multiplicity of the duties which it
has imposed upon you have produced action rather than
reflection. In war, reflection the most sustained ought
to go hand in hand with action. Pure machines, how-
ever perfect they may be, may become useless as soon
as the regularity of their movement becomes deranged.
The occurrence of anything unforeseen arrests at once
their action. In war almost everything is unforeseen;
in light cavalry, where the soldier has often to depend
upon himself, every action ought to be the result of
careful thought.author’s preface.
xiii
The objection to theories isjtheir dryness; the “ why ”
would appear not to belong to them, yet the “ why ” is
the soul of our action. It is of this “why’’that we
shall talk to-day, in order that the examples which
action will present to us may not be lost for the present
or future.
In peace you have seen how things are done, now you
are going to learn why they are done.
War alone teaches war. The school exercises from
which we have just freed ourselves are only a theory
more or less perfect, to which an application will be
wanting until we shall enter on a campaign.
War multiplies situations, and almost always instan-
taneously and in an unexpected manner; especially for
light cavalry, it presents the same events under a thou-
sand different aspects. It is not so much a question of
directing beforehand the mind upon such or such a>
point, as training it to perceive and judge clearly, not
to be surprised, and to adopt promptly the best methods
under all circumstances.
One must be born a light-cavalryman. No other
position requires so much natural aptitude, such innate
genius for war, as that of an officer of that arm. The
qualities which make the superior man—intelligencer
will, force—should be found united in’him. Constantly
left dependent on himself, exposed to frequent combats,
responsible not only for his own command, but as well
for that which he protects and guards, the employment
of his physical and moral powers is continuous. The
profession which he practises is a rude one, but the
opportunities of distinguishing himself are presented
daily—glorious compensation which the more richlyXIV
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
rewards his labors by enabling his true worth to become
the sooner known.
I have often mentioned to you General Cur61y, lieu-
tenant with me in 1807; he became a general in 1813.
But in 1800, while twenty leagues in advance of our
army, and at the head of twenty men of the Seventh
Hussars, he struck terror into Leipsic, where 3000
Prussians were stationed. In 1809, while fifteen leagues
in advance of the division to which he belonged, and at
the head of 100 men of the Seventh Chasseurs and
Ninth Hussars, he passed unperceived through the
Austro-Italian army, which it was his object to recon-
noitre, and penetrated as far as the headquarters of the
Archduke, the general-in-chief.
In 1812, at Pultusk, with 100 men of the Twentieth
Chasseurs he captured from the enemy twenty-four
pieces of artillery, and took the general-in-chief of the
Russian army a prisoner.
Well, this man so valiant, so intrepid, so skilful, so
strong-willed, so prompt, sp careful in his dashing enter-
prises, was, when he commanded a detachment, at the
same time its surgeon, veterinary surgeon, saddler, shoe-
maker, cook, baker, and farrier, until encountering the
enemy, when he showed himself the most remarkable
soldier of the Grand Army. Whenever he went into
action the men of his command were fresher and better
prepared for fighting than those of any other, and their
conduct showed it.
Was it such a man as this that one could measure by
the common standard and keep under the level which
rival mediocrities or superiors in rank support always so
heavily on their distinguished heads ? After Curely had
served fifteen years, all in actual war, he received hisauthor’s preface.
XV
promotion to the grade of lieutenant. Why was it so
long delayed ? Because those who were in a position to
demand it were not generous enough to acknowledge
his ability. He simply vegetated until a colonel, a man
of a nature similar to his own, rightly judged him and
removed the barriers which obstructed his path to pro-
motion. His rapid advancement was only an act of
strict justice, for it was solely the fault of others that
it had been previously so slow.
If I dwell upon this fact it is for an example and a
vrarning. Nowhere more than in the army ought one
to study conscientiously his subordinates, and avail
himself of their special qualifications. Nor anywhere
should the justice rendered them be more perfect, more
devoid of the petty jealousies born of self-love—un-
worthy of a noble heart—which may become a serious
and often irreparable wrong, when they basely trammel
true genius and deprive the country of services which
might have benefited it. Seniority has a claim, and
doubtless a very respectable one—but not of the first
importance. The armies in which it has been given too
much weight have always been defeated, while those
where merit has not been invariably subjected to its
unreasonable demands have always been victorious.
Merit being equal, seniority should turn the scale.
In 1815 Curely withdrew from the army. His soul
was not one of those that know how to submit; it was
wounded, sick; it consumed his life and took its flight
a few years ago, to reunite with those of his noble
brothers in arms who died upon the battlefields of the
Empire, or upon the scaffolds of the Restoration. A
wooden cross marks the spot where his body rests in the
cemetery of the little village which he had quittedXVI
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
thirty years before as a simple volunteer soldier. Why
could not death delay awhile ? He would have shaken
the dust from the flag concealed under his humble bed,
and on a field of battle, on the day of victory, with a
standard taken from the enemy, would have found the
only tomb and winding-sheet worthy of him.
Curely was my ideal of a light-cavalryman. For
three years I fought by his side, and his counsels and
example will remain graven upon my memory and in
my heart forever. It is in studying them that I have
learned to know what qualities are necessary to make a
distinguished officer of light cavalry; and if, at a later
date, left to myself, I have had some slight, fortunate
affairs, I have often owed them to the study and re-
membrance of the instructions which he left to me.
To be a good officer of the advanced-guard it is not
enough to be brave and to command well under fire;
one must bring to the place of action the greatest num-
ber of men and have them in the best condition for
exerting the greatest power. This second part of our
instruction, indispensable as it is, though not the most
brilliant, is undoubtedly the most important. It is de-
pendent upon a number of things, and cannot be learned
in garrison.
A habit of judging the health of men and horses, an
acquaintance with the ready remedies applicable in
certain cases, a daily and scrupulous inspection of the
trappings, knowledge of the repairs that should be
made, inspection of the equipments and of the repairs of
wThich they need, supplying all that may be useful to
man and beast without overloading the horses, packing
well understood, regularity of gaits in the columns on
the march, good position of the bivouacs, continuousauthor's preface.
XVII
watchfulness in them of all that may affect the health of
the horses, indication of the means of temporarily dis-
pensing with the farrier, instructions for the employ-
ment of the instruments contained in the surgical case,
the art of eating and sleeping seasonably, study of the
character of the men under our orders, the maintenance
of a discipline which will prevent the troopers arguing
when they have no longer the guard-house or prison to
fear, a constant superintendence which will prevent the
useless waste of the horses’ strength, to set a personal
example in every situation—all the more carefully as
the conditions become more toilsome and difficult—to
inspire the troops with entire. confidence, devotion, and
enthusiasm—those are what the theoretical instructions
of peaceful times do not teach; those are what, joined
to courage, the military coup d'ceil, to promptness of
judgment on the field of battle, make the truly dis-
tinguished officer.
Peace has taught you many things; the various exer-
cises to which it has subjected you will not be lost upon
you because they will not all find their application. You
will retain, above all, from your laborious school exer-
cises, which have brought under control your minds
and bodies, the spirit of discipline and individual
address in handling your arms and horses—the very
foundation of all tactics. For the rest, we shall select
what is indispensable from what is less useful, and we
shall again concentrate our whole attention, to-day
occupied with many details, upon the principal objects
which should engage it exclusively.
“War is,” said General Lasalle to me one day, “to
him who has not yet been beyond the garrison, whatxviii	AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
the world is to the young man just leaving the school-
room; that is, what practice is to theory.”
Peace has produced in the light-cavalryman some
habits which it will be necessary for him to rid himself
of. The ease, the obligation even, of sending articles of
clothing, of equipment and armament, to the shops of
workmen for the slightest repairs, the messing by
squadron, the ridiculous custom of allowing barbers in
the squadrons, etc., prevent the man learning to depend
upon himself alone.
The great quantity of useless articles which he pos-
sesses; the regulation pantaloons which he wears in
cold weather when dismounted; those of duck for
summer—this profusion of clothing, which is only good
to make him careless of his sunburnt pantaloons, and
necessitates the employment of an enormous valise,
which breaks his horse’s back, will be left, without
doubt, at the depot at the first sound of the cannon.
To-day the equipment of a chasseur or hussar seems
conceived only to serve in a general movement from
garrison to garrison. I cannot refrain, I admit it, from
setting myself against the unmilitary idea which has
for several years exercised control in this matter.*
The cavalry officer who has seen service in war
knows only too well that a large valise is soon emptied
* Would it not be a thousand times better, if it is insisted upon that
a soldier should possess so extensive a wardrobe in time of peace,
to have chests that could follow the regiment at the time of its
changing station, in which could be put only the effects which a
trooper is allowed to transport? The transportation of these chests
would cost only a trifle, and would avoid the double necessity of
injuring the horse, breaking him down uselessly, and of forcing
parcels into cases entirely unsuited to the purpose for which they
are used.AUTHOR S PREFACE.
XIX
during a campaign, not by the use of the effects it con-
tains, but by their prompt disappearance. If the valise
remained empty afterwards, it would be only a partial
evil, for it would be but a simple question of money,
and the chief of the corps would be relieved by it of an
ugly burden; but it is not so—the trooper always re-
places the useless articles which he has thrown away by
all the tattered clothes he finds, which he would not
have thought of picking up if he had not had some
place in which to put them.
A light-cavalryman’s valise which will contain more
than two shirts, a housewife, and, under its flap, an extra
pair of boots, is not only useless but even dangerous.
The fewer effects the trooper has the better he cares for
them, the cleaner he is, and the more ready he is. The
chasseurs of the Imperial Guard made, under my own
eyes, the Russian campaign of 1812 with a dolman and
a single pair of pantaloons of Hungarian cloth.
One of the evils peculiar to the times of peace is, that
neither the horse nor the arms of the trooper are his
own.
The dismounted men of a regiment, of which the
number is large, depending upon borrowing for the
means of instruction, soil the accoutrements and arms,
injure the horses, and thus destroy the interest, the
strong feeling of ownership, which all men have for
that which is handled only by themselves. In the old
army I have often known troopers to refuse furloughs
lest their absence should authorize other persons to
mount their horses and use their arms.
From this sense of proprietorship result the most
useful and commendable effects; in time of war it is
entire; nothing may offend or attack it. The trooper
is the only master of what has been intrusted to him onXX
AUTHOR S PREFACE.
his departure from the garrison; his horse and arms
make a part of himself; only death or an offence entail-
ing disgraceful punishment can deprive him of their
possession. If I had had the good fortune to command
you in time of war as I have in peace, I would have
religiously observed the sacred right of each one to that
consideration, and the latest recruit who had had the
care of his horse should not have been dismounted by
any one, not even by the most valuable officer of the
regiment, had he lost his own.
It is to prepare you for the practical knowledge of
outpost duty that I have recorded for you these recol-
lections—this species of manual that I offer you; which
I have preceded by these reflections, forming, in a man-
ner, their preface.
During the nine months I have had the honor of
commanding you, or, rather, of being the head of our
family, our common efforts have been crowned with suc-
cess, since the regiment, destroyed by the transfer of
the old soldiers into another corps, counts to-day 900
men prepared for active service in the field. These re-
sults are the fruits of your zealous labors. Those who
do so well in time of peace ought to be the glory of
the army in time of war.
I cannot copy this manuscript a hundred times so that
a copy maybe furnished to each one of you; I shall
have it printed in order to avoid that labor. As to its
composition, that is left open to criticism. I have not
attempted to write a fine book, but to be clear and in-
structive. Moreover, I have believed that promptitude
of composition would add to the usefulness of precept;
and I have thrown hastily on paper my recollections as
they have recurred in my memory.
Again, I repeat it, these pages are not a theory, a re-AUTHOR S PREFACE.
XXI
port of that which I have heard from others, but rather
a recital of what I have seen—a conversation which
ought to be consulted rather than learned; which, above
all, is not intended for repetition word for word. In
my opinion this would not be well. It is a practice use-
ful only in the recitation-room; beyond that it is the
practice of inferior minds who always find it more con-
venient to exercise their memory than their judgment.
Several points may appear to you too minutely treated,
or perhaps repeated; that is possible. If I have com-
mitted either fault I shall console myself for it with the
thought that in giving instruction it is better to say
too much than not enough. Anyhow, you can await
the application of it before reaching a final conclusion;
then perhaps you will reproach me for the contrary fault.
Study is the arsenal from which you will draw your
arms for the day of action. To study carefully assists
us to think and act quickly, and to do this is the secret
of success as a model officer. Nowhere so much as in
the light cavalry does one recognize the complete
application of this saying of a distinguished officer:
“ Promptitude is genius.”
Theoretical instruction is given coupled only with
trammels which reverse the action of war. The cold
method which it necessitates, cramps and confines the
brilliant dreams of the youthful imagination inspired
with enthusiasm for our profession, which has perceived
from afar only an action upon the field of battle. Often,
also, this young man who later will be the honor of our
outposts, placed at his entrance under the heavy rod of
every species of petty tyranny, which does not consider
the why or the wherefore of things, is disgusted be-
cause he finds no echo of his fiery thoughts, and per-
ceives only a formula where any other" would makexxn
author’s preface.
him recognize a deed. Let him always learn patiently
whatever is shown him; later he will find its application.
At the first sound of the cannon he will have full swing;
he will shake off the dust of the riding-school and the
mess, his chest will fully expand, his sight will be no
longer limited by a horizon. But the theories learned
will govern the movements made possible only by their
precepts. This future is, perhaps, near him to-day; let
him recall the leaden sole attached to the buskin of the
Roman recruit.
In the matter of instruction one is rich on the day of
application only when he has an excess of it. When
this great day has arrived it is too late to learn; it is
time to choose the best and forget the useless. More-
over, war presents so many varying opportunities, be-
comes so complicated by different situations, that the
reserve of our knowledge may also find its unexpected
application, and if this application can be made only
once in our lifetime it repays a year of labor.
When the men of my time arrived in bivouac they
knew nothing, and our studies at the military school
making of us only foot-soldiers, we made our exit from
it a sad lot of troopers. Our education was received
amid sabre blows, which often decimated our ignorant
and awkward ranks. Our good-will, our enthusiasm,
did not avail us. At every step we were checked by
this fatal ignorance. We were wanting in that which
you have—the theory. By dint of hard labor we be-
came better cavalrymen than you are now, but perhaps
not better than you shall be. We had over you the
advantage of the glorious days of Jena, Friedland,
Wagram, Eylau, and Mojaisk, which hardened our bodies
and trained our judgments. Soldiers of the Great
Captain, actors in the most sublime of dramas, we haveauthor’s preface.	xxiii
been able to judge practically of the reasons for victory
or defeat.
Some great days will also dawn for you. Let us hope
that you will study them only in the book of victory.
Your friend,
F. de Brack,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
Translator’s Preface............................. iii
Preface to the Third Edition, 1863............... vii
The Author’s Introduction......................... xi
The Duties of Cavalry.............................. 1
The Chief in Campaign. The Officer................. 2
Clothing. Equipment............................... 15
Horse Equipments. Packing......................... 28
Shoeing........................................... 33
The Use of Arms in War............................ 36
Discipline......................................   53
The Study of the Terrain. Drawing and Topog-
raphy	61
Indications....................................... 71
Guides...........................................  81
Spies. Secret Messengers.......................... 84
Questions to be Asked............................. 90
Bivouacs........................................   99
Forage and Subsistence........................... 109
The Pipe.......................................   117
Grand Guards, Pickets, Small Posts, Vedettes, and
Patrols.......................................... 119XXvi	TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
Detachments.................... ............... 134
Detachments Properly So-called................. 142
Advance-guards................................. 143
Reconnaissances..............................   151
Reports........................................ 172
Commands to, be Used in War, Positions to be Taken
on the Battlefield, and Movements to be Execut-,
ed there.................................... 185
Charges........................................ 203
Courage. Cowardice............................. 217
Morale. Moral Effect........................... 220
Skirmishers and Flankers....................... 230
Prisoners. Deserters........................... 245
Surprises and Ambuscades....................... 249
Flags of Truce................................. 260
Escorts and Convoys............................ 267
The Support of Artillery....................... 279
Partisans...................................... 284
Led Horses. Sutlers............................ 289
Rear-guards.................................... 294
Cantonments.................................... 302
Light Cavalry and Infantry acting Together.....305
Concluding Remarks............................. 309CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
THE DUTIES OF LIGHT CAY ALKY.
Q. What is the duty of light cavalry in campaign ?
A. To clear the way for the army and protect its
march.
Q. How does it accomplish this object f
A. By preceding our columns, scouting their flanks,
surrounding them and concealing them with a bold and
vigilant curtain; following the enemy step by step,
harassing and annoying him, discovering his designs,
exhausting his forces in detail, destroying his magazines,
capturing his convoys, and, finally, forcing him to
expend in defensive operations the strength from which
he might otherwise have reaped the greatest advantage.2
CAYALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
THE CHIEF IN CAMPAIGN. THE OFFICER.
Q. What is the meaning of chief f *
A. Head. Example.
Q. What are the first qualities required in a com
mander of light cavalry on the day of battle ?
A. 1. Clear perception, and cool, mathematical esti-
mation of his own strength and that of the enemy.
2.	The sure and rapid glance which recognizes and
comprehends the frame of mind of the force which he
commands, as well as that of the one he attacks.
3.	The glance with which, from whatever side he
approaches the field, he takes it in as a whole, and in its
minutest details as to distances, accidents, possibilities
and impossibilities for attack, defence, or retreat.
4.	Quickness of decision and action.
5.	The dash which carries everything before it.
6.	The firmness which despairs of nothing and re-
trieves the most desperate situation.
7.	The calmness which never changes countenance, and
causes his subordinates to see only wfith his eyes. Add to
these qualities the courage which sets the example, the
justice which rewards fully, and you have the model
commander who, under all circumstances, holds in hand
a hundred squadrons as one, leads them on, stops them
as a single man, wins or snatches victory, overawes her
♦ The word chief is here used not to designate a grade, but an
office. What is said of it applies as well, in a general way, to a
cavalry sergeant as to a general officer, whenever the responsibility
of command is assumed.—db Brack.THE CHIEF IN CAMPAIGN. THE OFFICER. 3
as though she were a mistress. This combination of
qualities is called first Napoleon, then Frederick,
Massena, Soult, Ney, Kleber, Dessaix, Hoche, Lannes,
Morand, Lasalle.
The face of a chief is often consulted; he should never
forget that, and should allow it to be read only when he
especially desires it to be read.
Thus at the time of an expedition of which he alone
possesses the secret, if it is necessary that the men
should not discover this secret until the arrival of the
proper time, the calmness of their chief should prevent
any feeling of uneasiness entering their ranks.
Q. Where is the position of the chief in a fight f
A. Always at the place of command.
Q. But suppose there are several such positions f
A. There can be but one for the experienced chief;
thus, for example, when the chief upon the battle-field
commands several squadrons in echelon, which he is
going to launch successively, he ought to restrain his
ardor and not put himself at the head of the first, except
under peculiar circumstances; it is better to launch the
first and take the head of the second; in this manner he
can comprehend at a glance the whole affair; he keeps
in hand all his force, which he can readily advance in
case of success, or use as a reserve in the event of a
repulse.
If, under certain circumstances, he believes he ought
to march at the head of the leading squadron, he should
do so only after having given to the other squadron
commanders orders so precise that it will be impossible
for any doubt to arise during the onset, no matter what
may happen, and as soon as possible he ought to return
to the squadrons he has left.4
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
In a retreat, on the contrary, the chief should always
accompany the rear guard, being careful to put the
advance guard in charge of officers in whom he has the
greatest confidence, and to so arrange his march that
th •> prescribed formation and gaits will be maintained.
There is one case in which the chief should precede
his command to the attack, that is, when his force has
rallied, whether in line or in column; then he leads his
troops and is the first to strike; the position being taken,
he relinquishes the role of first soldier to retake that of
manoeuvres
Q. What should the chief do upon the ground, under
fire and before the charge ?
A. He should make a moral inspection of his regi-
ment, riding from right to left at a distance of four
paces from the line; should speak a few words to the
officers and soldiers to cheer and encourage them, make
an opportunity for calling the men by their names, and
thus prove to them that he neither does nor will lose
sight of them.
Upon the field of battle every man’s true nature is
shown; he has no longer any veil, nor can he use any
evasion; his passions are supreme, his soul is clearly
unfolded; there he may read who can and will; there
intrigue is struck dumb; the gallants of the antecham-
ber, the wise men of the drawingroom, the “ Ziethens
of mimic warfare; ” “ the gallopers of peace times,” * no
longer carry high heads; then woe to the face that pales
under such or such a hat, to the epaulettes, to the laces,
which bend under the wind of the cannon-ball, to the
one but little in love with his cockade; justice, complete
* Lasalle.THE CHIEF IN CAMPAIGN. THE OFFICER. 5
justice is rendered; unfortunate is he who is condemned
by the general court, where honor alone presides; he
can never retrieve himself. Under fire, equality through
courage, then the election of the bravest of the brave,
by the brave,—that produces only the blush of enthu-
siasm and pride.
The chief should so inspire his regiment that his
personal movements should rouse or slacken the general
action, that his command should become one with him-
self, that his thoughts should be theirs, and their con-
fidence that which he imparts; and this confidence
should be so close, entire, instinctive, as to cause the
soldier to say in every situation, “ He is there, that
suffices.”
A chief who does not have entire control of his men
and who does not handle them as one man is unworthy
of his position. Upon the battle-field is reaped that
which the officer has sown; the better his previous
service, the better the reputation he has earned for
justice, firmness, instinct, courage, instruction of and
care for his men, the more perfectly can he upon the
battle-field gather like a sheaf the wills of all, to bind
them into one—his own.
There must be but one will in the command—that of
the chief; that is indispensable under penalty of losing
all discipline, and promptly demoralizing the corps.
Except having a cowardly commander, no greater mis-
fortune can befall a regiment than to have one whose
ignorance and laziness are certain to encourage intrigues
and improper influences. The chief who imagines that
he screens the knowledge of his weakness from his
soldiers is a fool. The soldier understands him better
than he does himself; let him employ his time then ki6
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
correcting his faults, not in trying to conceal them.
Egotism in a chief is not only a fault, but a vice which
tarnishes his most shining qualities, and takes from him
three fourths of his moral power over his subordinates.
The chief who does not persuade himself that he is
the regiment and who, in the day of privation or rew ard,
isolates himself to guard only his owTn interests, wTili
remain isolated and be thereby condemned.
During an engagement, at the moment of greatest
danger, the chief ought to calmly single out the bravest
of his men. After the battle he should not rest until he
has rewarded them.
In bivouac, in the face of the enemy, the chief ought
to sleep only one half as much as his subordinates. The
regulations, in allowing him more horses than any other
officer, indicate his obligation to exercise greater vigilance
and to endure more personal fatigue. During the con-
tinuance of the campaign repose is forbidden to him,
and he should never be more watchful than wThen he
requires his men to sleep, for his honor is at stake.
After an engagement, if the wounded have been car-
ried to the bivouacs, the chief should place them beside
his hut, in order to keep a wTatehful eye upon the
attention which is given to them; if they need straw, to
give them his own.
As soon as prisoners are taken the chief should give
them his especial protection, and endeavor to ameliorate
their condition by reassuring w*ords and thoughtful
attention; if they have been wounded, to have them
attended to at the same time as his own wounded men.
If a detachment of another regiment, cavalry or in-
fantry, joins his, the chief should go to meet it and give
it in the presence of his ow7n command some marks ofTHE CHIEF IN CAMPAIGN. THE OFFICER. 7
his esteem. The example will be quickly followed, and
the detachment will soon become a part of the family.
During the campaign of 1809, a battalion of the Seventh
Light Infantry was ordered on detached service with the
Seventh Hussars, to which I belonged; the infantry was
received with open arms by our hussars.
The two regiments conceived for each other so warm
a friendship, that afterwards, saying seven and seven
make fourteen, the hussars responded to the challenge:
“ Who goes there ?” “The Fourteenth Hussars,” and the
infantry “ The Fourteenth Light Infantry.”
An opportunity of proving this friendship was soon
found, for we were attacked at a distance of a few
leagues from Ratisbon by a very superior force, and
would have been obliged to yield had it not been for
the mutual dash and devotion which it inspired.
Some chiefs who have received the order to go into
bivouac neglect to do so at once, and while they thus
needlessly consume time and the strength of their horses,
other regiments dismount, install themselves, and mo-
nopolize the forage and provisions; this is a glaring fault
on the part of the chief of the regiment deprived of its
rights, and one which has great influence upon the minds
of the men.
The officer of experience in active service possesses a
foresight which enables him to determine perfectly in
advance, the halting-place for his division, his brigade,
and the bivouac which his regiment or detachment will
occupy. To install himself quickly or slowly, to place
himself a hundred paces to the right or left, near to or
distant from a wood, from a stream, and above all from
a village, is not a matter of indifference. Upon this
choice, in the end, will depend the efficiency of the8
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
regiment. Given two chiefs of equal merit in other
respects, of whom one shall select good bivouacs and the
other poor ones, at the end of the campaign the first will
find under his orders a strong force in good condition,
while the second will be followed no longer except by a
few broken-down horses.
Often in advancing in column against the enemy two
regiments cut each other and thus produce a quarrel;
this is almost always the fault of the chief; if he is
ordered to move to the front, let him march beside some
column whose route is parallel to his own; if he is ob-
liged to cut it, let him send to forewarn at once the
commandant of that column, or better still, let him go
himself to tell him. All will then be done regularly,
and one avoids exciting among regiments hatreds which
produce sad and enduring effects.
The responsibility of a chief of a light corps is a heavy
burden for one who appreciates at its just value the
importance of his duties. Often the safety of the entire
army is confided to him, and under all circumstances,
the lives of his men, the honor of his standard, are in
his hands.
A colonel of light cavalry, on entering on a campaign,
should assemble first his officers, then his non-commis-
sioned officers, and remind them of their duties, and of
the confidence he has that they will perform them with
vigor, intelligence, activity, and perfect conscientious-
ness. He should show them in perspective the rewards
which they will earn, and which he will do everything
in his power to obtain for them.
Then teach them the general scale of official responsi-
bility, and forewarn them that he will demand of each
one the entire fulfilment of his obligations.THE CHIEF IH CAMPAIGN THE OFFICER. 9
The one who, either through neglect or ignorance,
does not rise to the full height of his position—since the
general safety and the honor of the regiment are at
stake—should be immediately deprived of his command
and placed in the rank of tile-closers, or sent to the rear.
This having been done, the chief will keep his word relig-
iously, making the greatest efforts to obtain the prom-
ised rewards, and displaying the inflexibility of iron
in the application of punishment.
In presence of the enemy no officer should ever quit
the line of battle even to move only a slight distance to
the right or left. This obligation is imposed upon him
by the needs of the service, and should be dictated to
him by that instinct, by that fatalism, which every sol-
dier always possesses. I have known officers severely
wounded by cannon-balls while they were out of their
places, and who, after having been ten years retired,
said to me with bitterness, “ If I had been in my proper
place, this would not have happened.” Should they live
fifty years longer this idea will pursue them constantly;
they will attribute to this fault the greatest misfortune
of their lives.
The practices of peace have given some detestable
habits to officers: they have been led to believe that
when they did not incur arrest for delay in attending
calls, that when at drill they commanded platoons,
sometimes well and sometimes badly, they were officers,
and that the time of which they were not deprived by
the necessity of performing the duties of a corporal they
were at liberty to employ, consume, and spend entirely
at the club. They have been persuaded to this by the
exorbitant privileges which have been granted to rank.
By virtue of this law, which is destructive of all pride,10
CAYALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
of all desire of improvement, the most ordinary man is
sure to excel the best without making the least effort.
So, in the regiments to-day, the great thing for an officer
is not his zeal and knowledge, not even the results of
the inspections, but his place upon the army register.
War will rudely correct this evil, the outgrowth of a long
peace.
One man is born a general, another a corporal; the
destiny of both must be accomplished; it is a law of
right and justice which the conscience of both will be
the first to establish. Such an officer may be a sub-
lieutenant and lieutenant of chasseurs, afterwards he
should pass into the cuirassiers; another should leave
the reserve cavalry at the earliest moment to take com-
mand of a squadron of hussars; another should never
be made colonel; another, sub-officer to-day, should
skip the intermediate grades, and stop only at the head
of a regiment. But as a matter of justice, there must
be a pretext, and war alone can furnish it.
Let the officer prepare and instruct himself if he
desires to succeed; let him employ every moment in
studying his profession in its smallest details; let him
learn all that a trooper has to do; in garrison, let his
colonel assure himself that he knows how to groom a
horse? to clean his arms and equipment; one cannot
intelligently order what he is ignorant of himself.
Let him who wishes to be a thorough officer associate
with those who can instruct him, instead of wasting his
time at the club; let him frequent the different infir-
maries during the daily visits of the surgeons and
veterinarians; study their practice; converse with dis-
tinguished men, with soldiers who have really seen war
and are included in the garrison where he belongs; exTHE CHIEF IN CAMPAIGN. THE OFFICER. 11
amine carefully, in the shops of the master workmen,
how the clothing, arms, and equipments are manufac-
tured and repaired; let him, without any false shame,
take a hand in the work himself.
This instruction will be of the greatest utility in a
campaign; will prevent his ever being embarrassed, and
will cause him to be selected to command all the detach-
ments which are separated for a'long time from the
regiment and operating independently; which should
obtain for him honor and well-merited advancement.
If he enjoys the advantage of being stationed in a gar-
rison with troops of other arms, let him, in his spare
moments, run to the arsenals; to the works in course
of construction by the engineers; to the ordnance
yards of the artillery ; to the drill-ground of the infan-
try : there only will he learn the relations of the differ-
ent arms to one another; will estimate the difficulties-
and possibilities of attack and defence by studying the
rapidity of formations, distances, firing, etc. And if
upon the frontier or during an armistice he finds strange
troops opposite to him, let him visit their outposts,
bivouacs, barracks and drill-grounds, and let his military
coup d’ceil retain faithfully the improvements which he
recognizes among them, and with which he may enrich
his own service on his return.
Finally, let the officer remember that facility in ac-
quiring knowledge is a power, and that in spite of
everything, power always triumphs.
One of the greatest pieces of good fortune which an
officer should desire to meet with at the beginning of
his career is to make a part of a regiment which per-
forms its duty well, and to find himself subject to the
orders of a skilled and instructed chief. Let the officer12
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
thus happily situated not seek to pass the first grades
rapidly. Everything is a study, and a fruitful one too,
for him ; let him profit by it to instruct himself thor-
oughly ; later he will see that he has not lost his time,
for no matter where his fortune and good reputation
may conduct him, he will find everything easy; the
first lessons have so decided an influence upon our
career.
Under any circumstances never censure any one but
the chief, for he is responsible for everything; to act
otherwise would be to insult the command and to com-
mit an injustice. If a trooper is badly dressed, punish
his captain ; if poorly instructed, punish the instructor;
if he is ignorant of what he should do at such or such a
post, punish the chief of that post. Impulsion goes only
from the head ; therefore it is the head that must be
punished. He who does not act thus will create for
himself a world of needless annoyances, stop the per-
formance of all duty, destroy discipline, disgust the
command, and bring himself into disrepute by proving
that he does not know how to perform the duties of his
office.
Officers are not equally efficient in all things. One is
at his best on the field of battle, the other in managing
the details of the regiment; from the latter nothing
which is connected with the interior arrangement and
organization of the regiment can escape. The really
superior officer possesses the ability of both ; but as such
an officer is very rare, let the chief always confide the
specialties to those who are versed in them, without,
however, by that action repressing useful and active
men in such a manner as to deprive them of merited
promotion, and so that the rest of the officers shall ac-THE CHIEF IK CAMPAIGN. THE OFFICER. 13
quire no practical knowledge of that portion of the
service trusted to the specialists.
Sometimes a body of officers or non-commissioned
officers is weak, destitute of energy, of action, of en-
thusiasm ; almost always it is the fault of the comman-
dant of the regiment, but sometimes also it may depend
on two or three leaders of different grades who have
established themselves as the chiefs of cliques whom their
comrades recognize as such, who give the cue and lead
the fashion.
The chief should discover the source of this evil, de-
structive of all duty, and later, of all discipline, and
remove it at once. One can no more command a regi-
ment destitute of spirit than the most skilful pilot can
steer a vessel in the open sea when no wind swells her
sails.
One of the evils attached to the office of chief is the re-
striction which the dignity of the position opposes to the
exhibition of intimate friendship for his inferiors, that
kindness which would make it so pleasant, when their
merit had been discovered, to place them in their proper
positions, to establish between them and himself a com-
plete and brotherly equality, the instant the relief from
duty ceased to require the distinction of rank.
Sometimes a good soul who suffers from his isolation
permits himself to yield to this weakness so pleasant,
and at bottom so honorable, for it is based upon
esteem ; the heart is right, the chief is wrong, especially
if the inferiors whom .he honors with this affection for-
get themselves, and often without intending it, thus
bring into disrepute their friend in his position of chief.
Whoever comports himself familiarly with his inferiors
ought to be, above all, strong enough not to be drawn,14
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
in any case, by this intimacy, into making concessions
which would produce a lack of respect for himself.
He ought, so to speak, to regulate the degree of his
familiarity by that of his moral superiority, and above
all, by the minds and knowledge of life possessed by
the inferiors to whom he accords a brotherly confidence.
The chief who feels himself superior only by virtue of
his rank, and whose mind is narrow and character
feeble, ought to avoid similar intimacies ; if he does not,
his personal dignity and that of his position will surely
be promptly compromised.CLOTHING. EQUIPMENT.
15
CLOTHING. EQUIPMENT.
In war one very quickly perceives the inconveniences
of the garments which in garrison were required to lit
so snugly, of the boots which were ordered made so tight.
When, in bivouac, the cramped limbs can find no repose;
when the boots, dried by the fire, shrink still more upon
feet already swollen by fatigue, when their thin soles
have broken through and refuse further service—one
would give a great deal to be able to exchange his natty
costume for a comfortable jacket and a pair of large,
easy-fitting boots: but the time for that has passed; the
campaign must be made under the most fatiguing con-
ditions, and the officer will be doomed to see his elegant
apparel reduced to rags, as its tightness will make it
tear everywhere, and in such a manner that it cannot be
repaired.
It is then that one discovers the usefulness of the
housewife—so despised and so entirely neglected in time
of peace. He who has neither thread, needles, wax,
buttons, scissors, nor knife, will have to depend upon
borrowing; but lenders are few, because those who pos-
sess such articles are the provident, and the foresight
which induced them to provide themselves with these
necessaries will make them keep them for their own use.
Young officers, listen to this advice, based upon my
own experience: never carry a large portmanteau, for
it will prove to be only a hindrance.
An officer, no matter what may be his grade, needs
no more baggage than a trooper requires.16
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Two jackets, two pairs of cloth trousers, three orr four
shirts, and two pairs of boots should fully suffice for a
campaign of eighteen months. They should all be new,
of good quality, and fit comfortably. A housewife,
supplied with thread, buttons, needles, etc., should
accompany them and always be ready for use in repair-
ing the slightest rent as soon as it appears. By taking
these precautions you will save yourself a world of pri-
vations and annoyances, which might degenerate into
actual misfortune, and have a greater influence than
you can foresee upon your military career.
In war certain articles are used up more rapidly than
others: among these are boots. Supply yourself with
those having thick soles, studded wdth small nails, and
let them be wide and at least f of an inch longer than
your foot.
Trouser straps frequently break: take several pairs of
them and attach them to your trousers, not wuth ordi-
nary buttons sewed on, but with copper studs, some of
which should be carried in your housewife.
Trouser buckles also break: take tw^o or three of them
with you. To replace the spurs which are sure to break,
carry an extra pair in your valise.
The best trousers for use in wrar, and the ones I should
permit officers to wear, are those called Lasalle. They
are wide, have pockets, and the false leather boots with
which they are provided, while preserving them from
too rapid wear, will receive mud without injury, because
in an instant the dirt and moisture can be removed
from them with a sponge.
Leather gaiters, buttoning on the sides, might be
wrorn over one’s riding trousers. They have the advan-
tage of being easily removed on arrival in bivouac, andCLOTHING. equipment:
17
of being cleaned separately; but they also have the
disadvantage of multiplying the articles of clothing and
requiring some time to put them on one’s legs. Every-
thing which simplifies the clothing of the cavalryman,
and facilitates the act of dressing, filling, as it does, one
of the first conditions of our rapid movement, appears
to me preferable.
The shako is an uncomfortable head-dress: it is a poor
protection against a sabre cut, and, far from preventing
the rain from running down into the cravat, leads it
there so directly that not a drop is lost. Officers should
have their shako covers made so that the lower edge,
being habitually folded up and fastened in front, may
lie down upon the neck during a hard rain.
Frequently, officers, in order to have a lighter head-
dress, direct the workmen to make their shakos of linen,
or of so-called waterproof cardboard, or of thin leather;
they are wrong, for three reasons: first, a shako thus
made cannot resist a sabre blow; second, the shape is
easily destroyed; third, in wet weather it stretches
beyond measure, and shrinks again under the sun’s rays,
so that it does not fit the head properly, and therefore
injures it.
In war, use a shako made of strong leather only, and
take care that it is furnished with a chin strap not
likely to break.
At Essling, I saw some cuirassier helmets cut entirely
through by sabre blows; and how many troopers have I
seen killed because of having lost their headdresses !
In war only the usef ul and durable are the elegant.
All leather articles which in peace are waxed, in war
should be greased. In doing this there are several ad-
vantages : first, the multitude of brushes, embarrassing18
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
on account of their number, volume, and weight, may
be dispensed with; second, the life of the leather will be
prolonged; third, the leather will be less liable to injury
by moisture.
When leather gets wet beware of drying it quickly at
a fire.
One of the most annoying pieces of accoutrement is
the upper sabre sling, owing to the weight it has to
support and the length usually given it. Its condition
should be examined frequently, and as soon as the
stitching shows any signs of ripping, it should be re-
paired; for, if that be not done, the sabre blade will be
infallibly lost; and what would a cavalryman be without
a sabre ? It would undoubtedly be better to fasten this
strap to the waist belt by a stud, but since that is not
done, watch the stitching carefully to see that it does
not rip out.
The buff saber knot is not fit for field service. Upon
arriving in front of the enemy it should be carefully put
away in one’s portmanteau, and be replaced by a hand-
kerchief rolled and twisted like a schoolboy’s tampon ; a
handkerchief thus prepared clings well to the wrist, and
will ward off the heaviest sabre blows.
An officer should wear next to his skin a belt of soft
leather or strong linen, in which to put a few pieces of
gold coin ; that is his purse. There would be no harm
in his sewing a few of these pieces between the cloth and
the lining of one of his oldest jackets. In his trousers
pockets he should put a memorandum-book, a good
pencil, a small pocket compass, a tin spoon, a strong
knife which has besides its ordinary blade, a penknife
and hoof pick, an awl, a lancet, and a steel. In order
to prevent this knife from being lost, it would be well toCLOTHING. EQUIPMENT.
19
have an eye in the lower part of the handle, to allow a
string to be attached to it, the other end of which would
be fastened to the trousers pocket.
The handkerchief to be carried in the shako.
The small valise packed upon the horse which he rides
should contain toilet articles, a shirt, a pair of socks, a
handkerchief, a housewife like that of the trooper, a
small roll of surgical bandage, a small writing-case con-
taining a few sheets of paper, some ink, pencils, pens,
wafers, a piece of India ink, and a brush. Under the
trooper, on the saddle, and held in place by the cantle
should be a wallet of ticking or burlap—the pocket on
the off side containing the rations, that on the near side
a ration of oats.
The pockets of an officer’s schabraque should contain,
the one a folded nosebag to be used in feeding grain in
bivouac, the other his pipe.
The tobacco pouch will be hung to the trooper’s sabre.
If the officer has a field-glass, it will be worn across
his shoulder. As to his brandy, if he has a small goat-
skin bottle, which is the best of bottles, because it never
breaks, he will carry it in his wallet.
Upon his led horse should be placed, not a portman-
teau, which is always fastened clumsily and with diffi-
culty, destroys the saddle which carries it, turns over
and gets lost in a night march, can be easily stolen, as
the cords which secure it can be cut in a second, injures
the horse, has to be unpacked every time one wishes to
open it, and which adds to all these disadvantages that
of being always made of soft, spongy leather, which
does not protect the contents from rain; but, instead, a
pair of strong saddle-bags covered with waterproof
leather. They should be of medium size, connected by20
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
a strong piece of leather, covering the seat of the saddle,
so as to perfectly protect it, and be hooked on to the
cantle so as to obviate any danger of turning over.
They should be additionally secured in place by a strong
girth buckled under the horse’s belly, so as to prevent
swaying to and fro, and thus allowing a double motion
to their contents.
The bag on the off-side should contain the linen and
clothing.
The other, the provisions; and the weight should be
so distributed that one will balance the other.
The openings of the saddle-bags should be on the outer
sides so that their contents can be taken out without
taking off the saddle-bags.
Upon the led horse, between the saddle-bags, should
be carried a large can and a tin saucepan; also a scythe,
with its handle.
Every officer should see that his provision wallet con-
tains some salt, pepper, garlic, onion or shallot, and
some vinegar; for the means of seasoning food are
especially needed in campaign. I would also recommend
a supply of sugar, which is an invaluable remedy in cer-
tain cases. Nor should he forget to supply himself with
matches and wax tapers, whose bright light will be of
the greatest use to him when he establishes himself for
the night.
Sometimes officers carry toilet articles in their car-
tridge-boxes, which is wrong, as when cartridges are
needed they are obliged to borrow them from troopers.
The cartridge-box of an officer, like that of the trooper,
is made to hold cartridges, and should contain nothing
else.
Overcoats are issued to troopers to protect them, asCLOTHING. EQUIPMENT.
21
well as their arms and ammunition, from the weather.
In peace the march need not be delayed to give time to
put them on, because, as the trooper will reach his des-
tination at an early hour, he can find the time and
means necessary to dry himself; but in war that cannot
be counted upon, so, as soon as it begins to rain, have
the overcoats unrolled and put on; after the rain has
ceased, allow them to remain upon the men long enough
to dry, then have your men, as they should be trained
to do, reroll and replace them on their saddles, as they
march along. At the first halt the coats will be over-
hauled and any faults in packing remedied, under the
supervision of the squadron and platoon commanders.
The great quantity of clothing allowed the trooper has
necessitated a valise much too large; a campaign will
hardly have begun before the greater part of these use-
less things will be thrown aside and lost; but it is to be
feared that the horse will gain but little by this tem-
porary diminution of weight. The trooper will replace
his linen trousers by rags which he will pile upon his
poor horse without in any way benefiting himself. It
is absolutely necessary, then, that officers should make
frequent and unexpected inspections of the valises, and
order every forbidden article found in them to be thrown
away or destroyed, and punish severely the troopers who,
in spite of orders to the contrary, persist in exhausting
the strength of their horses in transporting useless, and
frequently stolen, property.
At the present day the weight carried by a light-
cavalry horse is from 246 to 258 pounds, and this weight
is naturally much increased in rainy weather. Add to
that the weight of the rations, and you can easily see22
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
that it is necessary to be very strict in regard to the
weights allowed to be carried.
. Sometimes officers have their personal supplies carried
on the horses of their grooms: the chief should positively
forbid this, and severely punish any officer guilty of a
repetition of the offence, after having been once cau-
tioned. The trooper’s horse belongs to the government,
and should be employed only in its service.HORSE EQUIPMENTS. PACKING.
23
HORSE EQUIPMENTS. PACKING.
Q. Why does it often happen that a non-commis-
sioned officer or soldier does not receive the promotion,
the cross, which he might have obtained f
A. Because, instead of continuing with the war squad-
rons to which he belonged, he remained in rear, at one
of the small depots.
Q. Why f
A. Because his horse was injured and unfit for service.
Q. What injured him f
A. The saddle.
Q. Why did the saddle injure him ?
A. Because the chief of squadron in assigning it,
and the soldier in receiving it, failed to study carefully
the proper bearing of the saddle on the horse’s back.
The first thing to be done when a saddle is received is
to place the naked tree on the horse’s back to see that
the bars fit properly; that they are parallel to the sur-
face on which they are placed; to judge beforehand the
changes of position which will be effected in these sur-
faces by the movements of the horse, so that the weight
of the saddle may be, as nearly as possible, distributed
over the whole, and not bear upon a portion of the bars
only. The slightly convex form of the bars is given to
them for the sole purpose of preserving a perfect equilib-
rium in all possible positions of the horse and his rider.
To see that the arch of the pommel does not constrain
the withers, either by pinching them laterally or com-
pressing them in their upper portion; that the arch of the24
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
cantle is high enough and the fork sufficiently elevated
to prevent the valise resting on the loins -when it is at-
tached; that the bars are smooth, so that there may be no
rough spots to produce abrasions of the skin; that the
pegs, made of green wood, and afterward dried, do not
project from their holes in a way to produce injury; that
the saddle seat is not so low as to throw the rider on
the backbone of the horse, instead of keeping him away
from it, thus producing pressure and dangerous chafing;
that the saddle seat is not raised too high before or be-
hind, which, by throwing the rider too much to the front
or rear, will make the saddle tilt up, derange the equi-
librium, establish a constant, uneven pressure upon the
same place, constrain the horse and rider in their move-
ments, and will surely injure both; that the holsters do
not close too tightly on the shoulders, which will con-
strain their movements and surely wound them. The
only way of judging perfectly of the fit of a saddle is,
as I have already said, to place the bare tree upon the
horse’s back, then to mount the man upon the tree and
see how the pressure acts.
If, in every movement, the bars are not parallel to
the horse’s sides, the pressure will be irregular; for
either the tree is too wide, and the bars, pressing only
from the inside, will injure the backbone of the horse;
or the tree will be too narrow, and the bars, pressing
only diagonally, will soon produce sores upon those
parts of the sides which they must bear upon with all
the weight of the rider and his load.
That having been done, the leather parts belonging to
the saddle will be attached to it, and it will then be
placed carefully upon the folded blanket. The crupper,
breast-strap, and girth will be so arranged that by theirHORSE EQUIPMENTS. PACKING.
25
united action they will hold the saddle securely in the
place it should occupy and thus prevent, instead of
causing, injuries to the horse.
When a saddle tits a horse properly there is no need
of fastening it, in peace, with either a crupper or breast-
strap; which shows plainly that these two pieces of
harness should not be tightly drawn—as this would
simply result in constraining the movements of the horse,
and chafing his skin unnecessarily. On the contrary,
the girth should be tightened rather more, because by
holding the blanket in position it prevents its becoming
displaced, to the injury of the horse, and also keeps the
saddle in place.
The captain who adjusts a saddle to the back of a
horse of his squadron ought to see not only the imme-
diate effect it will produce on the back, rounded by rest
in the garrison, but also that which it must produce
upon the same back, thinned and wasted by the fatigues
of wrar, or of a long march. He should be guided then,
not by the fleshy form but by the bony frame of the
horse, in forming his opinion.
When the saddle has been tried as I have just directed,
it should then be packed and mounted; and, in the
alterations which will be suggested by these operations,
a large margin must be allowed for the changes which
will be rendered necessary by the thinness of the horse,
as mentioned above.
After this important labor has been performed, the
horse may be bridled.
The greatest care should be exercised in the choice of
a bit. The conformation of the mouth will suggest the
one most suitable; nevertheless, it may be that after
having conformed to all that the ordinary rules pre-26
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
scribe, the greater or less sensibility, general or partial,
of the mouth may upset our calculations; in that case
let us not hesitate to change the bits until we find one
offering the fewest objections.
After having fitted the bit, guard against doing what
I have unfortunately seen done in many regiments, and
among others, my own,—that is, shortening the curb-
chain in order that the equipments may be handsomer
and more uniform. That is sacrificing the useful to
the elegant, while, on the contrary, we ought really to
sacrifice everything to the useful. Let us leave the curb-
chain at its full length, because in certain cases by this
means we will be able to give greater freedom to the
horse’s mouth. If a horse dies and is replaced by
another, the same bit can be used, no matter what may
be the thickness of the new horse’s chin. If the horse
does not obey the bit, applied in the proper manner,
we can let out the chain on one side, twist irregularly,
and thus produce a more marked effect upon him. This
expedient, useful in certain emergencies, necessarily
shortens the length of the curb-chain; but even if the
curb-chain breaks, and we lose the broken ring, there
will still remain something with which to repair dam-
ages.
Let us also guard against drawing the curb-chain,
nose-band, and throat-latch too tight: to do so is to
torture the horse uselessly, restrict his respiration, de-
prive him of all liberty, all movement of the bit neces-
sary to refresh the bars of his mouth. It is also a
mistake to place a bit so as to cause the branches to tilt
forward, as the effect of their pressure upon the bars is
to fatigue them and destroy their sensibility; it gives to
the bit a severity which, far from rendering the horseHORSE EQUIPMENTS. PACKING.
27
obedient, too often frets him and makes him wild and
stubborn.
After the equipment has been used for some time, the
use made of it, or the moisture of the air, may cause the
leather straps to yield and stretch. We must then read-
just it in order that the leather may not become creased
or wrinkled; that it may fit the horse perfectly and permit
neither chafing nor useless swaying. And this opera-
tion must be repeated as often as we see the necessity
for so doing.
Q. Why is it that the girth often breaks and throws
the rider to the ground f
A. The girth itself seldom breaks, because it is made
of strong material, and when this becomes old and stiff
enough to break, it is replaced by new; but the girth is
attached to the tree by a thong which is as weak as the
parts to which it is attached are heavy and strong. Its
strength not being proportioned to the other parts, it
gives way when not well secured, or breaks when sud-
denly dried, or weakened by a service of short duration.
This thong should be frequently examined, as it is upon
its soundness that our safety depends.
Q. The backs of troop horses are generally badly
formed. Some are narrow, others too round, others are
lower in front than behind, others have the contrary
fault, and others are swaybacked.
A. The greater reason why we should examine them
carefully in order to fit the saddles to them suitably.
Q. But suppose the horse, in campaign, becomes
thinner than we anticipated on starting out f
A. I have already told you that before setting out on
a campaign you should study his bony frame instead of
his fleshy form, and that you should be guided in your28
CAVALBY OUTPOST DUTIES.
action by the results of that study; however, if you
have made the mistake of not seeing what must happen,
you must not hesitate to attach pads to the saddle-tree.
Q. Of what should these pads be made?
A. Of a bit of coarse linen which can be nailed to the
bars and then stuffed with hair, or, in default of that,
with hay or straw. Be careful to drive the nails which
secure the pads upon the upper face of the bars, where
they cannot possibly come in contact with the horse’s
back, so that their heads may cause no injuries by their
roughness.
Q. If the horse is low in front or behind f
A. You must give a greater thickness to your pad in
front or behind, in order to correct this fault of confor*
mation, which is the more dangerous because the saddle,
in moving to the front or rear, increases the effect of
the breast-strap or crupper, and by that means quickly
produces injuries which cannot be cured, because the
cause cannot be entirely removed. Further, by throw-
ing the weight of the trooper forward or to the rear,
out of its proper position, it constrains the paces of the
horse, paralyzes his action, and diminishes the power of
the trooper through the clumsiness produced thereby.
Generally, the troop horses in France are low in front
and have deficient withers. The manner of folding the
blanket only partially remedies the defect. There
should be in all regiments a certain number of saddles
made for this class of horses, with the pommel arches
higher than those of the cantle.
General rule: the horse and his rider should be a unit,
and to accomplish this the centre of gravity of both
should be in the same place, and the weight should bear
on the centre of its supports.HORSE EQUIPMENTS. PACKING.
29
Q. During a campaign, what should be done when a
horse's sides are injured f
A. When the blanket has been folded, the surface
which chafes the injured parts should be covered with a
linen cloth, in order that the wool may not irritate the
sore; then the saddle should be raised by half pads
which will bear upon the sound surface, without touch-
ing the sore, so that the horse may be cured while march-
ing.
If, after the sore has healed, and the pads have been
removed, the saddle continues to hurt the horse, in spite
of the care taken to prevent it, the tree should be ex-
changed for another.
Q. If the horse is injured on the withers f
A. The front of the saddle should be raised by half
pads, covered with linen, and the weight on the saddle
be temporarily shifted, by throwing it upon or toward
the cantle.
Q. If injured on the loins f
. A. The folded blanket should be made shorter so that
it will not touch the sore, the thickness and weight of
the valise be diminished by removing some of the con-
tents, which may be placed on the saddle, and after-
wards the valise be raised so that it can no longer touch
the injured part. If these measures prove unavailing,
the valise must be entirely removed. Sometimes the
iron plates of the tree are too long and injure the horse
in front and in rear. In this case the plates must be
shortened, or have their sharp edges smoothed down.
Often the loins are injured by the faulty manner of
folding the jacket, the buttons being allowed to touch
the horse. This fault may be easily discovered and cor-
rected.30
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Q. But what will the trooper do, when deprived of
his valise f
A. He will place his two unfolded shirts between the
seat and the schabraque, his housewife in his nosebag,
put on his best pair of boots, and send the remainder of
his effects back to the sub-depot.
Q. Should his horse be wounded in the shoulder by
the rubbing of his carbine t
A. The trooper must carry his carbine on his arm
until the sore is completely healed.
Q. Should the horse be injured by the crupper t
A. It must be loosened and be wTrapped with linen
cloth, and, if the trouble is not remedied by this, the
crupper must be taken off entirely.
Q. Should the horse be injured by the girths t
A. This will always arise, either from the saddle get-
ting too far in front, or the girths becoming too dry and
hard. In the first case, the cause must be removed by
saddling farther back, and arranging the saddle so that
it will not pull too much on the crupper; and, in the
second, by slightly rasping the edge which injures the
horse, greasing it, and wrapping it with linen cloth, or
other soft material, such as sheepskin.
Q. Should the horse's mouth be injured?
A. Attack the cause, by raising or lowering the bit, by
opening out the upper branches, or by lowering the
snaffle.
Often, men, in bridling their horses, do not take care <
to place the snaffle above the port of the curb bit, w7hich
causes the two bits, one above the other, to strike the
bars together, and injure the mouth.
The great art of packing consists of three things : 1st.
To carry only the indispensable. 2d. To distribute itsHORSE EQUIPMENTS. PACKING.
31
weight properly, so that it may bear equally, and thus
fatigue the horse as little as possible, and not wound
him. 3d. To give the trooper the greatest possible
facility in the use of his arms, so that he may employ
them to the very best advantage.
Packing forms three fourths of the duty of the trooper
in campaign. Do not be astonished, then, at the im-
portance I have attached to it since I have commanded
you ; at the manner in which I have continually insisted
that you should appear on parade every day with a reg-
ularly and completely packed equipment.
There are some things which one never knows well
enough until he knows them too well.
Whenever in war, either by the death of a horse, or
captures from the enemy, you find yourself in possession
of extra saddle-trees, do not send them to the rear or
abandon them on the battlefield, until after you have
tried them on the backs of the horses wounded or in-
jured by causes which you recognize as proceeding from
the shapes of your saddle-trees. I recommend to you
especially, the tree of the Hungarian saddle, the very
best you can have, and one that is durable and adapted
to almost every kind of horse.
Never abandon an equipment until after you have
taken from it everything that may be of use to you, not
to make a supply depot and burden your horse with a
useless load, but in order to replace in the field that
which may be wanting, or to exchange what is worthless.
Over that let the squadron commanders preside, and
take care that they permit none but useful exchanges.
In time of war, let the squadron commanders fre-
quently make unannounced inspections of their equip-
ments and packs.32
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
The campaign once begun, no horses should be sent to
the rear, except in case of absolute necessity. The rest
which an injury would justify in time of peace ought
not to be granted then. In a campaign, an injured
horse able to serve ought to serve ; it is the duty of his
rider to cure him while marching.
I have seen horses, weak and thin, with backs per-
fectly stripped of skin, the means of gaining the cross
for their riders. Of this number I would mention the
one ridden by my friend Guindet, when he killed the
Prince of Prussia, at Saalfeld.
Unfortunately, in time of war, the light cavalry-
man has but little time to nurse his horse, which would
be the means of preserving his health ; but he can al-
ways find time enough to slacken his girths, to pull for-
ward the saddle blanket, to replace his saddle in its
proper position, and he should not neglect to employ it
in services of this nature.
The trooper ought to live only for his horse, which is
his legs, his safety, his honor, and his reward.SHOEING.
33
SHOEING.
A soldier cannot be too careful of his horse’s feet. A
nail badly driven, a stone caught in the frog, a hard
substance pushed into the hoof, a shoe pulled off and
lost, may, all at once, render the horse unfit for field
service.
A troop may, I admit, find itself without a black-
smith.
So soon as a soldier perceives his horse limping in the
slightest degree, he should leave the ranks, dismount,
and examine the foot in which the lameness seems to be.
If the cause of lameness is a stone picked up by the
shoe, it must be removed by striking it with another
stone, from the narrowest side of the shoe, in order that
it may fall more easily from its place.
If it is a nail, it must be withdrawn by a piece of split
wood, that will clasp it between its head and the foot,
and being turned over, will serve as a lever, and act like
pincers ; afterward the foot must be cleaned out, and a
little grease, if it can be had, be applied to the hole and
left there, until proper treatment can be obtained.
Should a soldier hear a shoe clicking or rattling, he
should leave the ranks and examine the horse’s foot. If
the clicking is caused by the loosening of the nails, he
must strike them with a hammer or stone until the points
reappear on the outside of the hoof, when he must clinch
them as well as he can until a blacksmith can be found.
If caused by the loss of several nails, he must drive
one, with light blows, into one of the holes made by the34
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
former nails, in order to avoid all risk of pricking the
horse, taking care to keep the point well forward so
that it may come out low rather than high, and to put
this nail into that part of the shoe which has the fewest
nails. If the soldier is a new man and afraid to try the
operation, he should ask an old soldier to render him
the service, and afterward take his horse to the first
blacksmith he can find.
If the shoe is almost off, so that it would be necessary
to put too many nails into it to fasten it, the trooper
should take it off, put it into his shoe pouch, and then
march on foot, leading his horse by the bridle.
It is to be well understood that all this is to be done
only at a distance from the enemy; for when an engage-
ment begins no time can be taken for repairing dam-
ages; but whether a horse be shod or barefooted, lame
or not lame, he must go on, and his rider must not dis-
mount except by order of his captain.
The more hilly and stony the country is, the more
carefully must the trooper attend to the travelling of his
horse and to any marked change in his gait.
The file-closers should frequently cast their eyes on
the ground passed over by the command. If they see a
lost shoe they must pick it up and restore it to the
trooper whose horse has dropped it.
A shoe is seldom lost except through the fault of the
trooper. If, before beginning the march, he had exam-
ined his horse’s feet; if, at the different halts, he had
inspected them carefully, and called the blacksmith
when a nail was found missing, no shoes would have
been lost.
Good horse-shoers are rare. The captain should care-
fully superintend the work at his forge and never hesi- „SHOEING.
35
tate to return to the ranks as a trooper one who does
his work carelessly, and frequently pricks a horse.
Blacksmiths are slaves of routine, and they give too
little attention to the bearing of the horse. Sometimes
they throw the horse on the point of his foot—which
may cause a thousand serious accidents—and again upon
his heel, which fatigues and wears out the horse rapidly
by producing an unnatural action in the flexor tendons
of the leg. A troop commander, entering on a campaign,
should satisfy himself twenty times rather than once,
that his men possess everything needed; not only a set
of extra shoes, but also at least double the number of
nails required to set them.
If the season is advanced, he should see that every
man adds to his ordinary supply a certain number of
roughened nails for use on ice.
He should also personally see that every extra set of
shoes has been fitted to the feet of the horse which is
to wear them.
So soon as his supply of shoes and nails is exhausted,
he should endeavor, by all means, to repair his losses,
either by setting his blacksmith to work so soon as an
opportunity occurs, or by taking the shoes from the
horses sent to the rear, or from those killed in action. I
have always noticed in a campaign that the troop which
counted the most horses in the ranks, was the one whose
blacksmiths were the best and the most carefully
watched.
It is always the fault of the troop commander when
the horses are without shoes.36
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
THE USE OF ARMS IN WAR.
In peace you have learned to handle your arms; war
will teach you how to use them.
In France the light cavalryman is armed with the
musketoon, pistol, sabre and lance.
The French firearms are the best in Europe.
Skill in handling weapons gives all their power; the
care taken of them doubles their effect.
This care extends to the manner of using and preserv-
ing them; we must, then, study their effect and the
causes which tend to deteriorate them.
The musketoon has only three fourths of the range of
the musket; the pistol, a still shorter range.
The range of a firearm depends upon two things—
the force of the charge and the cleanliness of the barrel.
In war, as there is only, one calibre of arm, so there is
but one cartridge, which is distributed for use alike in
the muskets of the grenadiers and the pistols of the
cavalry.
The quantity of powder in the charge is calculated
upon the longest possible range.
To load a musketoon like a service musket would be a
mistake, for the musketoon is a lighter and weaker arm
than the musket, and intended for use at a shorter range.
To load a pistol like a musketoon would, for the same
reasons, be a mistake.
Q. Upon what basis then should the charge be cal-
culated ?
A. The strength, lightness, and range of the arm;THE USE OF ARMS IH WAR.
37
the strength, in order not to injure it easily; its light-
ness, to avoid rendering its effect uncertain, through
too much recoil; the range, so as to hit the object aimed
at.
The musketoon, fired at all ranges, should use only
three fourths of a cartridge; at short ranges, only two
thirds; the pistol should never be loaded with more than
half a cartridge.
Q. What is the best method of aiming with the
musketoon ?
A. Press the piece firmly against the shoulder, cover
half of the man aimed at with the lower half of the
barrel, raise the muzzle steadily in the direction of the
target, and, when the front sight appears in line with
it, with the second joint of the forefinger press slowly
upon the trigger, without jerk, at the same time keep-
ing the mark well covered, and fire.
Q. Why press the trigger slowly ?
A. Because there will be fewer chances of deflecting
the bullet when discharged.
Q. Why should you aim from below upwards in-
stead of from above downwards f
A. Because, if the piece is discharged before the
front sight is exactly in the direction desired, the shot
being a line one, I may hit the horse or man in the
lower part of the body; whereas should the same acci-
dent happen while aiming from above downwards, the
shot would hit nothing, but be lost.
Q. Why aim at the middle of the enemy's body in-
stead of his chest f
A. Because, at short ranges the ball always rises,
and besides, in aiming at the middle of the body, I have
more chances of making a hit.38
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Q. Up to what distances may you fire point blank $
A. 90 paces.
Q. If the enemy be more distant, what do you do t
A. Aim higher.
Thus: At 100 paces, at the chest; at 130 paces, at the
shoulders; at 170 paces, at the head; at 195 paces, at the
hat plume.
Q. In aiming should the trigger-guard not be in-
clined to the right f
A. A theoretical error which has been perpetuated
because it originated when arms were inferior to those
now in use, and because the process of exposing the
priming was so slow that it was feared that the powder
would fall from the pan and be lost long before being
ignited. To fire effectively, the front sight must be used
in aiming, and this cannot be done when the piece is in-
clined; so, keep the barrel level.
Q. Do the same principles apply to the pistol f
A. Yes, only I hold the arm bent, the handle a foot
from the eye, the elbow, inclined to the left and in the
line of fire; I embrace the pistol handle, without squeez-
ing it, so as not to deflect the shot by nervous trembling
resulting from too great pressure, and fire only at very
short ranges. As with the carbine, so with the pistol,
the vertical line is more important than the hori-
zontal.
Q. Which are the most effective shots with the pistol f
A. Those fired at point blank. For them it is not
necessary to aim so carefully as for those I have just
described; but the muzzle should not be allowed to press
against the enemy’s body, as the barrel might burst and
injure the shooter.
Q. When you have fired and missed your enemy, canTHE USE OF ARMS IN WAR.
39
you judge of the direction taken by the bullet, and thus
rectify your second aim f
A. Yes; by the involuntary movement made by the
enemy in turning his head away from the side on tvhich
the bullet passed, if it went to the right, left, or over-
head; if you fired too low, you will discover the fact by
the dust raised, or the startled action of the horse.
Q. What care should be taken of your firearms f
A. On arriving in bivouac, if you can do so, dismount
the barrels, wash and thoroughly dry them; then as-
semble them again at once, after having wiped the locks
dry; afterwards pass a greased rag over all the metallic
parts.
Always keep a stock of flints on hand. If your own
supply is exhausted take those of dead men or prisoners,
or from abandoned arms, and fit them carefully. If
flints can neither be borrowed nor captured, break a
pebble as well as you can with the back of your hatchet
and make that answer the purpose, if possible. If you
have no sheet-lead with which to secure it to your piece,
flatten a bullet on a stone, using the back of your
hatchet, and make of it an envelope which will replace
perfectly the one lost. After every shot pass the
finger-nail over the edge of the flint; if that does not
suffice, strike it lightly with the large end of your ram-
rod ; but remember this means uses up your flint rapidly,
and should be employed with moderation. Pick your
flint only after having seen that there is no powder to
be ignited by the sparks which you will make. If your
flint has become shortened by use, bring it closer to the
anvil, so that, in firing, the pressure may lower it and
make a spark by striking on it. Before firing wipe well
the fire-cover and examine the priming. To be suitably40
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
placed, it should fill the fire-pan level with the top; if
there is too much the firing-pan cover will crush and
pack it, which will prevent its proper ignition. If not
entirely filled, it permits the powder in the barrel to es-
cape through the touch-hole, and thus make a dangerous
space in the barrel. Whenever about to fire a piece
which has been loaded for some time examine the prim-
ing and freshly ram the charge. This precaution is
indispensable, especially for a musketoon which has been
carried in a boot, for the bullet may have become dis-
placed by its weight and the motion of the horse. The
same remark applies to pistols carried in holsters. In
war, an excellent precaution to take is to put into the
pistol, when placed in the holster, a wooden rod, or
mandril, the length of which is equal to that of the
barrel less that of the charge; the loaded pistol may
then, without inconvenience, be turned muzzle down in
the holster. The wooden rod will support the charge
and prevent the accident mentioned above. When the
pistol is drawn for use the rod is left in the holster.
There are some weapons whose worn condition allows
the hammer to fall when at half-cock. Never load such
arms until needed for use, because if you carry them in
the holster loaded, at a trot, a slight shock may cause
them to be discharged, severely wounding yourself or
horse. Often a pistol is lost by slipping from the hand,
or jumping from the holster when a horse falls; often
too, when a trooper has missed his man, and wishes to
draw his sabre quickly, for a long time he vainly seeks
for the opening of the holster covered by the scha-
braque, and is exposed in a defenceless condition: the
lanyard must always be attached to the pistol. If after
having fired his pistol the trooper desires to draw his sabreTHE USE OF ARMS IK WAR.
41
quickly, no precious time is lost in looking for the open-
ing of the holsters; the pistol is thrown to the right
behind the trooper’s back to his left side, where it hangs
between the valise and the left thigh; the turn which
the lanyard makes shortens its length so as to prevent
the pistol’s touching the ground or striking the legs of
the horse. The sabre may then be quickly taken in
hand. One should always have his cartridge-box well
filled, and, to that end, should never allow the cartridges
of killed or wounded men to be lost. The cartridge-box
should be frequently inspected, and the greatest care be
taken of the cartridges therein. They deteriorate very
easily, especially if their small number permits them to
knock together, and get broken. Cartridges found
broken should be rolled up in paper, and those most
damaged should be used first. One way of protecting
them against rubbing when the box is not filled is to
stuff the empty spaces with cloths or paper.
After exposure to rain, the piece should be examined
to see if the moisture has affected the charge, to renew
the priming, and pick the touch-hole. If it is feared that
the charge has become wet, it should be drawn and the
piece be reloaded. The trooper’s constant care should be
to protect his firearms as much as possible from moisture;
so, whenever they get damp they must be carefully dried.
When not fighting it is well to wrap up the locks of fire-
arms in oiled cloths. The lock will secure them on the
musket, and, as for the pistol, the increased thickness
will keep it all the better in the holster, as well as pre-
vent its being injured by shaking and rubbing.
Q. How is the sabre to be used f
A. The sabre is the weapon in which you should
repose the greatest confidence, for, very rarely indeed42
CAY ALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
will it, by breaking in your hand, fail to render good
service. Its strokes are sure in proportion to the cool-
ness with which you direct them, and control your
weapon. It is the points alone that kill; the others serve
only to wound. Thrust! thrust! as often as you can:
you will overthrow all whom you touch, and demoralize
those who escape your attack, and will add to those
advantages that of being always at a parry and never
uncovered. In the first wars in Spain our dragoons
made, with their points, a reputation which demoralized
the English and Spanish troops.
Q. Should one, in war, attempt to use all the move-
ments prescribed in the regulations f
A. No; as a general rule never attempt to attack an
enemy except when he is in front of you or at your
side; whenever he gets in your rear parry with rapid
moulinets.
Q. Which is the most effective cut f
A. The back-handed stroke. It should be used only
upon an enemy who passes you, or upon a cuirassier
wiiom it would be too uncertain to thrust in the flank.
Q. Where should you strike him f
A. At the height of the cravat; because it is natural
for a threatened trooper to lower his head, and thus,
you may strike him in the face; if your blow misses its
object it may touch his shoulder or forearm, and thus
disable him.
Q. How should this cut be made f
A. First grasp firmly the gripe of the sabre, so that
the blade ‘will not turn in the hand, and tend to touch
with the flat side instead of the edge; then you can cut
with a sawing motion, which will make the weapon pen-
etrate more deeply.THE USE OF ARMS IN WAR.
43
Every cutting edge is a saw, more or less fine, which
produces its effect in travelling horizontally over the
object which it attacks. To produce this effect at the
moment of striking, draw the hand backwards. That
is the whole secret of the terrible sabre work of the
Mamelukes.
Q. What rules should he observed in making thrusts ?
A. (1) To make sure of the hand ; (2) to make a good
choice of the point of attack, the flank being the most
vulnerable; (3) if the attack be made at a higher point,
to hold the sabre sidewise, so that it may penetrate be-
tween the ribs; (4) to drive the point home, and in-
stantly draw back the elbow, especially if the adversary
faces you. I have frequently seen troopers sprain the
wrist and become disabled for a whole campaign through
having made a thrust unskilfully. Not a difficult thing
to understand, since they oppose their single forearm
to the very considerable resistance offered by the weight
and impulsion of a mounted man. If they had with-
drawn the arm they would not have been injured, and
might have, in a measure, recovered themselves either
to renew the attack, or to resume the parry. As soon
as you have delivered a thrust, if the enemy does not sur-
render, give him the back-handed cut; it was thus that
Guindet killed the Prince of Prussia at Saalfeld.
Q. How should a sabre be sharpened so that it will cut
well f
A. When a campaign is decided upon the orders ar-
rive suddenly. Each one hastens to prepare himself in
the short time granted him ; hence the little care given
to sharpening sabres—a great mistake, which is always
recognized only when there is no longer any means of
correcting it.44
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
It is no trifling matter to sharpen the edge of a sabre.
The French sabre has a bevel (a fault tolerated by no
other people whose cavalry knows how to use the sabre);
the greater the angle of this bevel the less deeply can
the blade penetrate. If, in sharpening the blade, you
increase instead of diminish this fault, you render the
blade almost useless—a stick would be better than your
sabre.
Eemember, then, that the sharper the angle of the
bevel, the more deeply your sabre will cut.
Under the Empire the trooper carried no hatchet, so
the sabre had to replace it for all the work of the bi-
vouac; hence the blade and edge were quickly injured ;
but the troopers who understood their business soon cor-
rected this abuse which they had been compelled to
practise: (1) by making use of the lower part of the
blade only, for cutting wood, pickets, etc., and preserv-
ing, as intact as possible, the upper part, for use in com-
bat ; (2) in always carrying with them a small, mild file,
with which to sharpen the blade when it became dulled.
I advise you to use this kind of a file, or a whetstone,
and whichever is used, to always work it on the blade
from below upwards, taking the guard as a base, so
that the imperceptible teeth of your saw may point to-
wards your hand.
Two things contribute largely to the rapid destruction
of the edge of a blade: The first is the carelessness
with which it is pushed into the scabbard, or drawn out
of it; the second is the shaking and rubbing of the
blade in the scabbard while kept there. To remove the
first cause, do not drive, so to speak, your sabre into the
scabbard, but return it gently, avoiding all rubbing of
the edge.THE USE OF ARMS IN WAR.
45
The second may be removed by having the wooden
ring, which is placed within the scabbard to protect the
blade, so well fitted that the blade will be compressed
by it and prevented from moving or swaying.
As moisture is one of the most injurious things af-
fecting sabre blades, beware of returning your sabre
without wiping it.
Not only rain and blood, but even fog, may be the
cause of rust, and the least dampness in the air will fix
itself on its polished surface and enter the pores of the
blade. If the blade is moist when returned to the scab-
bard the latter also becomes damp, and there will be dif-
ficulty in drying it. In war it is a wise precaution to
always keep your blade well greased.
If, as a result of hard rains, water enters the scab-
bard and descends to the bottom of it, thus becoming a
permanent cause of rust to the point of the sabre, re-
move the wooden ring and put the empty scabbard in
the sun or near a fire; if the latter, beware of heating
it so as to melt the solder, but continue the operation
slowly until the moisture has been evaporated. Should
this prove insufficient, pass the scabbard briskly several
times through warm ashes.
Often a dismounted trooper, who has his sabre in his
hand, places the point upon the ground. Very naturally
the point becomes rusted and ruined, so that it can no
longer be depended upon in a fight.
Often, in bivouac, a trooper toasts a piece of meat
upon the point of his sabre, by which means the temper
of the blade is destroyed, so that he can no longer rely
upon it for defence. General rule: Be as careful of the
blade of your sabre as you are of your razor.
Q. Is the lance a very effective weapon f b46
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A. Its moral effect is the greatest, and its thrusts the
most murderous of all les armes blanches.
Q. In war, should the use of the lance conform to
the directions contained in the regulations ?
A. No; as a general rule the trooper must consider
himself the centre of a circle whose circumference is
described by the point of his weapon; but the lancer
must limit his points to the half-circle in his front, and
cover the rear half by the “around parry.”
Q. Why f
A. The points are certain only so long as the nails
are up and the forearm and body control the direction
of the weapon. Where these two indispensable condi-
tions do not exist, points which the enemy might easily
parry, and which might disarm you, should not be
risked. The very least objection to thrusts thus haz-
arded would be their uselessness, and, in war, useless-
ness is the synonym of ignorance and danger.
Q. What then are the “points ” to which one should
confine himself in action f
A. The “right-front” and “left-front” points; the
“right” and “left” points against infantry; the
“right,” “left,” and “ around parries.”
Q. But, should the hostile cavalry follow and press
you closely f
A. Use against them the “ right,” left,” and “ around ”
parries,” which become powerful offensive movements,
when properly employed. In fact, the point cannot fail
to reach the man, or the head of his horse, and the
weight of the arm doubling the force of its impulsion,
the enemy will be at once overthrown, or the horse be
immediately stopped by the thrust.. I have witnessed a
hundred illustrations of the truth of this, and, amongTHE USE OF ARMS IN WAR.
47
others, may cite the case of the intrepid Captain Brou
(now Colonel of the 1st Lancers), who, while near
Eylau, in a charge which we made upon the Cossacks,
believed himself already master of one of them, whom
he had taken on his left side, and who held his lance at
a “right front;” but the Cossack, standing up in his
stirrups, and executing rapidly an “around parry,”
threw the Captain to the ground; his horse was captured,
and he would have been made prisoner also, but for a
courageous and skilfully executed charge made by Major
Hulot, then commanding the 7th Hussars. I saw the
Captain’s wound dressed, and his shoulder was gashed
as though cut with the edge of a sabre.
The parries should always be made vigorously, and
with the movement of the forearm only; because if the
body be also moved it becomes displaced, and may turn
the saddle. The art of parrying offensively and de-
fensively consists in calculating justly the time required
for the lance to pass over the circle it describes. I have
seen old Cossacks, charged by our troops with their
short weapons, face and await them firmly, the point of
the lance not to the front, because they judged from the
boldness of the attack that their points would be par-
ried—and that once closed in upon they would be lost
—but with the lance to the right front, as in the first
motion of “left parry,” then responding to the attack
with a “ left parry,” brush aside the attackers by this
movement, volt to the left, and find themselves, in their
turn, naturally taking the offensive by pursuing the
enemy on his left.
Q. How should lance thrusts be made in actixm f
A. I repeat, the lance must always be held with the
whole hand closed upon it, the fingers upwards, and no48
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
movement requiring the fingers to be held downwards,
should be attempted, because the weight of the weapon
may cause it, if parried by the enemy, to escape from
the hand. The regulations do not dwell sufficiently
upon the details of this movement; insist then upon
the position of the hand “ in quarte.” The staff of the
lance should always be in contact with the body and
forearm ; the direction of the thrusts will then be
more accurate, and the force be applied to the best ad-
vantage. The movements should be diminished in ex-
tent so as to increase their speed and certainty. To
carry the hand to the rear only to thrust it forward
again, is both useless and dangerous. Your point will
always have enough spring, strength, and reach to trav-
erse the body of a man.
Q. You would then forbid all pointing to the “ right
rear ” ?
A. I would permit it in only one case — that of a
general retreat before the enemy, or in case of a troop
facing the enemy, being surrounded; then the position
of “ charge lances’’ in rear, by the second rank, as in
front by the first, might produce a useful effect. In
campaign an officer should frequently inspect his lances,
and see that they are kept sharp and well greased.
Wounds made in the body by lances kept in good con-
dition are almost always mortal. I have seen troopers
of our army receive as many as twenty wounds, made
by Cossack lances, without dying of them or even being
disabled.
Q. To what do you attribute that ?
A. To the inferior quality of the Cossack weapons,
to the little care taken of them, and, above all, to a
cause worth while to explain. The lances of the Cos-THE USE OF ASMS IN WAR.
49
sacks who used to fight against us were not shod at the
butt end, so, when the lancer dismounted, to avoid
leaving the lance lying on the ground, he stuck the point
into the soil, and thus blunted it. Hence you will re-
member that, under no pretext, are you to stick the
point of your lance into the ground, and that it would
be a hundred times better to throw it on the ground
than to keep it standing up at such a cost.
The French lance needs improvement; the ash of
which the staff is made is so heavy that it makes it dif-
ficult to handle, and, when canned in the socket, injures
the horse’s withers. The wood does not, by its strength,
compensate for this disadvantage; for being cut in
blocks and the grain crossed, it breaks easily and in a
way that makes repairing difficult. Another fault is
the" too great size of the pennons which present to the
wind so large a surface that the staves are quickly bent,
so that points cannot be made as accurately as they
should be; quickness and lightness in handling them aro
diminished, and on the road the horse and the lancer’s
arm are uselessly fatigued by the constant backward
pressure.
To correct these faults, in route marches the pennons
should be removed, and attached only when‘it is desired
to make ourselves recognized by friends or enemies; to
shift the lance alternately from the right boot to the
left, and frequently to remove it entirely from the boot,
so that it may be carried by the lancer himself.
The rolled coat may be considered a defensive weapon.
The habit of rolling it, and crossing it over the chest,
in view of an engagement, has three advantages: first,
it clears the opening of the pistol holster; second, it
allows the bridle hand to be carried nearer to the50
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
horse’s neck, which facilitates the control of the horse;
and, third, it protects the trooper. But the trooper
must be careful of two things: first, to so roll and cross
his coat as not to be constrained by it, and, second, in
a charge to avoid being seized by it, and unhorsed and
captured.
Although to lose one’s arms is, generally speaking, a
shame, yet there is one case where a lancer is excusable
for losing his lance—that is, when he has run it clean
through an enemy. Several times I have seen lances so
well used that the weapon, caught between the ribs,
after having penetrated the shoulder blade, could not
possibly be withdrawn; the dying man, convulsed with
pain, carried away by his horse, drew along with him
the lance and the lancer vainly struggling to disengage
his weapon. At Reichenbach, the bravest lancer of my
regiment was killed under similar circumstances, in dis-
obedience of my orders, through a misunderstood, stub-
born sense of honor. In vain I called out to him, 14 Your
lance is well lost”; he did not believe me, and being cut
off from his comrades, was overwhelmed by numbers,
and killed.
Near Lille, a young soldier of the same regiment found
himself in a similar condition; I made him abandon his
lance. The Prussian whom he had run through fell
about fifty paces from the spot where he was wounded;
we retook the ground which we had been obliged to
yield for a few minutes, and my lancer having dismount-
ed to recover his lance, succeeded in doing so only by
carefully pushing it through in the same direction in
■which it entered.
At Waterloo, when we charged the English squares,
-one of our lancers, not being able to break down theTHE USE OF ARMS IN WAR.
51
rampart of bayonets which opposed us, stood up in his
stirrups and hurled his lance like a dart; it passed
through an infantry soldier, whose death would have
opened a passage for us, if the gap had not been quickly
closed. That wTas another lance well lost.
Q. What should be done with captured arms ?
A. If one has need of them preserve them and send
them to the rear ; should they not be required for use,
break them.
Q. How can you break a sabre f
A. By placing the blade horizontally on two stones,
one end resting on each, then throwing a heavy body
upon the unsupported middle, taking care to avoid in-
jury from the flying fragments.
Q. And a scabbard ?
A. In the same manner; although it may not be
broken it will be unfit for service.
Q. A musket f
A. Empty the priming, lower the hammer, take it by
the barrel and strike it unevenly on the ground so as to
break the stock at the smallest part. The soldiers call
that “ making a ham.”
Q. Why pour out the priming ?
A. Because the shock might ignite it, discharge the
piece, and injure the one handling it.
Q. But why lower the hammer after having thrown
out the priming f
A. Because the touchholes of muskets, especially
those of other nations, are very large, and the powder
escaping by this opening and falling into the fire-pan, if
the hammer were brought down by a shock, the prim-
ing might be ignited, the piece discharged, and the man
engaged in breaking it be wounded. To render the de-52
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
struction still more complete, the broken pieces may be
thrown into a stream, should there be one near the
battlefield.
Q. And how may powder be destroyed f
A. By throwing it into the water, scattering it on
the ground so that it cannot be collected again, or by
burning it. In employing the last method, it is neces-
sary to undo all packages, of whatever kind, so as to
prevent any explosions. Loaded shells may be disposed
of by throwing them into water.
Sometimes you will hear it said that such a soldier or
officer was decorated on the field of battle for having
pulled the smoking match from a shell, and such ver-
acious books as the Victories and Conquests repeat simi-
lar nonsense: beware of crediting foolishness of that
kind and exposing yourself to the temptation of under-
taking any such reckless enterprises; you would simply
be killed for your useless display of courage. Before a
projectile reaches you its burning match is consumed.
That which burns is the fuse which, being driven in
with a mallet, cannot be pulled out.DISCIPLINE.
53
DISCIPLINE.
Q. What is discipline t
A. The soul of armies; without discipline there can
be no army.
Q. What is the mainspring of discipline, in war f
A. Honor.
Q. How is it to he stimulated f
A. By praise and blame.
Q. If they do not suffice t
A. Then punishments, more severe than those inflict-
ed in peace, must be imposed.
Q. Why this difference ?
A. Because offences committed in war differ from
those which may be committed in garrison. Because
they have different consequences. Because men who
commit themselves, if not reclaimed by a sentiment of
honor, receive less consideration than anywhere else.
Because the punishments that can be inflicted are not so
numerous nor so finely graduated. Because the more
serious consequences offences may have, the more
necessary it is that striking examples should be made of
the offenders.
In peace, you do not have to punish such offences as
abandoning a post, cruelty, cowardice, etc., and you
have, for such offences as are committed, the graded
punishments of confinement to barracks, the guard-
house, prison, dungeon, disciplinary companies, etc.
At the outposts, nothing of that sort can exist, so
that it is necessary, while overlooking mild offences54
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
which, in garrison, would receive punishment, to strike
hard when punishment must be inflicted.
Q. How would you grade the punishments to be in-
flicted f
A. The reprimand in private; then in front of the
troops; fatigue duty; confinement under charge of the
camp guard; to be dismounted for one or several days,
and marched with the advance guard; dismount the
trooper and send him back to the army; have him driven
out by his peers and handed over to the justice of the
provost marshal; these last two should be inflicted only
in case of incorrigibility, mutiny, or cowardice.
Q. Will blame answer the purpose f
A. Yes; often, because it is administered publicly,
and to men sensible of the gravity of the situation.
Q. And the rewards ?
A. As a disciplinary force, rewards are much more
powerful than punishments. The more prolonged a war
is the more this force increases; because, hard service
having relieved you first of the bad soldiers who take
advantage of any pretext to leave, then of the mediocrities
of no force, there will remain only the flower of your
ranks, whom honor will control better than fear.
Q. What scale of rewards would you establish ?
A. A complimentary word spoken in front of the regi-
ment; marks of esteem, repeated as often as occasion
offers; the choice of a confidential mission offering a
chance for gaining distinction; approbation expressed in
regimental orders; should a worthy soldier be dismount-
ed, give to him instead of to any other a spare horse ;
the day of a review call this man out of the ranks and
present him to the general; promotion; nomination for
admission into the Legion of Honor.DISCIPLINE.
55
The severity of the laws of military discipline should
be adapted, as a whole, to the spirit of the people to be
governed by them, and, in detail, to the character of
the provinces furnishing the recruits; to the different
characters of those whom you command, and to the de-
gree of comfort or privation existing in the army.
The application of these laws is a matter which de-
mands, more than any other, perhaps, the keenest powers
of observation on the part of a commander. To treat
a Frenchman like a Dutchman, to punish one man ex-
actly like another, displays only ignorance or laziness on
the part of authority, and cannot possibly effect any
useful purpose.
In many cases, the application of military law should
be made rather according to the enlightened conscience
of the juror than to the strict severity of the judge.
Discipline is not in itself the end we seek, but a means
of securing it; it is not to be obtained by punishment only,
for rewards pertain to it also; the law should be applied
according to the spirit rather than the letter. To accom-
plish that, the commander must combine with the con-
stant exercise of observation the greatest firmness in the
execution of the law.
The basis of all discipline is the study of, and acquaint-
ance with, the men subject to our orders. Every good
officer or non-commissioned officer should be able to
call by heart the roll of his squadron, and give a detailed
history of the military lives of his men.
Q. How do you apply your punishments ?
A. In war every offence should be noted as soon as
committed, and the punishment should follow at once.
In that way the soldiers will be impressed by the ex-
ample made, and those remarks and discussions, com-56
CAYALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
mon companions of insubordination, which soon de-
generate into revolt if not forcibly stopped in the
beginning, will be avoided.
Shirking is the one vice to be punished before all
others; as soon as it shows itself smash it as you would a
glass.
However small the number of men you command,
there will be leaders among them. Some of them go
straight along the right road, the others turn their backs
upon it. Study them both constantly, determine their
influence, and as soon as an occasion presents itself reward
the first—for they are precious models—and treat the
others severely and without indulgence, for they are the
very pests of disorganization. Thus you will deprive
them of the moral influence they might otherwise exert,
and, if they stir again, you will have to deal with them
only, instead of with a conspiracy.
I repeat it, a method which never fails, and which is
the better the higher the grade of the officer who em-
ploys it, is to have the names of all his men by heart so
that he can call each by name, and prove to him publicly
and with a few words that he knows him and will not
lose sight of him.
Whatever your rank, never remit a punishment which
one of your subordinates may order for one of his men;
that would end all discipline. If you find the punish-
ment unjust or too severe, send for the officer who or-
dered it and privately direct him to remit it.
In France, the soldier desires liberty less than that
justice which is the right of all, and which allows the
balance to be borne down by true merit only. Let him
suffer like his comrades and he does not complain; let
him be a little less fortunate than they in prosperity,DISCIPLINE.
57
and he cries out against the injustice; this knowledge of
his disposition should teach his commanders how to
deal with him.
If discipline does not admit of the principles of equal-
ity, the prerogatives of command should never exceed
their just limits. In campaign let there be as perfect
equality in suffering and privation as in the chances of
being killed.
No officer should wear his cloak if the soldier has not
been directed to put on his; to warm himself in a house
which the soldier has been forbidden to enter.
To monopolize for himself or his horses a barn which
would shelter his men.
To demand for himself an excessive portion of the
issues made in bivouac, while the soldier receives what
is barely necessary.
He should, under all circumstances, defend his men,
whether attacked by the enemy, or insulted or mal-
treated without reason by another officer of the army,
or when issues ordered by the General are not made as
directed.
He must protect the sick and wounded, under all cir-
cumstances, and, finally, show himself worthy of his
epaulettes.
Share with the soldier and he will share with you,
and you will never be cheated in that market; you shall
see, some day, when everything fails you, how this old
soldier will be proud, happy even, to offer you his bread
and his life.
Beware however of thinking that in order to gain the
affection of your soldiers, it is necessary to be lax w*ith
them, for you will be completely deceived. I have
known officers beloved by their soldiers, and have stud-58
CAYALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
ied them for my own instruction; they were just, very
firm, independent of the inferior cliques which always
endeavor to monopolize a commander; on the battlefield
they displayed the greatest bravery, and, in bivouac,
they were vigilant, unsparing of themselves as of
others, generous with what they had, and they spoke a
language which the soldier understood; there is the
secret of their absolute power, of the fanatical devotion
which they inspired. Under them discipline was in-
stinctive; no one ever thought of infringing its rules,
but, if by chance any one exhibited a disregard of his
duties, the justice of his comrades spared their com-
mander the trouble of punishing him. Under the com-
mand of a man of that temper everything is easy; the
regiment becomes a family—a family capable of per-
forming prodigies.
Q. What gives the greatest power to the laws of dis-
cipline ?
A. The respect which a commander inspires.
Q. What gives the greatest facility in their appli-
cation?
A. Subordination.
Q. What assures subordination ?
A. An intimate knowledge of the authority of each
military grade.
Q. What assures to orders their useful effect f
A. First, the briefness and firmness of the tone in
which they are given; second, inflexibility in their exe-
cution. Orders given and supported in that way, are
always promptly obeyed.
Q. What, then, produces well-ordered discipline ?
A. Unity and promptness of action.
Q. What produces unity of action ?DISCIPLINE.
59
A. Li esprit de corps, which, in war, might be more
properly called the very life of the regiment.
Q In war should one obey the orders of all officers
superior to him in rank ?
A. One should be respectful to every officer, no matter
of what arm, who is his superior in rank; but one should
obey only the orders given by his immediate com-
manders, when they belong to his corps, or when, if not
belonging to it, they have been recognized by his fellow-
officers.
Q. What punishments may be inflicted upon an
officer ?
A. A private warning; a public reprimand ; simple
arrest, which consists in marching in rear of his squad-
ron and being temporarily deprived of command.
Close arrest, which consists in being deprived of sword
and command, being placed in charge of the camp
guard, and being compelled to march in front of the
trumpets when the regiment is en route.
Being published in regimental and brigade orders.
Being sent to the rear.
Dismissal by court-martial.
Expulsion from the regiment by his peers.
Q. Should a regimental commander use all these
punishments on his officers f
A. The commander of a regiment who is obliged to
make use of them is the guilty one, and above all punish-
able; it depends upon him to prevent offences among
officers, by raising at the very outset the pitch of their
honorable sentiments, their personal dignity, to a height
worthy of their position.
If, by the most extraordinary chance, there should be
found among the officers one deaf to this law of con-60
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
science, who will not. understand the nobly paternal
language of his commander, he should be unhesitatingly
excluded from the ranks of the combatant force, either
by sending him to the rear to command a small depot,
or by subjecting him to the justice of his peers, whose
unanimous judgments, always just, never fail of con-
firmation by the superior authority.
Q. You recognize, then, in the corps of officers, non-
commissioned officers, and soldiers the right of trying
one of their number ?
A. I recognize in every corps whose mainspring is
honor, the right of preserving that honor unsullied, and
of chasing from its ranks any one of its members who
compromises it. Only, I demand that these judgments
be unanimous. The tribunal of the whole number is
infallible; it is a second conscience.THE STUDY OF THE TERRAIN.
61
THE STUDY OF THE TERRAIN.
DRAWING AND TOPOGRAPHY.
The terrains of war are of two kinds—practicable and
impracticable. Their study should be directed to three
principal points: 1st, their nature, whether easy or diffi-
cult, with special reference to the manoeuvring of the
different arms; 2d, their position, with reference to of-
fensive and defensive operations; 3d, their development
and distances.
Q. What is a defile f
A. Every passage which, by contracting the way, di-
minishes the front of troops in line or column.
Q. What is a plateau f
A. The summit of a mountain, on which position may
be taken.
Q. What is a crest f
A. A mountain top on which a position cannot be
taken, militarily speaking.
Q. What are the declivities of a mountain f
A. Its opposite slopes.
Q. What is a causeway t
A. A road raised above the surface of impassable
ground.
Q. What is q, position f
A. Ground which offers to troops the means of fight-
ing with advantage, even with inferior forces (Jacquinot
de Presles).
Q. What is the best offensive position t62
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A. That which is the most threatening to the enemy,
and most favorable for our attack upon him.
Q. What is the best defensive position ?
A. That which offers the greatest number of im-
passable obstacles to the attacks of the enemy.
Q. Is it indispensable for a light cavalry officer to
know how to sketch ?
A. As indispensable as to know how to write.
Q. Why?
A. Because, often with two lines he can say more and
say it better than in two pages of writing; because a
few pencil marks can be made more quickly and with
less trouble than a report can be written; because they
preserve and classify the details of a report much better
than can be done by the mere recollections of a long
reconnaissance.
Q. Does not sketching offer still other advantages ?
A. Yes, an infinite number for military purposes; it
accustoms one to observe and see clearly; to appreciate
distances, the nature of the ground; to recall again to
the mind what has been observed, and especially to esti-
mate the possibility, rapidity, and fitness of proposed
operations.
Q. Are there yet others ?
A. Yes, for the distinguished officer—that of giving
great facility in judging the dispositions, the moral im-
pressions, of the men he commands.
Q. An example of personal local recollection will
make the matter plainer.
A. The enemy is some leagues distant; an officer sets
out to reconnoitre him. He observes very carefully the
road he travels, for, in case of attack in front, it will be
the most direct by which to return; but, at the same time,THE STUDY OF THE TERRAIN.
63
he bears carefully in mind the roads, paths, the practi-
cable ground upon the flanks which join the road he
passes over, in order that, if cut off in his retreat, he
may profit by his knowledge of them to thwart the
manoeuvres of the enemy, and by making a detour re-
turn to his support at the point of departure.
Before him is a bare and level plain. There are two
villages close together, and they have almost the same
appearance, but the church spire of one is pointed, the
other rounded at its summit, and it is upon the former
that he directs his march. He comes to a wood where
there are two roads of equal width opening upon a
copse of symmetrical form. There is a boundary stone
upon the right of the one he must follow; he advances,
crosses a pool, and reaches a quincunx. Six similar
roads meet there. On the right of that which he leaves
is a tall, dead tree; on the left of the one he is to take
is a post. He continues his march; a clearing appears
upon his right; the wood becomes thicker and thicker;
still he goes on until an open stile appears in front of
him; at the side of it is a clump of broom plants in
flower, a deep ditch, newly dug, a pile of broken stones,
and a tall, solitary poplar tree. On coming out of the
wood he finds himself again on an open plain. After
he has marched for ten minutes the enemy appears in
force and compels his prompt retreat. The guide takes
advantage of the moment of surprise to make his es-
cape. The officer commanding the reconnaissance is de-
pendent upon his recollection of the forms and outlines
of the objects passed in coming, which will be made all
the more vivid by the habit of sketching, which has en-
graved them upon his memory; and the practice of fre-
quently looking behind him has enabled him to recog-
nize them under their two aspects.64
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
He knows that in returning he will find on his right
those wdiich were on his left, and on his left, those
w hich wrere on his right. The poplar, the pile of broken
stones, the newly-dug ditch, the clump of green and
yellow7 broom plants, then the open stile, then the dark
wood, then the post, then the tall, dead tree, then the
pool, then the boundary stone, then the pointed spire,
are the markers which guide him back to camp.
The habit of sketching gives to the memory a power
which might well be called instinctive—that of seizing,
in spite of one’s self, and without being distracted by
other thoughts, upon the form and color of the objects
which present themselves before him. The first example
is based simply upon the outlines of objects. I shall
now give you one wrhere their colors will serve as well as
their silhouettes.
A partisan, at the head of a hundred troopers, leaves
his bivouac at the break of day. He is in an open plain,
and desires to conceal his march from the enemy. A
black, thin line appears on his right; can it be the
enemy ? That would certainly be astonishing, for re-
connaissances made in this direction during the night
have not encountered him. In the first place, the front
of this line is not placed in a proper manner, as it in no
place faces our troops. Let us see. The line does not
budge. Is it infantry or cavalry in line ? No; for the
line is not cut by regular intervals of equal wddth, and
besides, the upper part, although nearly parallel to the
lower, is, nevertheless, notched. Can it be a wood?
No ; the line is too thin. What is it then ? Simply a
hedge. It is long, continuous, and high enough to con-
ceal a column of troops. He marches to it, skirts along
it, keeping it between him and the enemy. On reachingTHE STUDY OF THE TERRAIN.
65
the end of it, he sees at half a league’s distance a vil-
lage whose name the guide gives him, and which lies
upon the road he is to follow, but he cannot reach it
without being perceived. He halts, and observes that
the mists raised by the sun are more dense and heavy
on his right, and are prolonged in a winding course to-
wards the village. Their gray outline becomes thinner
every moment, and extends parallel and pretty close to
the right flank of his column. He decides that it can
be produced only by the presence of a small stream
running in the bottom of a valley.
He turns off directly to the right, marches perpendic-
ularly upon it so as to mask his movement by the hedge
he is leaving, and arrives in the bottom, turns to the
left, follows the stream, and gains the village.
After having skirted along some orchards for a quar-
ter of an hour, the plain is again in sight. To the left
a thin line, white and short, disappears in the green and
brown tints of the plain, and reappears again a league
farther on. It is the road A—B which he is to travel, but
the question is, What direction does it follow between
the two points where it is visible ? A moving wagon,
by the dust it raises in its course, will show him. He
observes carefully the course pursued by the vehicle, and
after it has passed beyond the point which it is specially
desirable to know, he moves toward it and takes the
road.
He descends the hill, and discovers in the distance a
wood. He observes it attentively, and perceives that its
right side differs in color from the left. The first is a
dark green mingled with bluish tints; the second is gen-
erally of a paler green; its shadows are not so deep, and
here and there they are interrupted by white tree-trunks.66
CAYALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
He does not hesitate to march towards the left side of the
wood, which is evidently planted with acacias and birches,
which grow only upon poor, dry, and firm soils, easy to
travel over; wrhile the right side is composed of alders
and willows, which always indicate marshy and imprac-
ticable ground.
He reaches the mountain covered with fir-trees, goes
on, and all at once the dark-green forest becomes thinner,
and permits him to see through the trees a tint of paler
green bordering upon a blue ; there is, without doubt,
the location of the ravine of X, at the bottom of which
runs the torrent of Q. He turns to the left and sees
the plain again.
The more undefined the color of the horizon, and the
more it merges into that of the sky, the more distant it
is ; the more clearly it is defined and stands out from
the color of the sky, and harmonizes with that of the
foreground, the nearer it is.
This observation is the basis of all aerial perspective.
We should accustom our eyes and our judgment to make
with certainty, and to rectify, the estimates which this
perspective indicates to us. It may be easily done on
every march, for nothing is simpler than to estimate the
distance from the point where one may be, to any point
whatever towards which he marches, then to regulate
the speed of his march; on arriving, one can tell by
consulting his watch whether his estimate is correct or
not.
The air is blue, therefore the greater its mass between
you and any point whatever, the more that point will
partake of the blue of the sky. With a little attention
to making comparisons, with practice, taking as a base
the general scale of gradations of light and shade, inTHE STUDY OF THE TERRAIN-.
67
going from any point where he may be, to the horizon,
he may calculate surely and promptly the whole and in-
termediate distances.
The partisan quits the wood and descends into the
plain. The enemy surprises and attacks him, seizes upon
the road by wrhich he came, and forces him to take to
some meadows on his left. These meadows are green,
but to the left their color is almost blue, and willows
grow on their borders; to the right, on the contrary,
they are of a deep green. The partisan withdraws rap-
idly to the right, for he knows that wThen the green of a
meadow has a bluish tint, it is because the meadows con-
tain rushes, which always indicate the presence of water,
or turfy ground, from which it would be difficult, per-
haps, to extricate his horses, if once mired in them; wiiile
meadows of a deep-green color are evidence of firm, dry
ground. Continuing, he skirts the bank of a stream
which appears to be deep, and over which no bridge is
to be seen. All at once a broad track is seen to cut the
turf which borders the stream, appears again upon the
other side, running perpendicularly to thq course of
the water. It is certainly a road, and must indicate
a ford. In fact, he tries it confidently, for the water is
not so green at this spot; the browTn, pebbly bottom can
be seen, and determines his route. Once separated from
the enemy by this obstacle, judging that having been
discovered, his expedition can no longer hope to succeed,
and that the chances of loss are more numerous than
those of success, he makes a detour, and consulting the
course of the sun, and the successive indications which
his memory of the locality recalls to him, he returns to
camp.
Q. Should a light-cavalry officer then learn to sketch68
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
in order to observe well, and take a course of topog-
raphy ?
A. It is indispensable, if he wishes to become a dis-
tinguished officer. I believe that this course should
even embrace some knowledge of colored aerial perspec-
tive. In cultivating his talent for topographical draw-
ing, the officer will find numerous opportunities of being
extremely useful to the generals of the advanced guard,
and of making a reputation which will hasten his wrell-
deserved advancement.
Q. But this course would be a long one, and imprac-
ticable in the present state of affairs.
A. That is why one should limit himself to acquiring
a ready knowledge of certain conventional signs which
may be lodged in his memory in a few days, be easily
found at the end of his pencil, and whose employment
would be eminently useful in strengthening his reports
of reconnaissances.
Q. What is topography, properly so called?
A. It is the basis of all military operations. Its study
cannot be too thorough. Whatever knowledge one may
have acquired of the enemy, whatever force he may
have at his disposal, every enterprise, no matter what
its nature, depends for its execution upon a knowledge
of the terrain. (L. R. A.)
Q. Should a light-cavalry officer put entire confidence
in the maps furnished him ?
A. No; he should consider them rather as useful
guides than as actual reproductions of existing condi-
tions. He should never fail to correct the errors which
may have slipped into his maps, and to add the useful
details which they do not give. He must remember that
the older the map, the less exact it is; for, often in aTHE STUDY OF THE TERRAS.
69
few years, villages disappear, others are joined and take
new names, roads change their direction, streams have
their courses modified, ponds are drained and devoted
to agriculture, fords are replaced by bridges, bridges are
taken down and rebuilt at more distant points, lands be-
come covered with forests, with heather, with marshes;
fields, vineyards, meadows, interchange their uses, and,
consequently, their topographical features. It should be
also remembered that the small scale upon which most
maps are constructed must often entail errors. So, I
repeat, an officer should consider the maps sent to him
as very useful guides, especially as to the direction of
his march, but entire confidence should not be reposed
in their details.
. Q. Indicate the conventional topographical signs which
you say are easy to make and remember.
A. I shall do so, by first tracing the signs separately,*
then by collecting them in a general example, which
will be employed in the chapters on Reconnaissances
and Reports. An officer should have a large sheet of
paper in order to trace, according to scale, the plan of
his march. This plan can almost always be drawn to a
scale which should not be too small, because it will be
possible to dismount whenever any sketching is to be
done. He can even do his sketching while mounted, if
the sheet be folded beforehand, in a convenient manner,
so that it can be brought under the pencil successively
and partially, as needed, and that the paper already used
be folded back gradually and successively, so as to be
replaced by clean paper drawn out; but the small leaves
of a pocket-book will suffice if care be taken to follow
* See Plates I and H.70
CAVALBY OUTPOST DUTIES.
them in regular order, page by page, always beginning
at the top or bottom the drawing of the plan. It is
upon leaves of these dimensions—those of a pocket-
book—that I give you the second example asked for.
Q. What care should be taken in drawing the plans f
A. In beginning them, to have the scale so small that
a single leaf will represent quite a large extent of coun-
try.
2.	To draw very fine lines, so as not to confuse those
which must be drawn parallel, but indicate different
things.
3.	To give particular attention to the spelling of proper
names.
4.	To go over the whole with pen and ink, when there
is time to do so, to prevent the map being rubbed out.
5.	To give distances correctly, by writing beside those
reported, or said to be so and so, by the inhabitants, the
time|Which it took to march over them; for example,
from one point of interest to another, one would write
one league (one hour at the walk), two leagues (two
hours at the trot).
In comparing the plans I have given you, with the
topographical drawings you have seen, you will find the
former very coarsely drawn, without doubt; that is just
what I wish: by simplifying the example the copying is
made easy. My object is not to make draughtsmen of
you, but rather to put, in the course of a few days, at
your fingers’ ends, the useful signs of a language new
to the most of you—signs which will not disgust you by
the difficulty of reproducing them, and of which you
will be able to make immediate use.PLATE J.PLATE II.INDICATIONS.
71
INDICATIONS.
Q. What means are there of learning the movements
of the enemy ?
A. Four. 1st, reports of prisoners, deserters, and
travellers; 2d, reports of spies; 3d, reconnaissances; 4th,
indications.
Q. What enables you to draw inferences from indica-
tions f
A. A knowledge of the general customs of war, and
of the peculiarities of the enemy. It can be done only
by practising constantly the closest observation. Indica-
tions are general or special.
Q. Designate the general indications.
A. If it is learned that shoes have been distributed in
the cantonments, that the troops are cleaning their
arms, that draught animals are being collected, those are
infallible signs of some kind of movement. To learn
that great quantities of supplies have arrived, that new
uniforms have appeared in the bivouacs, is proof that
new troops are going to join the old ones to unite with
them in an attack very soon; for it is probable that the
new uniforms are those of a headquarters staff, or bil-
leting officers. Should provisions be collected at a par-
ticular place, it is proof that troops are to occupy it. If
boats are brought from a distance, and collected in large
numbers on the banks of a stream, it is evidence of an
approaching attempt at crossing; if they are burned,
it is evidence of an undisguised retreat. If timbers are
collected upon the bank of a stream where there are no72
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
boats, it is also an indication of an attempt at crossing.
\i. important bridges are burned, it is an indication of a
long retreat. If, at some leagues above a bridge which
you have just constructed, large boats, heavily laden
with stone, are discovered, it is an indication of an at-
tempt to destroy your work, which you can prevent only
by getting in front of them to ground, secure, or sink
them. If poles, tarred and covered with straw, are
placed at intervals along the enemy’s line, it is an indi-
cation of a signal for a general movement. If ladders
are collected in bivouac, it is an indication of an in-
tended attack upon a fortified place.
If, on the battlefield, the enemy conceals his move-
ments, and masses his troops in deep and heavy columns
of squadrons, it is an indication of an overwhelming
attack. If he deploys, he is taking up a position. If,
in deploying, and in first line, he assembles numerous
columns upon a particular point, it is an indication of the
idea which will govern all his future movements, for,
without doubt, that point is considered a strategical
one. If the artillery makes a retrograde movement, it
is an indication of a retreat. If the hospitals and small
depots are moved farther to the rear, it is an indication
of a retreat or change of front.
If the bivouac fires of the enemy appear to be much
more numerous, but smaller than usual, and purposely
placed so as to make them distinctly visible, if they are
lighted successively, and promptly extinguished after
having been lighted, it is an indication of weakness and
retreat. If the enemy’s cavalry, in retreat, without
being vigorously pressed, hastily withdraws its line of
skirmishers, it is either an indication of fear caused by
the proximity of a defile, and dread of an attack, or anINDICATIONS.
73
indication of an ambuscade into which it desires to draw
the pursuers. If the enemy attacks at break of day, it
is an indication that his movement will be general, and
that he will need the whole day either to follow up his
advantages or to make good his retreat. An attack
made in the evening is an indication that the only object
of the movement is to make a reconnaissance or to
cover a retreat; the reality of this second movement
may be more correctly determined if it be executed by
the cavalry only. If the reconnaissance be energeti-
cally executed, and the enemy remains for the night in
front of the opening of a defile, it indicates a vigorous
attack on the following day. If, on the contrary, he
retires and resumes his position, it indicates either *a re-
treat, as I said before, or a desire to attract attention to
a particular point, and to make us less vigilant in regard
to others.
The traces of footsteps are not only an indication of
the direction taken by a column, but also of its strength,
and even of the leading idea controlling its march. If
the ground be beaten down evenly, the column is com-
posed of infantry only; if horse tracks are visible, cav-
alry formed a part of it; deep and wide wheel-tracks
would indicate that the troops were accompanied by ar-
tillery. The numbers of each arm were in proportion
to the number of well-defined impressions left by it. If
the tracks be fresh, the column passed not long before;
if they have little width, the troops were marching with-
out fear of attack, and in route column; if broad, they
feared an attack, for they were marching by platoon or
squadron and prepared to deploy. If the grain and the
ground on the sides of the road are trampled down and
show wide and numerous traces of moving bodies, the74
CAYALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
cavalry was marching on the flanks, by squadrons, and
in echelon.
Behind a bridge, a ravine, near a village, the foot-
prints will show whether the enemy has formed up,
whether he has been on the lookout. The fires will
serve as a check in estimating the force indicated by the
footprints, also the time which has elapsed since the
enemy left his bivouac; the quantity of ashes remain-
ing, the care he had time to give to the construction of
shelters, the remains of straw, fragments of vessels,
entrails of animals slaughtered, will show still better
how long he remained in it.
Pieces of clothing, saddlery, equipments, abandoned
arms, cartridges thrown away, dead horses, blood-stained
clothing, hidden graves, and the care taken in digging
them, are all valuable means of arriving at a knowledge
of the regiments composing the columns; of their fati-
gue and discouragement, of the number of wounded
carried away with them, of the gravity of their wounds,
and of the rank of the officers lost.
The dust raised by the march of a column indicates
not only its direction, but also its strength, its order,
and the kinds of troops composing it. The greater or
less density, height, and mobility of the cloud will show
whether made by cavalry or infantry.
If the reflection from the arms is very bright, it is
probable that the enemy is facing you, if otherwise, that
he has his back towards you. If hostile troops are very
far away, and you wish to know in what direction they
are marching, take two fixed points in front of them
and on one of their flanks; then you can easily judge
by their passage over successive distances, which sep-INDICATIONS.
75
arate them from these points, their direction, and even
their rate of marching.
The excitement or insolence of the inhabitants of an
insurgent country is a sure indication of the approach
of the enemy, and the people’s confidence in his suc-
cess.
Q. Name some special indications.
A. Since, to-day, fifteen years of peace have removed
the frontiers, that communication between different
nations is frequent and easy, that the sciences in their
latest developments are common to all, the special indi-
cations in war are less numerous, because they belong,
on the one hand, to a people which has lost its distin-
guishing characteristics, and, on the other, to a science
which has no longer secrets for any one. However, cer-
tain differences do still exist, which I shall endeavor to
specialize, while pointing out the amount or degree of
confidence which should or should not be placed in
them.
The Russians, trusting to their numerous and excel-
lent irregular cavalry, take few’ precautions for safety
behind the line w7hich it forms in advance of their army;
hence, if you can turn their Cossacks and conceal your-
self from their lynx eyes (wThich is not easily done), it is
more than probable that you will succeed in any sur-
prise you may undertake against their regiments of the
line. The vigilance of the Cossacks is then no sign of
the alertness of the other troops of the Russian army.
The numerous skirmishers which the Cossacks put out
in their front are no certain indication of the forces
which they cover. The Cossacks, model light cavalry
as they are, true to the real object of their organization,
always making war in open order, keep but small re-76
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
serves; while other European troops may be counted, so
to speak, by the number of their skirmishers; a squad-
ron deployed as skirmishers indicating as a rule in the
regular armies of Europe, a force of at least five or six
squadrons behind it.
Experience in war makes it easy to recognize, at great
distances, the nationality of the troops opposed to you;
the more or less perfect alignment, the form of the col-
umns, give to experienced eyes almost certain indications,
even to-day, notwithstanding the fact that almost all
northern armies have adopted the gray cloak and low
shako. If the troops do not wear their cloaks it is still
easier to distinguish between them. The colors adopted,
with few exceptions, by the continental nations are:
Kussia, green; England, red; Austria, white; Prussia,
Spain, Wurtemberg and the small German States,
dark blue; Bavaria, sky-blue. Add to that the tints
of their accoutrements, the colors of their trousers,
heights of their shakos, the forms of their masses, and
there will be no uncertainty.
The Cossacks are the best light cavalry in Europe, the
one which most fully accomplishes the object for which
it is maintained (which should be that of all light
cavalry). That is due to their possessing the combined
instincts of the wolf and the fox, their habit of making
war, their fine physical condition, and the strength of
their horses.
After the Cossacks come the Poles, certain Prussian
and Hungarian regiments, the French, the Belgians, the
Bavarians, the Wurtembergers, the Saxons, the Germans
of the Rhine, the English, the Piedmontese, the Span-
iards. and the Dutch. We are not so skilful as brave,
which is owing to a number of conditions easily pointedINDICATIONS.
77
out and still more easily corrected; but bravery is a
great weight in the balance of war, and only too often
charged with the duty of saving the day or driving
home a success.
The nations who have a good and numerous cavalry
constantly harass the hostile army, which they sometimes
succeed in demoralizing, and, on the field of battle,
threaten their artillery with capture; one must then mod-
ify his tactics to suit theirs, and have no hard-and-fast
general rules of war which would only serve to keep him
moving slavishly in a disadvantageous rut. For that
reason one should fully understand with whom he has
to deal.
If the Cossacks attack at night it is to prevent your
sleeping; to exhaust you by sleeplessness rather than to
break through your lines; generally to show a bold front
to them is all that is necessary to hold them in check.
If attacked at night by Prussian cavalry it is a more ser-
ious affair, and it is not only necessary to be ready to
receive them, but also prepared to manoeuvre against
them. Whenever the Austrian cavalry makes a night
attack you are safe in assuming that it is supported by
infantry.
If, in daytime, the Cossacks show themselves in force
upon one of your wings, but without artillery, it is prob-
able that they are not supported; if they have guns, it is
more than likely that they are strongly supported, and
it will not be long before they prove it to you by the
rapidity of their attack, outflanking your wings and
threatening your lines of retreat. If the Prussian cavalry
shows any artillery of small calibre, by pressing them
closely you will be able to capture it. The calibre of
the artillery firing upon you is a certain indication of78
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
the kind and strength of the troops which it accom-
panies.
The laws of morale and of military discipline are dif-
ferent in every country, especially in regard to the
relations of soldiers to the inhabitants of the country
occupied by hostile troops. What among Frenchmen
would be called leaving camp without permission, and
pillaging, with the people of the north is simply forag-
ing. The appearance then of Cossacks, Prussians, or
Hungarians in a village must not lead one to believe
that they have come there to reconnoitre. No; they are
probably there only to pillage: so keep on your guard,
but draw no absolute conclusions from their appearance
at that place.
If frequent Russian and Prussian patrols take the same
road for several successive days, and especially if their
armies remain in the same position for some time, it is
an indication of movement towards the place recon-
noitred.
If the English cavalry knew7 anything about war, on a
battlefield they would perhaps be the most terrible cav-
alry in Europe; their well-know7n luxury in horses and
equipments is in harmony with the beauty and courage
of their soldiers; when they show themselves you may
be sure that their movements will be united, their attack
powerful, and their retreat orderly. They are seldom
separated from their infantry, which assures their repose
in bivouac. They learn more of the position and dis-
positions of the enemy through spies, whom they pay
handsomely, than through reconnaissances. If you
learn that they are separated from their infantry, do not
hesitate to attack them by night. W hen you charge, make
a change of front and attack them in flank. ThisINDICATIONS.
79
manoeuvre can always be successfully practised against
an enemy like the English, who make a vigorous and
disunited charge, whose horses are not very manageable,
and whose men, brave but uninstructed, begin their
charges too far away from the enemy.
If the Cossacks, in their retreat, keep breaking up
more and more the longer you pursue them, do not infer
from that that they have lost confidence and courage: it
is their way of retreating, and a very dangerous one for
their pursuers, wTho may very often have good reason to
repent of their boldness. If, on the contrary, other
European troops do not rally promptly in retreat, it is a
proof of demoralization, and they must then be vig-
orously pushed.
Q. Because the northern infantry has been charged
and run over, is it therefore in your power f
A. The Austrian infantry throw down their arms, and
every soldier claims to be a Pole; they will faithfully
follow you as prisoners. The Prussian infantry throw
down their arms, but take them again promptly if they
perceive help coming. The Russian infantry lie down,
allow the charge to pass, rise and make renewed use of
their arms. The Austrian skirmishers, clothed in gray,
and armed with carbines using forced balls, are lost if
you press them in the open; do not hesitate to charge
them; they are yours, for they will not have time to re-
load their carbines.
The truth can be approximately arrived at in calcula-
tions of the strength of the enemy’s force by the num-
ber of his bivouac fires, by knowing in advance that
each fire represents so many men, more or less, accord-
ing to the nationalities of the troops in bivouac. This
difference is owing, above all, to very distinct national80
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
characteristics, and also to the kind of cooking uten-
sils with which the troops are provided. As a French
bivouac fire would indicate an average of ten men, so a
Russian would indicate four; a Dutch, five; an English,
six; the Austrian and German, six each,
It is to be understood that these calculations are only
approximate, and that the brightness of the fire, indi-
cating a greater or less number of men to feed it, gives
the most reliable of all data.GUIDES.
81
GUIDES.
Q. When should guides be employed f
A. Whenever one is not perfectly acquainted with the
country in which he is operating, and especially when it
is possible to mount the guides, so that the rate of travel
will not be reduced to that of a pedestrian.
Q. Should guides be changed f
A. So long as they are familiar with the country they
should be retained while the expedition lasts, especially
if it is a delicate one.
Q. What should be done if \ on an important expedi-
tion, your guide finds himself in a country which he does
not know f
A. Take another, but keep the first one until the end
of the expedition, so that he may not betray the object
of the march.
Q. What precautions should be taken with a guide f
A. Their strictness should depend upon the greater or
less importance of the expedition. The guide employed,
either in peace or war, for work in rear of the lines of
operations, should be allowed to march freely, and at the
head of your column.
Q. And the guide who leads a reconnaissance t
A. He should march near the commanding officer,
under the special guard of a sergeant and a corporal of
cavalry, who will watch him constantly.
It must not be forgotten that, in a hostile country es-
pecially, a guide will always try to escape from you if he
can do so easily and without danger.82
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Q. If the guide is dismounted, what should be done f
A. Fasten to his left arm a long forage rope, the other
end of which should be attached to the pommel of the
corporal’s saddle; the sergeant, sabre in hand, and with
uncovered holsters, marches by his side.
Q. If the guide is mounted, what then ?
A. Fasten one of his legs to the stirrup leather, so that
in difficult ground he cannot leap from the saddle and
escape; then give his bridle rein to the corporal, who
marches on his left and leads him thus while the expe-
dition lasts.
Q. Should the face of the guide suddenly show signs
of excitement ?
A. Warn him that if he proves treacherous he will be
instantly shot.
Q. If it is feared that he is leading the command into
an ambush t
A. Impress upon him the fact that in marching at the
head of the column, if it should be attacked, he would
be the first one killed.
Q. Why employ two men to guard a guide already so
closely watched f
A. Because the country traversed will often be diffi-
cult, and in marching in single file the guide should be
both preceded and followed.
Q. Should the guide be allowed to march on a path
running beside the road travelled by the column f
A. Generally he should be compelled to march with
the column, especially if the country is broken, or the
road leads along the edges of woods, ravines, large
ditches, etc.
Q. Should the charge of the guide be entrusted to any
non-commissioned officer that may be available tGUIDES.
83
A. No; but only to one of the most intelligent, who
must constantly observe the countenance of the guide.
Q. Should conversation with the guide be permitted ?
A. No; allow no one to question him or to answer his
questions except those whom you specially select to com-
municate with him; these should be selected from those
best acquainted with the language of the country, and
known to be discreet.
Q. On an important expedition would you question
your guide in the presence of your detachment f
A. No; privately.
Q. How should a guide be questioned f
A. Very slowly, and w7hile keeping him under the
closest scrutiny. If he does not fully understand the
questions addressed to him, be patient, and change them
so as to receive answers which will be of some use.
Q. How should a guide be treated ? -
A. Very kindly. Let him wTant for nothing; and ifr
on your return, you are satisfied with him, and can do-
him a service, or pay him, do not neglect to do so. Often
in the enemy’s country peasants, in order to avoid serv-
ing as guides, deny all knowledge of the roads. Be not
deceived by this lying, but frighten and take along with
you these pretended ignoramuses, and hold them until
more useful guides can be procured.84
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
SPIES. SECRET MESSENGERS.
Q. Does an officer of the advance-guard employ spies t
A. Yes; but, unfortunately, not as often as he should,
for want of money with which to pay them suitably,
and because, in a hostile country especially, a poorly-
paid spy whom you employ may become one acting for
the enemy, as all his interests combine to induce him to
betray you.
Q. What should govern the employment of spies, and
the amount of confidence to be placed in them ?
A. The nature of the country in which you are oper-
ating, the interest the inhabitants have in serving you,
and the opinion they entertain of your strength. Great
care and ingenuity must be exercised in making use of
spies, otherwise it may happen that your secrets will be
promptly disclosed to the enemy. When one is in a criti-
cal situation, the return of a spy should be attended
with the same precautions observed in receiving a re-
turning reconnaissance; for he may be immediately fol-
lowed by the enemy, and bring on an attack as much
more dangerous as it would be more intelligently and
certainly made.
Q. The first comer should not then be employed in this
business ?
A. No; try first to become acquainted with the family
of the one offering himself, his surroundings, and,
through them, his character; what intercourse he may
have with the enemy; after which, endeavor to induce
him to interest himself in our cause by good treatment,SPIES. SECRET MESSENGERS.
85
presents, pleasing prospects, and by impressing him with:
a belief in the certain success of our army. He should
also be made to understand, without threatening him.
however, that any treachery on his part will be revenged
upon his family, property, etc.
Q. Should a spy he first intrusted with trifling missions
before being sent on important and dangerous ones ?
A. Yes; and upon his return, promptly and exactly
fulfil every promise made to him. When he has proved
himself trustworthy and devoted in these small un-
dertakings, he may be employed in more important
ones.
Q. When one desires to make several investigations in
regard to the enemy, would it be well to trust them all to
one spy ?
A. You should first clearly appreciate the degree of
intelligence possessed by the man to whom you intrust
a mission; if it is limited, the duty required of him
should be restricted. Again, it is dangerous to trust
your entire business to any one man. It would be better,
all things considered, to employ several spies whom you
send out at different times, in different directions, so
that there will be no communication between them.
Q. If you distrust any one of them, should he be
stopped ?
A. Not always; it is better to send him on a false
mission, which will lead him to suspect the arrival of a
large reinforcement at a point threatening the enemy,
and the immediate execution of a strategical manoeuvre
which must compromise the enemy in the position occu-
pied by him.
Q. Should written instructions be given to a spy ?
A. For a false mission, yes; and in this case you86
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
write them in such a way that, falling into the hands of
the enemy, his reading them will further your plans.
Q. And for a true one ?
A. Never; the instructions must be verbal only.
Q. Give me some examples of the two kinds.
A. The hostile troops occupy in front of you the vil-
lages of Yaltersdorf, Thaldorf, Meissen, Langsdcrf,
Baumdorf, Grossdorf, and Kleinsdorf. Some leagues to
the left rear of the line is the village of Guttstadt; you
give to the spy whom you distrust the following written
instructions: “Turn the enemy’s line; go to Guttstadt
and learn if any French hussars, with red pelisses, and
wearing the number 4, chasseurs with yellow collars,
wearing the number 2, dragoons, with red collars, wear-
ing the number 2, red lancers, wearing the number 4,
and some infantry, have arrived there. If they are not
there yet, observe the condition of the road Guttstadt—
Grossdorf, and see if artillery can march over it. Re-
turn to Guttstadt, and there await our division, and,
immediately upon its arrival, come and warn us of the
fact.”
If you intend an attack upon Meissen, give to the spy
whom you believe you can trust verbal instructions to
reconnoitre the villages Baumdorf, Langsdorf, and
Meissen. These instructions will cover every point on
which you wish to be informed. If afraid that he will
not readily remember the names of the three villages,
write them on a slip of paper which he can easily swal-
low, if in danger of being captured. Should the man
be captured, the enemy, seeing three names, will not
know which one of the places will be attacked or whether
all three are threatened.
Q. From what class of men should spies he selected fSPIES. SECRET MESSENGERS.
87
A. As far as possible, from those whom the enemy
has least reason to distrust; postmasters, postilions*
drivers of public conveyances, and merchants well known
in the country may be useful, because they will natu-
rally be less open to suspicion than men who, in case of
arrest, could not justify their actions, or be vouched for
by any one.
Q. How may you recognize spies sent to you by the
enemy ?
A. By their way of looking about them; by the atten-
tion paid to everything passing in the bivouac; by the
frivolous pretexts upon which they try to enter it; by
their emotion if you try to halt them; by the vagueness
of their answers when questioned;—particularly if they
think you recognize them; often by the money which
they foolishly carry with them; and, finally, by the haste
displayed in destroying any instructions they may be car-
rying upon their persons.
Q. In Germany what class of men are most frequently
employed as spies f
A. Poor Jews.
Q. What is their usual pretext for entering bivouacs t
A. To buy and sell. They often ask permission to
buy the hides of cattle slaughtered for the troops. This
was the pretext employed to obtain entrance to our
bivouacs after the breaking of the bridge over the Da-
nube, the day of the battle of Essling.
Q. What should be done upon the least suspicion of
the presence of spies f
A. Immediately arrest the man suspected, subject
him to several cross-examinations, severe and contradic-
tory, to see whether he trips in his answers, and send
him under a strong escort, with a report containing the88
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
examination, and your opinion in regard to the man, to
the commander of the advance-guard.
Q. When detachments of your army are widely sepa-
rated and communication among them is urgently de-
sired, which cannot be had by ordinary means, ivithout
losing valuable time, and detracting from the value of
the communication, what course can be taken f
A. A secret messenger may be charged with the
mission, but this method is both uncertain and danger-
ous, in proportion to the importance and confidential
details of the message. Therefore it would be extremely
useful when a command is detached, and it is supposed
that the necessity for communication with it by secret
messenger will arise, to agree in advance with one’s
chief, upon a cipher whose duplicate will be carefully
preserved.
Q. Are not nearly all ciphers readable ?
A. Yes, by diplomatic officers, but not by the com-
mander of an advance-guard or of an army. However,
there is one easily employed and impossible to read.
Q. What is it f
A. You and the person with whom you correspond
have two books exactly alike. They may be of any kind
and printed in any language whatever, provided you are
familiar with its alphabet. The first number your
correspondence bears is that of the page selected; the
second that of the line with which you begin. The
others those of the letters you use, all of which you
have numbered, without missing any, and beginning
with the first one designated, until you have all that
may be necessary. Without an exact duplicate of the
same book that you have, it is impossible to read your
message, because the same letters, when repeated, areSPIES. SECRET MESSENGERS.
89
represented by different numbers. Care must be taken
to leave no intervals between the ciphered words, to
avoid the number of letters in each of the words being
compared and inferences being drawn as to their
meaning.
Q. Are false secret messengers sometimes employed ?
A. Yes, but rarely; because to ask any one to play this
dangerous role, to deliver false information to the enemy,
which would cause him to make an important decision
against his better judgment, is demanding a great sacri-
fice on his part. If, however, circumstances should
make it necessary, this stratagem might be practised;
but only by a man fertile in expedients, and of the
greatest firmness and courage.
Q. What should soldiers be ordered to do when es-
pionage is feared f
A. To beware of being too intimate in their relations
with the inhabitants; to distrust all questions, and never
answer them when they refer to, or would throw light
upon, our position. They should also be directed to
arrest all persons who try to induce them to drink in
order to question them while under the influence of
liquor.90
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED.
Too much care cannot be exercised in asking ques-
tions, for in many cases the answers they provoke may
produce serious consequences. To learn everything, to
separate the true from the false, the important from the
useless, is a real military talent—one of the most valu-
able an officer of the advance-guard can possess.
Q. What is the first thing to he done in conducting an
examination ?
A. To judge correctly the moral characteristics of the
man with whom you have to deal.
Q. Why is this so important f
A. Because it determines the nature, form, and style
of the questions to be addressed to him.
Q. Is there nothing more to he considered f
A. Yes; the degree of intelligence he possesses; this
will assist in shaping the questions so as to bring out the
most important information.
Q. The questions are to he modified, I suppose, ac-
cording to the country in which one may happen to he f
A. Yes. Generally, the interrogation should begin in
an easy manner, but so as to inspire the subject of it
with the feeling that we are not to be deceived. Of
course, if we are operating in our own country the exa-
mination should not be conducted as though we were
among enemies, and even if made in a hostile country
distinction must still be made between such and such
countries, such and such classes of individuals, accord-
ing as they are more or less friendly to us. In our ex-QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED.
91
animation we must not forget that what we have asked
or said may be repeated, and carefully consider the
impression, favorable or otherwise, it may produce in
regard to our interests. Often an unskilful examina-
tion has produced a very different effect from what was
expected; the examiner having been placed, without
suspecting it, upon the “culprit’s stool,” and his inter-
rogations proving fatal to himself, because, having been
repeated to the enemy, they served to reveal his plans
and permit them to be thwarted.
Q. On arriving in a village what persons should be
examined first ?
A. The mayor, or the one exercising his functions, the
postmaster, the cur6 or pastor, the schoolmaster, the
principal proprietor, and men known to have been em-
ployed as guides for the enemy.
Q. What is about the series of questions that should
be ashed f
A. Always considering the degree of intelligence of
the persons examined, they should be about as follows:
Where is the enemy ? What do you know about his march
and military dispositions ? Of his numerical force and
morale ? Has he infantry, cavalry, and artillery? What
numbers, what uniforms, do the cavalry and infantry
wear ? Are the horses thin, the men fatigued ? What
languages do the men speak ? Whence do they say they
come ? Do they belong to the landwehr or the line ? Do
many of them speak French ? Does the enemy bivouac
or sleep in houses ? How does he perform guard duty ?
Does he make reconnaissances ? Do these reconnaissances
extend to this village ? How have they appeared here ?
Were they in large numbers ? What did they do ? What
did they say ? Did they pillage ? Were they insolent ? How92
CAVALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
were the men dressed ? By what road did they come,
and by what one did they return ? What inquiries did
they make ? Where did they go on leaving the village ?
Where did they pass the night, and how did they estab-
lish themselves ? Is the enemy near by ? Does he send
out regular reconnaissances ? Do they arrive at the same
hour every day, in the same force, and by the same
roads ? How is the road leading towards the enemy ?
Are there any woods, ravines, bridges, villages, along the
road ? Where are they situated ? Can one reach these
defiles by making a detour, and without passing over
the road held by the enemy ? Is the enemy watchful,
does he guard himself well ? Has he seized horses from
the postmaster? Has he used the postilions or other
men of the village as guides ? Where has he made them
take him ? What questions did he ask the guide ? Has he
abused them ? Has he appeared to be uneasy and de-
pressed ? What precautions did he take on the march ?
Q. Are there yet other questions to be ashed f
A. Yes ; and which, according to the position in
which one finds himself, the orders he has received,
may often precede or entirely replace those just given.
Q. What are they f
A. All those relating to the topographical features of
the places passed through. As, where is such a city,
town, or village ? What is its population, the extent of
its resources ? How far is it from such a place, and how
far from the place where we are now ? How long would
it take to walk there? Are the roads leading to it
wide, good, metalled or paved ? Are there any inter-
mediate villages, hamlets, farms ? Are they rich ? How
many families ? In going there, will one have to tra-
verse woods, plains, rivers? Are there any fords,QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED.
93
bridges ? Of what kinds are they ? Can one mistake
the road ? Which is the one to take ? Are there any
mountains ? What kinds of roads ascend them ?
Q. Should the people questioned be examined together
or separately ?
A. Separately. Pay the greatest attention to their
respective answers; if they appear to disagree, sift
them thoroughly, with the greatest care and ingenuity
possible, and if you have any suspicions, based upon
their falsity, arrest those who have made them and
take them away with you, under guard.
Q. Should a uniform series of questions be put in
every case where the circumstances are apparently the
same ?
A. They should vary according to one’s position and
the nature of the orders he has received. Often, one is
obliged, in order to arrive at an exact knowledge of the
facts, to plead the wrong side to get at the right; and
often, an enterprising partisan who does not wish to be
known as of such or such a country, is obliged to use
the language of the enemy’s country, when operating in
his rear, and examine the inhabitants as though he were
a Russian, Prussian, or Austrian. In such a case, only
those who speak the language of the country perfectly
should be allowed to conduct the examinations, while
all others are strictly forbidden to communicate with
those examined. The intelligence of the examiner must
determine the form, nature, severity or mildness of the
questions put; the important thing is to learn the exact
truth.
Q. What questions should be addressed to a deserter ?
A. He should be asked: the number or name of his
regiment; to what brigade it belongs ; the name of the94
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
general commanding it ; to what division it belongs,
and the name of the division commander ; to what
army corps does the division belong; the name of the
corps commander, and where his headquarters are;
if the regiment, brigade, or division is in camp, in
cantonments, or bivouacs. If the corps is in position,
ask whether it is protected by numerous outposts,
whether it is strictly guarded, and, finally, whether it
is entrenched; what army corps or divisions are on its
right and left, and their distance apart; when he left
his regiment, brigade; whether detachments have been
made from the corps; whether reinforcements are ex-
pected; whether orders have been given to make a
movement soon, or any preparations made which would
denote an advance; what did the last order of the day
contain; what rumors are in circulation in the army;
whether provisions are abundant, and where are the
magazines, depots, intermediate depots; whether there
are many sick, where is the general hospital, the field
hospital.
Q. If the deserter arrives while his corps is moving,
what must be added f
A. What direction did the column take? Was its
movement isolated or combined ? How far was the col-
umn ordered to advance ? Did the column consist of
only one arm, or was it of mixed troops ?
Q. If the deserter is from the cavalry ?
A. Proceed in this manner: How many horses in the
regiment ? How many had you at the beginning of the
campaign ? Are the horses in good condition ? Are there
many new ones ? Are there many recruits or young sol-
diers ? (L. R. A.)
Q. Why this last question fQUESTIONS TO BE ASKED.
95
A. Because, as light cavalry should allow no oppor-
tunity of injuring the enemy to pass, it should never
neglect to attack any body of cavalry largely made up
of recruits mounted on new horses.
Q. Pt'oceed.
A. Are there many sick or disabled horses ? Is forage
abundant ? Can the country occupied furnish what is
required, or does it have to be hauled from the base of
the army ? (L. R. A.) does it arrive promptly ? Are forag-
ing parties sent out ? Do they have to go far ? Where are
the magazines ? How are they guarded ? Are the men
abused by their officers ? Have there been many mu-
tinies in the regiments ? Would there be many deser-
tions in case of our success ? What precautions are taken
to prevent desertions ? Are the hospitals at some dis-
tance from the army ? Were many men lost in the last
affair? Have the soldiers been demoralized by their
losses ?
Q. What questions should be ashed of an artillery
soldier ?
A. The preceding ones, and in addition: Where is the
grand park ? Is there any siege artillery ? Where are the
depots ? Where is the corps park ? How many pieces has
the division to which he belongs ? What kinds and
calibers of guns? Are the caissons and limbers well
filled ? (L. R. A.); what is the number of his regiment,
company, battery? Is there a bridge train? Are the
draught-horses in good condition ?
Q. What questions should be put to an engineer sol-
dier?
A. The preceding ones and these : Where is the great
engineer park ? Have the sappers attached to the divi-
sion tool-chests, bridge equipage, trestles, etc. ?96
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Q. What questions should be asked of a prisoner ?
A. The same as of a deserter.
Q. Can it be expected that the answers obtained will
always be exact ?
A. No; some, through ignorance, will not be able to
answer correctly; others, through trickery, or to en-
hance their importance, will either say what they think
you desire or will not tell the truth; but in order to trip
them up, put the same questions unexpectedly and re-
peatedly, so as to compare their first answers with their
last ones.
Q. Should a detailed report of the interrogatory be
sent to the general commanding the advance-guard f
A. Yes, and adding thereto your own opinions in re-
gard to the degree of confidence to be reposed in the
statements of the prisoner or deserter. (L. R. A.)
Q. Why?
A. Because, as it is probable that the general has, by
means of spies, some information of the whereabouts of
the hostile army, his own news, compared with these
reports, will enable him, if not to know the entire truth,
at least to draw sound inferences as to the probable
movements of the enemy and to give his spies fresh in-
structions.
Q. If on the march, should one halt to conduct this
examination ?
A. If there is time to do so without compromising the
execution of your orders, yes; if you have not time,
after having put to the prisoner or deserter the questions
whose answers may enlighten you in the performance
your duty, you should send the prisoner or citizen, in
charge of a reliable man, to the commander of theQUESTIONS TO BE ASKED.
9?
advance-guard, who will be informed that it was impos-
sible for you to make a thorough examination.
Q. Upon what do you write your interrogatory ?
A. Every officer of the advance-guard should carry
on his person pencils, paper, and wafers.
Q. What do you ask travellers ?
A. First, for their passports and their names; second,
where they come from and where they are going; third,
whether they have met troops marching, their kind, and
about their number. As to the strength of the column,
one could himself estimate it better by asking the
traveller how long it took him to walk along its length.
Fourth, how many hostile troops did he hear were in
the places they halted in or passed through. Fifth,
whether there were many sick, whether the troops were
in good condition, whether they expected recruits.
Sixth, whether the villages along their route were filled
with troops, whether the enemy’s outposts were close
together. Seventh, whether behind the advanced line
there was any cavalry or artillery to support it, and on
which it could fall back in case of a retreat; finally, the
distance, approximately, between the advanced chain and
the supporting troops. Eighth, how are the roads, the
bridges; if the enemy is engaged in repairing them; if
he is fortifying or has already fortified any of the places
through which they have passed. Ninth, whether sup
plies are scarce or dear in the country occupied by the
enemy; whether the country has suffered; whether it
has preserved its cattle; whether the enemy has not
gathered them up. Tenth, what public rumors do the
papers contain; what was the last paper he read and
what news did it give. (L. R. A.)98
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Q. Do you always write down the eaximination you
make f
A. For the most part, yes; but, nevertheless, there
are some cases where it cannot be done. That, for
instance, where much time would be lost that might be
better employed in marching. When the answers given
contain no important information. Where one expected
to obtain more information by a simple conversation;
but should this conversation develop important intel-
ligence of a kind desired, he should withdraw, and
privately write it down as correctly as possible. In this
case, as in that where one writes down the interrogatory
in the presence of the person examined, what is written
should be sealed and sent to the commander of the
advance-guard, by the non-commissioned officer who
accompanies the prisoner, deserter, or traveller. Where
nothing has been written down, any person whose ex-
amination has appeared to be of interest will be sent to
the commander of the advance-guard, in charge of a
discreet and intelligent non-commissioned officer, who
will be instructed to tell the general what has been said
but not recorded.
Q. What do these examinations demand f
A. Great care; for they often lead to the discovery
of spies.BIVOUACS.
99
bivouacs:
In the chapter on Charges I said that seasonableness
was the very genius of war, and in this I repeat the
remark. To seize the right moment for sleeping is as
difficult as to seize the proper one for attacking. The
whole mechanics of war is limited to two things,—fight-
ing and sleeping,—expending and repairing one’s
strength. To preserve the indispensable equilibrium of
this balance is a science. Often it requires more skill to
provide troops with strength than to expend it. In
presence of the enemy the science of resting their troops
is one which but few officers possess. Nothing denotes
a military coup d'ceil more sure, prompt, skilful, and
thorough.
To select a bivouac is to take up a military posi-
tion. To sleep in it, to find one’s self mounted in
it after having been rested and refreshed, prepared to
undertake anything when the enemy advances to the
attack, is to know one’s enemy thoroughly—to know
him by heart. To oppose rested and refreshed troops
to soldiers weakened and dispirited by privations and
fatigues, is to possess the advantage over them and to
have all the chances of success in one’s favor. If you
add to this talent—the fruit of innate aptness and of a
sound experience—the dash which achieves and drives
home a success, you are a remarkably well-equipped
officer for advance-guard duty.100
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Q. What is the first requisite for a good bivouac for
the advance guard f
A. Its military position; its difficulty of access for the
enemy; its facility for our exit from it.
Q. What is the second f
A. The convenience of its location, and an abundance
of supplies.
Q. In war do you always find these two essential con-
ditions combined, and if rwt, do you delay locating your
bivouac until you have found them f
A. The exigencies of the advanced-guard duty are
always pressing: I calculate them coolly, and though not
perhaps completely satisfied, make my choice. If it is
more necessary to post myself than to rest, then I post
myself. If, on the contrary, more urgent to rest than
to post myself, I rest. But in the latter case I endeavor
to conceal my bivouac, and remedy as far as possible
the insufficient defence by scouting farther to the front.
Q. How would you hastily choose a bivouac f
A. If I should discover a village, I should establish
myself near by it, because I should feel sure of finding
in it provisions and forage; there would be a supply of
water for my horses, and, in case of bad weather, I
should expect to obtain some shelter.
Q. But if there is no village ?
A. After having, as in the previous case, subordinated
my installation to the exigencies of the service, I should
endeavor to get near a small stream where I should find
all the water needed; near a meadow, oat or barley-field
which would furnish forage for my horses; close to an
enclosure where they could be regularly and securely
fastened; near a potato-field which would supply food
for my men; and within easy reach of a wood whichBIVOUACS.
101
would furnish pickets, shade, and branches and leaves
with which to construct and cover our shelters and
supply the bivouac fires.
Q. What other essential condition should be complied
with f
A. That the ground be firm and consequently healthy.
That the borders of the stream should not be miry, in
order to avoid all risk of losing horses in leading them
to water.
Q. After having chosen your ground, what do you
dof
A. I form the squadrons in line, facing the enemy,
and in the order in which I wish them to be placed;
then, setting out myself mounted, to reconnoitre the
position, I leave orders with the officer who replaces me
in command of the regiment or detachment, to dismount
the command and send out foraging parties as soon as
he perceives that the grand guard has halted upon the
ground which it is to occupy. This signal having been
given, the troops dismount, unbridle, and fasten their
horses—without mixing them up—by squadron, platoon,
or squad.
Q. Why?
A. Because in war concentration produces order, and
order gives strength.
Q Having fastened the horses with their ropes, what
is to be done next f
A. The bridles are placed behind them, tied up in such
a manner that they may be easily undone and placed on
the horses’ heads quickly, and suspended as far as pos-
sible, from tree-limbs or pickets, so as to prevent their
being trampled under foot, lost under the forage soon
to be brought in, or requiring a long search if needed in102
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
a hurry. This having been done, one half of the
troopers, after having suspended their belts from the
tree-limbs or pickets, take their scythes and hatchets
and go foraging, if the inhabitants have not filled the
requisitions made upon them. (See Provisions and For-
age.)
The other half remove their arms, hang up their belts,
and complete the installation. They take the fire-arms
off the horses and place them near their bridles and
belts, and under shelter if it is raining.
Q. Why remove the arms from the horses f
A. Because if the horses should roll, they would break
and destroy them. That done, a man remains behind
the horses to prevent their fighting, which would result
in some of them being wounded; to prevent their roll-
ing, which would break the saddles; the others construct
shelters, and if there is wood, light fires in front of
them.
Q. What is the first thing to be observed in construct-
ing a shelter f
A. That its opening is towards the horses, so that the
men may always keep them in view.
Q. And the second f
A. That the closed side is towards the wind.
Q. And the third f
A. That the shelter shall be to the windward of the
fire, and not to the leeward, that it may run no risk of
being burned.
Q. The shelter once erected, v)hat is to be done thenf
A. I lay a board or piece of wood on the ground, at
the front opening of the shelter, and fasten it with pegs
to retain the straw upon which the men sleep, so that itBIVOUACS.
103
may not come in contact with the fire, and thus set fire
to the shelter.
Q. What next t
A. I place in the shelter, hanging at the head of each
man, his belts, arms, bridle, and haversack.
Q. Why do you put all these things there ?
A. So as to keep them from the rain, from accidents,
and have them within easy reach of the men.
Q. How do you light your fire ?
A. The wood being prepared, I strike my flint, light
the tinder, place it in a piece of paper loosely rolled
and twisted up in a wisp of straw, and by a to-and-fro
motion, like that employed in stirring a salad, produce
a flame which ignites the paper and straw.
Q. The fire being lighted, what then?
A. Bring water in the pails, and put the kettles on the
fire. If the kettles are made of tin, they must be en-
tirely filled, otherwise the solder will be melted.
Q. What is done upon the return of the foragers?
A. The forage and provisions are usually placed be-
side the fires, the different articles in separate piles.
The forage is fed to the horses, a small quantity at a
time, so that it may not be wasted; the meat is put into
the kettles, and duties are assigned to the different mem-
bers of the squad. Some watch the horses, some feed
them, some rub them down with wisps of straw; some
prepare the soup, some clean the vegetables, some guard
against danger from the fires of the neighboringshelters;
others go for fresh supplies of wood, others for for-
age; others make necessary repairs to the saddlery, arms,
and clothing, and clean soiled arms; all keep on the
alert for the sound of the trumpet.
The camp duties regulated, supplies provided, the104
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
soup on the fire, the horses dried, the order is given to
lead to water, successively, by platoon or squadron. On
returning from watering, the girths are unfastened,
and the saddles and cloths shifted on the horses’ backs.
That done, only the men necessary to watch the horses,
feed them, and look after the soup-kettles are kept
awake; the others wrap themselves in their cloaks, lie
down, and go to sleep. When the soup is ready, the
squad is awakened to eat it as well as their meat; what
remains of the meat must be carefully stowed away in
the haversack.
If, at daybreak, “ to horse” is not sounded, the horses
are led to water, the saddlery inspected, and that which
is injured repaired; the horses are groomed without un-
saddling, the saddles being merely readjusted. The sup-
ply of provisions and forage is replenished, the soup-
kettles are refilled and placed on the fire, and all go to
sleep, if possible. In a campaign one should sleep and
eat whenever practicable to do so.
Q. But if one is not sleepy ?
A. No matter; he must try to sleep just the same.
Q. If you have no bread to put into your soup f
A. If you have flour, make dough or cakes of it; if
not, take any grain you have, grind it between two
stones, and make dough of the meal.
Q. If you have no kettle in which to make soup ?
A. Cut up your meat, and toast it on the end of a
stick. (See Arms.)
Q. Of what should the bivouac guard be composed $
A. Of a greater or less number of men, according to
the strength of the command in bivouac; it should never
have less than one non-commissioned officer, one trum-
peter, and four privates.BIVOUACS.
105
Q. Where is it placed f
A. At the centre of the bivouac, near the hut of the
colonel, or other commanding officer.
Q. What are its duties f
A. To furnish a sentinel for the entrance of the
bivouac, on the side toward the grand guard. When
the regiment is united, the guard is composed of ten
men, and commanded by a non-commissioned officer,
and furnishes a sentinel for the entrance of the bivouac,
and one other who is posted over the arms, and the hut
of the colonel. A captain commands the police-guard
of the bivouac.
Q. What are the duties of the police-guard $
A. To take charge of men undergoing punishment,
to execute the orders of the commander in regard to the
police-guard, to be on the alert during the night, report-
ing any suspicious noises heard, especially those coming
from the side of the enemy, and to immediately call the
colonel if necessary. The orders to the command are
given through the trumpeter of the guard.
Q. Where are the horses of the dismounted members
of the guard kept f
A. They remain with their platoons, where they are
taken care of.
Q. What rules are to be observed in feeding the
horses ?
A. The chapter on Forage and Provisions will give
them.
Q. How many men may be conveniently accommo-
dated by one fire or shelter f
A. From eight to ten, because one kettle will suffice
for their cooking, and there will be men enough to per-
form every kind of duty necessary for their comfort.106
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Let the men remember that in bivouac a mutuality of
duty, an equality of fatigue duty, should be strictly pro-
vided for, and enforced; and no soldier should expect
from another any service greater than that which he is
willing to render in return.
Q. How do the officers live in bivouac f
A. By themselves, according to squadrons, if serving
together; if separated, they may mess with their men;
but in this case they must not only put all their provi-
sions, but something in addition, into the kettle whose
contents they share.
Q. Who constructs the shelters of the officers ?
A. Themselves, assisted by the men who share them
with them.
Q. Who repairs their things f
A. Themselves, or their servants. An officer’s ser-
vant is obliged only to feed and groom the officer’s horse;
if he does more, it is of his own free will.
Q. What are the duties of an officer or non-commis-
sioned officer in bivouac ?
A. If not ordered on some special service, separating
him from his platoon or squadron, he must sleep less than
his subordinates; see that the horses feed, drink, are well
secured, and are not allowed to fight one another; that
the supply of forage is sufficient for the night; that dam-
aged saddlery is repaired; that the saddles are replaced
on the horses’ backs; that the packing is readjusted if
badly placed; that the arms are sheltered; that the men
do not leave the bivouac except for good reasons; that
none of them become drunk; that they do not abuse
their horses; that their things are so placed that they
can mount promptly at the first note of the trumpet;
that the old soldiers do not worry the young ones; thatBIVOUACS.
107
there is no quarrelling; that the orders of the com-
mander are quickly and exactly executed; that the for-
agers bring into the bivouac nothing but what is useful
and indispensable for establishing the bivouac and for
supplying the needs of the men and horses.
When “to horse” sounds, the officers and non-com-
missioned officers should be the first ones upon the as-
sembly ground , of the squadron, which will be where
they were dismounted. Then the roll will be called, and
they will note if the men, whose names are answered,
are actually present. Then they will take a rapid turn
through the vacated bivouac to see if anything has been
left behind; if anything be found, it will be picked up,
and sent to the man who has forgotten it. Sometimes
troops on leaving a bivouac, set fire to it: this is wrrong,
because the abandoned bivouac may be of use to other
troops; because the fire communicating writh the sur-
rounding country may cause serious and destructive
losses; and because the remains of the bivouac may in
many cases be useful to the poor peasants already ruined
by the war. It may happen that a bivouac will have to be
burned for military reasons, but even then it should be
♦ done only by order of the commander. If the bivouac
is abandoned before the soup is ready to be eaten, empty
the kettles, but never neglect to take them and the
meat they contain, with you. When several detach-
ments of different regiments bivouac together, each
should have added to the regular trumpet calls a dis-
tinguishing note of its owTn; if this precaution be not
taken, the individual movements of each detachment
should be ordered verbally, and not by trumpet signals.
Q. It sometimes happens, then, that commands are
given without using the trumpet f108
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A. Yes; especially whenever one wishes to conceal
the movements he is executing, or intends to execute; in
this case the orders of the colonel are delivered by the
adjutant to the superior officers, who, in their turn,
transmit them to the captains, and so on.FORAGE AND SUBSISTENCE.
109
FORAGE AND SUBSISTENCE.
During the whole of the eight campaigns, which I
made under the Empire, and always at the outposts, I
never saw a Commissary of Subsistence and never drew
a ration from an army magazine.
Q. Were there, then, no supply departments f
A. The administration of the army was never in more
able or honest hands ; in proof of which it is only nec-
essary to cite the names of Daru, Daure, Dufour, and
Yolland, to whom it was intrusted.
Q. Why did not the administration have its agents at
the outposts with the light cavalry f
A. Because the Emperor thought it impracticable;
because, to hamper the irregular troops in their move-
ments by the necessity of receiving regular issues of sup-
plies would have been mere folly, especially at an epoch
when we were gaining so many splendid victories, when
our armies were making war with the stride of a giant,
and when the light cavalry was hardly installed in a
bivouac before it was obliged to leave it again.
Q. But you were usually in a hostile country ?
A. Yes; at first we had the pleasure of seeing all the
burdens of war borne by our enemies; but the fortune
of war changing, we were obliged to fall back upon our
allies, and even upon our own people. Then, as before,
the light cavalry subsisted upon the country in which it
found itself, and vouchers wTere given to pay for the110
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
supplies furnished. But even in an enemy’s country
the cavalry avoided taking anything beyond what was
actually needed, so as not to impoverish, in pure wan-
tonness, an unfortunate country, or consume supplies
which might be needed later by our companions in
arms.
In peace, wastefulness is a wrong; in war, it is a
crime.
If regular issues can be made, so much the better; en-
deavor to see that the supplies are always of good quality
and full weight. For twenty-five years I have seen the
contractors cheating in the weights and quality of the
supplies furnished, and replying to the reproaches ad-
dressed to ttiem, “ The year has been such a bad one”
If regular issues be not made, supply yourself, and
in doing so let the order which you maintain concern
itself only with preventing waste.
In war it is necessary, above all things, that the few
hours allowed the trooper for feeding his horse should
be employed solely for that purpose; for the strength of
the horse depends upon his proper nourishment, and
upon that strength depend the proper performance of
our duties and all our hopes of attaining distinction.
In war one cannot always choose the forage for his
horse; but nevertheless there are certain precautions
which may always be taken to guide in the selection or
improve the quality of it. For instance, it is better to
feed green grass than new hay. The well-grown grass
from a meadow is the best, and rye grass is the next in
order, as regards ease of digestion, but it contains less
nutriment than alfalfa or clover.
If you can obtain nothing but clover, be careful in its
use. Our cavalry, which arrived in perfect conditionFORAGE AND SUBSISTENCE.
Ill
on the banks of the Niemen, to open the Russian cam-
paign, lost more than a thousand horses in a single night
from eating clover. As my own horses were among
those which succumbed, I have paid for the privilege of
speaking with authority on the subject.
If there be time to permit the clover to wilt before it
is fed to the horses, a great source of danger will be re-
moved. Clover cut the night before it is to be used
rarely does harm. If no grass can be obtained, the
leaves of certain trees may take the place of it; those
of the elm are the best.
When possible to procure grass that has not been wet,
take it in preference to that on which the rain has
fallen. Should it rain upon the bivouac, pile the cut
grass in heaps, and when the rain has ceased, use first
that which has been kept dry.
If nothing but new hay can be obtained, choose that
which has been most thoroughly aired, and is conse-
quently the driest ; feed only a little of it at a time,
and after having moistened it slightly w7ith salted water,
if possible—which will prevent the generation of gas in
the horse’s stomach. The hay usually found in barns is
new; feed it only in small quantities.
If you have other grain than oats, soak it for four or
five hours in water, until it swells, before feeding it; if
that cannot be done, feed it in small quantities only, and
allow the horse no water until after the grain has been
digested.
Horses suffering from fatigue seldom have good appe-
tites; if too much forage be placed before them at one
time they will become disgusted and refuse to eat: be
careful, then, to give them their forage in small por-
tions only. This precaution is equally important in the112
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
contrary case of gross feeders: if their forage be given
them in large portions, they will be likely to suffer from
indigestion, and even founder.
Should you find a field of growing oats, reap them,
and thrash them upon a piece of smooth ground or upon
a cloak. Then collect the grain and winnow it by shak-
ing and tossing it up in a current of air. This opera-
tion, repeated several times, will cleanse it thoroughly,
and enable you to feed it without fear of the rough and
pointed husks sticking in the horse’s throat to make him
cough and otherwise distress him. To prevent your
horse losing his grain, put it into a nosebag and let him
eat out of that.
As a rule, horses should not be allowed to drink while
warm ; nevertheless, if on the march, and they should
become thirsty, when a stream is reached the commander
of the detachment should order them to be watered, but
without the troopers dismounting or unbridling: the
time thus lost may be regained by increasing the gait.
Whenever you have meat endeavor to make soup;
should “ to horse ” sound before the soup is ready to be
eaten, empty the kettle but save the meat. If there
is not time to make soup, cut your meat into small
pieces and let each one toast his own on the end of a
stick. Never use the point of your sabre for that pur-
pose, as it would ruin it. Should you have a chicken,
fasten it with a string to the end of a bent stick, the
other end of which should be stuck into the ground far
enough from the fire to prevent its burning; then, with
the thumb and first finger, twirl the chicken round before
the fire so that it will be perfectly cooked on all sides.
If you have flour, try to make bread of it; but if you
cannot do that, make cakes of dough with the helpFOBAGE AND SUBSISTENCE.
113
of a little salt and water and bake them on the live
coals; or else make balls of dough and cook them in
boiling water.
A trooper who knows his business always carries in
his wallet salt, pepper, and an onion ora clove of garlic;
with these means of seasoning his food anything can be
made palatable.
Never throw away what is left after you have eaten;
who can say that to-morrow you may not die of hun-
ger?
In war a little tin kettle is a fortune in itself. I have
known troopers who never wanted for anything, yet
carried with them nothing but their little kettle; by
lending that they were certain of a portion of whatever
was cooked in it.
A knife is an indispensable article in bivouac.
Some troopers, under the pretext of foraging, take
everything they can lay hands on. Such an offence
should be so severely punished that the mere recollec-
tion of the example made would prevent any repetition
of the dishonesty. No mercy should be shown a thief.
Q. What distinction is to be made between “ going
foraging ” and going on a ‘ ‘ foraging expedition ” f
A. “ Going foraging ” is simply to seek for forage and
subsistence in the vicinity of the bivouac, or close to the
column, halted by the commander for that purpose.
4 4 Going on a foraging expedition ” expresses quite a dif-
ferent thing. A body of troops having exhausted the re-
sources of their bivouacs or cantonments, they are obliged
to seek, at a distance, that which is no longer near by,
and a foraging expedition is ordered. Numerous detach-
ments of all arms are assembled and started out. On ar-
riving at the designated place the cavalry is charged with114
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
performing the outpost duty. It posts vedettes and grand
guards; it even drives back the enemy, if necessary,
while the remainder of the troops seize the supplies con-
tained in the village, load them upon the wagons, and
take them to the camp, where a regular distribution is
made. The best method of foraging in a village is to as-
semble the authorities of the place at once, and make a
requisition upon them; if the peasants fill the requisitions
promptly everything is done regularly, nothing is wasted,
and you have, in addition, your men all together and in
condition to meet an attack.
If there be no village, and the object-of the expedi-
tion is merely to bring in a supply of grass for the
horses, the mowers, protected by our chain of ve-
dettes, make the grass up into trusses, tied securely
with forage cords, fasten them upon their horses, and
return to camp in an orderly manner. The supporting
troops then perform the duties prescribed for the escorts
of convoys.
Q. What is a truss ?
A. Two large bundles of long forage, of equal weight,
held together by a cord passing over the back of the
horse, so that one hanging on each side of him they
will balance each other. On arriving at the bivouac,
the forage is all delivered at some one place and thence
distributed.
Q. If the enemy should attack the foraging party ?
A. It must be vigorously defended.
Q. If the enemy should outnumber the supporting
troops ?
A. The mowers abandon their work, mount their
horses, and go to the assistance of their comrades.FORAGE AND SUBSISTENCE.
115
Q. Suppose the trusses are already loaded upon the
horses f
A. All, or a part, of the troopers engaged in mowing,
throw down their trusses and join the supporting
troops. If the enemy be repulsed, the trusses are
picked up again; but should we be outnumbered, al-
though the trusses may be lost, the men will be saved.
Q. Are the troopers detailed to do the mowing armed ?
A. Certainly. As a general rule, there is no duty to
be performed in war which will permit the wearing of
arms to be dispensed with. Whenever a trooper is
mounted he should be fully armed, and leave nothing
behind him which he may have to return for.
Q. Is it possible to calculate simply by inspection the
number of rations of grain or long forage, dry or green,
contained in a pile of grain, a stack of hay or straw, or
in a meadow ?
A. This question may be answered by giving the
calculations made by Captain Jacquinot de Presles, in
his excellent work entitled “ Course of Military Art and
History.” A cubic metre of hay, well packed, weighs
about 130 kilogrammes; a cubic metre of straw, about
85 kilogrammes. It is very easy, by multiplying to-
gether the length, breadth, and height of the space
tilled by the stores, to find the number of cubic metres
they contain; but should the heaps or stacks be cylin-
drical, the contents may be arrived at by multiplying the
radius of the circle forming the base by the circum-
ference, and taking one half of that product and multi-
plying it by the height of the stack. A cubic metre of
grain contains 10 hectolitres, and one hectolitre contains
about 12 average rations, giving about 120 rations to
the cubic metre.116
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A hectolitre of wheat weighs about 75 kilos.
tt	it ry0 “	u	70	u
u	“ barley “	tl	65	tt
tt	“ oats “	tt	40	tt
u	“ Indian corn “	it	80	tt
Good land produces per hectare, a square of 100 metres,
about 8000 kilos, of green forage; bad land, about 1500
or 2000.THE PIPE.
117
THE PIPE.
Every trooper should be encouraged to smoke a pipe.
Q. Whyt
A. Because it will keep him awake.
The pipe is a means of diversion which, far from
interfering with the trooper’s performing his duty,
attaches him to it and renders it less burdensome. It
soothes him, kills time, banishes unpleasant thoughts,
and keeps the trooper in bivouac and near his horse.
While the trooper, seated upon a pile of hay or grass,
smokes his pipe, no one will venture to steal the forage
from his horse to give it to another; he is certain that
his horse is eating his feed, and that he is not getting
kicked; the provisions are not stolen from his wallet; he
has time to discover the repairs which should be made to
his saddlery, the faulty arrangement of his pack, etc. He
can, without trouble, look after the horse of a comrade,
who, in his turn, will bring him the water, forage, and
provisions which he needs.
The hour for relieving the grand guard arrives, and
you start for the outposts. There all sleep is forbidden.
What a comfort you will then find the pipe, which
drives away drowsiness, speeds the weary hours, renders
the rain less chilly, and makes hunger and thirst more
easy to endure! If you have to make long night marches
after the fatigues of a busy day, when sleep overpower-
ing you is a veritable and invincible torture, and a cause118
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
of numerous and serious injuries to the horses, nothing
will keep you awake better than smoking your pipe.
The pipe compels us to carry with us a flint and tinder,
which are always at hand for lighting our bivouac fires.
In a campaign, where men’s resources are so limited,
there is nothing so trifling as to be devoid of value. The
pipe is a medium of exchange, of pleasure, and of duty
in the fraternal associations of our military life; in
certain cases, when loaned, it becomes a veritable means
of relieving distress.
Therefore, whatever Aristotle and his learned cabal
may say, smoke, and make your troopers smoke.
jGRAND GUARDS, PICKETS, SHALL POSTS, ETC. 119
GRAND GUARDS, PICKETS, SMALL POSTS,
VEDETTES, AND PATROLS.
Q. What is a grand guard f
A. An advance-guard placed between the main body
and one of its detachments, to relieve or support the
vedettes in case of an attack by the enemy, in order to
give the necessary time to the detachment or canton-
ment which it covers, to prepare for defence or retreat.
(L. R. A.)
Q. Where is the grand guard posted ?
A. Upon the route by which it is presumed the enemy
will advance to attack the bivouac.
Q. Why?
A. To delay the attack and give the bivouac time to
prepare to meet it in good shape. As nearly as possible
at the centre of the line of vedettes.
Q. Why ?
A. So that the vedettes attacked will, in retreating
upon it, be at the same time approaching their supports.
Therefore the junction of several roads or paths is a
favorable place for posting a grand guard. The latter
should bear to the vedettes the same relation that the
hinged end of a fan does to the upper ends of its out-
spread sticks.
Q. Who posts the grand guard ?
A. The commanding officer himself, unless he has120
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
with him an experienced officer worthy of his entire
confidence.
Q. When does he post it ?
i A. After having reconnoitred the ground thoroughly,
and obtained the best possible information concerning
it.
Q. How is the strength of the grand guard deter-
mined f
A. By the number of vedettes required, allowing four
men for each vedette posted. (L. R. A.)
Q. How is a grand guard formed ?
A. Upon reaching the ground where it is to be posted,
the advance-guard being mounted, the men detailed for
the grand guard move out of ranks, and place them-
selves in front of the line, facing the enemy. The
officers designated to command them cause them to
break into column and march under the direction of the
commander of the advance-guard, who has already recon-
noitred the ground. On arriving at the place where the
grand guard is to take post, they form line and halt.
Then the men who are to form the small posts are desig-
nated, and they move out of ranks to the front and face to-
wards the enemy. The corporals, or old soldiers, who are
to command the small posts of four men each, move out
of ranks and recognize the men who are to be placed
under their command. This preparatory work having
been completed, the small post detachments are re-
united and marched off under the orders of the com-
mander of the grand guard, and under the direction of
the commander of the advance-guard, or the officer
detailed to perform his duty; this officer moves towards
the centre of the line of small posts about to be estab-
lished, and halts. The central post is first placed,GRAND GUARDS, PICKETS, SMALL POSTS, ETC. 121
as well as the vedette which it is to furnish; then the
posts which are to occupy the line upon one of the flanks
move out together, and are posted successively, as well
as their vedettes. This duty performed, the commander
of the advance-guard, always accompanied by that of
the grand guard, returns to the central point, inspecting
on his way the line of vedettes he has just traced, and
rectifying it if necessary; then he completes the line by
doing for the second part of his small post detachments
what he did for the first.
Q. Has he no duty to perform in regard to the post-
ing of the vedettes t
A. Yes; to give to the commander of the grand
guard all the topographical information he possesses in
regard to the ground, and to communicate to him his
ideas as to the probable operations of the enemy, so that
he may be fully advised as to the point he must specially
watch. To these details he adds such orders as he thinks
should be executed under such or such circumstances.
Q, What does the commander of the grand guard do
upon returning to his post f
A. He dismounts his command and prescribes the
duties of the rounds. He orders the officers and non-
commissioned officers who will have command of them
to reconnoitre the line of small posts and vedettes.
Next he accompanies the commander of the advance-
guard, who indicates to him the line to be occupied
by the grand guard at night, and gives him direc-
tions as to his line of retreat in certain cases. He
accompanies this officer as far as the picket and informs
himself in regard to its position. On returning to his
guard he thoroughly re-examines the ground passed
over, so that if the grand guard should be attacked at122
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
night, no matter from what side, he could withdraw as
well as by day, by taking advantage of his knowledge
of the ground to avoid the obstacles which might ob-
struct the retreat of one uninformed in regard to them.
Q. What does the commander of the grand guard do
on reaching his post again ?
A. He gives out the countersign, which is communi-
cated to the small posts; inspects the arms; receives the
forage sent to him from the picket or the regiment; di-
rects one half of his horses to be unbridled and fed, but
not unpacked, while the men remain near them. He
visits his small posts and vedettes frequently, and often
he even goes outside of his line so as to judge better of
the opportunity offered to the enemy to make an unex-
pected attack. He requires his vedettes to recognize
him whenever he comes in view; then he questions them
to assure himself that they understand their orders, and
inspects their arms to make certain that they will not
miss fire. He makes his tours with greater frequency if
the enemy is near, if his men are not well trained, are
much fatigued, or if the weather is very bad. He
allows the grand guard and vedettes to put on their
cloaks, but not to turn up their collars, as that wTould
prevent their hearing distinctly. In very bad weather
he reduces the number of hours which a vedette has to
remain on post.
If the enemy is seen to execute any movements, he
warns his commander; if the movement is an important
one, he sends an officer or intelligent non-commissioned
officer to explain it clearly. If the vedettes discharge
their pieces, he causes his command to bridle and mount,
and goes in person to the point whence the sound of firing
seems to come. If attacked, he will withdraw in goodGRAKD GUARDS, PICKETS, SMALL POSTS, ETC. 123
order, skirmishing, and execute what is prescribed for
rear guards. If rounds visit him he will receive them
himself. He sends out patrols which keep up constant
communication between the small posts. These patrols,
taken from the half of the command whose horses are
kept bridled, are sent out more frequently when the
small posts and vedettes are unusually distant. When-
ever he leaves the grand guard he temporarily transfers
the command to the senior officer present, to whom he
gives detailed instructions as to his duties.
Q. Should a grand guard be allowed to have a fire ?
A. Sometimes; but it must not light up very much
space, and the place for it must be chosen so that the
enemy can see as little of it as possible.
Q. What is a small post ?
A. A grand guard of the grand guard.
Q. What are the duties of a commander of a small
post f
A. He posts a vedette, gives him the countersign and
his instructions, and makes known to him certain sig-
nals to be used. Then he thoroughly reconnoitres the
surrounding ground with a view to discovering what
advantages or obstacles it would present in case of an
attack upon the line compelling a retreat of the whole
upon the advanced guard. He must keep his vedettes
constantly in sight as well as those on each side of him,
and closely observe the country in advance of the line
he is charged with guarding. Whenever his vedette
makes a signal which he does not understand clearly he
mounts his horse and goes to discover the meaning of
it. If it proves to be serious, he mounts the men of the
small post and sends to warn the grand guard. Should it
prove to be of no importance, he reassures and repri-124
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
mands the vedette, and signals to the small post to dis-
mount, in order that this movement, indicating no cause
for alarm, may reassure the grand guard.
If the vedette discharges his piece, the small post
mounts instantly. Whenever the commander of a small
post leaves it, he must keep within view of his men, and
mount or dismount them by means of signals agreed
upon beforehand.
If, in looking over the ground in front of his vedettes,
he discovers any movements which have escaped the
notice of the vedette, he must call his attention to them
either by signals or by going to him and telling him of
them, and reprimand him sharply for his inattention.
He must frequently inspect the arms in the hands of his
men, and especially those of the men posted as ve-
dettes.
Sleep and rest are both forbidden to the commander
of a grand guard or a small post.
At daybreak and at nightfall their vigilance must be
redoubled, for these are usually the hours chosen for
making attacks. They must see everything with their
own eyes, and prevent their men being seized by panics,
which spread easily, call a whole army to arms, and
bring discredit upon the officer commanding the post
where they originate.
During the whole time that reconnaissances are out
the horses of the large posts are kept bridled.
Q. May a small post have afire f
A. Not without special permission.
Q. May the horses be unbridled f
A. Never.
Q. What is a vedette ?GRAXD GUARDS. PICKETS, SMALL POSTS, ETC. 125
A. A mounted sentinel posted in the vicinity of the
enemy.
Q. What are his duties f
A. To watch with the greatest attention the move-
ments of the enemy, if he is within sight; to let no
noise escape his notice; to watch carefully everything
which may be of interest to the guard of the detach-
ment to which he belongs; to signal to his small post
notice of everything which may appear threatening,
and to give warning of an attack by discharging his
piece.
Q. Which is the best place to choose for placing a ve-
dette f
A. One from which he can see everything without
being seen; thus, a long piece of wall, a clump of trees,
a hedge, a shallow ditch, are all favorable for masking
a vedette; he should never fail to employ them for con-
cealing his presence.
Q. If the point from which a vedette can get the best view
should be a bare hill, what should he do ?■
A. Place himself a little in rear of the crest so that
the line of the crest will cover him as much as possible,
without preventing his seeing beyond it.
Q. If a lancer is posted as a vedette and can, with a little
care, conceal himself, what should he do f
A. Lower his lance, or remove his pennon, so that it
may not betray his position.
Q. If the ground upon which the chain of vedettes is
placed is undulating, should vedettes also be placed in the
depressions t
A. Vedettes must be posted wherever the approach of
the enemy is to be feared: thus, one vedette is placed
upon a height to observe a plain, another at the foot of126
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
a mountain to observe a gorge, a wood, or a sunken
road, and to protect the vedettes who, on the hill-tops,
might, if not warned, be surrounded before they knew
it.
Q. What further •precautions are to he observed in choos-
ing posts for vedettes f
A. To take care that the vedette placed in a depres-
sion is able to see, as well as possible, one or two of
those on the same line with him, in order that he may
be warned by them of any danger threatening him, in
case of a movement by the enemy.
Q. What orders apply to all vedettes f
A. Never dismount unless by special permission of
the commander of the grand guard, and always have
the carbine or pistol in readiness to fire.
Q. In posting a vedette what orders are given him ?
A. First, point out to him the ground he is to ob-
serve. Indicate all the points of special importance
which he is to watch; direct him to look frequently
toward the other vedettes who, with him, form the
chain; next give him a signal by which he warns, and is
warned by, the other vedettes that it is necessary to re-
double vigilance, and be prepared for coming events.
Then give him another signal with which to warn the
commander of his own small post who, on seeing it,
immediately comes out to reconnoitre.
Q. Can the distance at which the emmy {$ seen he esti-
mated t
A. At two thousand metres, men and horses are seen
as mere points; at twelve hundred, infantry can be dis-
tinguished from cavalry; at eight hundred, individual
movements may be distinguished; at seven hundred,
the heads of the men may be distinguished from theirGRAND GUARDS, PICKETS, SMALL POSTS, ETC, 12?
bodies; at four hundred, the head of a man can be
clearly seen. (Jacquinot de Presles.)
Q. Is a vedette permitted to leave or change Ms post ?
A. Never, under any pretext, without special permis-
sion, given in advance.
Q. Is he required to observe anything besides the enemy ?
A. It is his duty to see everything that takes place :
for instance, if he should see a peasant come out of a
wood, enter it again, go out of it and approach the chain
of vedettes, it is probable that he is a spy, and the small
post should be signalled. If a dust is seen to rise
regularly along the horizon, it is probably made by a
marching column, and warning should be given; if a
signal is made by another vedette, it must be repeated
as a warning to his own small post.
Q. When danger threatens, what should be done f
A. The vedettes are doubled. In this case one of
them may be sent back to warn the small post, if neces-
sary, while the other remains in observation of the
enemy; if the vedettes have special orders to leave their
posts to reconnoitre in front of their line, to arrest sus-
picious characters found prowling about, etc., one of
them will perform that duty while the other remains on
post. In the case of double vedettes, if the enemy ad-
vances, the vedettes are numerous enough to form a
strong line of resistance, and skirmish, while retreating,
if not pushed back too briskly.
Q. What should a vedette do when he sees himself
about to be attached ?
A. Turn his horse to the left, bringing his right flank
toward the enemy, so that he can more quickly complete
his left about, and when the movement of the enemy is
decided, discharge his carbine.128
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Q. How often are the vedettes relieved f
A. Ordinarily, each one will be relieved after one
hour’s duty, so that the whole post will be relieved every
four hours.
Q. Are the vedettes posted at night in the places occu-
pied during the day f
A. At night the vedettes are brought nearer to the
small posts, these nearer to the grand guards, and these
nearer to the detachment. In dhytime the horizon of a
vedette cannot be too extended; but at night it is quite
different, and, in order that the vedette may be able to
see, especially when the night is dark, the line of the
horizon must be brought closer to him. For that reason
the vedette who, in the daytime, was placed upon a
height, must be posted in a hollow at night, and his eyes
must be fixed attentively and at a suitable distance, upon
the line of the neighboring ground which cuts the line of
the sky. Should the enemy present himself, no matter
how’ dark the night may be, the vedette will be able to
see him outlined against the horizon and, if on challeng-
ing him no answer is made, the vedette will fire. A
position for the night should be taken only after it has
become too dark for the enemy to perceive the retro-
grade movement. The positions for the day should be
taken up by the vedettes just at dawn, so as to prevent
the enemy’s guessing at the positions occupied at night,
and from which the vedettes are moved forward. In
making this forward movement care should be taken to
scout well to the front to avoid falling into ambuscades.
Q. What is a picket f
A. Troops placed between the detachment and the
grand guard.
Q. Where is it posted fGRAND GUARDS, PICKETS, SMALL POSTS, ETC. 129
A. Should troops be bivouacked in rear of a village,
the picket would be posted at the opposite side, towards
the enemy, and a few hundred yards in rear of the grand
guard.
Q. Will the men be permitted to occupy houses ?
A. The horses may be assembled and placed in open
barns; the men will bivouac.
Q. Are the horses kept bridled ?
A. Only half of them.
Q. What is generally the numerical force of the picket f
A. It should equal that of the grand guard.
Q. What is its duty ?
A. It posts one sentinel twenty-five paces in its front,
with orders to listen for any suspicious noises coming
from the direction of the grand guard, and to prevent
men passing, without permission, from the bivouac to
the outposts.
Q. Does it not also keep a sentinel over the arms of the
command ?
A. No; for the arms remain upon the horses, and the
sentinel, spoken of above, is not far away. The picket
assures the safety of the rear of the grand guard, and
furnishes patrols which scout in front and on the flanks.
If the grand guard is attacked, the picket warns the
main body, supports the outposts, and retires only when
they do so. The officers of the picket are permitted to
take turns in sleeping.
Q. Is it always necessary to have a picket in rear of the
grand guard ?
A. No; a grand guard needs the support of a picket
only when very near the enemy, or when the latter is
likely to make an attack. When these conditions do not
exist, it is useless to double the duty; but in such a case130
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
the main body in bivouac will have to exercise increased
vigilance.
Q. What is a patrol ?
A. A detachment of flying vedettes.
Q. Of what are patrols usually composed t
A. Ordinarily of two troopers commanded by a cor-
poral, or an old soldier. They are much more useful
than vedettes and may sometimes entirely replace them.
In that case their duty is continuous, and their observa-
tion constant.
Q. Under what circumstances would that be the case t
A. If infantry and cavalry bivouac together, the for-
mer would furnish the sentinels, the latter the patrols.
If a partisan, harassed and in danger, has retreated,
and barricaded himself at a farm, from the tops of
whose buildings he can see to a great distance, he posts
no vedettes, but patrols the surrounding country. Good
patrols, conducted intelligently, are generally much
more efficient than vedettes.
Q. Why?
A. Because the nature of the duty admits of no sleep-
ing; it compels men to display all their resources of
intelligence and courage; and the exploration of the
country is made more thoroughly and to a greater dis-
tance.
Q. How should men conduct themselves when on patrol t
A. March without noise of any kind; carry on no
conversation; fasten the sabre so that the scabbard will
strike against neither the spur nor stirrup; carry the
carbine in one hand, so that it will make no noise by
striking against the swivel, or fastenings of the sling-
belt. Keep the horses on dirt roads, so that no noise
will be made by their shoes striking the stones of pavedGRAND GUARDS, PICKETS, SMALL POSTS, ETC. 131
roads. In daytime the men must move along under
cover of hedges, walls, sunken roads, and ravines; they
must lower their lances, so that their pennons will not
betray them; they must conceal themselves in woods,
and make their observations through the openings.
At night they must endeavor to see even in the dark-
ness; halt frequently, follow sunken roads, and refrain
from smoking, so as not to light up their faces. If the
enemy is encountered they must not fire, but conceal
themselves, and one of the patrol must be sent, if pos-
sible without risk of discovery, to warn the grand
guard. The men of a cavalry patrol must not march side
by side, but one behind the other, and far enough apart
to enable them to see well, to afford protection to one
another, and, in case of falling into an ambuscade, to
prevent the whole patrol being cut off and captured at
once.
The routes which patrols travel may be, relatively to
our chain of vedettes, either interior or exterior; in
the latter case greater vigilance must be exercised, be-
cause the danger is greater. The exterior patrols should
consider themselves flying vedettes who have the ad-
vantage over fixed ones of being able to reconnoitre
everything which arouses their suspicions; of marching,
halting, and concealing themselves as long as they may
think necessary. It is often useful to send patrols of
one or two men to distant points, where they may remain
in observation for several hours at a time.
A patrol which has ventured too far, and which a
hostile post challenges, must be careful not to reply, if
they do not speak the enemy’s language, or if, before
going out, they have not learned a few words of the
language which, spoken in answer to the challenge, may132
CAVALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
suspend the examination, and give them time to turn
about without danger, and, gain some ground to the
rear.
If the enemy is advancing upon our posts and is likely
to arrive there before they are warned of his coming,
the patrol should discharge their carbines and return,
skirmishing, by the road on which they went out.
I have been told that in the campaign of Portugal our
cavalry, being obliged to march over rocky and sonorous
ground, put pieces of sheepskin on their horses’ feet (the
wool inside), and tied them about the fetlocks, so that
our patrols approached very close to the English vedettes
without the latter hearing them. This would be a good
thing to try again under similar circumstances.
A trooper on patrol may sometimes be surprised in
spite of the greatest vigilance, especially if he has to
traverse a wooded and broken country. He should halt
frequently, and carefully watch his horse’s ears. The
direction in which they point may give him valuable in-
formation. It is an indication he cannot afford to de-
spise, as it is instinctive; and if the horse persists in his
action, especially to the point of being frightened, the
cause of it should be discovered, if possible. Two
patrols, meeting outside of the chain of outposts, should
recognize each other, if possible, without challenging,
especially if the enemy is known to be in the vicinity.
When patrols are sent out, the outposts should be in-
formed in regard to their numbers, uniforms, etc., so
that there may be no doubt or hesitation about admit-
ting them when they return to their own lines.
Q. Are the grand guards and pickets allowed to go
out foraging f
A. No; if the enemy is near or a surprise is feared,GRAND GUARDS, PICKETS, SMALL POSTS, ETC. 133
the supplies for men and horses are sent out from the
main body.
Q. How are the horses of a grand guard watered ?
A. A small number at a time. Those already sent to
water must return before others are allowed to go out.134
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES*
DETACHMENTS.
Q. How does cavalry march in campaign ?
A. Almost always in detachments.
Q. What is a detachment f
A. Every body of troops detached by order from the
army corps, division, brigade, regiment, squadron, or
platoon to which it belongs.
Q. Are there different kinds of detachments t
A. Yes.
Q. What are they t
A. The detachments (properly so called) are advance-
guards, rear-guards, pickets, reconnaissances, patrols,
foraging parties, escorts, and partisans.
Q. Have these detachments a special duty f
A. Yes; of which the most active vigilance is the
mainspring, and the safety of the troops they protect,
the object.
Q. How are these war detachments detailed f
A. By taking a number of men from each squadron
proportionate to the numerical strength of each squad-
ron present.
Q. Why are the detachments not composed preferably
of men from the same squadron t
A. Because, if a misfortune were to overtake the de-
tachment, the squadron would find itself deprived for a
whole campaign of that number of officers or troopers,
while the other squadrons of the regiment would be
complete.DETACHMENTS.
135
Q. To whom is given the command of these detach-
ments ?
A. To the officers and non-commissioned officers in
their regular turns, beginning with the seniors of each
grade.
Q. Is this rule invariable f
A. No; for important duties, officers and non-com-
missioned officers who have given proof of their merit,
zeal, and courage are chosen ; seniority must fortify its
rights by the addition of these qualities if it does not
wish to experience the shame of surrendering them to
younger men.
Q. What is the first duty of the commander of a de-
tachment f
A. To inspect his troops before marching ; to assure
himself that the horses are properly saddled and girthed,
well packed, and well shod; that the men are provided
with cartridges; that the sabres are sharp and the
lances pointed; that the firearms are in good condition
and furnished with new flints.
Q. What is his second duty f
A. To have his detachment promptly mounted.
Q. The third f
A. To bring it into action in the most advantageous
manner.
Q. The fourth f
A. To see that it eats and sleeps at proper times.
Q. Where, in any case,—as for instance, a hurried
departure in the night, or in bad weather,—a commander
cannot inspect his command before beginning his
march, what should he do f
A. When the day dawns or the rain ceases, he makes
his inspection without halting, by causing the command136	CAYALB.lT OUTPOST DUTIES.
to march with open files,—placing himself in the inter-
val; he calls the attention of his officers to any neglects
discovered, and at the first halt has them corrected un-
der the immediate supervision of the same officers.
Q. When the column is en route and at a distance
from the enemy, what should the commander do ?
A. After having formed his advance and rear guard
he starts the command on the road it is to follow.
Then he halts to count his men, to make the inspection
of which I have just spoken; assures himself that the
officers and non-commissioned officers are in their
proper places and attentive to their duties; that no one
remains behind, that none of the horses are lame, that
they are not wasting their strength uselessly, that the
rear-guard maintains its proper distance and brings up
all the stragglers. After having marched for some time
in rear to see for himself that everything is as it should
be, he takes his place at the head of the detachment.
After having marched for three quarters of an hour, or
an hour at most, during which the horses will have
dunged, a halt is made to allow them to urinate; the
command is dismounted ; the girths are readjusted; the
tails which may have become untied will be tied up again;
all defects in dress, packing, and saddlery will be reme-
died. Then the command is remounted and the march
resumed, as far as posssible, with open files. If march-
ing over an undulating country, he halts at the top of
every hill and looks back to judge of the regularity of
the march. If the gait at the head of the column is too
rapid, he decreases it; if too slow, increases it. It is
better to have it too rapid than too slow. If some horses
have strides so short that they interrupt and break the
gait of the others, they should be put at the tail of theDETACHMENTS.
137
column. The commander should endeavor to keep his
men in a cheerful frame of mind by encouraging them
to sing and talk.
If the column is composed of several squadrons, he
directs the different commanders to keep their proper
distances and avoid crowding upon those in front of
them. From time to time the command is halted so
that lost distances may be regained. When half the
distance has been covered, no matter how short the
march may be, the command is formed in column of
squadrons at division distance, on one side of the road,
dismounted, and a halt of half an hour made, during
which the men eat their lunch. The officers take ad-
vantage of this halt to rectify the position of the packs.
This halt should always be made so that on arriving at
the camping-place the men will have nothing to do but
to take care of their horses. If the march is a long one,
in resuming it the command will move out by its left;
if the march is to last for several days, each squadron
takes its turn at the head of the column.
Q. What is the rate of marching for a column at a
walk f
A. About four thousand metres (3.1 miles) per hour,
and almost twice that at a trot.
Q. Should the command come to a river too deep to
afford good footing for the horses. how should it he
forded ?
A. With a wide front, so that the mass will impede
the current. The troopers on the up-stream flank are
less exposed than if they attempted to pass singly, and
those on the down-stream flank will pass more easily.
Q. What precautions must he taken hy the troopers t
A. Before entering the water they take off their waist-138
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
belts and hang them around their necks, the sabres fas-
tened to the hooks so that they will hang down their
backs. The carbine is thrown over the right shoulder,
as when preparing to mount. Having entered the
water, the men draw their knees slightly backward and
upward, incline their bodies slightly to the front and
hold the snaffle reins lightly in the left hand, the right
hand grasping firmly a lock of the mane about half-
way up the horse’s neck.
If they lean backwards, hang to the curb bridle, or
seize a lock of the mane too high up; if they fail to ease
the weight upon the horses’ backs,—they are liable to pull
their horses over backwards, and drown both them and
their riders.
Q. If on the bank of a river boats are found, but too
small to transport horses f
A. The men are taken over in the boats, and hold the
horses by the bridles so that they may follow swimming.
Q. Should a ponton bridge be encountered ?
A. The men are dismounted and required to lead
their horses over it.
Q. If a ferry-boat be found t
A. The men are dismounted before entering it.
Q. What does the commander do on reaching the
halting-place f
A. After having received the reports of the officers
and non-commissioned officers charged with procuring
lodgings for the command in accordance with orders
given in advance, he forms the command in a central
place, and gives the necessary orders promptly, so that
the horses may be sheltered as soon as possible. He
sees that the horses are not unsaddled for three or four
hours, and that they are not watered for at least oneDETACHMENTS.
139
hour and a half after the day’s march is ended. The
officers are required to visit and inspect the horses and
stables daily, and the commander will make a note of
the squadrons which continue to have the greatest
number of injured horses. If a short halt is made,
during which the horses are to be fed and watered, only
one half of the ration of oats should be fed and the horses
should then be watered; immediately before resuming
the march the other half may be fed. If a detachment
whose horses have not been watered for some time
arrives at a stream which is likely to be the last one
met with during the day, the horses should be quickly
watered, without unbridling, and the march be re-
sumed immediately after, in order that the horses may
not become chilled.
Q. Can all these directions be observed in war f
A. In war one has always to do the best he can, and
in the best way possible, taking as a rational standard
the regulations prescribed in peace for preserving the
health of horses and men. Near the enemy and on the
alert a commander would keep his columns closed up,
have his arms ready, take every means to have his
command in readiness to meet an attack or repulse one,
no matter what unexpected event should occur.
If compelled, by bad ground, a ford, a narrow bridge,
etc., to march in single file, the commander of the col-
umn should form his troops successively on the other
side of the defile, and resume his march only after the
whole command has been properly formed up. If
making a night march through a difficult or wooded
country, and there is no object in concealing his march,
the commander should assemble the squadron conu
manders and give them the following instructions, which140
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
each one will repeat and give to their squadrons on re-
joining them; the trumpeters will be placed at the heads
of their respective squadrons. They will repeat every
signal, no matter whence it comes.
The “ march” will signify “ forward.”
One note, ‘ ‘ halt.” Two notes, that the country is
open, and that the command will form close column on
first squadron. Three notes, that a squadron has lost
the road. Four notes, that it has rejoined. No dis-
tance will be left between squadrons. The officers and
non-commissioned officers will march in the column, at
the heads and tails of their respective squadrons, and
require the men to ride head to croup, and keep awake.
Each squadron will have at its rear an officer and two
non-commissioned officers, whose duty it will be to see
that the following squadron does not lose the way. If
at a difficult place they discover that they are not fol-
lowed, they will leave a trooper, who will indicate his
position by calling out. As soon as the expected squad-
ron comes up to him he will rejoin his own. If a squad-
ron, by keeping so far to the rear, gives reason to fear
that it has lost the road, the officer in rear of the pre-
ceding squadron will call out, and have the information
brought by the trooper left in rear passed from mouth
to mouth, until it reaches the head of the column. The
commander of the lost squadron will inform the de-
tachment commander of the state of affairs by sounding
three notes, which will be repeated by all the trumpet-
ers. The detachment commander will halt the com-
mand by having one note sounded. As soon as four
notes have signified the rejoining of the missing squad-
ron, the sounding of the “ march” will put the column
in motion again. This order having been given, theDETACHMENTS.
141
officers return to their posts, and the officers, non-com-
missioned officers, and trumpeters are placed as has just
been indicated.
Q. If the commander of a detachment, in a hostile
country, afraid of reaching his bivouac at night, and
finding no forage there, finds along his route some
well-filled barns, what should he do f
A. He halts the detachment, places sentinels at the
doors of the barns, dismounts the command, makes up
convenient trusses of forage, which each trooper packs
upon his horse. That done, he continues his march.
Q. Should a horse, on account of weakness or an ac-
cident, not be able to keep up with the command f
A. Send him to the rear in charge of his rider, who
must lead him.
Q. Should the horse be so severely wounded as to be of
no further use ?
A. The commander wTill assemble all the officers and
the veterinarian, and if they decide by a unanimous
vote that the horse is incapable of further work, he is
killed, and his rider, carrying his equipments, will be
sent to the nearest sub-depot in rear.
These are general rules, applicable to detachments of
every kind. Circumstances may often compel a modifi-
cation of the manner of applying them. We now pass
to special rules.142
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
DETACHMENTS PROPERLY SO-CALLED.
Q. What is a detachment properly so called ?
A. Troops separated by order from the corps to which
they belong without being sent on reconnaissance, guard
duty, patrolling, foraging, escort or partisan duty.
Q. Explain.
A. A commander of a detachment has his first squad-
ron on duty at a place a league distant from his. He
receives reports which lead him to fear that the detached
squadron is not strong enough to resist an attack with
which it is threatened; he sends the second to support
it, and places its commander under the orders of that
of the first. This second squadron, during its march, is
on detached service properly so-called.
Parts of commands left in rear, at the small depots,
are ordered to rejoin the outposts; they are on detached
service properly so-called until they have arrived at
their destination.ADVANCE-GUARDS,
143
ADVANCE-GUAKDS.
*4 General Steingel, an Alsatian, was an excellent hus-
sar officer; he had served under Dumouriez in the
northern campaigns, and was a clever, intelligent, and
extremely vigilant man. To all the characteristics of
youth he joined those of mature years: he was an ideal
outpost general. Two or three days before his death
he was the first to enter Lezegno; the French general,
who arrived a few hours later, found that all his
wants had been anticipated and everything prepared for
his future operations. The fords and defiles had been
reconnoitred, guides employed, the cure and postmas-
ter interrogated, friendly relations established with the
inhabitants, spies sent out in various directions, the
letters in the post-office seized, and all those containing
military information had been translated and abstracts
of their contents made, and all necessary measures
taken to establish magazines of supplies for the subsist-
ence of the army.”—Napoleon, “Italian Campaigns.”
What could be added to this admirable portrait of an
officer of the advance-guard ? The whole science of
that duty is expressed in those few lines. Learn it by
heart; repeat it ten times a day; store it well in your
memory, make it a part of your thoughts, absorb the
spirit of it so thoroughly that at any instant it may be
brought to mind, and then endeavor to emulate the
work of Steingel.
To deserve the title of a good advance-guard officer
it is necessary, so to speak, to be capable of command-144
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
ing the army for which one clears the way. He should
be able to estimate what is required for the deployment
of the columns following him, the positions they will
occupy, the wants to be supplied, and the attacks they
will have to meet.
The small force wThich he commands often occupies
but a small portion of his thought, for it is merely a
point in the great space which demands his attention.
He does not act for it, but for that w7hich follows it.
He is not acting individually, like an officer on a recon-
naissance; his troops are merely a part of a whole, and
if necessary he must sacrifice them, even to the last
man, to hold for his army corps, his division, the key
to a position, the entrance to a defile, etc.
His duties are:
1st. To know well the ground he passes over, under
its offensive and defensive aspects.
2d. To compel the enemy to deploy and show his
strength.
3d. To discover his plans and appreciate their im-
portance, and the possibility of executing them.
4th. To prepare, so to speak, for the accommodation of
the troops he precedes, to obtain for them everything
needed in the way of supplies, and to collect useful in-
formation of every kind. There is no chapter of this
volume which an officer of the advance-guard may not
consult wTith profit; so I refer him to those which are
concerned with details, and shall confine myself to in-
dicating briefly in this place his duties, and to saying
what has not been said in preceding chapters.
An advance-guard officer is left, more or less, to him-
self; he may be ordered to march in such a direction
and arrive promptly at such a place, or to follow theADVANCE-GUARDS.
145
enemy prudently, and profit by his mistakes, taking
every possible advantage of them.
Q. In the first place, what is he to do t
A. To execute his orders vigorously.
Q. In the second ?
A. He feels his way, goes step by step, takes'such or
such a route only after having well weighed the conse-
quences of his decision, compared the special duties of
his mission with the relative importance of any check
he might experience, the distance from his supports,
etc.
His troops march in echelons, and always so that every
subdivision from the skirmish line to the last files of the
rear-guard will be duly supported. Each platoon, each
trooper even, occupies a designated place, and always
the one which will contribute most to the efficiency of
the whole force; everything is calculated beforehand,
nothing left to chance.
Every indication is carefully studied. Should he come
upon abandoned bivouacs, he reads in the smoking,
sometimes blood-stained, remains the proximity, num-
bers, losses, fatigue, and demoralization of the enemy.
Should he see at the forks of a road numerous foot-
prints of men, wheel-tracks, footprints of horses, he
halts, and, from their freshness, from the reports of
peasants, from the reconnaissances he sends out, and
by his maps, he judges the intentions of the enemy.
Q. Should he come upon a defile f
A. He sends scouts along the heights commanding it,
explores it with care, but never without forming his
troops in rear of it, so as to be prepared in case of a sud-
den attack.
Q. If he passes through the defile and fears that he146
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
may be cut off and separated by the enemy from his
army corps or division t
A. He leaves a sufficient force to hold it until satisfied
that the danger of being cut off has passed.
Q. If he arrives in front of a village ?
A. He halts his troops and has the place examined by
the point of his advance-guard: if the enemy is not
there, he sends one fourth of his force rapidly through
the village to surround it, by posting vedettes at all
roads leading out of it in front; these vedettes are in-
structed to fall back briskly at the sound of the first
shot fired.
Q. If he establishes himself there f
A. He seizes the church-steeple, in which he places a
sentinel during the day; locates his bivouac in a defen-
sive position behind the houses on his line of retreat;
has provisions and forage brought to it; barricades all
the roads by which the enemy might come to surprise
him, leaving open only a few small passages necessary for
the retreat of his small posts; he indicates the place of
assembly in case of alarm, examines all the inhabitants
who can give any information, and seizes some guides
whom he keeps with him in his bivouac.
Q. What is an alarm place ?
A. A position, considered from a military standpoint,
the most suitable for a general assembly of the troops
in case of an attack; consequently, that from which it
is best to execute any movement, either to the front or
rear. It is upon this place, well known in advance, that
all the small posts not belonging to the advance-guard,
properly so called, should immediately assemble in case
of an attack.ADVANCE-GUARDS.	147
Q. If the advance-guard arrives in front of a village
at night f
A. The commander halts it a few hundred paces in
rear of the village, and sends a few intelligent troopers
to reconnoitre it. These creep silently up to the first
houses, halt, listen, and judge by the sounds heard
whether the enemy is present or not. One of them dis-
mounts, climbs over a hedge, approaches a lighted win-
dow,looks into the house, and then returns to his corporal,
to whom he reports what he has seen. A peasant is seized,
and, with a pistol at his head to keep him quiet, is taken
to the commander, who questions him.
Q. If our advance-guard encounters the enemy in the
night f
A. If the enemy has not discovered it, it halts, keeps
silence, studies him and, under certain circumstances,
attacks him unexpectedly, if a favorable opportunity is
offered.
Q. If the encounter occurs in the day time f
A. It feels the enemy, makes him deploy, attacks him,
while concealing its own forces and always keeping them
in a good defensive position, until the arrival of the proper
moment for taking the offensive with its entire force.
Q. If the °nemy, in retreating, endeavors to destroy a
bridge f
A. It drives him away and seizes the bridge.
Q. Should it drive the °nemy back upon a small city f
A. It presses him so lively that he will have no time
to destroy the supplies in the place, or carry off men
who could give useful information, or take the letters
from the post-office, etc.
Q. If the commander of the advance-guard desires to
give the city an exaggerated idea of his force, and of148
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
the troops which he precedes, in order that the report
may be carried to the enemy and intimidate him ?
A. He brings in by several roads, and unseen by the
inhabitants, a few platoons which represent the heads
of columns. He announces the coming of large bodies,
orders a great quantity of rations, a large number or
vehicles, and takes good care that the enemy’s spies do
not get in rear of him and discover the ruse.
Q. And after having entered the city 7
A. He selects a good military position and sends out
spies to the front and both flanks.
Q. If the advance-guard comes to a river ?
A. It reconnoitres its banks and fords, and destroys
the latter if of a nature to assist the enemy in attacking
or cutting off our advancing army.
Q. If when the advance-guard reaches one bank of a
river, the enemy shows himself on the other 7
A. The commander should immediately decide upon
the points likely to be used by the enemy to effect a
crossing, and post troops in front of them to resist the
attempts.
Q. If at night, a weak advance-guard is in bivouac
in front of the enemy, and wishes to intimidate him 7
A. It resorts to stratagem. A great number of fires
are lighted and kept burning brightly the length of a
long line, so as to give an exaggerated idea of the force
using them. A detachment of some fifty troopers is
marched round and round the fires so as to give the
impression that a long column is arriving to reinforce
the command.
Q. If a night attack is feared ?
A. After the fires have been lighted the commander
gives it out that he will leave in the morning, and thenADVANCE-GUARDS.
149
during the night moves off silently and takes up a bet-
ter and unknown position well to the rear of his
bivouac. The commander of an advance-guard should,
as a rule, never leave his troops—the place of command;
but nevertheless, should he consider it necessary, in
order to better inform himself in regard to the situa-
tion, to risk his own personal safety, he must do so
only after having warned the second in command, and
given him such instructions as will enable him to re-
place the commander, no matter what may happen.
Q. Before moving out from his army corps or divi-
sion, what should the advance-guard commander do ?
A. See that he perfectly understands the orders
given him by the general, which he should obtain in
writing if possible; he asks the general to repeat such
parts of them as are not clearly understood; compares
his map with that of the general, and corrects his own,
if necessary; sets his watch by his, and arranges with
him in regard to the frequency with which reports are
to be made.
Q. If the general leaves it discretionary with him as
to the time of sending back reports f
A. Then he makes them frequently, sometimes in
writing, sometimes verbally; but the latter, be it under-
stood, are entrusted only to officers or intelligent non-
commissioned officers, after having had the messages
repeated to them twice, so that they are certain to be
delivered with literal fidelity.
u I have arrived at X.—The enemy is in force.—He is
in position; it is a strong one; he has infantry and artillery.
—I need infantry.—Shall 1 remain or withdraw f—My left
dank is turned and I am obliged to fall back.—I am losing
a great many men.—I have taken position at the ravine of150
CAVALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Z.— The enemy has halted.—His infantry is withdrawing;
it is a trick.—Numerous columns are marching in the
direction of Q.—They consist of camlry only.—The hus-
sars and dragoons which were in front of me, have been re-
placed by the cuirassiers of X and the hussars of T.—The
bridges over the rivers have been broken down.—It will take
three hours to repair them.—l have captured two hundred
infantry and one piece of artillery from the enemy.—He
makes a false move.—He is disconcerted.—He has aban-
doned several wagons.—The enemy is in full retreat, and 1
am following him, sword in hand.—He will lead me some
distance this evening.—The roads 1 am passing over are
unsuited to the passage of your artillery.—I have scouted
the vicinity, but can find no othersetc.—(See Reports.)
Q. If the army is in a foreign country f
A. The commander should try to obtain from
among the men of the command some who speak the
language of the country well ; if there are none, he
has some ordered to join him, and keeps them near his
own person.
Q. What next ?
A. He makes a rapid inspection of his command,
assures himself that it is in good condition, that it is
supplied with ammunition and, if possible, with forage
and subsistence; if unacquainted with the officers
placed under his orders, he obtains from their im-
mediate commanders what information he can, ver-
bally; then assigns them to the posts where they can be
most usefully employed. (See Chiefs and Officers.)RECONNAISSANCES.
151
RECONNAISSANCES.
Every military operation rests, first, upon a thorough
knowledge of the terrain in its offensive and defensive
aspects; and, second, upon that of the position, strength,
and, so far as possible, the intentions of the enemy.
It is to obtain this knowledge with some degree of cer-
tainty that officers are sent on reconnaissance. The com-
mand of a reconnaissance demands a union of military
qualities of every description, and indeed necessitates
their full employment. Upon unknown ground, where
one is isolated, he must depend upon himself alone
and find in his own powers resources equal to the
responsibility and relative importance of his mission.
In this business it is not only a matter of seeing, but of
seeing well, observing clearly, so as to avoid furnishing
faulty or incorrect information to the army corps which
regulates its movements by the reports received from
you.
To reconnoitre, one must undertake the work, rely-
ing entirely upon himself, for all around him are
hostile, and interested in his destruction; and after the
completion of his work, one must return without being
attacked, much less captured.
Captured! Frightful idea! What shame is suggested
by the word! How much more bitter still the thought, if
the commander of a reconnaissance remembers that he is
responsible not only for the.men of his own command,
but also for those of the brigade, division, or army
corps which his operations should screen and protect.152
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
The art of withdrawing from a reconnaissance consists,
first, in avoiding observation by the enemy; but if it be
impossible to escape his lynx eye and prevent a pursuit,
the point then is to have so well learned the country
passed over in advancing, by observation, information
obtained in regard to it, inferences, and by having cal-
culated pretty accurately the disposition and arrange-
ment of the troops which may bar our passage, that we
may follow roads which will throw the pursuers off our
track, or reduce the front of attack so as to make it
only equal to that of the defence.
If, in spite of these precautions, the reconnaissance
is cut off, after having exhausted all its skill in manoeu-
vring, then it has recourse to the employment of force.
This will not fail of success if each man is convinced in
his own mind of this great truth :
A mounted man may pass wherever he is determined
to go.
The first care then of a commander of a reconnais-
sance should be to estimate correctly the strength of
his detachment, to husband it, to recuperate it in time
to always have it, as much as possible, wholly at his
disposal.
I repeat it, the strength of the horse is the trooper’s
fortune; if it be all expended in an hour, what will re-
main ? The little which ordinary prudence might have
preserved, might have saved his life and been the means
of his obtaining the cross of honor. The officer on re-
connaissance, more than any other, should bear this fact
in mind.
He who has a long reconnaissance to make, the dura-
tion of which is unknown, should estimate exactly his
strength, compare and adapt it to the demands to beRECONNAISSANCES.
153
made upon it, and expend no more than is absolutely
necessary for the time being.
Let him not march over soft ground which would
fatigue his horses, nor double his gait when unneces-
sary; for the first need of a trooper on reconnaissance
is a good horse in sound condition. Let your action
always be the result of cool, clear, and prompt re-
flection. Let the most minute vigilance observe and
correct everything which might delay, trammel, or di-
vide your action, and thus remove the causes of useless
dangers.
I have already said that the conduct of a reconnais-
sance demands a union of all the military qualities of
the light-cavalryman; it will be necessary then for an
officer commanding one to study nearly all the chapters
of this book.
As to the topographical work required, I can do no
better than to quote literally General La Roche Aymon:
“ Concisely stated, here are the natural and artificial
objects composing the localities of the terrain, which
should be observed.”
WOODS.
“ Their nature, extent, kind of soil on which they grow;
whether they have underbrush; their situation with ref-
erence to the roads by which they are reached; whether
there are villages within range of them; whether many
roads traverse or cross them; where do they come from
and where do they lead.”
MOUNTAINS.
“Theirnature, wooded or open; rocky, earthy, or peb-
bly; whether they command the road, and on which154
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
side; whether slopes are steep or gentle, whether the
roads by which they are ascended run straight up or
wind along their flanks ; if there are plateaux on their
summits, whether they are wooded or open, what is their
extent, whether the opposite slope is steep, and whether
they are commanded by higher mountains.”
RIVERS AND SMALL STREAMS.
“Their width, and direction with ref erence to the road;
the nature of their banks—whether one commands the
other; whether the stream passes through canons or
meadows; whether those meadows are always practi-
cable or only at certain seasons of the year, during
frost or drought; the bridges and fords within three
miles to the right or left, the names of the villages or
places near which they may be found, and whether
they are suitable for the passage of artillery ? ”
PLAINS.
“Their approximate extent; about the number of vil-
lages that may be seen on them; the nature of the ground
—whether it is simply made up of fields, or rather mead-
ows, ponds, lakes, or mere pools mingled together. It
may be easily seen how important it is for a body of cav-
alry which must move with celerity, without feeling its
way, to know perfectly in advance the ground upon wThich
it comes, in order not to be arrested in its movements by
unforeseen obstacles; from this it follows that officers
and non-commissioned officers charged with making re-
connaissances should satisfy themselves as to the means
by which the fields are enclosed, and know whether these
fields are cut up or subdivided by very wide or deep
ditches.”RECONNAISSANCES.
155
ROADS.
“Their nature, whether they run straight or wind
about; what borders them to the right and left within
cannon range; whether, if closed within gorges, they do
not become sunken roads; the width of front with which
troops can march on them.”
CITIES.
“Their position; the surrounding localities; whether
they have walls and gates; whether one could establish
himself or take up a good defensive position within them;
the roads which lead to them.”
MARKET TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
“ Their situation; the surrounding localities; the ar-
rangement of the houses—whether they are separated
by gardens; whether the gardens are enclosed by hedges,
walls, or fences; the number of solid houses, and their
location, as well as that of the church and cemetery;
whether the cemetery is enclosed by walls; and, finally*
whether a stream or river runs through or goes around
these towns and villages.”
War has its routine performances also, in spite of the
dangers attending them, in spite of the terrible and daily
proofs of their viciousness, their fatality. Why ? For
these reasons. The older the armies, the more powerful
the sway of routine. If that was the case when the sound
of the cannon was heard daily, when every day was one
of practical instruction, how much more true must it be
after fifteen years of peace, with troops of all classes—
the very old as well as the very young.
Routine is the traditional science of mediocrity.156
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
The axioms which it bases upon an unreflecting expe-
rience are listened to with admiration by those who
have as yet seen nothing; for they recount for the
benefit of the inexperienced things not found in their
books, and assume a dignity and gravity for the respect-
ful listener because of their coming from mouths shaded
with long white mustaches.
Let us then distinguish between traditions and mere
routine, and, while disregarding the latter, seize with
avidity the principles based upon the former.
One of the routine faults which I have seen committed
so often in our army, in spite* of the frequent and terrible
lessons given by its practice, is, that one cannot make a
reconnaissance without attacking the enemy. This ab-
surdly false principle naturally entails a series of con-
sequences as false as itself. A large force is always sent
on a reconnaissance, and, as a result, the regiments are
overworked, difficulties are multiplied and movements
delayed; finally, a confidence in one’s strength and an
ill-advised pride lead to a forgetfulness of the object in
view, an unequal combat, an embarrassed retreat, and a
complete defeat.
Many reconnaissances are badly conducted because
the numbers engaged are too great to see without being
seen, and yet too feeble to make a successful attack or
successfully resist one.
The strength of a reconnoitring detachment should
be great in only one case—that where it is intended to
make an attack; then its numbers should be as large
as possible.
In every other case they should be composed of a few
men only who, intelligent and well mounted, should be
able to go anywhere, conceal themselves behind a rock,RECONNAISSANCES.
157
a clump of bushes and, if pursued, are not obliged to
stop, for they can flee more rapidly than the enemy can
follow.
Let us then establish this as a principle : to recon-
noitre does not necessarily involve an attack.
Sometimes a reconnaissance will have to attack the
enemy, but only for the purpose of furthering the
object of the reconnaissance; but the attack is not the
end, but the means of attaining it. This means should
be employed only when the reconnaissance cannot suc-
ceed without it.
If then, at the head of two hundred men, you can
better observe Ihe enemy by concealing two of your
men in the corner of a wood than by engaging your
whole force, employ the first method in preference to
the second.
The most successful reconnaissance is that which col-
lects the greatest amount of information, brings back
all its Worses and men in good condition; and not that
which, mistaking its mission, employs force instead of
skill. In my opinion the officer who resorts to the
former is gravely culpable, and should suffer exemplary
punishment.
The Russian light cavalry does not act like ours.
During the Russian campaign we had the advance-
guard, and were marching from Orcha to Witebsk. On
arriving at Babinowistchi we saw near a wood a single
Cossack passing through a clearing; we halted, and
formed up for action. A squadron was sent to the clear-
ing and succeeded in capturing two Cossacks, whose
horses were exhausted by fatigue; three others escaped.
We remained in position for quite a long time, and
carefully explored the country, but found no one. The158
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
prisoners were interrogated, and informed ns that five
of them had been sent on a reconnaissance from
Witebsk to Orcha, a distance of twenty leagues; that
they had followed us the whole morning; that not one
of our movements had escaped their notice; the three
other Cossacks rejoined their troops with the informa-
tion they had gained, and a few days afterward, at this
same Babinowistchi, a reconnaissance, consisting of two
officers and fifty men of our regiment, was captured in
a body by the Russians.
A second fault due to routine, which I have seen
committed only too often in our army, is the sending
out of detachments, generally composed of the same
number of men, at certain specified hours. When re-
connaissances composed of the same number of ‘ men
are sent out at the same hours every day, over the
same roads, to the same places, their fate may be easily
predicted.
Reconnaissances should, as far as possible, march so
as to be concealed from view. While under cover their
rate of march may be slower than when on an open
plain over which their course may be easily followed.
Hence, when there is any reason to fear discovery,
plains should be traversed at night; if they must be
crossed in daytime, the command should move at the
trot so as to get out of sight as soon as possible.
There is always reason to fear being betrayed to the
enemy by the peasants of the country. To diminish
this danger the detachments should avoid all villages
which they are not obliged to pass through or recon-
noitre. To do that the detachment should carry with it
provisions and forage for men and horses, make all
halts in out-of-the-way places, from which they can seeRECONNAISSANCES.
159
to a distance, and in which dismounted men properly
posted will be a sufficient guard.
If a reconnaissance must halt in a village, let it be
carefully explored before it is occupied. Place flying
vedettes on the outside of it, upon the flanks, to arrest
all peasants who may attempt to escape and give infor-
mation to the enemy. The halt should last only long
enough to allow the place to be examined, to obtain
guides and useful information, and procure supplies.
If the village is situated in an open plain, let the de-
tachment be assembled at the foot of the church-steeple,
where the horses may be unbridled and fed. A look-
out will be placed in the steeple to give timely notice of
the approach of the enemy. This man, and the flying
vedettes of whom I have before spoken, will be able to
perfectly protect the detachment from surprise. At
night the detachment will withdraw from the village,
and, if it is desired to conceal its route, it will go out on
the side opposite to the direction it intends to take, and
will regain the proper route, by making a detour. The
rear-guard will take precautions to see that it is not
followed by any one.
If the reconnaissance is retreating, followed by the
enemy, and is compelled to pass through a village, it
will do so as rapidly as possible.
If the reconnaissance has reason to fear an attempt
to surprise its bivouac at night, it will light its fires and,
afterward withdrawing, will go and establish itself,
without fires and without noise, at some place several
hundred yards from the abandoned bivouac.
If the reconnaissance marches at night and at a
distance from the enemy, the guide should be mounted
upon a white horse, which will distinguish him, and160
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
which can always be more easily followed than any
other in the darkness.
If marching at night and near the enemy, and it is
desired to conceal the movement, no white horses
should be allowed with the advance-guard.
If marching along a paved road, the detachment
should keep to the dirt portions on the sides, so as to
muffle the sound of the horses’ feet, which might other-
wise be heard at a great distance.
If near the enemy, the men will be forbidden to
smoke, as the fire in the pipes might illuminate their
faces and betray their presence.
Finally, if, near the enemy, it is desired to observe
him closely, the detachment will turn his position,
then, halting the main body, detach two or three very
intelligent men who, like game-hunters, will creep
along silently from shadow to shadow, to conceal their
movements.
Upon reaching their point of observation they will
discover everything which it is possible to learn, and
then return with their reports, employing in their re-
treat the same care as in advancing.
If the commander of a reconnaissance, after having
well estimated the strength of the enemy, can, without
danger, make a few prisoners or alarm the enemy’s
camp, he should do so, provided that upon his depar-
ture from camp discretionary orders were given him.
In 1814, General Maison ordered an officer of the Red
Lancers of the Imperial Guard to set out for Lille with
a hundred men to reconnoitre the enemy in Menin,
and to bring back minute and definite information in
regard to him. The officer left his camp at 2.30 p.m.,
and the sun was setting when the steeples of Menin ap-BECONNAISSAUCES.
161
peared in sight. He had perfectly masked the move-
ments of the detachment, which he concealed at a place
about half a league distant from the city. Night, and
one of the darkest kind, came on when he approached
the city with only one platoon, avoiding the paved
roads, and concealed the platoon within musket range
of the place. He then slipped into the outskirts, ac-
companied by one officer, one non-commissioned officer,
and a trumpeter, dismounted, turned his horse over to
his orderly, and concealed himself in a ditch near the
bridge. The scouting detachments of the enemy re-en-
tered successively and passed close by him. In spite
of the darkness of the night, their silhouettes stood
out clearly against the sky-line so that he counted them
man by man, and observed the cut of the different
uniforms. Possessed of this information, which fur-
nished certain indications of the number and compo-
sition of the hostile forces, assured that all the scouting
parties had re-entered, and that nothing more was to
be feared on this side of the river, he sent for a dozen
lancers.
A peasant coming from one of the houses discovered
him and wished to give the alarm; he ordered the non-
commissioned officer to seize him, which he did; and
holding a pistol to his head, led him to the rear. The
lancers came up silently, and at the instant when the
enemy’s post was about to open the turning bridge he
placed himself at the head of the lancers, charged the
post, confident of its own security, captured eighteen
mounted men, and then made a rapid and successful
retreat with them. He brought back to his General in-
formation of the most trustworthy kind, and that with-
out having even a man wounded.162
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
In 1809, General Curely, at that time a captain and
aide-de-camp with me on the staff of General Edward
Colbert, was charged with the duty of reconnoitring
the march of the Austrian army, which was retreating
before our Army of Italy.
At the head of one hundred troopers he preceded our
division at a distance of ten leagues, turned the flank of
the Austrians, and moved so secretly to their rear that
near the close of the day he had his command secreted
in a wood not more than three fourths of a league in
rear of the village in which the headquarters of the
Archduke were established. A great, dusty plain sepa-
rated him from this village. Two or three Hungarian
marauders whom he had arrested gave him much useful
information. A large drove of cattle, returning from
the fields and moving toward the village, passed near by
his place of concealment; he seized the herders and
kept the cattle in the wood until it was nearly dark;
then moving it out and putting his troopers, leading
their horses, in the middle of the herd, he directed the
whole towards the village, under the protection of the
thick cloud of dust which was raised by the moving
mass. The night, the dust, the weariness of the enemy’s
troops, the absence of any fear among the Austrians of
an attack from the side from which the herd came,
served the designs of Curely so well that he penetrated
the centre of the village, and with his own hand shot
one of the sentinels of the Archduke, the commander-
in-chief. At this signal his men mounted their horses,
and after having used their sabres for some minutes and
profiting by the astonishment and confusion of the
enemy, left the village, and on the following day re-
joined Colbert’s brigade, without having lost a man or aRECONNAISSANCES.
163
horse. The position of the headquarters of the Aus-
trian army, having been definitely located, gave reliable
indications of the whereabouts of our Army of Italy,
which we joined two days afterwards, and with it had
the combats at Karako, Pappa, and Raab.
After these two examples, for whose historical accu-
racy I can vouch, I believe it would be well to give one
a little more in detail, which we can follow on the map
annexed to the chapter on Topography.
Captain A, sent to the headquarters of the division,
receives the following order:
“Captain A will set out at once with one hundred
men of the Eighth Hussars.
He will reconnoitre the small town of Neustadt.
If the enemy occupies the town, he will try to capture
and bring back some of them.
He will obtain information of the Prussian army
corps which should have arrived near that place.
He will carefully examine and report upon the coun-
try passed over, its configuration, the nature and condi-
tion of its roads, bridges, watercourses, etc.
He will rejoin by 10 a.m. to-morrow.
General, etc.
Bivouac near Grossthurm, 5 a.m., June 18, 1832.”
The captain, after having received this order from
the general, makes a tracing of the country he is to
pass over from the headquarters map. Then he as-
sumes command of the detachment, which has been de-
tailed by the adjutant. He inspects his detachment,
sees that the cartridge-boxes are filled with cartridges,
that the arms are in good condition, the horses well
shod, that the wallets contain bread and oats, and then
moves the command out in column of twos. He halts,164
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES*
and allows the detachment to file by him. Three horses
are limping, two are too weak to keep up, others are
known to neigh; some dogs have joined the detach-
ment: these are all sent back and left at the bivouac.
As soon as he has got beyond the outposts and line of
patrols, he halts, has the girths tightened, removes the
pennons from the lances, slings musketoons, turns back
the Schabraques and places some Alsatians at the head of
the column, with orders to speak nothing but German.
Among the Alsatians there is an officer whom he orders
to ride by his side, putting a non-commissioned officer
in command of his platoon.
The officer next in rank to the commander will ride
at the tail of the column to see that it is kept closed up.
The advance-guard is composed of ten men, commanded
by an Alsatian non-commissioned officer, and marches
one hundred paces in advance of the detachment.
As the country is open, the ground wet, and the
march must be rapid, he detaches no flankers, as they
would only fatigue their horses and delay the march for
nothing.
The rear-guard, composed of a corporal and four
men, marches fifty paces in rear of the column.
The advance-guard appears to hesitate; the captain
forms fours, and separates his platoons so that they will
be a hundred paces apart and on the right-hand side of
the road, their right flanks resting on the ditch. He
halts the column and sends to inquire the cause of the
advance-guard’s halting; some troopers have been seen,
but have proved to belong to one of our returning re-
connaissances. He questions its commander, but he
has been in a direction different from that in which we
are going, and knows nothing of interest except thatRECONNAISSANCES.
165
some of the enemy’s patrols—from twelve to twenty-five
men—have been seen on the Ingoldsheim road, about a
league from where we now are.
He closes his column again and resumes the march.
The aspect of the country begins to change; it becomes
broken, and some hills which command the plain are
seen on the right. The captain detaches three well-
mounted men to follow the summits of these hills and
flank the detachment.
At the end of two hours’ marching the extremity of
the plateau is reached. A large, rich valley lies at his
feet. A cross-roads, where four roads join, is seen; the
first, to the right, is metalled, and must be that of
Ingoldsheim; the second is only a small dirt road,
which winds along the mountain, and seems, in cross-
ing the plain, to lead towards the woods which follow
and enclose the right-hand side of the valley. The third
is a metalled road, which continues the Ingoldsheim road
on to Neustadt by the way of Berndorf.
Consulting his map,* the captain is convinced that he
is not mistaken; in fact, it shows the extremity of the
plateau and the cross-roads two leagues distant. He has
marched two hours. It shows Berndorf two miles in
front in the valley, and at the left-hand extremity of
the plateau, and at that distance a village is visible.
The officer says in good German to the peasant, ‘ ‘ Com-
rade, have you seen any of our people ? Who are your
people ? Why, our brothers, the Prussians. No; but
I know that some of them have arrived at Neustadt and
Baumdorf. And the French ? Ah, the scoundrels,
they say that ten thousand of their cavalry are at Gross-
* See Plate IV.166
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
thurm. So many as that ? Yes, at least. Well, we are
going to rejoin our comrades at Neustadt; which way
must we go ? Go down that road there. This one ?
No; that goes to Ingoldsheim. That one ? No, that is
a small road which leads through the woods by Baum-
dorf; but take the other, which is metalled, and will lead
you to the village which you see yonder. Yes, I see, the
one near the mountain ? No; that is Bonn, but farther
to the right in the valley. There ? Yes, that is Bern-
dorf. Is it far off ? Two leagues. And from Bern-
dorf to Neustadt how far ? In five hours’ riding you
will reach it. Thanks; good-by.” The captain has
then made no mistake. He reflects; the enemy is in the
vicinity, he must have some posts in the valley, but as
it is now broad daylight the movement of the detach-
ment cannot be concealed, especially if it follows the
highway; the horses will soon need rest; the woody cur-
tain on his right which follows the line of the valley and
extends as far as Baumdorf may be used to mask his
march; he does not hesitate, but turning to the right,
along the dirt road, he descends the mountain and cross-
ing the plain at a trot, reaches the wood.
He follows the paths which he thinks run in the direc-
tion of the march he has to make. His pocket compass
aids him, and, in default of that, the sun. The valley
which he sees to his left through the opening in the wood
will prevent his wandering off too far to the right. His
march is made in silence. His men converse only in low
tones, and adjust their arms so that they will not rattle
against the buckles of their belts, strike their stirrups,
spurs, etc.; here the difficulties of the ground compel
the men to dismount, but they double the gait when
they remount. These movements are all executed with-RECONNAISSANCES.
167
out command, each one following the example set by
the head of the column.
The column marches as well closed up as possible; the
advance and rear guards are well drawn in.
It is five hours since the command left Grossthurm;
the place where it finds itself at present is unfrequented,
and the shade of the wood is thick. The captain leaves
the path, enters an opening surrounded by heavy shrub-
bery, and dismounts.
Two sentinels, looking in different directions, are
posted so as to see everything without being seen; one
half of the horses are unbridled and fastened to trees,
and allowed to eat grass, oats, or such leaves as they
can reach without being untied: the men, in front of
their horses, their bridles on their arms, eat their break-
fast in silence.
During the march, the captain has not neglected to
make observations which, in case of the non-success of
his undertaking, will save him if obliged to return by
the road on which he came. The connected sketch he
has drawn in his pocket-book, the broken branches left
at the entrance to the woods, his recollections of the
features of the country, are all guides to be used on his
return. At 1 p.m. the command is remounted and re-
sumes the march. The ground is rough, and at 6
p.m. the horses are very much fatigued, when the road
to Baumdorf is encountered. What shall the captain
do?
He is still two leagues from Neustadt. He does not
know whether the enemy occupies that place in force or
not; the detachment is tired, and if he were obliged to
execute a retreat under the fire of fresh troops, he would
without doubt suffer serious losses; on the other hand,168
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
should he march directly on Neustadt he would arrive
there just at dusk, at a time when cavalry is always on
its guard; if he halts where he is without resting or
feeding his horses, his prospects will be no better.
He conceals himself near the road, and soon seizes a
man passing by, and tells him that if he makes any out-
cry he will shoot him on the spot. “You come from
Neustadt ? Yes. Are the Prussians there ? Yes. Cav-
alry or infantry ? Cavalry. About how many men ?
I don't know. Is there a village near here ? Within a
quarter of a league. Any isolated farms ? Several.
Are you acquainted with them ? Yes. How are their
buildings arranged, and where are they ? There is a
rich one near the village, and it can be entered easily,
because it has no enclosed court. And the other ? It is
three fourths of a league from the village and half a
league from here, situated upon the border of the wood
and the marsh on the side of Neustadt; it is not so rich
as the first named; it has a court surrounded by high
walls and closed by a great gate; it is about a league
and a half from Heustadt. Lead us to that one.”
Then the captain, having seen that no one was passing
along the road, rides along it rapidly, and re-entering the
forest, follows his guide, whom he has secured by one arm
and placed in charge of a sergeant and corporal. He
halts at two hundred steps from the farm-house, recon-
noitres its approaches, surrounds it quickly, and resum-
ing his march, enters the courtyard.
A peasant who was trying to escape is brought back
to him by one of his men belonging to the cordon which
he had posted around the place. This peasant, with all
those belonging to the farm, and the guide, are locked
up in a cellar, and a sentinel posted at the door of it.RECONNAISSANCES.
169
The gates of the farm are closed, and interior sentinels
placed over those opening out into the country. Four
men are placed in hiding at the windows, where a view
to a distance can be had, and on the four sides of the
enclosure. The horses are unbridled and fed, and the
men also eat and sleep. Night has come, no light illu-
mines the windows, and silence reigns in the detach-
ment.
A patrol of five Prussian troopers passes in front of
the house; the men placed at the windows have given
warning of their approach. Is it an advance-guard ?
The men have quickly bridled their horses, mounted
them, and have formed line in the court-yard, sabres in
hand. The order is given, “ In case the enemy should
be in force and wish to enter, to throw open the gates,
make a vigorous sortie, and take again the route by
which the detachment came.”
The patrol is followed by no one; shall it be captured?
No; because some pistol shots would be fired and carry
the alarm to a distance. The patrol wishes to enter and
knocks at the gate; no one answers; it insists; the Alsa-
tian officer, imitating as well as he can the accent of the
country, answers that he will not open the door, and
that, if the patrol insists further, he will complain to
their officers on the following day. The patrol goes
away swearing. The troopers dismount, unbridle their
horses, and feed them.
The captain questions, one after another and sepa-
rately, the people of the farm, after having forewarned
them that if they attempt to deceive him by their an-
swers, their lives will pay the forfeit. He learns that a
hundred Prussian hussars are at Neustadt; that they
have come from Freythal, a city formerly fortified,170
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
still surrounded by a low wall, and about eight leagues
distant; that they are bivouacked in rear of the town;
that they have a grand guard of twelve men on the
Baumdorf road, and a post of five men on that of Weg;
that they send out patrols in the direction of Bonn,
Baumdorf and Berndorf; that these patrols are of from
twelve to fifteen men; that they set out ordinarily at
four o’clock a.m. and five p.m., and return after an ab-
sence of two or three hours.
At two o’clock in the morning the captain has his
horses bridled, sees that they are properly saddled and
girthed, that the wallets contain some provisions and a
ration of oats, and that some bundles of forage, well
tied|up, are fastened on the valises; then releasing one
of the peasants from confinement, he makes him mount
one of the farm horses, and practising, in regard to him,
what has been prescribed in the chapter on guides,
places him at the head of the detachment and proceeds
to conceal the command in the little wood a quarter of
a league in rear of Neustadt.
His men dismount, hold their horses by their bridles
and preserve the most perfect silence.
At five o’clock—that is to say, one hour after the time
at which it is presumed the enemy’s reconnaissance will
set. out—the detachment is mounted, approaches Neu-
stadt as secretly as possible, then, when within view of
the place, takes a fast trot, draws sabre, takes the gal-
lop, charges upon the bivouac, and carries off men and
horses. The captain seizes the letters in the post-office,
and makes two of the principal men—the postmaster
and the burgomaster—prisoners. He mounts them on
two of the captured horses, and starting off at a fastPLATE III.PLATE IV.RECONNAISSANCES.
171
trot along the road to Baumdorf, takes the walk only
‘When turning to the right into that of Berndorf.
The disarmed prisoners, mounted on captured horses,
which are led by troopers, march in the centre of the
column. The advance-guard, composed of one officer
and twelve men, marches one hundred and fifty paces
in advance; the rear-guard, an officer and twenty-five
men, follows the column at the same distance.
The captain carefully examines the road which he
passes over, and concerning which he is to furnish exact
information to the general. He halts only a few min-
utes at Berndorf, in order to take a new guide and make
a few notes; then, fearing to go to the cross-roads, rec-
ognized in his advance, knowing that it must necessa-
rily be the principal objective point of the enemy’s re-
connaissances, he turns to a neighboring road on the
right, crosses the plain, and climbs the mountain. Upon
reaching its summit he establishes his command in a
place to one side of the road, behind some hills which
will hide it from view on the side of Ingoldsheim, and
posting concealed sentinels to watch the plain and the
valley, he orders the horses to be fed. During this time
he questions his prisoners, writes his report, which will
be found in the following chapter, and completes the
sketch accompanying this chapter. When the horses
have finished eating, he remounts the command, and
by a detour regains the Grossthurm road. A quarter of
a league from his bivouac he has the pennons replaced
on the lances, and thenv without changing the order of
march, he approaches our outposts and returns to the
regiment, presents the captured horses to the colonel,
and conducts the prisoners, dismounted, to the general,
to whom he delivers his report.172
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
REPORTS.
Reports are of two kinds—verbal and written. The
first are made on returning from a reconnaissance or a
mission, and are sent by an officer or non-commissioned
officer detached from the advance-guard for that pur-
pose. They should be short, and therefore for impor-
tant missions they are generally insufficient; they should
always be accompanied by written reports, to which
they become an excellent complement.
I know that written reports are difficult to obtain
from officers, because their early training before the
war has not prepared them for such work,—a serious
fault in a course of military training. In war the inac-
curacy of an officer in writing, or his delay in sending in
his report, is a fault grave enough to deserve severe
punishment.
Reports are as indispensable to the general-in-chief
as a map of the country in which he is operating; it is
by means of them that he receives his information;
without them he can direct nothing.
Q. What are the most important features of a report f
A. Scrupulous exactness in regard to statements,
simplicity, clearness of expression, neatness of the
writing, and correct spelling of proper names.
Q. Should a report contain nothing hut what the
writer knows himself ?
A. It may contain both what is actually known and
what is merely reported or heard, but the two kinds of
information must be kept entirely distinct; thus, for ex-REPORTS.
173
ample, one should not say : “I have arrived at the vil-
lage of Loevenstein; the enemy appeared there this
morning, but retreated to the town of Greiffenstein;”
but “ I arrived, at half-past nine this evening, at the
village of Loevenstein, where I found no enemy. The
burgomaster told me, and his report has been confirmed
by the individual reports of different people, that twenty-
five Austrian uhlans (kurtka green, red and gold-yel-
low schapska), fifty cuirassiers (white coats, facings and
collars amaranth), and fifty light cavalry (white coats,
facings and collars sky-blue) arrived at Loevenstein at
seven o’clock this morning, refreshed themselves, and
then withdrew to Greiffenstein. The uniforms named
lead me to believe that the uhlans belong to the regi-
ment Merfeld, the cuirassiers to that of Albert, and the
light cavalry to that of Colloredo. Greiffenstein appears
to me to be too far away for these troops to have re-
treated to it.
“Later information leads me to believe that these
troops turned off the road leading to Greiffenstein,
at a point a league distant from here to go to Kirstein,
where, it is said, there is a division of Austrian cav-
alry. I shall allow my horses only a few hours of abso-
lutely necessary rest, and at three o’clock to-morrow
morning shall set out to verify these reports.”
In this example, that which is known positively—that
is, the arrival of the detachment at Loevenstein—is
affirmed; that relating to the movements of the Aus-
trian cavalry is stated merely as a report, in which
confidence may be placed; that referring to the route by
which the Austrian cavalry executed its retreat, is a
supposition of the commander of the reconnaissance, to
which the general will attach more or less importance174
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
according to the degree of confidence he has in the offi-
cer, and its agreement with the reports received from
other sources.
Q. Should reports be made frequently ?
A. That depends partly upon the importance of the
information to be furnished, and partly upon the diffi-
culty of transmitting it; thus, an advance or rear guard
should send reports more frequently than would be
expected of a reconnaissance, because their communica-
tion with the army is easy, and the information fur-
nished has a more immediate and pressing interest.
Often a reconnaissance is forbidden to send in any
reports. The orders received on setting out will deter-
mine the nature and frequency of reports.
Q. What precautions are to be observed in sending in
reports ?
A. If I am far from my division or brigade, and fear
that the enemy may capture my messenger, I select a
well-mounted and intelligent man from the command,
and give him a tracing from the map of the country he
is to pass over. I indicate to him on this tracing the
dangerous places he must avoid; then, in addition to the
written report, I give him verbally such information as I
think necessary, which he will repeat to the officer to
w7hom he is sent. To make certain that he understands
the message thoroughly, I make him repeat it twice,
and order him to deliver it exactly as he has re-
ceived it.
The report is written in a fine hand, on a small piece
of paper, which he wfill carry in his glove. If attacked
and in danger of being captured the paper will be swal-
lowed. The barrel of a pistol is a good place in which
to carry a report: rolled into a ball and twisted up inREPORTS.
175
another piece of paper to protect it, it is disposed of like
a wad, and, if the messenger sees that he cannot save it,
as a last resort he discharges the pistol, and thus de-
stroys the report.
Often, when there is danger of a messenger’s being
cut off or captured by the enemy, a small escort is sent
with him part of the way; but these escorts should be
sparingly used, for they weaken the reconnaissances
and impede their movements.
If it is of great importance that the report should
get to its address, and capture is feared, two messen-
gers should be sent by different routes.
Q. Should a report go into details f
A. Yes; and for that reason notes should be taken
in proportion to the duration of the expedition so that
they will serve to make it clear; then nothing will es-
cape, the statements are generally correct, and the
memory thus assisted is not compelled to make an
effort to recall, in a vague way, things based only on
a confused recollection of them.
A report should not, however, embrace a lot of idle
remarks of no interest to the commanding general.
Often, an officer in writing his report gives a detailed
account of his halts, his anxieties, his marches and
countermarches, which is simply a waste of time and
ink. What the general wants is the results of the
reconnaissance, in the sense of the execution of the
orders given.
Q. Write out the report of the reconnaissance which is
described in the preceding chapter as having been made by
Captain A.
“ Bivouac at Grossthurm, June 19, 1832.
44 In compliance with the orders herewith, I started176
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
yesterday at five o’clock a. m. from the bivouac at Gross-
thurm, at the head of a detachment of one hundred
chasseurs of the regiment, and took the road to Neu-
stadt by way of Berndorf. At three o’clock this morn-
ing I had got in rear of the town. At five o’clock three
officers, forty Prussian hussars of------and -------, the
burgomaster and postmaster of Neustadt, were prisoners
in my hands. Ten of the enemy’s hussars were left
dead on the battlefield.
‘ ‘ From the statements of the prisoners, information
obtained from the inhabitants, and from letters seized
in the post-office, which are appended hereto and
marked, respectively, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, and 7, it appears cer-
tain that five thousand infantry, fifteen hundred caval-
ry, and six pieces of artillery reached Freythal the day
before yesterday, which place they occupy under com-
mand of General-------.
“ The same reports say, 1st, that the infantry division
of two brigades, commanded by Generals A and B, are
composed of the 2d, 8th, and 16th regiments of the line
and of the 4th of the landwehr. The cavalry brigade,
commanded by General C, is composed of the Brown
Hussars (formerly Schimmelpfennig), commanded at
present by D; the Black Hussars, commanded now by E;
and some dragoons, commanded by F.
4 ‘ 2d. That a thousand men of the 6th regiment and two
hundred men of the second cavalry arrived day before
yesterday at Baumdorf, and that this detachment has
sent out reconnaissances of from fifteen to twenty-five
men on the Ingoldsheim road.
“3d. That the artillery is poorly horsed ; that in its
last marches it abandoned several carriages.
“4th. That the infantry is good, but has in its ranksREPORTS.	177
about six hundred Poles from the Duchy of Posen and
eight hundred men from the Rhenish provinces.
“5th. That the cavalry is well mounted, but much fa-
tigued ; that the officers in command are much disliked
by their men, and there have been some small out-
breaks, in which some of the young non-commissioned
officers, students from Halle and Gottingen, have been
engaged.
“6th. That the infantry was expected at Neustadt,
where twelve thousand rations had been requisitioned.
The accompanying sketch will show the observations I
have been able to make in regard to the situation of
different places, and the route which I have followed.
‘ ‘ The plateau which begins at Grossthurm and extends
in a rectangular form to a point two miles beyond the
village is wide and open. Its apparent extent is about
one league. Some small thickets and a few small hills
are visible at its northeast extremity; it is almost en-
tirely sown in barley, rye, and oats. Artillery can pass
over it in all directions.
“The road divides it into two equal parts; this road is
twenty-five feet wide, metalled, and in very good con-
dition, and everywhere practicable and easy for vehicles
of all kinds.
“ At the cross-roads the plateau commands the valley
of Neustadt, being about two hundred feet above it, and
afterwards surrounds the valley like a horse-shoe, on the
east and southwest. Its western portion is almost on
the same level as far as Neustadt, and is cut only by
the gorge through which the 111 torrent flows. This
cut is about one fourth of a league in extent. Its
eastern part falls by a gradual descent as far as the 111
torrent, above and to the northeast of Neustadt.178
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
“ Three roads join at the cross-roads situated at the
extremity of the plateau; the first, to the right, that of
Ingoldsheim, runs southeast; it is metalled, and appar-
ently in good condition.
“ The second is a steep and narrow path; it runs north-
east and enters the woods which enclose the right-hand
side of the valley.
“ The third, that of Berndorf-Neustadt, runs north,
and may be considered the continuation of the Gross-
thurm-Ingoldsheim road; it is metalled, thirty feet
wide, and well kept as far as Neustadt.
“ From the cross-roads the whole valley may be seen.
Its open part is about two leagues wide ; it extends from
south to north, and is cut transversely by the 111 tor-
rent, and divided into two equal parts by the Neustadt
road.
“ Taking the cross-roads as a point of departure, Bem-
dorf is two and a half leagues to the north, Bonn three
and a half to the northeast, and six leagues to the
north and perpendicularly, in the direction of Berndorf,
is Neustadt.
“ The valley is rich, smooth, and level; its products
are of various kinds. The woods which enclose it on
the right extend, it is said, as far as Ingoldsheim and
Baumdorf; they are difficult for cavalry to pass and im-
practicable for artillery, because they are traversed by
paths only, and the ground is made soft by numerous
springs; in many places they are high, bushy, and pre-
sent a screen well adapted for concealing military move-
ments; the plateau on which they are situated com-
mands the valley by a height of about two hundred
feet.
“In the southern part it slopes gradually as far asREPORTS.	179
the Baumdorf road, which it meets almost opposite the
city of Neustadt.
“ The hills enclosing the valley on the left are covered
with vineyards, from Bonn to Neustadt; they rise al-
most uniformly to a height of from two hundred to two
hundred and fifty feet above the valley; their sides,
steep and pebbly, can be ascended only by paths im-
practicable for cavalry.
“ On leaving the plateau the Neustadt road descends
into the valley by a slope of about six inches to the
yard: this road is good, well metalled, and reaches the
foot of the mountain after making four turns.
“ To the left, in the valley, are wheat-fields, which ex-
tend to the mountain, whose sides are covered with
copses. They are traversed by dirt roads leading from
Baumdorf to the summit of the plateau. The furrows
in these fields are deep, and it would be difficult for
cavalry or artillery to cross them.
“To the right are cultivated fields of various kinds,
bordered with fruit-trees, impracticable for artillery or
cavalry, but affording excellent places of concealment
for infantry. This same condition of affairs continues
as far as Berndorf.
“Berndorf is a large village containing about three
hundred and ten people; its houses belong to rich
farmers, whose barns are filled with grain and long for-
age. The number of horned cattle is estimated at one
hundred and thirty, sheep five hundred, and horses,
seventy. The road narrows where it enters the village
and then widens again and turns around the cemetery,
in the middle of which stands the church, surrounded
by walls breast high. This cemetery would be an ex-
cellent position for infantry.180
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
“ On going out of the village Bonn is discovered: this is
a poor village, inhabited by vine-dressers, situated upon
the 111 torrent, about three fourths of a league distant,
towards which runs a country road said to be practicable
for vehicles.
4 ‘ To the right, at a distance of one and a quarter
leagues, a path goes to the wood, by crossing the plain,
the nature of whose cultivation has changed. From
Berndorf to the causeway of Baumdorf, between the
road and the woods, are only a few meadows, of which
the half adjoining the highway is firm, while the other,
near the woods, is marshy and turfy.
4 ‘ The road continues good, and trends to the northeast;
the fields on the left extend to a young wood about half
a league distant, which is separated from the mountain
by the 111. The soil of these fields, planted in cereals, is
firm, the furrows are shallow, and any number of bat-
talions, squadrons, and batteries can deploy and move
over them.
‘ ‘ After four hours’ marching, the causeway Baumdorf-
Neustadt-Weg is encountered, the road striking it per-
pendicularly. This causeway is thirty-five feet wide
and metalled, but badly kept.
‘ ‘ Turning to the left, Neustadt is reached after a march
of one hour. The 111, which runs in front of the town,
is a torrent about forty-five feet wide; its bottom is
pebbly, and it is reported to be fordable, at the present
time, anywhere from Bonn to Mullback, a village situ-
ated three leagues below Neustadt, where, it is reported,
there are several mills filled with flour. The 111 is crossed
at Neustadt by a bridge of two arches; it is made of cut
stone, and is very strong.
“Neustadt is a small town containing about fifteenREPORTS.
181
hundred souls: it houses are large and solidly built; its
streets are wide and poorly paved; its suburbs are com-
posed of large farms, well supplied, it is said, with grain
and long forage. The town has a post-house and a post-
office. It is surrounded by gardens enclosed with board
fences, which can be easily destroyed; besides, it is open,
and commanded on all sides, so that it would be diffi-
cult to defend it. Its inhabitants are said to be very
hostile to the French.
“The people of the village possess large herds; their
number is estimated to amount to three hundred horned
cattle, twelve hundred sheep, and two hundred horses;
but the nearness of the forest would afford a safe hid-
ing-place for them, should the inhabitants fear their be-
ing carried off.
“ Neustadt is commanded on the west, at the distance
of a fourth of a league, by a mountain named Grosskopf,
whose summit is arid and impracticable, while its base
is covered with vineyards extending as far as Bonn.
“ To the northwest the highway to Weg passes through
a valley; to the north runs the open road to Freythal;
to the northeast are some impassable marshes, and the
canon of the 111; to the east the causeway of Baumdorf,
which for about one league skirts along the above-named
marshes and then enters the forest.
“Weg, a rich market town of twelve hundred inhabi-
tants, lies, it is said, eight leagues to the northeast of
Neustadt. The road leading to it is good, and although
not uniformly level, easy for artillery. Freythal, a
city surrounded by a low wall and having two hundred
inhabitants, is situated to the north, and seven and a half
leagues from Neustadt; the road leading to it is metalled,
but in bad condition; it passes through the villages182
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Waldfelden and Rosenfelden; the first, having two hun-
dred inhabitants, is five leagues from Neustadt, upon
the plateau which overlooks the two valleys; the second,
of three hundred inhabitants, a league farther on in the
plain which lies in front of Freythal.
“ To sum up, the country I have passed through is very
favorable for military operations; for its irregularities
offer excellent positions, its plains admit of the deploy-
ment of troops of all arms, and its richness assures an
abundant supply of provisions of all kinds for an army
corps for several days.
“ I regret to report the loss of one trooper, Rock of the
sixth squadron, who was killed by a pistol shot while
entering Neustadt; six others were wounded, but not so
severely as to prevent their returning with me.
“ It is my duty to invite the attention of the general to
the good conduct of the detachment, and to speak espec-
ially of Lieutenant Campenet, Sub-Lieutenant Lorentz,
sergeants Labarre, fifth squadron, Gueridon, second
(already legionary); Cannois, second; and Ouvilly;
fourth corporals Audebrand and Bouverot of the fifth
and private Vitay of the sixth.
“Labarre, Gueridon, and Yitay were wounded while
capturing the three officers wrhom I brought back with
me. Cannois, Cuvilly, and Audebrand, with rare bold-
ness, were the first to attack the enemy.
“ Bouverot saved the life of one of his officers and of
two of his comrades.
(Signed)	“A.,
“ Commanding the Detachment.”
Q. Do the reports of advance-guards differ much from
those of reconnaissances f
A. Not at all, so far as they relate to topography andREPORTS.
183
information in regard to the enemy, but they give more
detailed accounts of military movements and the posi-
tions of the troops.
Q. Do the reports of rear-guards differ from those of
advance-guards ?
A. They are similar to those of advance-guards, in re-
lation to military movements and the positions of troops;
but as the ground is already well known, they refer only
slightly to its configuration, and then only in regard to
what is of tactical value in war.
Detachments properly so called must also furnish re-
ports. They may be made regularly, easily, and con-
cisely by copying in advance the following model, which
the colonel should send to all his detachment command-
ers:
Detachment, or Cantonment of A.
Report of January 5-10, 1882.
Received.
An order from headquarters rela-
Sent away.
Punishments.
tive to A, and dated------.
Private B, to hospital.
Permissions.
Privates A and B, four days’
confinement for getting drunk
and maltreating their horses.
Private C, dismounted for fall*
ing in late at roll-call.
Duty.
Twenty-four hours’ leave given
Sergeant H, with permission to
go to X.
A corporal and four privates
posted as a guard at Z.184
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Privates E and F have had a
fight. F received a slight sa-
bre wound in the arm. Horse
No. 1172 killed himself by
falling on the ice.
Trumpeter G sent to headquar-
ters ; replaced by Trumpeter H.
That a surgeon be sent to inspect
the sanitary condition of the
detachment.
Health of command. Is good.
Health of horses. Is good.
Remarks.	The stables are bad, forage abun-
dant and of good quality; the
inhabitants are insolent.
(Signed)	K,
Captain, commanding Detachment.
Events.
Changes.
Requests.COMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
185
COMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR. POSITIONS
TO BE TAKEN ON THE BATTLEFIELD, AND
MOVEMENTS TO BE EXECUTED THERE.
Q. What should be the first care of a commanding
officer t
A. To accustom his men to observe perfect silence at
the command “ Attention ! ” This indispensable condi-
tion will be obtained with ease under the most trying
circumstances if the commander is able to impress his
men with confidence and personal attachment for him.
Q. And the second f
A. To require every officer, non-commissioned officer,
and private to remain exactly in his proper place in
ranks, and not to leave it under any pretext.
Q. What should be the nature of commands?
A. Clear, plain, and, above all, suited to the occasion.
Q. In order that they may be clear and distinct,
reach from one end of a line to the other, and be as
effective at the end as at the beginning of an affair,
what precautions should be taken ?
A. The commander uttering them should consider
three things : 1st. He should know what pitch of his
voice is the most sonorous, and the least fatiguing to
him. 2d. The range of his voice. 3d. The effects of
accidental causes—such as wind, physical obstacles, the
roar of cannon, the breaking of the lines, the excitement
of the men produced by favorable or unfavorable events
which may disturb them or distract their attention—
should determine the choice of the place from which the186
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
commands must be given, so as to be clearly and gener-
ally heard.
Q. And the suitableness of the commands given ?
A. Ah ! that is a display of the possession of the
genius for war, the distinguishing mark of the entire
science. The officer who gives suitable commands only
is like the helmsman who, in a tempest, when within
a single step of a rock, gives the tiller one thrust
and saves the ship. On the fitness of a single command
may depend the safety of a whole regiment of cavalry,—
its glory, or its shame.
Q. From what then is this instinct of fitness derived f
A. First, from a strong character, which is surprised
by nothing, which acts the more coolly as circumstances
seem more unfavorable; then the habit of constantly ob-
serving the enemy, which enables us to know him as
well as though we were in his camp, in his ranks;
enables us to divine the intentions of his leaders, and
soldiers even, so 1 hat, upon his making a movement, we
can be perfectly confident of what wTill follow.
There are some officers who think the tone of com-
mand should be an artificial one: they are wrong. There
is no necessity of assuming a deep tone, and, provided
that it is not absurdly sharp, the only condition re-
quired is that it shall be sonorous. An artificial tone has
two inconveniences: first, it tires the voice; second, it
is apt to vary. In war the first is a serious objection,
and the second not less so, for there may be a thousand
unexpected, hurried occasions, where, as at night, in a
hand-to-hand fight, it is necessary that the voice of a
chief should be recognized as soon as heard. Our men
should be accustomed to the unvarying inflection of our
tones of command; these inflections alone are, for earsCOMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
187
accustomed to them, a preparatory command for the
movements about to be executed, and indications of the
rapidity required.
Thus, for example, if marching in line and you wish
to halt the command slowly, prolong the preparatory
command, “ Squadron!” if, on the contrary, you wish
to halt it suddenly, give the command sharply. In com-
manding a large body of troops in war it is a good thing
to add signals to the commands. Thus, for example, in
the case cited above, at the command “ Squadrons !”
raise your sabre vertically; at the command “Halt!”
lower it, and let the rapidity of these signals correspond
to the liveliness of the commands.
If you give a command to gain ground to the right or
left, at the command “ Platoons right!” (or left) indicate
with your sabre the flank to which you are going to
march.
This habit, once acquired, may be of the greatest
utility in certain cases where, commanding several
squadrons, the wind may carry our voice away from the
troops, or the distance or noise may prevent their hear-
ing it; then our signals will powerfully supplement the
unheard words of command, and alone direct an im-
portant movement.
When the commander of several squadrons wishes to
break his line by platoons right or left and continue the
march, or cause the line to move to the rear by platoons,
right or left about, it is not necessary that the command
“ Forward!” which he is going to give, should be delayed,
as the drill regulations prescribe, for peace evolutions,
and, consequently, be given at the same time as that of
the squadron commanders, but it should be given im-
mediately after the squadron commanders command188
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
“ March !” This promptness is the more necessary be-
cause the terrain of war is so uneven that it does not
admit of the mathematical precision of movement prac-
tised on the drill-ground; some squadrons may be de-
layed, others waver in their movements; while, if the
command be indicated in advance, the attention of the
squadron commanders will be given only to the execu-
tion, which will necessarily gain in simplicity, uniform-
ity, and exactness.
The art of manoeuvring on the battlefield consists in
being always prepared, in never being surprised or
crowded, in spite of one’s self, by the enemy; in profit-
ing by all the accidents of the ground, by every event
that may assure one’s superiority. It is a game of chess
that is played; to win it, it is necessary to study the sit-
uation well, and move only when the chances are all in
one’s favor. As soon as an officer recognizes his oppor-
tunity, observation should stop and action begin.
In war the worst thing an officer can do is to do
nothing; hesitation is worse than ignorance—it is the
stamp of weakness. The game is never lost, for fre-
quently an audacious resolution may turn the tide. To
determine what should be undertaken and what should
be avoided, is genius.
• On the battlefield the true manoeuvrer has sized up
his enemy long before sabres have been crossed. The
exactness, uniformity, good arrangement of his move-
ments, their calmness under artillery fire, have already
given the.exact measure of the chief, of the soldier,
with whom he has to deal. These indications should
not be lost, but exercise a determining influence upon
his actions.
Let us remember that the opinion we form of our ad-COMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
189
vcrsary is the counterpart of that he forms of us. The
more favorable we make the latter, the more we shall
disquiet him, and even demoralize him, before making
a serious attack. If we obtain this immense advantage
over him by this single fact, we shall increase our own
strength by that which he has lost.
Q. On the battlefield is there a choice to be made of the
evolutions theoretically taught t
A. Yes, certainly; for several of them, if used in
battle, might compromise us dangerously. Even out of
reach of the enemy there is no sense in complicated evolu-
tions, and I repeat that all these that uselessly fatigue the
horses should be suppressed; near the enemy there is
still less reason for these evolutions, because they can
never be executed with the calmness and precision that
obtain on the drill-ground, and might lead to our being
surprised and cut to pieces while in a dangerous forma-
tion.
Q. What do you understand by complicated move-
ments ?
A. All those composed of two distinct movements,
such as, for example, “ changing front on the centre,”
“ faced to the rear in line,” etc.
Q. But, nevertheless an occasion may present itself
of forming line faced to the rear, on the rear of the
column f
A. In that case divide the movements. First com-
mand, Platoons Right About or Left About; then, the
column facing in the new direction, command, Front
into Line: thus there will be no error or hesitation, and
you will secure uniformity and certainty.
Q. Which, then, are the most certain movements in
war f190
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A. All those whose execution is the simplest and the
most united, which require the fewest commands, whose
mechanism is familiar and ordinary, and consequently
are made without demanding too much mathematical
calculation; finally, those which are executed by uni-
form movements from the head to the tail of the col-
umn, or from the right to the left of the line. Thus,
for example, being near the enemy, it would be better
to command, Platoons Right, Head of Column Left,
than Squadrons, Break by Platoons. Since it is dan-
gerous to break from line into column at a short dis-
tance from the enemy, and to thus expose your com-
mand to an attack in flank, you must, if compelled to
do so, make the duration of this dangerous state of
affairs as short as possible; therefore, when you have
to resume your front, it will be better to command,
Platoons, Right (or Left), Halt; Column, Halt; Platoons,
Right (or Left) into Line, Wheel, as you will not only
gain time, but come to a halt in line.
Countermarches should be avoided, and, as far as
possible, movements by fours should be prohibited, be-
cause a single cannon-ball would knock one of them out
of all recognizable shape. Let the platoon be the unit.
Q. You have said that changes of front on the centre
should not be executed ; with what would you replace
them f
A. The principal objections to formations or changes
on the centre are that they necessitate four movements
and the march of columns, as well as formations in
inverse order, which puts the whole order of the regi-
ment at the mercy of the coolness, not of the captain
only, but of a chief of platoon or single file of men.
In war you almost always have more space than isCOMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
191
needed for your deployments, especially when yon are
in position; the mathematical limits assigned you on
the drill-ground no longer exist; so you can have elbow-
room; it is then better to execute your changes of front
on one of the flanks than the centre; it is even better
for a regiment of two, three, or four squadrons to wheel
in line at a trot, pivoting on one of the flanks, than to
wheel by platoons to the right and then partially re-
form.
Q. I thought this movement was dower than that
given in the drill regulations f
A. You were mistaken, for the points of departure
and arrival and the ground being the same, there is no
reason to think so ; and under fire you will find in it a
great advantage—that of executing a single command,
and being formed during the whole time of the move-
ment.
As a general rule, when you are near the enemy and
in a good formation, break it only for good reasons, and
then subdivide your command as little as possible, so
that each portion may preserve an intrinsic force suffi-
cient, in case of a sudden attack by the enemy, to op-
pose to him a respectable resistance.
The terrain of war differs from the drill-ground in
that on it the object is not to execute evolutions, but to
take up positions. There the theoretical letter of pre-
cept disappears to make place for the serious business
of application.
Look then only to the end to be attained. If you can
accomplish it by replacing complicated evolutions by
simple movements, do not hesitate to do so. Execute
only those which your men know, so to speak, too well,
and in which it is impossible for your officers or soldiers192
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
to make any mistakes; for it is necessary, I repeat, that
your foresight should always make allowance for ex-
citement, which harmonizes very poorly with difficulty.
I shall go still further and say that, as a man is more
accustomed to using his right hand than his left, so a
regiment will manoeuvre better by the right than by the
left; profit then by this observation for use in emergen-
cies which demand the exercise of undisturbed coolness
and self-confidence.
Q. I thought that the regulations had provided for
everything, and that nothing not contained in it was to
be executed on the battlefield f
A. Upon that terrain must be executed any evolution
demanded by necessity. The regulations could not and
should not provide for every case that might arise; con-
sider it, then, as a classic model only, from which one
must not vary without necessity, but not as an infallible
gospel, outside of the literal observance of which there
is no salvation.
Again, I shall take another case which frequently
occurs in war: Suppose your regiment marching in an
open plain, in echelons of squadrons at full distance;
at some distance a defile as wide as the front of a squad-
ron appears suddenly in front of the first. It is neces-
sary to pass it promptly. Would you give the com-
mands prescribed in the regulations : Squadrons, Halt;
Squadrons, In Line March; On First Squadron, Form
Close Column, March ; then, finally, Column, Forward
March ? Would it not be more speedy and simple to
command, without halting, Close Column on First
Squadron, Trot, March ? There is no halting, no time
lost; the squadrons, by platoons, right wheel, come to
fake their places in the column.COMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
195
Debouching from the defile, if you think it advisable,
you can resume your march in echelon, without halt-
ing, at the command, In Echelon, At Full Distance,
Deploy Column, which is executed by inverse means.
Should the defile be in front of any other than the
first squadron, as your squadrons are at full distance,
you can form the column on that squadron by the same
movements, doubling the gait.
Q. Which is the best position in action f
A. That which gives us the advantage of the ground
for attack and defence.
Q. In what consist the principal qualities of a good
position f
A. In having the flanks supported by obstacles which
the enemy cannot pass, a safe route of retreat to the
rear, in front of it a terrain commanded by the position
which, while opposing difficulties to the enemy, per-
mits, on the contrary, the instantaneous employment of
our troops.
Q. Do you not generally take position on high
ground f
A. Yes; because one can see better around him, be-
cause the slopes offer additional difficulties to the enemy,
and because the enemy’s view not being directed down-
ward upon us, we can establish our lines and group our
forces without being perceived, behind the curtain
formed by the crest of the hill.
Q. If the terrain on which you find yourself forced
to take position has some disadvantages ?
A. Lose no time in determining what they are, and
then remedy them by making a suitable disposition of
your troops.
Q. What are capital defects in a position ?194
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A. A position may be advantageous as regards its
front, but afford protection to only one of our flanks,
which is the more dangerous, as an attack made on our
unprotected flank may throw us on the obstacles which
protected us, crowd us back upon it, and destroy us. A
position which has not sufficient depth should not be
held, for it is necessary for cavalry to have not only
ground enough to move over, but also to preserve the
whole of its force of impulsion when it attacks. The most
objectionable position is one which presents a defile in
our rear, and the nearer the defile the more dangerous
the position. So, when you are compelled to pass a de-
file in advance, mass your troops in front of it, bring up
your supports, so as to have a force strongly supported
at the exit from the defile, and move well to the front,
so that the troops following you may pass rapidly, with-
out obstruction, and prevent the enemy driving you back
on the defile, crowding you into it, and destroying you.
Q. What do you do on an open terrain ?
A. March and manoeuvre so as to deploy and form line
rapidly in every direction. It is very rare that a plain
is so flat and smooth that it has no ground that can be
used to advantage against an enemy. A ditch, a fence,
wet meadows, fields whose deep furrows may overthrow
horses crossing them perpendicularly, some slight undu-
lations, are appreciated when one comes to crossing
sabres ; take full advantage of them to support your
troops and work destruction to the enemy.
Q. Where is the light cavalry generally posted f
A. Upon the wings, after the lines have been formed.
Q. Why f
A. Because it scouts and protects them during the
battle ; because it disquiets the enemy, and, in a changeCOMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
195
of front, its mobility gives greater rapidity to the move-
ment of the wings.
Q. Its place once assigned, should it hold it without
stirring f
A. No; its commander has two things to observe :
the first is his relative position in the general movement;
the second, his own special position. Thus, provided he
obeys strictly the orders which concern his position in
reference to the whole action, when not ordered to keep
out of sight, he may execute some partial but short
movements, to distract the attention of his men from the
losses produced by the enemy’s fire ; or, when they are
needlessly exposed, to protect them by making use of the
undulations of the ground as a protecting rampart; or
to mask his strength ; or to concentrate his squadrons,
if he foresees a threatened attack on the enemy, and the
need of a new disposition for deployment.
Q. If disturbed by the enemy's fire, what should
he do f
A. Select ground affording protection, and move a
little to the front, flank, or rear.
Q. If concealed by the curtain which he hqs chosen,
the enemy, who has guessed his position, still fires so as
to reach him ?
A. He concentrates on one of his flanks. The best
method of executing the movement of which I speak,
either to the front or rear, is to move perpendicularly in
line to the point chosen, and, when it is reached, move
by platoons a hundred paces to the right or left and then
reform line. The batteries, which will think you have
reformed in your former direction, will not change their
aim, and throw away their shots, which will pass to your196
CAY ALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
right or left. To better deceive the enemy, your skir-
mishers should be left in place.
Q. Should a command be kept mounted during the
whole time of a battle f
A. No; as I have already remarked several times,
one of our first duties is to spare the strength of our
horses and not use it up all at once. Waste of their
strength implies ignorance, or worse than that, on the
part of a commander. The same remarks apply to camp
guards, to the composition of a reconnaissance, etc.; he
is an incompetent officer who puts more men than neces-
sary on duty; and on the field of battle it is only an ig-
noramus that leaves his men mounted without necessity,
or needlessly exposes them to danger. When you have
secured a position where you can see all around you,
so that you cannot be taken by surprise, where the
enemy’s cannon-balls cannot reach you, dismount your
men ; but allow no one to leave his horse. Remember,
also, that whenever a trooper dismounts he must tighten
his girth.
Q. If a squadron moves forward for any cause what-
ever, and is concealed by the ground, but still suffers from
artillery fire, what should be done ?
A. Open out the files, and even take distance between
the platoons.
Q. May the troops not be placed in single rank f
A. That is sometimes done in war, but principally for
the purpose of deceiving the enemy as to our real strength;
it should be executed so that the enemy will not discover
that there is no second rank.
Q. What is the best formation in which to appear
upon the battlefield f
A. In close column, which has six advantages, which,COMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
197
properly combined, constitute the complete mechanism
of the art of manoeuvring. 1st. Of being able to ma-
noeuvre easily and rapidly in every direction. 2d. Of
masking the strength of the command. 3d. Of keeping
the whole force in hand, to be employed according to
circumstances and the nature of the ground. 4th. Of
deploying only the necessary number of men and keep-
ing the reserve intact. 5th. Of demoralizing the enemy,
if our numbers are superior, by a single deployment
made at the proper time. 6th. Of using the simplest
and quickest movement, the most generally useful de-
ployment—that in echelon.
Q. How may the enemy compel you to show your
strength ?
A. By cannonading you; because in a deep forma-
tion you have too much to lose to delay deploying at
once.
Q. But should you have an object in marking a part
of your forces f
A. You can then deploy in two lines, moving the
second well to the rear, so that the shots fired at the
first may ricochet and pass over the second.
Q. Having a regiment of only six squadrons under
your command, what orders would you give in such a
case t
A. On First and Fourth Squadrons, Deploy Column ;
the lines being formed, the second would wheel by
platoons to the left about, move a hundred paces to the
rear, and resume its front by the same movement.
Q. If in close column, and you fear a combined at-
tack on your front and one flank, what should be done ?
A. I should com^a 2d Column, On First Squadron,
to the Rear, Take Distance. At this command, all the198
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
squadrons, except the first, wheel left about by platoons,
move to the rear, and face again to the front when each
has gained a distance equal to the front of a squadron.
In that formation the column may be faced in every di-
rection, each squadron being kept entire.
Q. If after the deployment of a close column in
echelon, right in front, as the regulations prescribe,
your left flank is threatened, what do you command ?
A. Squadrons, On First Squadron, To the Rear, Take
Distance. This movement is executed like the preced-
ing ; if the enemy advances upon you, you command,
Squadrons, Left Wheel, Halt, in order to face him in
echelon; or, when the movement is nearly completed,
Forward, In Line.
Q. But these movements are not in the drill regula-
tions f
A. No ; but they are useful because they are simple,
and meet the principal demand of light cavalry in war—
that of enabling it to face promptly in every direction.
Sometimes, in unexpected emergencies in war, the order
of the squadrons in a regiment may become inverted.
For example, the first squadron, after having been sepa-
rated, may find itself crowded into the place of the third;
if so, let it take that number at once. The squadron of
manoeuvre is no more the administrative squadron than
the battery firing upon the enemy is the administrative
battery ; abandon then the habit of confounding the two
things.
Never to manoeuvre inverted is a misfortune for light
cavalry ; for in war circumstances may occur which will
force it to do so under penalty of destruction.
Q. Suppose, for example, that in executing a retreat
in close column, right in front, an opportunity of facingCOMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
199
quickly to the rear occurs, would you execute a slow
countermarch, during which the enemy might cut you in
pieces ?
A. No, I should wheel to the right or left about by
platoons.
Q. Would you deploy from that formation t
A. Certainly, if circumstances demanded it.
Q. But you would be in inverted order ?
A. What matter the means ? Shall the army perish in
order to observe a principle ? In acting thus, would not
the emergency be met better than in any other way ?
Would I not be able, in a second, to face the enemy?
Should I not be perfectly prepared to make or receive an
attack ? However, I should deploy in inverse order, so
that, by wheeling my platoons about, the regiment
would at once be in its regular order.
Q. And if in close column, and the platoons inverted
by an about wheel, you ivish to break by platoons, would
you command, “Squadrons, By Platoons, From the
Left r
A. No; but “Squadrons, By Platoons.” The fourth
platoons being on the right of each squadron, I should
re-form my column with distance in its natural order,
since the regiment was marching left in front. Our
mistake consists in our always regarding the first squad-
ron as the right, and the last one as the left; in the same
manner, the right platoon of a squadron as the first, and
the left as the fourth. So, when forced into inverted
order, the first squadron is found on the left of the line,
and the first platoons on the left of the squadrons, we no
longer know what commands to give. In war and in light
cavalry we must always be ready, and sure in our action;
hesitation is more than dangerous: in order to avoid it200
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
in cases like those cited above, fill the gap left in the
regulations by agreeing in advance that in manoeuvring
the right and left of a line or squadron, whatever may be
the incomplete order of their formation, shall always be
the real right and left, without regard to the regular
numbers of squadrons and platoons; and, consequently,
that a close column having made a prompt about wheel
by platoons to face the enemy, the last squadrons and pla-
toons become the right, and the first the left; thus there
will no longer be any doubt as to commands and their
execution.
Unfortunately, I have many times seen the case occur
in war where a cavalry regiment, risking itself in a plain
beyond reach of its supports, was briskly attacked,
turned, cut off by superior forces and, after a valiant
and even desperate resistance, on account of a defence
conducted according to the precepts of the regulations,
compelled to execute a retreat, or rather individual
“ devil take the hindmost ” flight, during which it was
used up before supports could arrive to assist it and
help it to rally.
Q. Should a similar case occur, what should he done f
A. Follow the example of the infantry, which can face
in every direction and form square.
Q. How f
A. As a matter of course, a colonel, finding himself
in an open plain cut off from his supports by forces
superior to his own, and having no hope of executing
his retreat safely in echelon or in line, would ploy
quickly into close column; for he has no chance except
in a deep formation, where he will expose less surface,
fewer men, and have them all in hand for making a
more powerful and effective opening in the enemy’s ranks.COMMANDS TO BE USED IN WAR.
201
Close column having been formed, he will command,
“On the Second and Third Squadrons Form Square,
Trot, March.” At the first command the commander of
the first squadron will command, “Charge Lances,” or
“ Advance Carbine.” *
*******
The very foundation of the art of manoeuvring in war
is such a habit of judging ground, so just an appreciation
of distances, that it becomes, so to speak, instinctive, and
that, at the first glance, an officer’s estimates are so
correct that he need never recur to them; and that any
movement ordered may be immediately executed, with-
out having to correct it. This coup (Vcdl should at the
same time calculate the space the squadrons will occupy,
and that upon which, when formed, they will have to
act; it is for this reason that a commander should march
personally sometimes at the head, sometimes on the
flanks of the column, always going to the summit of the
undulations of the ground to verify his estimates.
When this has been done he returns to the place of
command.
One of the best methods of learning the terrain, of
appreciating its heights, its depressions, its obstacles,
its facilities, is to follow with the eye the undulationsTand
variations in the line of march of the enemy’s skirmishers.
This line shows to the trained eye more effectively than
any other means the terrain upon which you will have to
operate, as it passes over it gradually in all its develop-
ment, both as regards the whole and its details.
This knowledge is so important, and the observation
which I recommend so simple, that in order to obtain it
* The detailed directions for forming and breaking square have
omitted.202
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
in certain cases it is necessary to drive in the enemy’s
skirmishers, so that their retreat will furnish the infor-
mation we desire.
In a nutshell, the art of war is the assemblage and
employment of superior forces upon a decisive point.
The advantage of assuming the offensive is that it
compels the enemy to regulate his movements by ours,
and thus demoralizes him. The defensive is useful only
to gain time. A position in which there is danger of
being cut off from our supports should never be taken up.
We should never charge home without being sup-
ported, nor do anything which, in case of a reverse, may
prove more disastrous than the hoped-for success could
possibly have benefited us.
The best formation for attack is that in echelon, for
the lines support one another successively; the flanks
are protected; it is impossible for the enemy to manoeu-
vre against our wings without our being in readiness to
receive him; and in case of a check our retreat is pro-
vided for and supported.
However numerous may be the troops acting together,
there must be unity of action, and consequently but one
commander. Each detachment is a part of the whole,
and must act only as a member of the same body. In
cavalry, centralization of action, producing all its rapid-
ity, gives it also all its power.CHARGES.
203
CHARGES.
Q. On what does the success of a charge depend ?
A. On seizing the right moment for making it.
Q. Is it difficult to seize this moment f
A. I repeat it, the art of doing the right thing at the
right time constitutes the very genius of war.
Q. What are we enabled to do by acting at exactly the
right moment ?
A. 1st. To surprise the enemy. 2d. To attack him,
generally, when he has lost confidance, or is beginning a
wrong movement. 3d. To attack him with troops more
united and horses fresher than his. 4th. To hold on
with greater tenacity than he can.
Q. What should be done by a chief who is ordered to
charge ?
A. Approach as near as possible to the enemy at a
moderate gait, with his squadrons well aligned, draw
sabre, and then charge immediately.
Q. I thought sabres were to be drawn before moving
forward f
A. That is an error. The later you draw sabre the
better. The success of a charge on the. enemy is de-
pendent, for the most part, on the powerful and impos-
ing moral effect produced. It should then be all
prepared in advance, and nothing should be neglected
which can render this effect as surprising and complete
as possible.
If a line draws sabre before advancing, it indicates
the coming movement to the enemy too long in advance,20 4
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
and he recognizes and prepares to meet it, and the
chance of surprising him is past, lost.
If, on the contrary, the charging regiment keeps its
sabres in the scabbards; if it leaves the enemy in doubt
as to the importance of the movement to be executed,
the blades, all drawn forth at once and flashing in his
eyes, will no longer permit him to reflect upon the dan-
ger which, sometimes, in spite of him, will shake him
and compel him to retreat. Then the moral effect pro-
duced upon the enemy thus attacked may react, for the
opposite reason, upon the attackers, through the same
movement.
The trooper who carries his sabre a long time in his
hand loses his high regard and enthusiasm for his
weapon ; but if this same trooper seizes his weapon
only at a command given vigorously by his chief, and
at the moment when he is to make use of it, he grasps it
with greater strength, more spirit, and strikes with
livelier force. The charging trooper is an enthusiast, in-
spired by a sentiment bordering on intoxication; do not
chill this feeling, so lively and responsive; in prolonging
it, in producing it by fits and starts, you will destroy it.
To draw his sabre, drive his spurs into his horse’s sides,
and strike the enemy, should be a single act.
Q. What is the duty of squadron and platoon com-
manders in a charge t
A. To march well aligned upon one another and make
the troops they command keep their alignment, by call-
ing by name those who hang back, until the moment
the command, Charge, is given; then they must think
only of being the first to pierce the enemy’s line.
Q. What is the duty of the file-closers in a charge f
A. They push before them the second rank, forcing itCHARGES.
205
to keep its alignment until the command, Charge. If any
cowards hang back they push them on vigorously. Once
entered upon the melee their duty as file-closers ceases,
and they use their sabres to the best of their ability.
Q. Should the men shout in charging f
A. Yes ; they should shout, Forward, but only at the
command, Charge. The word Forward should be shout-
ed as loudly and as much together as possible.
Q. How should the trooper charge f
A. Bent forward upon his horse so as to be concealed
by the horse’s head and neck, expose less surface to bul-
lets, to see less of the dangers in front, and give greater
spring to his horse. This first position also adds much
force to the moral effect which the trooper produces
when, in striking the enemy with a shout, he rises sud-
denly to his full height on his shortened stirrups, and
appears to him in this threatening manner.
Q. Must a charge be made quickly f
A. The most rapid attacks are always the most cer-
tain, and the least dangerous for those who execute
them. They should be pushed with more or less perse-
verance upon such or such people, wTho, more or less
than others, risk their cavalry. As soon as the Hun-
garians or Prussians begin a retreat, there is no half-way
measure : you must decide to either pursue vigorously,
sword in hand, or abandon the charge immediately and
rally in force.
Q. Which are the best charges to make f
A. Those which take the enemy in flank, because
they do him double injury: first by demoralizing him, and
second by overthrowing him by the force of impulsion,
which is all in your favor. It was in a charge similar to
this, made with so much courage and intelligence, that206
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Colonel Bro, at Waterloo, recaptured from Ponsonby’s
brigade one of our eagles taken by the English.
Q. The speed of the horses should then be kept down
until the charge begins ?
A. Yes; but when the charge is once sounded there
should be but one gait—the gallop.
Q. What rule should govern in charging infantry ?
A. Charge rapidly and home ; if the enemy is dis-
concerted, if the lines waver, his ranks open, enter ; if he
closes up, charges bayonets, and fear prevents the re-
loading of their arms, turn around the square and
threaten it on all sides ; deafen him with noise, and cry,
“ Prisonerthis word is understood in every language.
If it shakes him, enter ; if he surrenders, no more
sabre blows, but have the arms thrown down, divide the
prisoners immediately, and conduct them to the rear.
If, on the contrary, protected by an obstacle you have
not perceived, he receives you coolly and is not shaken,
but reloads his weapons, you cannot hope to break the
ranks ; retire then at full speed, bending low in the sad-
dle, to rally out of range of his bullets, to threaten him
again at his first deployment. To act otherwise would
display pure obstinacy and ignorance of war.
Q. Should you have to charge on infantry in line ?
A. Try to attack one of its wings ; you will receive but
few shots, you will throw it into disorder, and you will
get it cheaply. If you cannot do that, and the line is a
long one, pierce its centre.
Q. Should it become necessary to charge a square f
A. Attack one of its angles.
Q. Why?
A. Because the enemy can bring to bear upon youCHARGES.
207
only an oblique fire, which is much less dangerous than
a direct one.
Q. What is the momentum of a trooper charging ?
A. The weight of the trooper multiplied by his veloc-
ity is equivalent to a weight of about 800 pounds, which
should be irresistible.
Q. What is the best time to charge infantry f
A. When it is moving in line, or in column with dis-
tance, or whenever it has been well shaken by artillery
fire.
Q. What time should be selected for charging infan-
try in column f
A. When the column is lengthening out and the
ground you have to pass over to reach it is favorable to
your horses ; charge it then in flank, and in piercing it
you will separate the two extremities.
Q. If the enemy surrenders, what is to be done f
A. After having made them throw down their arms
you withdraw from them as quickly as possible, and
form your squadrons between them and the enemy who
may attempt a rescue.
Q. Should the enemy's cavalry threaten to charge,
what should be done ?
A. Try to take up a position in front of which there
are some obstacles, invisible to the enemy ; let him rush
upon you, and when he reaches these obstacles, which
will surprise and disunite him, charge him in your turn,
and take advantage of his disappointment and physical
embarrassment to overwhelm him on ground unfavor-
able to him.
Q. If the terrain be free from obstacles f
A. Determine if the enemy is beginning his charge at
too great a distance from you, with reference to the208
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
unity and rapidity of his attack ; if he makes this mis-
take, await him without stirring, and, when he arrives
wnthin distance, in a breathless condition, charge him.
That is the movement we executed at Waterloo against
Ponsonby’s brigade.
Q. If the enemy has not taken too much space ?
A. Advance when he has completed one fourth of his
charge, and charge upon him.
Q. Why f
A. In order to have a force of impulsion equal to his,
and a uniformity one fourth greater.
Q. If attacked by heavy cavalry f
A. As soon as you discover his design, ploy quickly
into one or several close columns, according to the time
at your disposal, and then charge the centre of the ad-
vancing line; turn back as soon as you have pierced
it; then by deploying and making a half turn, you can
take in rear these great heavy troopers, whom you will
surround and overthrow, one by one, at very little cost to
yourself. There is still another way of meeting the
charges of heavy cavalry. Suppose you have four
squadrons. As soon as the enemy begins to move, com-
mand, Two First Squadrons, Platoons Right Wheel, Gal-
lop, March ; then, Head of Column Left ; then, Pla-
toons, Left Into Line Wheel, Charge. The Two Last
Squadrons, Platoons, Left Wheel, Gallop, Forward;
then Head of Column, Right, Right Into Line, Wheel,
Charge.
In this way the heavy cavalry, which cannot change
direction easily, will be enclosed in the space between
the two lines on their flanks and rear, and cannot, with-
out difficulty, extricate themselves from the critical
position in which they are placed. The attack will beCHARGES.
209
still more effective if our second line, unmasked by this
evolution, charges the cuirassiers in front.
In these movements, as in almost all those which re-
quire rapidity of execution and unusual commands, it
is necessary that the chief should prepare for them some
little time in advance and forewarn his subordinates of
what the intends to do, and indicate to each the part he
will have to act, under such or such circumstances.
Q. Under ordinary circumstances, what is the best for-
mation in which to charge f
A. In echelons. In case of success, the first echelon
shakes the enemy, the second breaks his ranks, the
others are engaged only so far as may be necessary. In
case of a reverse, the last echelons always offer a point
of support, and give confidence to the troops which are
being pursued.
Q. Before charging upon cavalry, what should be done t
A. Feel it as a skilful fencing-master feels his ad-
versary before making an assault; execute some simple
manoeuvres by the flank, such as platoons right or left
wheel, while preserving carefully the proper distances,
so as to re-form in a compact and well-dressed line, at
the very first command.
Threaten the enemy’s wings, and, if he begins to at-
tempt an unskilful or complicated manoeuvre, seize the
opportunity, which may last for only a few seconds,
and charge home upon him.
A movement which I have always seen succeed is,
when two lines observe each other without budging, and
each awaits the moment for attack, to ploy one of our
flank squadrons into column of platoons and push it
forward at a full trot, perpendicularly, to within a
hundred paces of the enemy, with orders to outflank210
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
him, and then immediately re-form line by wheeling
the platoons into line, and stand fast. Rarely, indeed,
would the enemy move against this single squadron,
whose performance will puzzle and disquiet him; but
should he move and expose his flank, charge with your
remaining squadrons, and you will have great chances
of succeeding.
This movement is in itself the whole art of war on a
small scale. If while one portion of our troops charges
the enemy another threatens his line of retreat, you are
sure of demoralizing him and producing a decided effect
upon him, because your men act with one fixed idea, and
the enemy’s are divided and distracted by several.
Q. The drill book, I believe, directs artillery to be
charged by cavalry as foragers ?
A. The formation is a good one when the ground is
smooth and the pieces exposed; but what the drill-book
does not say is, that even upon smooth ground it is
necessary, before attempting to charge a battery, to have
the ground reconnoitred by a few bold and well-mounted
scouts, not numerous enough nor close enough together
to tempt the enemy to waste projectiles on them. With-
out taking that precaution one risks being brought
up standing before attaining the object desired, and
being obliged to retreat with no other result than the
loss of some of his men. This precaution was taken by
General Colbert at Wagram, when the Emperor ordered
him to charge the Austrian centre; and it was that
which, by saving his brigade from useless losses, enabled
him, an hour later, to take so brilliant a part in the final
victory.
All terrains in war, and especially those upon which
batteries are placed, are not smooth; the elevationsCHARGES.
211
necessary to enable the pieces to be pointed generally
indicate corresponding depressions, sunken roads, ra-
vines, undulations in front of them, which it is necessary
to know and take advantage of, to protect the advance
of the troops and shelter them from projectiles from the
outset of the charge. When once begun, in this case
more than in any other, is rapidity of gait a guarantee
of success.
One more thing well to remember is, that, if the bat-
tery you charge is supported by infantry, the charge
should be so directed as to keep the guns between you
and the infantry. The fear of killing their artillerymen
will stop the infantry fire.
The best method of capturing a battery, especially in
undulating ground, is to make a false attack with one
half of your troops, and charge the guns with the other.
Q. On arriving at the battery what should be done f
A. Charge the supporting troops vigorously, cut down
the gunners, but spare the drivers and make them turn
the pieces about, and keep up the retreat in a bold and
united manner.
Q. Should the drivers show an unwillingness to go,
and hang back in hopes of being rescued f
A. Threaten to run them through with your sabre.
Q. Should this threat produce no fear f
A. Throw them to the ground. Let two troopers take
the bridles of the two lead and the two wheel horses
to lead them; other troopers will beat the horses’ sides
with the flat of their sabres, and thus force them along.
Q. If it be impossible to save the pieces, what should
be done f
A. The theorists order them to be spiked; to do that
spikes and hammers would have to be provided before212
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
the charge; but if these have not been supplied to the
troopers, they will simply try to throw the pieces over
into a ravine, carry off the limbers or shoot the horses,
break the sponge-staves, then yield the ground for a
while, not rallying too far away, and return again in
force to endeavor to carry off the guns.
Q. How should a charge be made on a road f
A. If the object be only to pierce the line and deploy
afterwards in rear of it, form your column in mass
upon as large a front as the width of the road will
permit, aud charge in column. This manoeuvre may be
considered as the passage of a defile rather than a charge
properly so called; for the charge is only a secondary
matter—serves only to open a passage.
Q. If the object is not to pierce the line t
A. You provide for your retreat and, as a general rule
in a case of this kind, you form your squadrons in col-
umn with large distances (a hundred yards, for example).
The head of the column should be only half as wide as
the road, in order that the retreating squadrons may have
room to pass those in support without throwing them
into confusion You order in advance that the retiring
squadrons shall go successively a hundred paces in rear
of the last ones, to re-form; then you order the columns
wholly or partially formed to always rest their right on
the ditch, leaving free, on their left, that part of the road
to be used by the retiring squadrons in coming back.
The squadron forming the advance-guard has its two
leading platoons fifty paces distant from each other; the
other two remain united. You then direct that, so long
as the march is undisturbed, the subdivisions will main-
tain the gait of the head of the column, carefully preserv-
ing their distances from one another. As soon as theCHARGES.
213
leading squadron falls back, the one which follows will,
as soon as it has been passed by the first, charge upon the
enemy to drive him back and, if successful in its attempt,
will take the offensive at once, and so with the others.
In this manner an enemy exhausted by his efforts may be
successively attacked with renewed impulsion by fresh
and unblown horses. You also direct that the columns
will rally at once, at the sound of the trumpet, in
order that, if threatened on your flanks, your command
may be quickly reunited.
These orders given and well understood, you place
yourself at the head of the first squadron and begin your
march. You launch your first squadron; if it should be
driven back, launch the second, and so on. Should the
terrain open out and admit of your deploying, sound the
rally and form echelons on the sides of the road, keeping
on it a-lway sat least one squadron, to cover your retreat
in case of necessity. If the enemy attacks your flank,
sound the rally just the same, face to the front on the
road, keeping the ditch as a point of support, and then
manoeuvre even, if the place offers facilities, or indicates
the necessity, for doing so.
Q. What should he done by a colonel of cavalry when
he sees that he will soon have to make a charge f
A. If possible, have the girths tightened and let the
men drink a little water.
Sometimes it is a good thing to brace up the nerves
of your men, if they are to charge infantry or artillery,
by exposing them for a short time to the enemy’s cannon-
balls and the bullets of his sharp-shooters. Troops who
have suffered somewhat charge with more vigor than
those who have not. Not only have they a revenge to
take, a compliment to return, but it is then easy to214
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
persuade them that to charge is often less dangerous
than to remain in position, and that a prompt and vigor-
ous effort will relieve them from the wearing strain
experienced in serving as a target and suffering losses of
men in detail, without any corresponding glory or re-
venge.
A general of the greatest merit, of deservedly high
repute, the one to whom the victory of Jena is due, has
often told me that when preparing for an affair he
systematically teased his officers, and that this spurring
gave them all the more dash when they threw themselves
upon the enemy. That being admitted, one can readily
see that a cavalry officer who sees the moment approach-
ing in which he will have to deliver heavy blows, should
keep his subordinates in the right mood and gradually
raise their moral tone to the height of the attendant
circumstances, which will fail to surprise them when they
show their most unfavorable sides, and which they will
meet with all their faculties under perfect control; hav-
ing the coolness to judge, the dash to act.
General Rule.—A charge once begun, push it home
and hold fast; you will succeed. In all things there is
a period of growth, full development, and decline; this
moral as well as physical truth naturally indicates
your only rational course and your chances of success.
Every charge has its moment of dash, followed by the
melee, then the moment of hesitation, and last that of
retreat.
Be firm during the second and third moments and
the victory is yours; and if you take full advantage of
it this once, the enemy will be demoralized and never
obtain his revenge during the campaign.
In 1806, while traversing Upper Silesia with the 7thCHARGES.
m
Hussars, in which I had the honor to be a sub-lieu-
tenant, a few leagues from Ratisbon I encountered the
ruins of an old Gothic castle. From an artistic point of
view it was very uninteresting, and I was retiring when,
above the gate, I saw, coarsely sculptured, two stags
struggling upon the trunk of a tree thrown over a tor-
rent. Above it was written, in Old German, “The
most persistent will win.” This device so impressed
me that it has never been forgotten. Let it be yours in
the hour of a charge.
The steadiness of a charge is prolonged, and its vigor
doubled, by the confidence inspired by the proximity of
supporting troops. These should maintain the gait of
those making the charge, no matter how rapid it may
be; follow as rapidly as they move, halting only when
they halt, and then post themselves near by and in a
threatening position.
Almost all the failures of charges are due to the slow-
ness or ignorance of the supports. A charge badly sup-
ported, no matter how bravely it may have begun,
becomes only a bloody affray; while one well supported
is always victorious and decisive. Remember, then,
that, in shortening the retreat of a charging force, by
having the supports close at hand the possibility of a
failure is prevented.
By supports I do not mean the first line only which
follows and supports the charge, but also the lines
echelonned in rear, which come forward rapidly and to
within short distances, to seize upon positions as fast as
they are gained.
If a charge is made only to reconnoitre the enemy
and force him to deploy, a reserve is not necessary; but
when the attack is like an arrow, whose head must enter216
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
and fix itself, the supporting troops should drive it
home.
If, in a charge, the commanding officer does not per-
mit his troops to calculate, in advance, their retreat and
the obstacles in the way of it, it is because he has
already done it for them. Therefore he must, as far as
possible, guard against developing his front in advance
of a defile, marsh, ditches, etc.COURAGE. COWARDICE.
217
COURAGE. COWARDICE.
Q. What is courage t
A. The most essential quality of a soldier. The
Emperor Napoleon rewarded it beyond all others, espe-
cially when it exceeded the ordinary bounds. In speak-
ing of one of his generals (whom I shall not name,
because he has since disgraced himself by his ingrati-
tude), he said: “ When one is as brave as he, he is
worth his weight in diamonds.” Reward, then, above
all things, the courage of him who is the first in the
melee, who delivers his blows with coolness and cer-
tainty, who is the last in a retreat, who rescues his offi-
cers, his comrades, who captures a standard, who re-
captures artillery, who is never dismayed by bad luck
and is always ready and willing. Moderate the too
ardent courage which abandons the ranks to begin an
attack, without orders; punish it even, although it may
cost you a pang to do so, lest all discipline disappear.
There are several kinds of courage, but it is courage
of the daring and impetuous kind which wins battles.
There are war soldiers and peace soldiers; the perfect
soldier is a combination of both. This perfection is
attained by habit. The man who, in garrison, takes
pride in never being punished, is always spoken well of
for his correct dress, his instruction, for being one of
the 6lite, almost always preserves upon the field of
battle the reputation so worthily acquired. But there
are some exceptions to the rule, and a man who con-218
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
forms with difficulty to the uniform order of a garrison,
is often punished, and little loved by his chiefs, may,
under fire, cleanse himself from all his sorry antece-
dents and in a single day valiantly regain his spurs.
Chiefs, remember that fire purifies everything. No
more unfavorable recollections, no more recriminations,
when a soldier has compelled his comrades to recognize
him as the bravest of them all. Let there be complete
forgetfulness of the past, and let promotion, decora-
tions, reward the brilliant deed. Courage in battle
determines his value, and his right to reward.
Q. What is cowardice ?
A. Be not hasty in charging with cowardice the young
man who turns pale on going into battle for the first
time. His will may be strong and his heart right, but
his temperament is nervous, and the paleness of his face
is no indication of fear. Where is the old soldier who,
frankly and with his hand upon his heart, can say that
he received his baptism of fire without emotion ?
It often rests with the chief of a corps to make brave
soldiers of weak and spiritless young men. Let him
bring them under fire for the first time advantageously
for them. Let him act like a whipper-in with a pack of
young hounds—launch them against a wearied enemy;
let him make them bite instead of getting bitten: on
their return from the charge they will no longer fear
anything. If he does the contrary, it is to be feared
that he will destroy their dashing courage and demor-
alize them for a long time to come.
Q. But when cowardice is established by evidence,
what is done to an old soldier ?
A. For him there is no punishment too public or too
severe. Before the assembled regiment the uniformCOURAGE. COWARDICE.
219
should be torn from the coward. Let him be expelled
by his peers. Let his horse and arms be given, in
his presence, to a dismounted conscript. Let him be
conducted to the rear and turned over to the provost
marshal.
It has been justly said, “ To prefer honor is not to de-
spise life.” At Waterloo, when Bourmont, Clouet, and
others so shamefully celebrated had passed over to the
enemy, we saw a battery of our guard precipitate itself
at the gallop upon the English. “Duchand deserts,”
cried the Emperor. Duchand a deserter ! Placing him-
self at one-quarter range, he drew upon himself the
hostile fire, and showed by the heaps of English dead
the thoughtless injustice of the great man. Brave Du-
chand ! inscribe upon your arms, “Duchand deserts.”220
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
MORALE. MORAL EFFECT.
Q. What is morale f
A. The instinctive feeling of strength or weakness;
that which, at the very outset, produces either confidence
or terror.
Q. What exercises the most unfavorable influence
upon it t
A. Surprise.
Q. What modifies it ?
A. The greater or less firmness of mind with which it
is encountered.
Q. When this feeling takes the form of terror, what
effect does it produce f
A. First, a complete paralysis of the moral and physi-
cal faculties, then hesitation, then a desire for self-
preservation.
Q. When it assumes the form of self-reliance f
A. It increases the strength tenfold. It was this
feeling, as displayed in its two opposite phases, which
made six thousand Prussians, supplied with two hundred
pieces of artillery, and posted behind the walls of Stettin,
surrender, in 1806, to five hundred French hussars,
whose confident boldness prevented their even thinking
of failure.
The morale, in this double sense, is never equally
shown by two bodies of troops opposed to each other;
one is always confident, the other timid, and the timid-
ity of the one is exactly proportioned to the confidence
of the other.MORALE. MORAL EFFECT.
221
Having the advantage of possessing the morale is
three fourths of the power of cavalry. Remember that,
and always act vigorously and rapidly upon the terrain.
In this way all hesitation will be made to disappear, any
dangerous equilibrium will be destroyed, and your suc-
cess will, in every case, by its weight bear down the
balance in your favor.
Q. Is this morale within the control of the chief ?
A. Yes, often, -when he is what he should be; that is
to say, when he possesses that entire and intimate confi-
dence of his troops which gives him the right to see,
think, and act for them.
Q. In that case the effect of the enemy's morale
may be overcome and destroyed by a power as subtle
as itself?
A. All its united rays may be broken again upon an
intermediate point, w7hich is the chief; it has changed
for good reasons. The soldier no longer looks at the
enemy, nor the danger, but at his chief, and says
to himself, “It looks like it was going to be hot here,
but he will bring us out all right;” “ He does not
move; things are in good shape;” “ He smiles: we are
going to smash them.” If the chief responds to these
thoughts, which he has anticipated, by commands like
these, uttered calmly: “Platoons, Left About, Wheel,
Walk, March,” the retreat wfill be executed unitedly
and in perfect order; “Stand Fast,” they do not stir;
“They are ours; Charge,” the enemy is lost.
Should a night-attack surprise us in our bivouacs,
when the disorder has reached its greatest height, let
the same commander’s voice cry out, “Rally on me,
Right Dress, Ready;” this voice, recognized and obeyed,222
CAY ALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
stops short the confusion, removes all fear, and leads to
the repulse of the enemy.
I repeat, as soon as the line of moral force which,
rapid and direct, flies with electric speed from the
cause to the effect, can be broken by any intermediate
force, like the confidence inspired by a chief, its influ-
ences are no longer to be feared.
Q. Are moral impressions produced only by unex-
pected causes ?
A. They may also be produced by slow and continuous
ones; for instance, in a favorable sense, by the receipt
of cheerful news, by rewards ; and in an unfavorable
one, by fatigue, privations, suspicions of treachery, a
succession of losses in battle, the sight of dead and
wounded men, etc. In the second case the moral force
of the chief is a great powder, especially if founded upon
an esprit de corps, where the tone of the regiment is high
and of long standing.
Q. What should be done when favorable news is cir-
culated through the ranks f
A. Not oniy allow it to circulate, but even promote
its diffusion. Nevertheless, in certain cases, when it
seems to you to be doubtful, you should comment upon
it coolly and publicly, in order that the effects pro-
duced later by the discovery of its falsity may be less
disastrous.
Q. If bad news is circulated f
A. Send, for the one who brought it, and question
him closely. If you discover that he has circulated it
maliciously, make an example of the scoundrel. If he
is simply thoughtless, reprimand him sharply, and send
him to the rear at the first opportunity.
Q. If a great number of men are wounded ?MORALE. MORAL EFFECT.
223
A. Hasten their transport to the ambulances.
Q. If many of your men should be killed f
A. Move a slight distance to the front, or to one side,
so as to conceal them by a curtain of some kind; then
close the gaps in your ranks, recount your men, and
distract their attention by any means at your disposal*
a glass of brandy opportunely distributed; a false
movement of the enemy, to which attention is called;
the hope of soon obtaining satisfaction by charging;
the mention of wounds, apparently desperate, which
have been quickly healed, because those who had re-
ceived them would not give up; that of the rewards given
for brilliant deeds; that of situations believed to be
hopeless, but which were retrieved by courage and cool-
ness, and caused a shower of just rewards to fall upon
those distinguishing themselves, etc.
We were the first to enter Heilsberg, and recaptured
there a large number of French and their allies who had
been wounded and made prisoners the day before by
the Russians and Prussians. One of them, an infantry
soldier, seeing us drinking wine, cheerfully joined us,
told us how he had been captured, and drank with us;
but all the wine taken into his mouth ran out upon the
lapels of his coat. We looked at him and found a
great gash in his throat, through which the wine escaped.
We spoke to him about it, but he replied that it was
nothing, and soon after rejoined his regiment. I have
since learned that he was entirely cured. So much for
not yielding to despair.
At the affair of Pappa we charged upon the Hun-
garians engaged in the insurrection, and Bubna’s cav-
alry. A non-commissioned officer of the 9th Hussars
received a sabre cut, which made a terrible gash in his224
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
neck; his head hung over on his shoulder, and his eyes
were closed. I believed him to be dead, but he quickly
recovered, and was with us at Wagram. He wished to
live.
Near Tilsit one of the 7th Hussars, and belonging to
my troop, received twenty-two lance wounds; but in a
month he was mounted again. He had not, for a
moment, despaired of his recovery.
In the affair at Raab, under the orders of General
Montbrun, we manoeuvred by the right and drove back
the Hungarian infantry by a change of front to the
left. In the evening we were at the village of St.
Nicholas, four leagues in advance of the battlefield.
Under some hay which I was taking away for my horse,
I found an Austrian infantry soldier concealed, and
brought him to our bivouac. He took supper with us,
and complained of nothing, but I noticed upon his
white uniform a long streak of blood. A bullet had
entered his chest, and was apparent to the eye, and
could be felt in his loins; it was removed, ip my pres-
ence, by a simple cut with a lancet, which opened the
skin. This man had been wounded six hours before,
and since that time had travelled a distance of four
leagues, in four hours, on foot. What will not a strong
will-power accomplish?
At Kommorn the Austrian cavalry surprised us at
night, but was repulsed. A Hungarian hussar was run
through and through with a lance, and was captured;
fifteen days afterward he was walking about and sing-
ing in our bivouacs.
At Wagram we charged upon some squares; General
Colbert, whose aide-de-camp I had the honor to be,
received a bullet in his head at point-blank range.MORALE. MORAL EFFECT.
225
The brigade was already mourning the loss of its in-
trepid chief; but the bullet had made the circuit of his
skull under the scalp. The same evening he returned
to Vienna on horseback, and laughed with us along the
road. Twenty days later he had entirely recovered.
The physical and moral nature of the wounded sensi-
bly affects the degree of suffering they undergo. I
have seen men singing while undergoing operations of
the gravest kinds, and without changing countenance;
they undoubtedly suffered less than others.
There are some men who are made ferocious by the
battlefield—these must be restrained when met with;
and there are others whose early prejudices impair or
destroy every sentiment of pity.
The morning after the battle of Heilsberg, being on
advance-guard, just at daybreak we heard some shots
fired. We mounted quickly and rode in the direction
from which the sound came. What did wTe find? A
Corsican sharpshooter killing the wounded who he
thought would not recover. We questioned him, and
satisfied ourselves that he was doing it simply through
pity. He regarded his act as one of compassion.
At the battle of the Moskowa (Mojaisk) a young
cuirassier charged with his regiment upon a Russian
redoubt in front of our left wing. The charge was a
brilliant one, but the Russians retook the redoubt, and
twenty of their light-horsemen threw themselves at
once upon this young man. He refused to surrender,
killed the Russian commander, and, though covered
with wounds, retired, protecting the retreat of one of
his chiefs of squadron as severely wounded as himself.
In our presence, the Emperor bestowed upon him the226
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
cross, and allowed his mother a pension of a hundred
crowns.
At Hoogstraaten, ten leagues in advance of Antwerp,
January 1, 1811, an officer of the lancers of the Guard
was ordered to attack a regiment of Cossacks at day-
break. He made his attack, in column, on a road, so that
really only his first platoon was engaged. The enemy,
whose centre had been pierced, rushed with fury upon
this platoon, but it stood firm, resisted the shock, and
then made a countercharge. Our bold attack, our auda-
cious firmness, had the most gratifying results. The
Emperor sent to this single platoon two crosses and
two officers’ commissions.
The composure which permits a charge to reach one,
which by calmness overawes it and makes it fail com-
pletely, is also to be noticed, and can be likened only to
the action of a cat attacked by a bull-dog, which stops
short her formidable enemy simply by fixing her eyes
upon him.
Some weapons have a greater moral effect than others.
The lance possesses this moral power to a greater degree
than any other. At Waterloo our four regiments of the
Guard were placed upon the same line. The English
charged the line, our lancers “charged” lances, and, at
this movement, the enemy left our front voluntarily to
throw himself upon the troops armed with shorter
weapons.
Although I have said as much in the chapter on
Charges, I shall repeat here that one of the most ef-
fective methods of producing a great moral effect upon
an enemy whom we attack is not to draw sabres or
charge lances until within a short distance of him.
A trooper who is pursued and sees that his enemy’sMORALE. MORAL EFFECT.
227
horse is better than his should coolly threaten with
his pistol the man following him. It is seldom that this
threat will fail to be effective. In a melee, when there
is a choice of adversaries, the man who shows the great-
est coolness and determination is never selected for
attack.
The Austrians are more easily demoralized by wounds
than any other troops. That is due to their sluggish
temperament and their white uniforms, which show the
slightest marks of blood.
Too much attention cannot be bestowed upon the
wounded. They should receive prompt attention, a
consoling word or two should be spoken to them, and
they should be quickly conveyed, with the assistance of
one or two men, to the ambulances. These two men,
having performed their office of mercy, will return at
once to the battlefield.
Just as there are two kinds of courage, the one in-
stinctive and innate, the other gradually acquired as
the result of reflection, so there should exist, in the be-
stowal of rewards, two actions, whose double object
should never be divided by the chief who bestows them:
the first is a matter of justice; the second and most im-
portant is that of making an example. Every chief
who bestows rewards should, then, weigh conscientiously
the claims of each individual, and consider the deed
itself of greater value than the efforts made to perform
it.
To reward merit is pleasant, but it is still more essen-
tial to affect the whole mass by the example of rewarded
merit. Let justice govern in making the example, so
that the mass may be roused to action instead of being
discouraged by it; discipline and enthusiasm will be
the results of observing this rule.228
GAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
When a reward is deserved let there be no delay in
bestowing it; to give it promptly doubles its value.
As the chief, of whatever grade, first appears, so will
he be accepted. Let the chief, in the interest of his
moral power, not forget this, and so act that he will
have nothing to reproach himself with later in his
career. The dignity and power of command depend
upon it.
A chief should never give his soldiers the right to say
of him, u He is a good fellow,” because “ weak” is un-
derstood; but rather, “ He is just, humane, the soldier’s
father, but one must not fall short of his expectations,
for he disappoints no one.”
A chief should see at a glance everything in his regi-
ment. He knows in advance the good and the bad sol-
diers and, consequently, the good or bad character of
the services rendered. An acquaintance with the moral
character of the men under his command infinitely sim-
plifies and classifies this inspection. This knowledge
should not, however, prejudice him to the extent of
making him unjust. The chief should treat with great
consideration the man who corrects his faults.
Often men think they conceal their faults from their
chief; let them undeceive themselves, for he may simply
choose to be blind to many things he sees. Let them,
however, watch and correct their faults, for when the
day arrives in which he will prove that nothing has
escaped, or can escape, his observation, they will be
brought back sharply from the errors founded upon his
supposed blindness.
A chief should avoid ridicule as he would a vice.
The success of troops during a whole campaign almost
always depends upon the manner in which they have beenMORALE. MORAL EFFECT.
229
handled in their first affair. If the chief has allowed
them to be beaten at the very outset, the bond of confi-
dence has been broken, the charm dispelled, and it
will require many unforeseen and very fortunate circum-
stance to re-establish the equilibrium and enthusiasm.
If, on the contrary, the troops have been skilfully
handled, have held their own against the enemy, have
been able to bite instead of getting bitten, you may con-
fidently launch them upon the most difficult undertak-
ings: they will gloriously accomplish them.
A well-deserved reputation earned by troops runs
rapidly throughout an army. If you have the honor to
belong to a brave regiment, then your pride in being one
of it will have no limits. I have seen certain corps ap-
plauded by a whole army. As soon as they appeared
upon the line everybody cried out, “ Bravo 1” The
others broke ranks to go and clasp the hands of their
braves. And what enthusiasm their presence inspired!
“It is with us,” they cried. “ Forward! the victory is
certain.” When the wounded of such a corps arrived
at the rear there was a struggle as to who should give
up most to them.
The reputation of a corps is not confined to its own
army: the enemy himself is subject to its influence; the
sight of its uniform terrifies and demoralizes him, ren-
ders him incapable of defence. How gigantic is this
influence in a light-cavalry corps when appreciated to
its full extent by a skilful chief ! As soon as the enemy
wavers he is ours. You may undertake anything.
Press him, go through him, carry off his cannon, his
generals, make his squares surrender, put him to com-
plete rout—you can do anything; there is no limit
to your powers.230
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES,
SKIRMISHERS AND FLANKERS.
Q. What do you understand by skirmishers and
flankers ?
A. The advance-guard of troops moving to the attack
or in retreat; those who first come in contact with the
enemy, throw down the gauntlet to him, threaten him,
prevent all repose, seek to discover his designs, to learn
his strength, to weaken the force and results of his seri-
ous attacks; those who support the retreat; and, finally,
those who surround, like the pawns of a chess-board,
our first line with a vigilant and protecting curtain.
Q. When do you send your skirmishers forward*
A. Whenever I encounter the enemy or believe him
to be near me.
Q. Should they open fire upon him as soon as they see
him within good range f
A. They must never fire except by order of their
chief.
Q. And when their ammunition is becoming ex-
haustedf
A. They must send back to the regiment for a fresh
supply; for firing once ordered must never be interrupted.
Q. What stops the firing f
A. An order from the chief; and under no pretext
whatever should a carbine or pistol shot be fired after
that.
Q. What precautions should a skirmisher observe t
A. To aim carefully and fire only at suitable ranges.SKIRMISHERS AKD FLANKERS.
231
Q. What should he the position of a skirmisher on
horseback f
A. The horse being suitably girthed, the trooper will
wear his head-dress well secured by the chin strap; the
cloak rolled and crossed over his chest; the stirrups
short, to enable him to rise in them and thus gain greater
range for his shots and not be constrained by his horse’s
head in directing them ; the spurs near the horse’s sides,
so as to turn him quickly ; the knees close; the upper
sling of the sabre belt very short, so that the hand can
quickly seize the gripe of the sabre; the holsters un-
covered; the front of the schabraque turned back on the
thighs; the carbine in the hand.
Q. I thought the sabre was to be held dangling by the
knot f
A. A theoretical error to be carefully avoided, if one
does not wish to embarrass his movements and cut his
knee or puncture his foot.
Q. And when the skirmisher is threatened with a
charge?
A. He must drop his carbine, shorten his reins, draw
his pistol from the holster, put it into the bridle-hand
—where it is held horizontally between the thumb and
first finger, the stock to the right—draw sabre, and await
or anticipate the charge.
Q. And if the enemy charges f
A. To receive him with the sabre. If an opportunity
of using the pistol occurs, fire it, dropping the sabre,
for the moment, on the sabre knot; then throw the dis-
charged pistol to the left, as I have indicated in the
chapter on Arms, and quickly seize the sabre gripe.
The charge finished, return the sabre to its scabbard,
reload the pistol, replace it in the holster, and recoin-232
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
mence skirmishing with the carbine, taking care to fire
at officers in preference to soldiers.
Q. What precautions must the skirmisher observe ?
A. They have all been pointed out in the chapter
on Arms. When the trooper is unable to dismount
for a long time, he must test his saddle to see if it is
secure, and, in case the girth becomes slackened, to
execute his wheels to the rear so as to prevent its turn-
ing under him.
Q. Should a skirmisher always retreat by turning to
the left about ?
A. Theory, in thus instructing you, has intended to
indicate the necessity of always keeping the sabre hand
towards the enemy. To carry the inference farther
would be a dangerous error. In fact, in citing a case
often presenting itself, that where a skirmisher is
charged and passed on his right, would he turn to the
left about, so as to permit his enemy to attack him on
the side he thus presents to him ? No ; he should turn
quickly to the right, follow his enemy to get alongside
of him, and endeavor to attack him on his (the enemy’s)
left.
Q. And if he overtakes him?
A. Give him a thrust in the left flank. If his enemy
does not fall or surrender, give him a second one. If,
by the too rapid movement of his horse, he should pass
his enemy, he should give him a back-handed cut across
the face. If the enemy surrenders, make him throw
away his arms, take his horse by the bridle, and lead
him swiftly to the rear. In every attack the success of
the trooper will depend upon the correctness of his eye
and the coolness of his judgment.
General Ride.—Whenever we follow an enemy weSKIRMISHERS AND FLANKERS.
233
should press him closely, taking him on his left, because
he, being defenceless, is at our mercy if our horse goes
better than his. In fact, we can use against him that
which he cannot use against us—the combined length
of our arms and weapons. Should he, on seeing his
desperate situation, try to turn quickly to the right,
catch him in the movement, drive your horse’s chest
against his horse’s flank, and you will overthrow him
without difficulty.
Q. Should the skirmisher's carbine become unslung
and fall, what should he do ?
A. If the enemy is near he must at once make use of
his pistol, and pick up his carbine after the enemy has
withdrawn.
Q. The skirmisher once in place on the line, should
he halt ?
A. He should make some slight movements, especially
by the flank, when loading his arms or close to the
enemy.
Q. Why?
A. Because he will prevent any one aiming at him as
accurately as if he remained motionless.
Q. Should a trooper dismounted in a charge regard
himself as captured ?
A. No; not if he preserves his composure and is de-
termined not to be taken.
Q. What should he do, then ?
A. That entirely depends upon the state of the charge
and his own situation. In certain cases, as soon as he
is dismounted he should endeavor to remount. If
he cannot do so he should lean his back against his
horse and defend himself, or boldly seize by the tail
the horse of a comrade, who will then slacken his234
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
gait, and thus bring him back to the lines, while his
comrades will boldly cover his retreat. If that is not
possible, he must lie on the ground, especially if the
enemy is not armed with lances, and counterfeit death.
He need not fear being trampled by the horses; they
will all leap over him without touching him.
The charge having passed, if he finds himself on
ground occupied by the enemy, but in sight of us, he
will determine at a glance the nature of the surrounding
ground, our proximity, our strength; finally, whether he
has a chance of escaping by gaining, within sight of us,
a ditch, ravine, or wood. Then, if this inspection is
favorable, he will make a dash for the side of the ravine,
the ditch, or the wood, throwing away his sabre scab-
bard, and keeping the blade in his hand. If the enemy’s
troopers come upon him, he will avoid them by turning,
lying down, striking their horses’ heads, thrusting at
a trooper whose horse’s bridle he holds with his left
hand, and, if he overthrows him, he will leap upon his
horse. In that way he will give us time to come to
his assistance.
If these chances do not present themselves and fur-
ther defence is of no use, he will surrender. But as
soon as night comes he will endeavor to make his
escape, especially if in a friendly country, or if his cap-
tors belong to a retreating army.
In the campaign of 1809 wTe had just charged the
Austrian Uhlans of Prince Charles. A non-commissioned
officer of the 20th Hussars had been captured by them
and was being taken to the rear by a Uhlan, who was
also leading two horses. This non-commissioned officer,
thinking of means of escaping, saw7, to his delight, a
pistol lost by some one, lying on the battlefield. It wasSKIRMISHERS AND FLANKERS.
235
loaded, he knew, for it was at full cock; to pick it
up, kill the Uhlan, and return to us with the two horses,
was the work of an instant for this brave non-commis-
sioned officer.
The day after the battle of "Wagram, young Lorain,
sub-lieutenant of the 20th Chasseurs, captured an
Austrian officer, whom he was leading to the rear with
all the consideration due to misfortune and after having
received the word of the captive that he would not
try to escape. The troopers of the officer charged upon
Lorain, who was compelled to make a prompt retreat;
but his horse stumbled, fell, and rose again almost
immediately. Lorain unhorsed, but, recovering himself,
leaned his back against his horse to defend himself, when
the Austrian officer, in violation of his pledge, seized
him from behind to disarm him. The young French-
man broke his jaw with a pistol ball; then running
around his horse and making use of him as a breast-
work, he gained time for us to come to his rescue and
bring in his prisoner.
Many prisoners are made because .men lose their cool-
ness and courage, and no longer appreciate the means
of escape lying within their reach.
Whenever a trooper is dismounted his comrades should
go as quickly as possible to cover his retreat. Some
should attack the enemy; others take the arms, equip-
ment, and saddlery of the dismounted man; the others
help him off the field.
Q. What should a line of skirmishers do when they
move forward ?
A. Preserve the line so that no large gaps can occur in
it through which the enemy might rush; leave no trooper
of the line unsupported; not lengthen the line unneces-236
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
sarily and cover too much space for no good purpose, as
that would diminish its strength and endanger its flanks.
Keep the line as nearly parallel as possible to that of
the enemy, and follow his, so to speak, with mathemat-
ical exactness, regulating its movements by his.
Observe carefully and successively the ground which
the enemy occupies or abandons, in order not to be
embarrassed on arriving on the same ground.
Judge in advance of the nature of the ground as a
whole and in detail by the undulations or breaking of
the enemy’s line of skirmishers in retreating.
Remember accurately the ground passed over at each
instant. This close observation is all the more necessary
if one has to cross shallow streams, ravines, defiles, etc.,
in order to avoid, in case of a hasty retreat, being embar-
rassed, or being thrown into a cul-de-sac, from which
escape would be impossible and which would lead to
certain capture.
Gain, as far as possible, the highest points of the
ground, so as to see to a greater distance, and better dis-
cover the enemy’s dispositions.
Give prompt warning as soon as any one discovers a
body of the enemy, whose presence was unsuspected,
forming an ambuscade, preparing for or executing any
movement whatever, either offensive or defensive.
If a skirmisher can see without being seen, he will
halt at once and continue to observe without showing
himself, will make signals, but will not stir until the
arrival of an officer, who will come to reconnoitre in per-
son and give him further orders.
Should some of the skirmishers see that the enemy is
wavering and that his retreat can be decided by a vigor-
ous charge, they will signal the line and, at the sameSKIRMISHERS AND FLANKERS.
237
time, advance rapidly upon the enemy in order to pro-
duce confusion in his ranks, and take advantage of the
opportunity to capture some of his men ?
If the artillery is in an exposed position, they will
attack that in preference to anything else.
Q. In case of a retrograde movement, should the skir-
mishers retire as prescribed in the drill-book f
A. When the drill-book ordered the retreat to be
executed successively by rank, it was desired to execute,
on the drill-ground, a manoeuvre which would teach the
troopers that they should mutually support one another
in a retreat, and not strip the whole line at once. This
movement should then be considered in the light of
the idea which gave .rise to it; but in war this idea
should not prevail in the execution of a movement which
would be both impracticable and dangerous.
When a line of skirmishers is withdrawn the move-
ment should not be begun or maintained according to
the odd or even numbers of the men, but the weakest
horses should go first, so as to leave the best-mounted
skirmishers as a rear-guard. The line should be divided
into two equal parts as far as possible, and throughout
its whole extent.
Q. Should one of our skirmishers be cut off by the
enemy, what should he do f
A. If well mounted and he sees too much danger in
attempting to rejoin by a direct route, after having
abandoned his carbine, placed his sabre horizontally in
his bridle hand, the hilt to the right, the blade held be-
tween the thumb and forefinger, having taken his pistol
in the right hand, he will move out and, husbanding
the strength of his horse, pointing the pistol toward
those following him, he will soon be able to rejoin his238
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
own troop by making a detour; for the enemy will not
pursue him to any great distance, especially in a broken
country.
The movement of skirmishers, unless contrary orders
are given, is always regulated by that of the troops
which they cover. They must always, as far as possible,
keep the same distance from these troops, whether mov-
ing to the front or rear. However, when covering a
retreat, they must hold all the defiles and take care to
pass them in such a manner as to prevent the enemy
capturing any of their troops. They must, therefore,
watch the movements of our troops as well as those of
the enemy. This double duty is indispensable to the
proper performance of their work and the safety of
their own movements.
They will gradually close in as they approach the
defile; then, to avoid confusion, they will cause part of
their number to pass through and immediately occupy
the other extremity, and, facing about, execute a well-
directed fire upon the enemy in order to protect the
retreat of their comrades still engaged in the defile.
If the troops they cover continue their march, they will
overtake them by doubling the gait.
The more rapid the retreat the less the line of skir-
mishers must be extended. It is necessary even, to
preserve better order and, consequently, greater facility
of movement, when the shortened line of defence no
longer compels the employment of a long line of skir-
mishers, to assemble in platoons those not needed, and
add them to the supporting troops.
If a road is thus gained only a few skirmishers should
be left back to form a rear-guard; for otherwise it mightSKIRMISHERS AMD FLANKERS.
239
happen that the great number would be a disadvantage,
and would cause the wounding of one another in using
their firearms.
The skirmishers should be directed to fire upon groups
instead of individuals, as, in that way, a ball which
misses its target may yet hit some one. For similar
reasons, skirmishers should preserve their intervals, as
they will, in that way, afford poorer targets for the
enemy to fire at.
When the order is given to retire, no one must be
allowed to disobey it, even though an attack were cer-
tain to succeed. Sometimes troopers, through an ex-
cess of courage or obstinacy, continue the combat; they
should be severely punished, and, if guilty of a repeti-
tion of the fault, they should be abandoned to their
fate; because, often, in order to support or protect them,
an entire army becomes re-engaged in a battle which
may keep it employed and harassed uselessly for a whole
day. For one imprudent man ten thousand are com-
promised.
Q. How should a skirmisher charge $
A. I have indicated that in the chapter on Charges.
Q. What should our troopers do when skirmishing
with infantry f
A. Try to draw them into an open plain, then charge
home upon them and cut them in pieces.
The Cossacks often assemble to charge, but they dis-
perse in retreating. Our skirmishers generally do the
opposite, whatever may be the advantages of the ground.
The Cossacks are right; we are wrong. In fact, we have
often seen our troopers, in retiring, crowd upon one an-
other so as to prevent any one using his weapons, ob-240
CAY ALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
structing one another and stopping all progress; also
delaying the march of poorly mounted men and keeping
these unfortunates at the tail of the column, to be sabred
and captured while serving as shields to their guilty
companions.
A confused mass of retreating men is always sabred,
for two very simple reasons: the first is, that the troop-
ers engaged in it, by crowding too closely together,
prevent all measures of individual defence, and make it
impossible to halt and turn about; the second is, that
the attacking trooper, who looks straight to the front
and has no fear for his flanks; rushes on with all his
impelling force, with the greatest boldness, upon this
helpless mass, which he sabres without danger to him-
self, and drives as far as he wishes.
It is not thus with a retreat conducted individually.
Each man preserves all his defensive force. He is equal
in every respect to the attacker, who carefully avoids rush-
ing recklessly upon him, because his attention is divided,
his flanks are threatened, and the danger is as great
for him as for his antagonist. A retreat of that kind is
never pushed boldly or followed very far. The slow
horses can execute it as well as the fleetest ; it disquiets
the attacker, checks him at the important point, and, by
a sudden face to the rear, allows the offensive to be
taken.
From time immemorial, nations with the true cavalry
spirit have acted in a similar manner. Polybius, in de-
scribing the passage of the Trebia, tells us: “ Neverthe-
less, Sempronius sounded the retreat in order to recall
his cavalry, which did not know how to manoeuvre
against the cavalry in their front. In fact, they wereSKIRMISHERS AND FLAHKERS.
241
fighting the Numidians, whose custom it was to retreat
in dispersed order and return vigorously to the charge
when the enemy least expected them to do so.”
Q. Should orders always be conveyed to skirmishers
by the trumpet, as prescribed in the regulations f
A. Do nothing of the kind, unless, as rarely happens
in war, you are upon perfectly smooth ground, executing
a general movement, or unless you wish your enemy to
know your plans as well as you do.
Skirmishers are essentially irregular in their march,
and their movements entirely subordinated to those of
the armies engaged, and, above all, to the configuration
of the ground. The signals, numerous as they are, would
not nearly suffice were you to depend entirely upon
them.
For example, what signals would you use should you
wish to refuse the right wing, advance the left wing,
make a change of front, hold back the centre, etc., or
any one of fifty other movements the necessity for which
may occur at any moment ?
Suppose that our left wing has gained too much
ground to the front; if the retreat were sounded, the
whole line would obey, and you would rectify nothing
by the movement of the whole, but might commit a
serious fault.
General Rule.—Use the trumpet only in the few cases
where you wish the whole line to attack or retreat to-
gether. Whenever you have any special orders to give
(which will frequently be the case), send them by a non-
commissioned officer or deliver them yourself. Let these
orders be short and plain.
Example.—Tell Sergeant Gueridon to halt his men242
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
until the right of Sergeant Mozet’s squad arrives at the
angle of the small wood.
Tell Sergeant Cannois to withdraw to the small stream,
cross it, and remain there until further orders.
Tell Sergeant Chabrier to assemble his men and hold
the small bridge.
Tell the left wing not to move forward until I am seen
crossing the highway.
Say that, if I sound the retreat, Leysac will recross
the ravine near the rye-field, Piat near the mill, Cortie
near the three poplars, and stand fast in rear of it.
Say to Lieutenant Carden that, as soon as he sees the
retreat executed, he will assemble his skirmishers, with-
out sound of trumpet, and move at a fast trot to the
farm, where he will take position, etc.
A commander of skirmishers should be very careful
about the signals he orders to be sounded; otherwise he
may not only make his own men execute wrong move-
ments, but also lead other skirmishers, not under his
orders, into error.
A skirmisher should know his enemy, and detect his
ruses. If he shows but few men, and those far apart,
it is probable that they have concealed supports.
If he extends one of his wings unusually far, he
doubtless intends to make a real or false attack. If, in
retreating, he closes intervals, he is about to pass a
defile or attempt a charge. If, without reason, he
refuses one of his wings, he wishes to draw the troopers
in front of that wing into a trap. If he refuses his
centre, it is for the purpose of enveloping you. If
his skirmishers disappear suddenly, take care; stop
short, and try to learn, as soon as possible, the cause ofSKIRMISHERS AND FLANKERS.
243
this sudden disappearance; it is possible that it pre-
cedes, by only a few moments, a serious attack upon
your centre or one of your wings.
There are some ruses employed by skirmishers wThich
I have often seen successful.
At the beginning of our Polish campaign our dra-
goons were worsted in an encounter with the Cossacks
—a result due to the false theories of a celebrated gen-
eral. The Cossacks, emboldened by their success, at-
tacked these troopers with confidence and fury. Our
cuirassiers wore white cloaks like those of the dragoons;
they were made to put them on, and were then moved
forward into the first line. The Cossacks, thinking
they were dealing again with our dragoons, charged
them impetuously, but soon had good cause to repent
of their act. The dragoons, rationally reorganized,
faithful to their former brilliant reputation, made our
arms famous in Spain, and, in the following campaigns,
took, in every affair, the most terrible and glorious
revenge.
I have seen our hussars, when fired upon by the
enemy, counterfeit death, or act as though wTounded.
The enemy, seeing them fall forward upon the saddle,
ran to capture them, but the hussars, rising in their
saddles and firing at point-blank, carried off their as-
sailants and their horses.
It is not a matter of indifference for an officer com-
manding skirmishers to know with whom he has to deal.
In all armies, in spite of the successive renewal of the
personnel, there exist some regiments whose old, wTell-
established reputations have never degenerated. Of
these there are in Russia, Austria, and Prussia, the244
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Cossacks of the Guard, those of the Don, Blanckenstein
Hussars, the Dragoons of La Tour, Merfeld Uhlans,
some regiments of Prussian dragoons, black hussars,
etc., who perform more skilfully than others the duty
of advance-guard. Upon the names under which they
became famous in our wars have been grafted others
since the peace, and many of them bear the names of
their colonels; but the stock is the same, and war has
not unbaptized them for us. Our old soldiers, on see-
ing the red vests, the blue trousers with red bands,
red shakos, sky-blue pelisses, green and amaranth coats,
yellow schapskas, black and sky-blue dolmans, will at
once recognize the regiments wearing them, and will
manoeuvre accordingly.PRISONERS. DESERTERS.
245
PRISONERS. DESERTERS.
Q. What is a prisoner f
A. So long as a man bears his arms he cannot be con-
sidered a prisoner. As soon as he throws them down,
he belongs to you, and has a right to your protection,
which should be as complete and friendly as possible.
To maltreat a prisoner is unpardonable cowardice; you
should do to him as you would wish to be done by
under similar circumstances.
Q. Is not a Frenchman inclined to be careless with
prisoners f
A. Yes; because he often thinks that as he has passed
by the enemy and cut him off from his friends, he
is, therefore, captured; but I repeat that this is an
error, for one is only a prisoner in fact after he has
thrown his arms so far away from him that he cannot
pick them up again.
Lancers, when charging, should never spare infantry
who lie down, or dismounted men who do not surren-
der, but point them in going and in returning. A
trooper should never forget that a foot-soldier who, in
an open plain, turns his back, is always his p. 'soner, if
he will but charge him.
Q. What should be done with a captured trooper ?
A. Order him to throw down his arms, then seize
the reins of his horse, and lead him promptly to the
rear of the battlefield, to present him immediately to246
CAY ALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
the colonel. There the prisoner dismounts, is ques-
tioned by the commanding officer, then joined to the
others taken in the affair, and sent, under proper
escort, to the infantry.
Q. Who gets the prisoner's horse ?
A. The man who captured him. He should first
offer him to the colonel, then to the other officers of the
command, and sell him on the spot, so as to return at
once to his squadron.
Q. Are prisoners allovjed to be plundered ?
A. Yes, unfortunately; it is a disgraceful custom
Vhich has prevailed in every army. The French should
have abolished it; but since the private soldiers are
allowed to search their prisoners, and, by doing so, im-
poverish them and deprive them of the means of escap-
ing and betraying us to the enemy, they must be made
to do it without losing precious time during the charge,
and thus compromising the general safety as well as
their own.
Q. What is the first thing to be done when an in-
fantry soldier is taken f
A. Break his musket.
Q. What is to be done with a captured horse which
will not lead and is likely to be recaptured ?
A. Blow out his brains; but, in doing so, take care
that the shot does not miss him and ricochet so as
to injure some of the troops.
Q. When good horses are captured, but not needed by
the officers, what should be done ?
A. The colonel should buy them and put them into
the ranks, trusting to future approval of his action.
Q. Should there be dismounted men in the regiment ?PRISONERS. DESERTERS.
247
A. If the captured horses are better than some of
those in the ranks, the commander should not hesitate
to abandon the poorer ones he has, for the good ones
offered to him, the first duty of a colonel of cavalry
being to have his men well mounted and, for that
reason, active and prepared to undertake anything. If,
however, there should be wounded men, the colonel will
mount them on the poor horses, and send them back
to the led horses or small depots.
Q. Should the equipments captured with the horses
he thrown away f
A. Only after having taken from them everything
which may be used for the immediate repair of our own
saddlery.
Q. When may a trooper honorably surrender f
A. Never, so long as he is mounted, even if severely
wounded; a mounted man should be able to go every-
where.
Q. When one of our men is taken prisoner, should we
try to recapture him ?
A. Yes, if the chances of doing so are at least equal to
the risk of failure. In a charge there must be no hesita-
tion, but out of it it is necessary to calculate and act
promptly. If the man’s wounds do not enfeeble him, if
he is known to be vigorous and enterprising, if he is badly
guarded, if the ground is broken and favorable to his
escape, etc., we should try to rescue him. If, on the con-
trary, the man is wounded, known to be weak, stupid,
without intelligence, and the enemy takes him off over an
open,unbroken country, it would be imprudent to attempt
his rescue, for the efforts made in his behalf would not be
seconded by him, and one could bet anything that the248	CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
enemy would kill him rather than permit him to be
rescued.
Q. When a deserter approaches you, what is to be
done f
A. Order him to throw down his arms, take his horse by
the bridle, and conduct him to the colonel.
Q. If the enemy attempts to retake him t
A. Protect his retreat vigorously.
Q. Should a deserter's property be taken ?
A. No; his horse and his effects belong to him, and
all his property is under the safeguard of his own
dishonor and our contempt.SURPRISES AND AMBUSCADES.
249
SURPRISES AND AMBUSCADES.
To surprise an enemy requires a combination of skill
and dash.
The effect of a surprise is demoralization.
Outpost warfare is a succession of surprises.
An officer who, with inferior forces, frequently sur-
prises his enemy, is sure of speedily ruining him.
Although the word surprise comprehends almost every
offensive operation pertaining to outpost duty, we shall
include under this title only that which it is generally
agreed to designate by that name.
Q. What is a surprise t
A. An unexpected attack.
Q. What should it he ?
A. It cannot be too sudden or too determined.
Q. What precedes it f
A. A rapid march or an ambush.
Q. What is an ambush f
A. Troops placed in a concealed position.
Q. What is the best kind of an ambush ?
A. One which the enemy is least likely to suspect
or discover.
Q. Should it always be arranged upon the route
taken by the enemy?
A. The less time required for pouncing upon the
enemy, the better, but there are cases in which it
would have to be prepared at some distance from his
route.
Q. Name them.250
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A. Those, for instance, where it is desired to attack
the rear or centre of an enemy’s convoy passing through
a defile. It is probable that, before traversing this dan-
gerous place, the enemy would scout its approaches;
but when he has been marching for a long time it
is unlikely that his exploration will extend to a very
great distance. In such a case the ambush should be
laid well beyond the ground covered by his scouts.
Q. There are, then, two kinds of ambush f
A. Yes, which might be respectively called instanta-
neous and prepared.
Q. Give an example of one of the first kind.
A. In the early part of 1814 we were retreating,
under the command of General Maison, from Breda
upon Antwerp. The steeples of the city were already in
sight. The enemy’s advance-guard was pressing our
rear-guard so closely that the infantry, cavalry, and
artillery of the two armies were mingled together and
fighting hand to hand.
Two of our guns were about to be captured. Reckinger,
an officer of our lancer regiment, found himself with
only a dozen men, marching with the extreme rear-
guard; instantly making up his mind, he disappeared at
a turn in the road where there were several houses and
a garden. Our infantry, mixed up with a furious enemy,
continued its retreat, but, overpowered by numbers,
lost its two guns. The enemy cried Victory! gathered
around the horses and guns, and turned them upon us;
the intrepid Reckinger then sallied out from his ambush
and, in three minutes afterwards, the guns, and the
Prussians in charge of them, were ours.*
* Reckinger, a second lieutenant in the Red Lancers of the Im-
perial Guard, was rewarded with the cross of an officer of theSURPRISES AND AMBUSCADES.	251
Q. What are prepared ambuscades ?
A. Those planned in advance, which form part of
a movement that has been studied and calculated. Thus,
for example, if commanding an advance-guard strong
enough to act on the offensive, and, knowing well the
ground upon which I am going to drive back the enemy,
I know that portions of his flank may be attacked at
such or such a point, I send forward the troops detailed
to make these attacks, and direct them to conceal them-
selves at certain places; signals being agreed upon in
advance, and the hour for making the attack being
designated, I combine my offensive movement with theirs.
If the effect produced by an ambush depends upon the
suddenness and determination with which the attack is
made, its success depends on two indispensable condi-
tions—namely, a perfect knowledge of the enemy and
of the ground. In fact, to surprise an enemy it is abso-
lutely necessary to know his strength and the disposition
of his troops. To ambush him, it is not only necessary
to select a suitable place, but to reach it without being
discovered or giving the least suspicion of our march.
Troops going to form an ambush should, then, march
compactly, silently, and by the most concealed roads.
I cannot forego citing here an example of an ambush
upon a large scale. In 1812 we were approaching Smo-
lensk, near which the enemy was intrenched. The
weather was superb. The bivouacs of our army were
upon the heights commanding the city. The Emperor
ordered General Morand, so justly celebrated, to carry
the suburbs. We saw this intrepid division descend
Legion of Honor. His title of “ brave officer ” of the Guard became
one of reproach under the Restoration, and Reckinger died some
years ago in Paris, while employed in the house of a cab-driver.252
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
into a ravine, turn to the left around a hill, and close up
and form, unnoticed by the enemy, behind a mill. All
at once, as though by enchantment, this division was
hurled upon the city. In the twinkling of an eye, sub-
urbs, artillery, outworks, all were in our possession.
Our whole army clapped their hands. Never in my life
have I seen a more magnificent spectacle, nor one which
left upon my mind a more profound impression of the
majesty of war and of the power of genius and courage.
The spot to be selected for an ambush depends, more
or less, upon the clearness of the day or night. When
concealed by the shades of night or by a fog, no other
curtain is needed, but the darkness or fog should be im-
penetrable. When that is not the case you will have to
make use of woods, walls, or a ravine to conceal your
movements from observation. Always calculate their
height or depth so as to prevent the visual ray from the
enemy falling upon you and discovering the tops of your
head-dresses and arms. The least accident of that kind
might betray your presence and lead to your destruc-
tion. Remember the hare which, because he had placed
his head in a hole and could see nothing, believed himself
unseen.
Often the impatience of the troops discloses the place
of an ambush. Are they coming ? says some one, and
some curious fellow advances to the edge of the wood,
or raises his head above the wall, or speaks in a loud
tone. From that moment the fruit of your labors and
trouble is lost; you are discovered and, perhaps, exposed
to great danger.
Remember that troops in ambush are always in the
air, in a critical position; that they are risking everything
for the sake of success. A detachment of fifty menSURPRISES AND AMBUSCADES.
253
which, well directed, might have thrown into confusion
a column ten times its strength and made a very impor-
tant and decisive diversion, is, if discovered, lost.
The place selected for an ambush should always be,
so to speak, a fortification to be closed at our pleasure
on the side toward the enemy, and open on the line of
retreat. The ground which separates it from the enemy
should be favorable for movements at the gallop, that to
the rear well reconnoitred, and calculated for the front
of the troops in case of a check.
I am speaking here of ambuscades composed of small
bodies, which, in spite of all precautions, may lead to
more serious affairs than were expected. As to those
composed of superior forces, they have to look out for
only one thing—that is, to see that no one escapes.
After a success they have time to decide whether to
advance or retreat by such or such a road, all being
equally well known.
To sum up, it is proper to arrange ambuscades for the
purpose of capturing reconnoitring parties, attacking
columns and convoys, checking an advance-guard dis-
playing too much boldness, cutting off and destroying a
weak rear-guard, and surprising a bivouac too confident
of its security, works badly placed and poorly guarded,
troops faultily disposed and placed in exposed situations
on the field of battle.
Night is the most favorable time for arranging am-
buscades, but it is not the only thing that favors such
an operation. The weather is to be taken into consid-
eration, and cold, snow, rain, or a high wind would be
of great assistance.
Q. Whyf
A. Because, in cold weather, the men whom you at-254
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
tack are less active, not so well prepared; their cloaks
are almost always folded about them, and render their
hearing less acute; the rain wets their priming and
makes their arms miss fire. A high wind greatly favors
a secret march, especially if it comes from the direction
of the enemy, because it prevents the tramping of the
horses being heard. In attempting a surprise profit by
these hints. If you can choose your route turn the
enemy on the side opposite to the wind. In attempting
to surprise infantry choose rainy weather. If making a
night attack wait for the moment when, the reconnais-
sances having returned, there will be less vigilance, and
the command is generally asleep.
Q. In a night surprise of a bivouac, what should be
done f
A. As a matter of precaution in such an attack the
commander should wear, and make his men wear, some-
thing by which they can recognize one another, such as
a white handkerchief on the left arm, a small branch, a
shako plume, etc.; this sign should be visible in the
darkest night. By taking this precaution, all the more
useful if the enemy wears a dark uniform and of the
same cut as ours, our troops will avoid sabring one an-
other. That done, the chief explains, not only to the
officers, but to all the men, the plan of attack, and des-
ignates two routes of retreat: one by the road leading
directly from the enemy to our army, on which his
grand guards will be posted, which are to be sabred and
captured in passing; the other, the road by which the
troops have marched to their present position.
In addition, he agrees upon four trumpet signals, the
shortest and the ones to which the men are most accus-
tomed.SURPRISES AND AMBUSCADES.
255
The first will mean, Sabre, take no prisoners.
The second, Make prisoners.
The third, Retire by the direct road.
Fourth, Retire by the road you came on.
At the last two signals the signs used for recognition
will disappear; the troops will retreat quickly and as-
semble at the outlet from the village.
At Atsh, near Comorn, in Hungary, we were sur-
prised by the insurgents. The sign of recognition which
the Hussars had adopted was the unfolded white cloak.
It served to give unity to their attack, which met with
great success. But when we got into condition for
fighting, this sign was fatal to those who showed it.
Their troops soon perceived this and lost no time in
discarding it. This action protected their retreat, and
it was secured while our troops were fighting among
themselves, mistaking one another for the enemy.
A night surprise may be more or less hazardous; by
this I mean that which is undertaken by troops not sup-
ported and inferior in numbers to those attacked. A
surprise has always one special object, that of terrifying
the enemy, destroying him, or both at the same time.
If the surprise is effected by a small party and its special
object is to terrify the enemy, it should use its pistols,
and its attack should be sudden. The men should
shout, gallop about, make no prisoners, and retreat
rapidly.
If, on the contrary, the surprise is made by a large
force, well supported, and it wishes to capture the enemy,
it should move silently, manoeuvre, seize, in regular
order, the important points, such as the barrack or
lodging of the colonel, the outlets from the village,
bivouac, etc., and carry off at once the horses and the256
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
grand guards. If killing is unavoidable, let it be done
with sabre points.
Q. Which is the best side on which to surprise a
bivouac t
A. That opposite to the grand guards.
Q. As soon as the attack has succeeded, what should
be done f
A. Make the disarmed prisoners file out quickly on
their horses, which will be led away under a good escort
that will, under no pretext, wait for the detachment, but
regain the army as soon as possible.
Q. If the attack fails and we have to retreat f
A. Withdraw the detachment quickly, and without
halting. Leave the best mounted men for a rear-guard,
and move them on a false route to throw off the right
track those who may follow. These troopers should
keep up a steady fire to conceal the noise made by the
marching of the detachment, and when they think that
their ruse has succeeded, and that those they are cover-
ing are out of danger, they will make a detour and
rejoin the detachment.
If the enemy’s bivouac has been well selected and
entrance to it is difficult, special means for surprising it
will have to be adopted. The principal thing to be done
is to get the enemy on to ground less favorable to
him than that which he occupies. To do that, divide
your force into two parts of unequal strength, place the
stronger in concealment, and send the other to skirmish
with the enemy’s grand guard; if this succeeds in
drawing him out of his bivouac, he must be vigorously
charged by the troops forming the ambuscade.
A night attack may have a less important object, as,
for instance, increasing the fatigue of the enemy, orSURPRISES AND AMBUSCADES.
257
preventing him from sleeping. In this ease but few men
are needed, as the operation will be limited to the
carrying off of a few vedettes or small posts, and dis-
charging pistols along the line.
Q. If the enemy should undertake to surprise you,
what do you do ?
A. It is indispensable for an officer of the advance-
guard, who establishes himself in a bivouac and fears
that the enemy may attempt to surprise him, to take cer-
tain precautions at the very moment of installing him-
self. These, named below, are especially necessary if
his force is small and distant from supports.
He should select a sheltered bivouac fortified, so to ‘
speak, by a ditch, fence, barricades, etc., so as not to be
approached at a gallop, or attacked unexpectedly. Mov-
able barricades should close all the approaches to the
bivouac which are not naturally defended, and should be
so placed as not to be discovered or carried away by the
enemy. The bivouac should be as much concentrated as
possible.
Orders should be given that, in case of an attack,
the men are not to run to their horses, but defend them-
selves on foot.
Assign to each man the post he is to take at the sound
of the first shot. Put out the fires, or light them
in a false position. Keep a part of the horses bridled,
and many of the men awake. Let every trooper have
his bridle on his arm, his cartridge-box on his person,
and his carbine in his hand.
Q. If the bivouac is in a farm-house t
A. Close it, and, the instant the, attack begins, make
a few of the men bridle the horses while the others fire
through the windows, until the defences are about to258
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
be forced; then mount the whole command and execute
a combined and vigorous sortie.
Q. Should the bivouac be in an open plain and
entirely unprotected ?
A. So arrange matters as to mount and assemble in
the least possible time.
Q. Should the enemy surprise a few isolated men ?
A. They should keep cool, not run to their horses, but
grapple with the enemy hand to hand, fire on him
at point-blank range, point him, hamstring his horses,
stoop down, get behind obstacles, such as a ditch, a tree,
a post, etc., and make no prisoners. A dismounted
man who preserves his coolness is not likely to suffer at
the hands of a trooper who attacks him at night.
Night surprises are, as a general thing, more terrify-
ing than dangerous. Eight times in nine their success
depends upon the moral effect produced. Meet them
with great steadiness and coolness. Silence and steadi-
ness on the part of the attacked often terrify the attacker
so that the tables are turned, the moral effect reversed,
and the attacker compelled to ingloriously retreat.
Q. Are surprises as dangerous by day as by night f
A. Tes, when they succeed, for the attacker makes
sure of his blows, and learns the weakness of the
attacked. In surprises of every kind it is necessary,
above all things, to keep cool.
On the day of the affair at Maeroslawetz, in the
Russian campaign, almost the whole of the Russian cav-
alry was concealed on the flanks of our column. It
made so well-combined an attack upon our general
headquarters that even the Emperor himself was in great
danger. At the same moment Platoff, with his Cossacks
charged upon us who formed the rear-guard. FromSURPRISES AND AMBUSCADES.
259
fifteen hundred to two thousand Cossacks surrounded
the two feeble squadrons which remained to us, and
pressed them so closely that men in the ranks were
wounded by the Cossack lances. One of these squad-
rons, commanded by the brave Verdieres (to-day a gen-
eral officer), charged lances front and rear, and so intim-
idated the enemy by their display of coolness that he
withdrew without attacking. We held our position
against an enemy ten times our strength, whose bold
manner might have had the most disastrous results
for us and, perhaps, for the entire army, but for the
calm courage of our chiefs and our lancers.
Q. How may the enemy be drawn into an ambush f
A. By occupying his attention so as to prevent his dis-
covering it. To accomplish that, one should sometimes
have his most active troopers engage him, and then
suddenly retreat in such a manner as to cause the
enemy to pursue. In this way he might be drawn
directly into the ambush. Again, by manoeuvring slowly,
changing front, and pushing him, he might be driven
into the trap laid for him.260
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
FLAGS OF TRUCE.
Officers and non-commissioned officers bearing a flag
of truce are sometimes, through their own fault, sabred
by the enemy. To avoid this danger, the nature and
rights of this kind of duty should be thoroughly under-
stood.
As the flag-bearer always has to present himself at the
front line, that is to say, to the men most excited by
the conflict, whose agitation and exaltation harmonize
but little with his cool and often provoking action,
he must, in some way, see how matters stand before
endangering his safety. This is the more necessary
because the enemy often gives orders forbidding flags
to be received, and he might very properly be made
a prisoner of war.
The flag-bearer should therefore be chosen from
among the officers or non-commissioned officers most
accustomed to outpost duty, and having the most thor-
ough acquaintance with the peculiarities of the enemy
with whom he has to deal.
He should be well mounted, and be preceded by a
trumpeter as well mounted as himself, so that, if at-
tacked after they? have gone forward, they may be able
to retire promptly.
Before sending out a flag, the commander of the
advance-guard will stop the firing, “advance” carbines,
and halt the skirmishers.
The flag-bearer will choose for his advance from theFLAGS OF TRUCE.
261
line the most conspicuous place; one which, if possible,
will be opposite to the commander of the enemy’s skir-
mishers.
Q. Why?
A. Because he will be more quickly seen, and be
sooner placed in communication with this officer who,
understanding his object, will remove the dangers which
might threaten him. The flag-bearer will move out in
front of his own skirmish-line at a walk.
Q. Why?
A. Because his deliberation will distinguish him from
the combatants. He will cause the trumpeter to pre-
cede him by twenty-five paces, will then halt, and halt
the trumpeter, who will immediately sound a signal.
The flag-bearer, as soon as he discovers that he has
been seen, will cause the trumpeter to return sabre, and
will return his own, with considerable display, in order
that the action may be plainly understood. Then he
will unfold his handkerchief and wave it with his right
hand, his pistol holsters remaining uncovered.
Q. Why should he return his sabre ?
A. To plainly show the nature of his mission.
He will allow the enemy’s troopers to approach him
only after being assured of their peaceful intentions,
and seeing that they are acting by order of their chiefs.
Being satisfied on these points, he will endeavor to
communicate with an officer as soon as possible; will
permit himself to be blindfolded, and conduct himself
with politeness and composure. A flag-bearer has
almost always a double mission to perform, of which the
secret part is generally more important than the ostensi-
ble one. A reconnaissance of the enemy’s camp is often
concealed under the frivolous pretext of a flag; for that262
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
reason, not every officer “should be sent on such a mis-
sion, but only the most skilful and intelligent should
be selected for such service.
Almost always the cover is removed from the eyes
of the flag-bearer when he arrives at headquarters, but
sometimes people are too wise to make any such mis-
take. In the first case, the flag-bearer should see every-
thing while apparently seeing nothing. In the second
case, he should not allow a wTord of all that is spoken
around him to escape his attention. Therefore it is
absolutely necessary that he should speak the language
of the enemy, without his suspecting the fact.
Seeing everything means taking in at a glance the
shape of the ground, the number and kind of troops,
their local disposition, and their moral and physical
condition. By a trained eye this knowledge may be
completely acquired, in spite of the obstacles interposed
by the enemy, and the veneering or boasting under
which the staff-officers think they must always conceal
their anxieties and their plans.
To hear everything means to not lose a syllable of
that spoken in one’s vicinity. Often a single word, let
fall by a young officer or a soldier, will furnish more
information than all the guarded conversation of a
general officer.
The bearer of a flag must never forget that he is
undergoing a cross-examination, and that he is regarded
with an attention equal to that which he bestows upon
his surroundings. Under an appearance of frankness
he should be able to conceal everything he does not
wish the enemy to discover. Many questions, appar-
ently of no consequence, will be addressed to him; let
him weigh them well before answering. ,FLAGS OF TRUCE.
263
In sending out a flag, care should be exercised in
selecting not only the officer, but also the trumpeter,
for the latter will be invited to drink, and then be
questioned. He should be both sober and silent, and
this fact should be impressed upon him by giving him
the necessary orders before starting.
A flag party entering a camp is always an object of
great and general curiosity. It is studied in all its de-
tails, and will be regarded, in spite of itself, as a fair
sample of the troops with which one has to deal. It is-
absolutely necessary, then, that this specimen should be
selected for its perfection in every respect, in order that
the moral effect produced may be striking and com-
plete. The flag-bearer should be a fine soldier, well
dressed, well armed, have every appearance of strength
and skill, and be mounted on a vigorous horse in good
condition.
Under no pretext should the commander of a skirmish-
line permit his firing to cease, or a flag to be received,
without orders from a superior officer. In the cam-
paign of 1809 we were sent into Hungary to connect the
Army of Italy with the Grand Army. On arriving
before Edimburg the Hungarian cavalry halted*and
asked to surrender the city on certain conditions. Our
advance-guard was far in advance of the main body;
its commander listened to the proposals made, without
being able to act promptly, on account of our generals
being still far distant. The propositions necessitated
the presence of a French officer in the Austrian camp.
The officer commanding our extreme advance-guard,
considering only the advantage to be gained by the
prompt evacuation of this important city, and fearing
that any officer he could send to discuss the terms of264
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
the evacuation would not do it as well as himself, de-
cided to go in person to the enemy’s camp. He set
out, and when our generals arrived at our advance-
guard, he could not be found. His absence, though
well intended, yet left the advance-guard without a
chief, and he was severely censured. This example
should not be forgotten by any advance-guard com-
mander placed in a similar position, who might, with
the best intentions in the world, allow himself to be
drawn into a trap by a shrewd enemy, and thus com-
promise the safety of the whole army.
Q. What is to he done when a flag from the enemy
appears ?
A. The officer of the advance-guard will not stop the
fire of his skirmishers because the enemy has ceased his,
but will move slowly, and send immediately to warn
the commander of the advance-guard, and wait for his
orders in the case.
While waiting for them he will direct the skirmishers,
on his wings especially, to see that the enemy does not
attempt a flank movement, and that the sending of a
flag does not cover a ruse de guerre to enable the
enemy to attack or to gain valuable time.
If the general commanding the advance-guard orders
the fire to be kept up, the commander of the skirmish-
ers will signal to the bearer of the flag to retire, as it is
not desired to receive him.
Q. If the flag is ordered to he received f
A. The officer of the advanee-guard will halt his
troops and stop the firing; then, returning his sabre,
and accompanied by two non-commissioned officers and
two troopers, he will approach the flag and halt it, if
possible in a hollow, in order that our lines may not beFLAGS OF TRUCE.
265
seen. He will then notify the flag that he will be re-
ceived, and make him and his trumpeter face their own
lines, and then bandage the eyes of both so that they
can see absolutely nothing.
This having been done, he will have the flag-officer
conducted to headquarters, his horse being led by a
trooper, and accompanied by a non-commissioned
officer. The trumpeter will be guarded by the other
non-commissioned officer and trooper.
The officer will remain in person by the side of the
trumpeter, and, by good treatment and a series of
shrewd questions, will endeavor to obtain information
in regard to the enemy.
The non-commissioned officer accompanying the flag-
officer will march by his side, and will take great care
to see that the bandage is not raised from his eyes
so that he can look about him. He will answer no
questions addressed to him by the flag-officer, nor will
he allow any one to converse with him. On arriving at
headquarters he will turn him over to the commander,
from whom he will receive the necessary orders for the
officer of the advance-guard. As a matter of precau-
tion, the bandage should not be removed from the eyes
of the flag-officer, but, nevertheless, there may be cases
where it would be wise to do otherwise. The propriety
of doing so is a point to be determined by the command-
er-in-chief only. If the flag is brought to a place where
it is not possible for him to see anything of our troops,
to remove the bandage from his eyes could do no harm,
but would give the commander, while questioning him*
a better opportunity of judging his feelings, and obtain-
ing through them some useful information.
If the sight of our troops is likely to intimidate the*266
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
enemy, they should be shown to the flag-officer, espe-
cially if we are to take the offensive immediately after
his departure.
“ Remove the bandage from the eyes of this officer,”
said General Maison—cut off in front of Courtray in
1814 by 25,000 soldiers of the Holy Alliance—pointing
to a flag-officer from the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. “ Your
Duke is deceived in regard to our numbers, for, as you
see, we have only 6000 men. He also ignores, it seems,
my title of Major-General, Commanding in Chief, since
he has addressed this letter to Mr. Maison. Say to this
Mister, for me, that he ought to remember that I was a
general officer when he wTas as yet unknown to any one
but his cook; and add that I will give him just ten
minutes in which to get out of my way.”
Twenty minutes afterwards we had gone through and
demolished the Duke’s army, and were on our way to
Lille, carrying with us his guns, flags, and a large part
of his infantry.ESCORTS AND CONVOYS.
267
ESCORTS AND CONVOYS.
Q. Are there different kinds of escorts f What arc
they f
A. Three: escorts of honor; escorts of general officers
in the field; and escorts of convoys.
Q. What is the duty of the first t
A. To precede and follow the prince or his represent-
ative.
Q. Of the second ?
A. To take station at headquarters; to strictly obey
all orders given by the general or his chief of staff; and
to remain there until sent back by the general or
relieved by another detachment.
Q. What is the duty of the officer commanding the
escort ?
A. To command and provide for his detachment with
the utmost care, in order to create a good reputation for
it and the regiment to which it belongs. To see that
issues are regularly made to his men. To watch over
their quartering, so that horses and men will be kept in
good condition. To maintain strict discipline. To re-
quire the greatest neatness and uniformity in dress. To
see that his men are always present and in readiness
when needed. To require proper care to be given to the
horses when returned from any duty. To preserve
regularity in the duties performed, in spite of circum-
stances tending to interfere with it. To neglect no
opportunity of informing his colonel of the condition268
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
and operations of the detachment. If he observes that
the staff-officers require his men to perform services for
which they were not detailed, to report the fact direct
to the general, and that immediately, in order that the
abuses which unnecessarily fatigue the men and deprive
them of the consideration which is due them, may be
stopped. Should a staff-officer make a demand for one
of the detachment horses to ride, it should be flatly
refused, unless authorized by the general himself.
In the old army there was a marvellous profusion of
light cavalry. I have seen almost entire regiments de-
tailed as servants for general and staff officers, as es-
corts for private wagons, carriages, sutlers’ wagons, etc.
A certain general of a cavalry division took for his per-
sonal escort a picked squadron, in spite of the Emperor’s
positive orders, whose men formed not only his escort
of honor, but in addition were employed as servants for
all the officers and employes at headquarters. These
escorts were such a drain on the strength of the regi-
ments that, on the day of battle, there were hardly any
men in the ranks.
The more brilliant the uniforms of the regiments the
more certain they were to be selected for this unmilitary
duty; because Mr. A, lieutenant and aide-de-camp, or
Mr. B, the chief apothecary, found it more pleasant to
be followed by a hussar with a gorgeous pelisse than by
a trooper in sombre uniform.
The abuse of these escorts was not confined to that.
Some staff-officers, shamelessly ignoring the fact that
they were paid for keeping their own servants and
horses, and abusing the good nature or taking advan-
tage of the occupation of their generals, detailed troopers
to take charge of their led horses and rode the horses ofESCORTS AND CONVOYS,
269
other troopers. These unfortunate chasseurs and hus-
sars, dismounted in this way, followed on foot and soon
lost all traces of their horses which, worn out and
abandoned, were quickly lost to the regiment and the
government.
I know of no more revolting abuse, or one which offi-
cers commanding escorts should more strenuously op-
pose. If, in spite of their protests, they continue to be
practised, their duty is to appeal to general officers of
every grade, and report the facts to their colonel at
once.
If a part of the escort should be detached and the
escort should find a horse belonging to this detachment
ridden by a stranger, they should immediately dismount
the rider, whoever he may be, and seize the horse, if
the rider does not at once show the written order of
the general as his authority for having him.
Any trooper who, without the orders of his immediate
commander, permits any one else, whatever may be his
grade, to ride his horse, should be immediately dis-
mounted and sent to the rear as a coward.
Who of us, among those returned from Moscow, does
not remember how, in spite of his exhaustion and so
many other causes of grief, he reddened with anger and
shame on seeing on that unfortunate retreat a general
officer of artillery—whose name I shall not disclose, as
he is no longer among the living—unhitch the horses
and abandon our guns that he might draw along his
white and gold carriage filled with articles captured at
Moscow? So long as I live I shall never forget that
sight. For me it is the type of the most disgraceful de-
moralization. Shame to the one to whom I am indebted
for it! Shame on every officer who, for his private use,270
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
dismounts an unfortunate trooper whose horse is his
fortune, his glory, and his future! Shame on him who
thus keeps from the battlefield a brave soldier who might
have added to the lustre of his regiment, to the glory of
our flag!
Q. Should the enemy attack the headquarters, what
must the escort do f
A. Surround the general, defend him bravely, and
perish rather than permit him to be captured or sabred.
Q. Are there several kinds of convoys ?
A. Four kinds: convoys of ammunition, of provisions,
of prisoners, and of wounded.
Q. What is the first thing to he done by an officer com-
manding a convoy f
A. To form divisions of equal numbers of wagons,
and intrust the command of them to the most active
and intelligent officers and non-commissioned officers.
Then he must assure himself that the convoy, marching
alternately by the right and left flank, obeys exactly
and immediately the orders he gives for its conduct.
Q. What are the general rules governing the com-
mand of convoys f
A. The commander of the escort must never lose sight
of the object of his mission, which is only to bring safely
to its destination the convoy intrusted to him. So, when-
ever the enemy shows himself, if he can avoid a combat
he must do so; if he attacks the enemy it must be only
when he believes that by making an attack, and thus
delaying or detaining him, he will gain time for the
convoy to reach a position where it will be more secure,
escape a threatened attack, or be able to take a forma-
tion more favorable to defence.ESCORTS AND CONVOYS.
271
Q. The enemy having been repulsed, what is the duty
of the commander $
A. To resist the temptation to pursue, whatever may-
be the special advantages offered by a pursuit, and make
the convoy move on; for its safety, I repeat, is the sole
object of all his care.
Q. How should a convoy march ?
A. As much concentrated as possible. The wagons
should have no distance between them, and where the
width of the road will admit of it, they should march in
double column. On reaching a defile they will move in
single column, with perfect regularity, so as to take, at
the outlet from the defile, the closest order possible.
Q. If some wagons move more slowly than the others,
and delay the march of the convoy, what should be done f
A. Discover the cause of the delay. See if the peas-
ants of the country, who drive these wagons, are not
purposely delaying them; if they do not expect an attack
on the convoy and desire to facilitate it. In this case
change the drivers and make sure of those whom you
distrust. If the slowness of the wagons is due to over-
loading, distribute the excessive weight among the other
wagons so as to lighten the overloaded ones. If the
wagons are in bad condition do not hesitate to abandon
them, after having removed the loads, the horses, and
any parts of the vehicles which may be useful to the
convoy.
Q. How does the escort of the convoy march t
A. The cavalry escorting a convoy, having, above all
things, to clear the route, rather than to protect the
convoy by acting offensively, pushes its advance-guard
as far to the front as possible; it also scouts the flanks
so as to see to a great distance and give warning of any272
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
threatened attack in time for the necessary dispositions
to be made. The rear-guard also marches at quite a
long distance from the convoy. This disposition of the
cavalry does not prevent its communicating with the
convoy through intermediate men, who indicate the gait
at which it is marching and the halts it makes.
Q. When a convoy halts what order should it take f
A. After having selected a good place for the halt, on
the side of the road, the commander will form the con-
voy in close column by divisions.
Q. What is meant by suitable ground for the halt of
a convoy f
A. Solid ground, which can be reached and left easily;
near a stream, with shade in summer and protection
from the north wind in winter. If the enemy is prowl-
ing about the country the halt should be made, if pos-
sible, in rear of a defile w7hich can be easily defended by
a few men, and whose position is so concealed that,
from a distance, no one could observe the importance of
the convoy and the means taken for its defence.
Q. What dispositions should be made for the defence
of a convoy ?
A. Such as are indicated by the nature of the attack
and the configuration of the ground; those which make
the defence more easy by assembling the forces, which
present the greatest obstacles to the enemy’s seizing the
wagons and getting aw7ay with any he might capture.
Q. If the attack is foreseen what should be done ?
A. Assemble the whole escort on the side the enemy
is going to attack; make your dispositions to hold him;
make the convoy move on rapidly, without halting or
parking, except as a last resort. In that manner gain
some defile where, upon contracted ground, the front ofESCORTS AND CONYOYS.
273
the attack cannot be more extended than that of the
defence, and let the rear-guard hold it tenaciously.
Q. If the attack is an unexpected one t
A. Do not hesitate to charge vigorously on the at-
tackers, without dispersing or charging too wildly, going
only far enough to learn the strength of the enemy’s
forces, and keeping within supporting distance of the
convoy.
Q. If the attack is made upon the head of the convoy
and you are obliged to retreat, what care should be
taken f
A. To preserve good order in the column, and have
the wagons turn about without disorder. A single wagon
whose horses are badly driven or turned loose may be
able to stop the retreat and cause the loss of the entire
convoy.
Q. Should the enemy pursue with force and vigor,
what means may be used to stop him ?
A. Abandon some of the wagons to save the others.
Bar a defile with one of them whose wheels have been
taken off; use it as a breastwork from behind which a
murderous fire may be directed upon the enemy.
Q. If the commander is convinced that it is im-
possible to save the convoy $
A. He must endeavor to destroy it by fire, or some
other means, after the horses have been removed.
Q. If the enemy attacks the convoy unexpectedly and
with superior forces, reaching it quickly, what should
be done V
A. Assemble the whole escort and employ it in de-
fending that portion of the convoy which there is a
possibility of saving.274
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Q. If you are obliged to halt the convoy in order to
save it ?
A. If it is impossible to move to one side of the road,
it will be necessary to form the wagons in two columns,
by making them turn successively to the right and left,
so that the horses of the two wagons following each
other will be head to head, with a small space between
them, the wagons in each line being side by side, with
their rear ends turned outwards. As the wagons of each
division come up they will be arranged in the same
manner. If the road is bordered by deep ditches, this
arrangement will sometimes remove all possibility of
the enemy’s cavalry penetrating to the interior of the
convoy. If the convoy can be moved to one side of
the road, it will be formed in a square well closed up,
the horses inside of the square; the escort, taking post
within the enclosure, will defend the convoy by a
sustained and well-directed fire.
Q. Should not these precautions be doubled in a
mountainous country f
A. Yes; because the difficulties of the ground impede
the march of the convoy and offer more favorable
opportunities for attacking it. It would be well for the
commander of a convoy acquainted with the ground
over which it is to pass, and who knows that a defile
situated on his route may be occupied by the enemy, to
order his advance-guard to go ahead and take possession
of it.
Q. What special precautions are to be observed with
regard to an ammunition train ?
A. To keep it away from fire of every kind. There-
fore, while marching, all men with the train must be
expressly forbidden to smoke. If men are met smokingESCORTS AND CONVOYS.
275
along the road, the advance-guard must make them put
out their pipes. If a blacksmith-shop is to be passed,
all the doors and windows opening on the road must be
kept closed during the passage of the convoy.
If moving towards a city which has been burned, and
in which the fires may be still smouldering under the
ashes, the convoy must go around it. If the convoy is
compelled to pass through bivouacs, a guard should be
placed over the fires to see that no one stirs them, and
the wagons should be taken past them, one by one, some
distance apart, and as quickly as possible.
Q. When the convoy is halted for rest1 what care
should be taken ?
A. To make as few fires as possible in the bivouac, to
place them at a distance from the park and on the side
opposite to the wind, and to arrange them so that, in
case the wind should change, it would not drive sparks
as far as the wagons.
If there is a stream near the park, buckets should be
filled with water and kept near the fires, in readiness
to extinguish them immediately, should the wind
change so as to threaten the safety of the wagons.
Q. If the convoy is attacked by a superior force and
it is impossible to save it, what is to be done f
A. Save the horses and destroy the wagons and am-
munition.
Q. How should they be destroyed f
A. Bring the wagons close together; unhitch the
horses and take them to the rear; open the caissons;
connect them by trains of powder laid upon boards;
pour a large quantity under and around the caissons;
lay a train in the direction of your retreat, calculated
so as to communicate fire to the powder at the time276
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
desired; withdraw the escort, and leave a well-mounted
man behind who, with a bit of tinder attached to a
sabre or a stick, will ignite it and immediately get out
of the way.
Q. If the result of the attack gives any hope of saving
the caissons, what should be done f
A. Open the caissons; throw the powder into a pond,
a ditch, or any other damp place—if that cannot be
done, scatter it to the winds; then make your wagons
move out silently, and direct and protect their rapid
retreat.
Q. What care should be taken by those escorting the
wounded ?
A. If not threatened by the enemy, consult with the
medical officers accompanying the convoy, in order to
determine the halts necessary to strengthen and en-
courage the wounded. Choose the smoothest and even-
est ground for the wagons to march over; halt near
streams from which water can be obtained to quench
the thirst of the sufferers, and direct a certain number
of your men to give their whole attention to their
brothers in arms, and make no distinction between our
wounded and those of the enemy.
Q. What precautions are to be taken when escorting
prisoners ?
A. The escorting of prisoners requires special pre-
cautions, too often neglected through the careless con-
fidence of our people.
Q. What are they t
A. The officer or non-commissioned officer charged
with the duty of escorting prisoners should assemble
them in two ranks, then march them off in a column
preceded, flanked, and followed by suitable guards; theESCORTS AND CONVOYS.
277
column being made to march well closed up and in an
orderly manner; no conversation to be allowed between
the escort and the prisoners.
If in a hostile country forbid all communication
between the inhabitants and the prisoners.
Keep them under constant observation, so as to learn
their feelings. If a conspiracy should be discovered to
be brewing among them, warn them, through some one
speaking their own language, that if they revolt they
will be shot. See that the escort have their arms always
loaded and ready for use, and that they do not stray off
or get drunk. When a halt is made for the night in
bivouac, the prisoners must be assembled and sur-
rounded by a chain of sentinels. If the halt be made
in a village, the prisoners should be confined in a church
and sentinels be posted within and without.
See that the prisoners are treated with kindness; that
they want for nothing which can be given them; that
their cloaks and clothing are not taken from them; that
no one is allowed to insult them; but, if they attempt to
escape, make an example.
Q. What is the best method of attaching a convoy f
A. By surprising it, and in a defile.
Q. How would you form your troops to attach a
convoy f
A. In two parts, calculated upon the disposition of
the escort and the configuration of the ground. The
first should attack the head of the convoy; the second,
its flank. The attack should be bold and lively, and
always tend to separate the convoy from its escort.
Q. Suppose you attach in an open plain, and the
enemy has had time to park his wagons and get his
troops within the square, what would you do f278
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A. If the force defending the convoy is smaller than
the one attacking it, the commander of the latter should
dismount a large portion of his men and try to carry the
square. If he does not succeed he makes a show of re-
treating in the direction opposite to that which he knows
the convoy will take in retreating; then he makes a
detour, forms an ambush, and when the convoy resumes
its march he renews his attack.THE SUPPORT OF ARTILLERY,
279
THE SUPPORT OF ARTILLERY.
Q. Should cavalry, in supporting artillery, be placed
4n rear of the battery f
A. That is a mistake which I have seen made only too
often, and which, so far as I could ever learn, was sim-
ply due to following an ancient custom, or to the vanity
of certain officers who thought it a meritorious thing
to seek useless dangers, or to the ignorance of officers
who, having been employed in this way only once or
twice in their lives, had no idea of the proper method
of performing the duty assigned them.
Q. Should the cavalry support be posted near the
guns f
A. Another mistake.
Q. Should it not be posted where the enemy can see it,
and thus know that the guns are supported ?
A. Another mistake, as censurable as the other two.
Q. Where should the support be placed, then f
A. Your own judgment should supply the answer to
this question. What is the duty of the artillery sup-
port ? Is it to get slaughtered without crossing a sabre,
or to get so used up that it is worthless when actually
needed ? Is it to hamper the movement of the guns ?
Is it to encourage the enemy to charge the battery?
That is what would infallibly happen if you should post
the support as has been indicated.
The support of a battery, if placed behind it, would
surely be destroyed in short order by the enemy’s pro-280
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
jectiles directed upon the battery. If posted too near,
it will interfere with the communication between the
guns and their caissons; if placed in full view of the
enemy, its strength will be easily estimated, counted
even, especially if the guns are in an exposed position,
and then be attacked and overwhelmed by superior
numbers.
The supporting troops should be placed on the flanks
of the battery to avoid the enemy’s shot and shell; at
least a hundred yards distant, so as to obtain its full
power of impulsion if called on to resist a charge made
by the enemy; and so concealed as to avoid serving as a
target, and to keep the enemy in ignorance of both its
strength and position.
Q. But if placed under cover, how will it he able to
observe the enemy's movements f
A. The commanding officer alone should place him-
self where he can observe everything, while keeping in
sight of his troops. He should be careful to so place
himself that the enemy cannot, by seeing him, judge of
the position of the support.
Q. If the battery is charged, what is to he done hy the
support ?
A. Let the charge come on, and, when it has spent
its force and the horses are disunited and blown, as
they naturally will be, charge the enemy in front or
flank at full speed and make every effort to repulse him.
If your charge succeeds, do not pursue the enemy very
far, but halt and immediately unmask our rescued bat-
tery, so that it may pound the retreating enemy.
Q. If our battery, finding its position too much ex-
posed and the demonstrations of the enemy too threaten-
ing, begins to retreat, what should the support do tTHE SUPPORT OF ARTILLERY.
281
A. If the retreat is to be for a short distance only, it
will preserve the same relative position to the battery
that it had before.
Q. If the retreat is made in haste and is to be ex-
tended to some distance before the battery will take posi-
tion again t
A. The supporting troops should march abreast of the
battery and, if it breaks into column, act as rear-guard
to it.
Q. If, in executing its retreat, the battery should take
to a causeway f
A. The supporting troops unmask the rear pieces,
place themselves so as to leave the road free, oppose
any attacks on the flanks, and keep in readiness to resist
attacks from the front.
Q. Should the battery be attacked by very superior
forces, should the support retreat ?
A. No, not so long as the cannoneers remain at their
guns.
Q. If the cannoneers are killed or captured and the
enemy seizes the pieces f
A. The supporting troops must charge his rear-guard,
harass him, obstruct his retreat, and, finally, employ
every means to retake the guns or force them on to
ground from which the enemy himself cannot extricate
them.
Q. If we retake the guns t
A. Bring them back.
Q. If you cannot bring them back t
A. Save the teams.
Q. If the cannoneers, finding it impossible to save
the pieces, decide to spike them, or simply to unhitch
the teams and retreat ?282
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
A. The supporting troops will then cover the retreat
of the gunners and the teams.
Q. If, while our battery is retreating, some of the
pieces get stuck in the mud, or are overturned, so that
the gunners alone cannot right them or move them
along f
A. The most active men of the support will dismount
at once, give their horses to other men, and assist the
gunners.
Q. If the enemy should seize this moment for making
an attack ?
A. The troopers remount and face the enemy.
Q. If a battery in position loses so many men that it
is unable to continue its fire and asks for assistance
from the support f
A. The men will be furnished at once, from the nearest
platoon and the commander of the support be notified.
Q. Sometimes a urse is employed against great masses
of cavalry united for a charge, which consists in mov-
ing forward a battery whose offensive movement is con-
cealed by a squadron placed i7i front of it; what is the
duty of the commander of this squadron f
A. During the advance, to keep his squadron in front
of the guns, so as to conceal them from the enemy;
then, when the guns are in battery and loaded, the
matches lighted, and everything ready for firing, to
unmask the battery by a movement by platoons to the
right or left, at a gallop, and join the support.
The support should always act so as to deserve the
entire confidence of the artillerymen, who will then
work their guns with greater coolness and accuracy,
and keep up their firing for a longer time.
The support will have to be still more watchful whenTHE SUPPORT OF ARTILLERY.
283
supporting guns of the new model than when protect-
ing those of the old pattern.
Q. Whyf
A. Because, as the old guns were withdrawn by the
prolonge, they could be fought to the last moment and
fire grape and canister a long time without changing
position, while the new ones require to be limbered up
before retreating, and the artillerymen should not be
expected to delay the execution of this manoeuvre until
the enemy’s cavalry begins sabring them. For the
same reasons the new pieces require more attention,
when retreating, than the old ones do.
Q. Why?
A. Because, with the old-model gun, if one wheel
horse is killed and the rear traces cut, the piece may
still continue its retreat, drawn by the whiffletree, while
with the new pieces the six horses pull on the same four
traces, and if one of them is cut or broken, the gun is un-
hitched. Should such an accident happen, the supports
should hasten to assist in repairing the damage, and
place their horses and forage ropes at the disposal of
the battery.284
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
PARTISANS.
Q. What is a partisan ?
A. A detachment is on partisan service when it oper-
ates separately and apart from the army, and under
the instructions of its own chief, which are based on
orders given only in general terms and on information
in regard to the general movement of the whole army.
A partisan is sent to stir up a province; to annoy the
flanks or rear of a hostile army; to capture or destroy
depots or convoys, etc.; to make prisoners and throw
the enemy off the scent in regard to the movements of
our own troops; etc.
Q. What should be the first care of an officer ordered
on partisan sermce f
A. To see that the detachment he commands is com-
posed of bold and well-mounted men.
Q. And the second ?
A. To receive from his general an accurate map of
the country in which he is to operate, as correct in-
formation as possible in regard to the position of the
enemy and of his probable intentions, and to learn the
present and future movements of our own army.
Q. Why this last information, since he is to act
separatelyf
A. So as to know where to send his reports, and
where to fall back upon supports in case of an emer-
gency compelling a retreat.
Partisan warfare is very hazardous. It can be sue-PARTISANS.
285
cessfully executed only by a chief who is shrewd, quick,
and bold, supported by troops like himself. For the
partisan there is no repose; he must always have his
eyes open, and, if fatigue compels him to slumber for an
instant, an advance-line of spies should guard him and
warn him of danger.
The warfare he carries on is that of a corsair. His
strength lies in surprise. The vulture which, unper-
ceived, swoops down upon its prey, captures it, anddis-
appears, is the image of the partisan. Therefore the
blows he delivers should be decided, prompt, terrible
even, if necessary, and no trace of his retreat should be
left behind.
The partisan resorts to every possible stratagem. One
will arrange his attack so well, and cast his net so accur-
ately over the hostile detachment which he surprises,
that not a single person shall escape to give the alarm.
Another, in a hostile country, works with the enemy,
levies contributions of horses and cloth in his name,
and remounts and clothes his men at the expense of the
King of Prussia. Another strips his prisoners, puts
their uniforms on his own men, and enters the enemy’s
bivouacs, taking advantage of the deception to surprise
and cut them in pieces. Another, twenty leagues in
rear of the Russian army, rescues our captured men,
mounts them on the horses of the escort, and thus
doubles his strength. Another captures a park of ar-
tillery. The enemy, informed of the fact, comes up two
hours later, and, while he is viewing the smoking re-
mains of his exploded caissons, the partisan is striking
another equally destructive blow three leagues in his
rear. The enemy, ignorant of the numerical strength
of the bold detachment, halts, takes up a position,286
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
draws in the troops which might have been of great
assistance to his army, and ours profits by these delays.
Another, like the brave and illustrious Pole, Uminski,
at the head of a few squadrons, incites a province to
insurrection, creates a powerful diversion, and, after
several victories, when forced to retreat, returns to the
national army with his forces increased threefold.
The partisan, by his isolation, by his freedom from
all obligation to march immediately in such or such a
direction, or to retarn to any certain place, is free from
all constraint; he is master of all the ground within
range of his vision; he should observe it with unusual
intelligence, and should form his opinion not so much
from his own point of view as from that of the enemy.
Thus, he should observe the heights, the depths, and
the curtains in reference to this point of view, and
always place himself so as to prevent, by means of these
curtains, the enemy’s observation of his command.
If he descends by a certain path, the hill on his right
will conceal the movement. If he crosses a plain in a
certain direction, the little wood visible on his left will
mask his march for ten minutes, and that time will be
sufficient for him to gain the ravine in which he will
be able to lie in ambush.
As the partisan always acts by surprising the enemy,
the offensive positions he takes will always be am-
buscades. The nearer to the point of attack, the better
they are; but this nearness should always be calculated
with reference to the greater or less confidence and
watchfulness of the enemy.
The partisan, after having boldly captured a convoy,
begins his retreat. This should be made promptly, for
the enemy may be informed and send superior forces inPAKTISANS.
287
pursuit. He should compare the importance and pos-
sibility of preserving the prize he has captured with
that of the attack he may have to resist and the speed
with which his retreat must be made. This rapid com-
parison would determine him to destroy everything
which might injuriously delay him, and he retires, not
on the road by which he came, but by one which will
shorten the distance to a place of safety. The undula-
tions of the ground, the woods, ravines, all mask his
retreat, and he halts only after several hours’ march,
knowing that the enemy’s pursuit will not extend beyond
a certain distance; that the more it is prolonged, the
weaker and less dangerous it is; especially if the re-
treating force leads it over a difficult and broken
country, favorable to the formation of ambuscades.
If, however, the pursuing enemy appears at some
distance and threatens to attack openly and vigorously,
the partisan does not hesitate to throw him off the
track. He moves the convoy out quietly under an
officer whom he orders to march rapidly and, in case of
attack, to abandon everything he thinks it impossible
to save. Then he moves to the right or left with the
main body of his troops, and draws in that direction the
pursuing enemy, who is thus deceived and led away
from his proper objective.
A partisan wearied by long exertion and in need of
recuperation should either gain one of our posts in
rear of the enemy, and which is not blockaded by him,
or else throw himself entirely off the enemy’s lines of
operations. As a rule, these lines in rear of his posi-
tion are limited to a few roads guarded by detachments
rejoining the army, and are scouted to a very short
distance only.288
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
The partisan need go, then, but a few leagues to reach
a place of safety. Nevertheless, to render this safety
more complete he frequently changes his position.
If the partisan has sick or wounded men, he takes
them with him and bestows the greatest care upon them.
If they cannot be transported with the command with-
out delaying the speed of his marches, he should leave
them in a village, placing them in the care of the
principal people, who will be held personally responsible
for their treatment.
If prisoners have been made, in order not to weaken
himself they will be sent into a friendly country, and
confided to the care of the rural guards, who will
deliver them, by roundabout ways, to our army.
If the partisan has captured guns and does not feel
perfectly sure of reaching our army with them, he
should bury them secretly, and out of sight of his
prisoners, in some unfrequented wood, and mark the
place where they have been buried. Afterwards he takes
along with him the limbers and destroys them at a point
some leagues distant, so that the spot where the guns
have been concealed may be certain to remain un-
known.
General Rule.—The partisan having to be, above all
things, as active as possible, he must keep nothing with
him which might delay or burden his command.
LED HORSES. SUTLERS.
289
LED HORSES. SUTLERS.
Q. What is understood by “ led horses ” ?
A. The extra horses of officers, or horses of the regi-
ment without riders, which are led by men detailed for
the purpose.
Q. In war, where do they march f
A. With the regiment and where they will be secure
from attack by the enemy. When a regiment is acting
alone, its led horses follow it; if it is acting as rear-
guard, the led horses precede it; if the regiment is
likely to be attacked in front and rear, the led horses
are placed in the centre of the column.
Q. If the regiment is brigaded f
A. Its led horses are united with those of the other
regiments, and all march wherever the commanding
general may direct.
Q. And during a fight ?
A. The led horses are kept in rear of the line of
battle, out of range of the enemy’s fire, and frequently
close to the field hospitals.
Q. Are the led horses of a regiment placed under
command of any one f
A. Yes; they should be commanded by a non-com-
missioned officer, and sometimes, when danger is feared,
by an officer, even.
Q. What is the duty of the commander ?
A. To assemble them properly and make them keep
together. When resting, to choose the most favorable290
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
and least exposed place for the halt; to reconnoitre the
vicinity, and never to get so far separated from the
regiment as to lose it or fail to join it in bivouac during
the evening.
Q. Should the led horses be required to join the regi-
ment every day ?
A. Yes; except in case of imminent danger, or orders
given to the contrary.
Q. How often should the officer in charge of the led
horses be relieved?
A. His tour should be for only twenty-four hours, but
he is not to relinquish it until regularly relieved.
Sometimes, in order to retain the valuable services of
a non-commissioned officer in the ranks, the care of the
led horses is intrusted to a sick or slightly wounded one.
This important duty must not, however, be confided to
any one not perfectly able to perform it. To command
the led horses requires gentleness, intelligence, and great
firmness. The intelligence is demanded in the selection
of the most favorable positions, as regards safety and
comfort, and in judging the characters of the men of
the command. Gentleness will remove all pretext for
the dissatisfied servants leaving the command, marching
by themselves, and even deserting sometimes. Firm-
ness will regulate the conduct of the marches and halts.
If the commander of the led horses should lose sight
of the regiment on the day of a battle, he should keep
himself informed, through the men returning from the
battlefield, of the movements it has made, and, accord-
ing to what he learns, move closer to or retire farther
from the place it is said to occupy.
In selecting a place for the led horses he must always
bear in mind the necessity for having them where theyLED HORSES. SUTLERS.
291
may be easily found. Therefore he must never select a
position which i<; would be impossible, or even require
much time, to find.
He must also see that the men give the horses an op-
portunity to feed, and that they do not leave them. If
foraging parties are sent out, he must require at least
half of the men to remain with the horses and be re-
sponsible for their safety. Sometimes he should also
accompany the foragers to prevent their pillaging, get-
ting drunk, or overloading the horses taken out for the
purpose of carrying back the forage.
After the horses have eaten, or when he fears a sur-
prise, he must have the horses bridled, and have the
men hold the reins on their arms.
He must also see that the forage and provisions ob-
tained at the halt are not wasted, and that they are so
managed that a portion may be taken to the bivouac of
the regiment for the horses which have been ridden, and
for their riders. He must have the horses watered on
arriving at a stream or well, and have the wounds of
those needing special care dressed. On returning to the
regiment he must make his report to the chief of his
corps.
Q. When a man is dismounted, where should he go
with his arms and equipments t
A. To the led horses, which become the general ren-
dezvous of men separated from their commands.
Q. And when a horse is to be sent to a sub-depot f
A. He should be sent to join the led horses. If there
should be found among them a sound man and a horse
in good condition, the two should be sent to join the
regiment. In like manner, a horse unfit for active ser-292
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
vice should be given to some wounded man who is going
to the rear.
Q. How could there be, among the led horses, a troop
horse in serviceable condition f
A. Because all captured horses, and those whose riders
have become disabled, are sent there for the use of dis-
mounted men.
Q. If you should have some brave officers and non-
commissioned officers or troopers who, slightly wounded,
are unable to continue on duty at the outposts, but who
would be made strong and active again by a few.day s'
rest ?
A. Let them march with the led horses, and, as soon
as they are fit for duty again, recall them to the regi-
ment.
Q. If men perfectly fit for duty come to the led horses f
A. They must be sent back to their squadrons imme-
diately.
Q. Where do the sutlers march f
A. Their intelligence, their prospects of gain, enable
them to easily choose the place most suitable for the sale
of the things they carry. Nevertheless, custom has
established certain rules for their government, which it
is necessary to know. The sutlers having wagons should
march with the led horses. Those who are mounted
should march nearer the regiment; that is to say, at
some point between it and the led horses.
A sutler must sell to others only when the regiment
to which he is attached has no need of anything. He
must not leave his proper place except for the time re-
quired to purchase supplies for the regiment.
A sutler should be required to always carry with him
a package of linen and lint for use in case of need inLED HORSES. SUTLERS.
293
the first aid to the wounded. Should the supply carried
by the surgeons become exhausted, this would be found
to be very acceptable.
The sutler should not be allowed to take advantage of
the scarcity of supplies to sell his goods to the regiment
at exorbitant prices. His profits should be large to
compensate him for his labor, but must not be ex-
cessive.
A good sutler is a valuable addition to a regiment,
and, therefore, he should receive protection and assist-
ance. On arriving in camp or cantonments the sutlers
should not only be purveyors, but act as laundry men
also. Any sutler found pillaging should be immediately
delivered up for punishment.
Sometimes troopers detailed for the escort of general
officers are taken from this duty by the officers or em-
ployes of the headquarters and forcibly transformed into
servants for these gentlemen. Whenever an officer or
non-commissioned officer finds a man of his regiment in
charge of led horses not belonging to his command, he
will question him, and, if he discovers an abuse of au-
thority, he will, in the absence of written orders of the
general commanding, have the horses turned loose, and
send the man to join his regiment.294
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES,
REAR-GUARDS.
Q. What is a rear-guard ?
A. Troops detached to protect the rear of a command
while marching.
Q. To whom should the command of a rear-guard be
intrusted ?
A. To an officer who inspires the troops with perfect
confidence by the coolness of his judgment, the boldness
and intrepidity of his actions.
Q. Why?
A. Because he will have to deal with an enemy whose
audacity will be doubled by the fact of our retreating.
Q. What is the duty of this officer ?
A. To delay the approach of the enemy by every pos-
sible means, and to perish rather than permit him to
attack the force he is charged with protecting.
At the Beresina, an officer of the rear-guard, crushed
by the Russian fire, was losing all his men. In vain
had he called upon Key for reinforcements. Not un-
derstanding the cause of Ney’s silence, he ran to him.
“ Of the five hundred men I had two hours ago, four
hundred are already dead,” he said, excitedly. uThe
Trappists do not leave the sides of their graves, and
when one of them says, ‘ Brother, we must die,' the
other repeats, ‘Brother, die we must!'" The officer
returned to his post, under a hail of shot. He had just
resumed it, saying to himself, with grim humor,
“ Brother, we must die,” when a terrible voice—that ofREAR-GUARDS.
295
Hey—responded, “ Die we must /” The marshal re-
mained a long time with the rear-guard, encouraging it
by his heroic example. It was written that he should
perish by the hands of assassins.
Q. Is there need of a rear-guard when the command
is advancing $
A. Yes.
Q. For what purpose f
A. To collect and drive forward the stragglers, and
protect the column from any enemy who may have got ,
in rear of it; to guard important defiles which there
is reason to fear might fall into the power of the enemy;
to look out for ambuscades which may have been passed
unperceived by the main body; to scout the flanks in
rear of the marching column, and, sometimes, to con-
nect an advanced body with its supports.
Q. What should the rear-guard do when the troops to
which it belongs are attacked and form line f
A. Unless there are orders to the contrary, it should
join them immediately and take its place in the line of
battle. If, however, it should discover the enemy exe-
cuting a flank movement and threatening the rear or
one wing of the command, it should move rapidly to
meet the enemy, send notice to the commander of the
detachment, and immediately open fire.
Q. If the enemy endeavors to seize a defile which the
detachment must repass, what does the rear-guard do ?
A. Sends warning to the detachment commander,
and moves on rapidly to defend the defile.
Q. Should it march far in rear of the column t
A. The distance to be preserved between it and the
column depends mainly on the orders received; if they
are not very precise upon this point, it should keep to a296
CAVALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
greater distance in an open country than in a close one,
but always so as to see, or at least be in easy com-
munication with, the detachment, and neither lose its
trace nor be separated from it by the enemy.
Q. If, in spite of these precautions, such a separation
should occur, what should be done f
A. If the enemy is not too strong, break through his
line and rejoin the detachment. If this is believed to
be impossible, begin skirmishing at once with the enemy
occupying the road, to distract his attention, and
threaten him with serious attacks.
Q. If the enemy sends superior forces against the
rear-guard f
A. It must retire at the gait employed in attacking;
halt if the enemy halts; follow him if he retires, and
harass him continually; should the detachment make
a gap in his line, manoeuvre so as to assist the move-
ment, and then rejoin as quickly as possible.
Q. What is the duty of the rear-guard in a retro-
grade movement f
A. To protect and support the retreat.
Q. In that case, how does the rear-guard march f
A. At a distance always proportioned to the more or
less open nature of the country, but always at the gait
employed by the column, so as to run no risk of being
separated from it, or disturbing it by causing fears for
the rear-guard, and also in such a manner as to discover
and repel, if possible, all attacks threatening the de-
tachment.
Q. What formation does it keep t
A. That which is considered the best to prevent it
from being broken through. If it is followed timidly,
in an open country, it preserves its line of skirmishers,REAR-GUARDS.
297
which is extended or contracted, according to the
nature of the ground and the demonstrations of the
enemy; but always estimating clearly the reality and
importance of these demonstrations, and so controlling
affairs as to be able to concentrate the whole force
quickly. If it is forced vigorously on to a certain road,
it leaves in rear only a few skirmishers taken from
among the bravest and best-mounted men, and makes
the poorly-mounted men, who could only embarrass
and delay it, move on in advance; then, supposing it is
a squadron, it spaces its platoons on the road at a dis-
tance of a hundred paces from each other. The pla-
toons will retire thus: they regulate on one another and
face to the front, at the same time taking care to sup-
port their right flank on the ditch, so as to leave on
their left an open space through which the skirmishers,
when charged, may pass without breaking them. If
the first platoon is repulsed, it retreats to re-form in the
rear. The second stands fast, charges the enemy, and
halts him for a few moments; if it cannot hold on, it
retreats and moves to the rear of the first to re-form.
The third charges, in its turn; and so on, with the
fourth, first, and second.
Q. If the road is not as wide as the front of a pla-
toon ?
A. The platoons are formed in columns of sections,
by fours.
Q. If the enemy has artillery, what should be done f
A. Post the greatest possible number of men on the
flank of the road, and make every effort to prevent its
being abandoned. Hold fast to every turn of the road,
to all the obstacles, to all the different heights which
will give protection against artillery fire by preventing298
CAVALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
accurate aiming and raking the road directly. Threaten
the pieces sometimes, and try to form ambuscades if
it is believed that they will meet with success.
Q. If, while retreating, a wood should be encoun-
tered f
A. Make a great display of holding it, in order to
deceive the enemy in regard to the forces occupying it.
If the enemy halts, advance on him, and take advantage
of his indecision to gain as much time as possible; warn-
ing the column, however, of the halt made, and report-
ing the dispositions of the enemy, and taking the neces-
sary precautions to prevent being cut off by him. If
the detachment does not consider it advisable to halt,
the rear-guard is advised of the fact, and acts accord-
ingly. If it takes a different road, a non-commissioned
officer is left at the point where it turns off, to direct the
march of the rear-guard.
Q. If a village be met with t
A. The rear-guard acts in a similar manner, and
profits by the halt to barricade it with beams, carts with
the wheels taken off, etc. To do that, it masks its
movements by a single platoon which occupies the road
while the others pass to the rear of the barricade, in
which only a small opening is left, for the successive
retreat, in single file, of the troopers of the last platoon
of the rear-guard, as soon as it is threatened with a
charge. If a charge should be made, it is awaited at
the barricade, and received with a discharge of carbines
and pistols,
* Q. In building barricades, what precaution should
be taken f
A. That they are so placed as not to be easily turned;REAR-GUARDS.
299
for if they can be turned, they will be more dangerous
than useful to us.
Q. jIf a bridge is encountered ?
A. Pass over rapidly, and make a stand in rear of it.
If built of wood so that it can be easily destroyed, pro-
tect with skirmishers those engaged in its destruction.
Q. How may a wooden bridge be destroyed f
A. By tearing up the floor and throwing the joists on
your bank of the river, or by burning it. To burn it,
straw and fagots should be placed under it; if possible,
tar should first be poured over it. This operation is,
however, always a slow one.
Q. Should it encounter a ford which it is desirable to
destroy t
A. If near a village, try to collect a number of
harrows and throw them, teeth up, into the ford.
Break bottles in the bottom of the ford, or throw treea
across the stream, the tops towards the enemy. If the
ford cannot be destroyed, barricade it like a defile.
If the enemy attempts to force a crossing, make a feint
of retreating, so as to let him enter the ford, and when
the head of his column has passed you, charge it vigor-
ously, and hurl it back into the river.
Q. If the river is not fordable f
A. It is passed as described in the chapter on Detach-
ments.
Q. If one crosses it in a ferry or in boats ?
A. One does as described in the same chapter, only
the boats are sunk after having been used.
An officer of the rear-guard should have under his
command none but serviceable horses and active men,
because his march should not be delayed by the weak-
ness of individuals. Therefore, if he finds in his de-300
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
tachment any unserviceable horses, he should relieve
Himself of them at the first opportunity, by sending
them to the main body.
Q. In general, then, what are the duties of the com-
mander of the rear-guard f
A. To delay the enemy’s march by every means
suggested to him by his intelligence; to prevent the
enemy’s estimating the strength and composition of our
columns, as well as the idea which governs their move-
ments; to moderate the gait of his horses so as to avoid
distressing them, and to bring back all his men; not to
allow himself to be cut off from the main body, and to
keep in constant communication with it; to support
vigorously those of his men who have dismounted for
the performance of any duty; and never to allow him-
self to be driven back on a defile which cannot be passed
without suffering severe loss.
Q. Do rear-guards march the same way at night as
in the daytime ?
A. At night they draw nearer to the column, espe-
cially when the night is dark, the enemy near, and the
inhabitants hostile to us.
Q. And if they fear losing the trace of the column t
A. Some troopers are placed between them and the
column as connecting files.
Q. The troops protected by the rear-guard having
halted to go into bivouac, what should the rear-guard
do?
A. It takes position wherever it may be at the time,
but the detachment causes it to be relieved promptly,
for generally it is so much fatigued as to require perfect
rest. It enters the bivouac and the men are sent to join
their several squadrons.REAR-GUARDS.
301
The duties of the rear-guard may be summed up in
these three words, which should form its device: vigi-
lance, unity of action, and firmness.
The dangers to which a rear-guard is subjected are
generally in direct proportion to the greater or less
degree of order observed in the columns which it
protects.302
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
CANTONMENTS.
Q. What is a cantonment f
A. A place occupied by troops on the eve of a war,
during an armistice, or even during actual war. In the
first case the light cavalry is cantoned at the outposts of
the advance-line of operations; in the second and third,
in rear of the line of operations, as in 1807, when Murat’s
cavalry was assembled near Elbing and in the island of
Nogate, while Ney’s corps covered it by daily combats on
the line of the Passarge.
Q. Where should a cantonment he located f
A. In rear of some obstacle which the enemy can pass
neither easily nor quickly.
Q. What conditions should govern the selection of a
cantonment f
A. The greatest possible number of cavalry should be
assembled in the place chosen, but with due regard to the
supplying of forage and shelter for them; for the object
of cantoning troops is to prepare and have them always
in readiness for immediate action.
Q. How is it guarded f
A. The proximity of the enemy, the nature of his
demonstrations, his strength, the skill and resolution of
his commanders, the greater or less strength of our po-
sition from a defensive point of view, should determine
the precautions to be taken, the necessity for outposts,
and their disposition in such or such a manner, the in-
crease or diminution of their strength; but the most effi-
cient protection for a cantonment will be obtained byCANTONMENTS,
303
the employment of a large number of trustworthy spies,
and by acquiring an exact knowledge of the politics of
the country.
In case danger is apprehended a cantonment should
be protected by following the instructions given in the
chapters on Bivouacs, Advance-guards, Grand Guards,
Reconnaissances, etc.
Under other circumstances it confines itself to posting
the necessary guards, dismounted, behind barricades; to
connecting the different parts so that they will all be in
easy communication; and to indicating a place of gen-
eral assembly for the various detachments.
Officers commanding cantonments should exercise the
most active and continued vigilance, for men accus-
tomed to great freedom, to the wastefulness and rude-
ness of field service, are brought back with difficulty to
a state of good order, the practice of useful economy, a
respect for private property, and a proper considera-
tion for the inhabitants of the country.
Military duties should be performed with the greatest
regularity, and the presence of the men should be as-
sured by frequent and unexpected roll-calls. The men
should be required to lodge with their horses, and have
their valises always packed, and their arms and equip-
ments convenient to their hands. The greatest activity
should be maintained, and the sleepers should be fre-
quently aroused by the practice of false alarms.
If cantonments are established during an armistice,
or after a war, every officer should learn and control
the resources of the village near which he is stationed,
so as to know just how long the supplies will last his
command. When he discovers that they will soon be
exhausted, he should not delay to inform his commander304
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
of the fact. In the enemy’s country the commander of
a cantonment should, immediately on his arrival at his
post, demand from the authorities the names of all the
workmen who may be of use to him, then assemble them
in a workshop, place an orderly over them, and set them
to work repairing arms, equipments, and clothing. If
he has no money with which to pay the workmen, he
allows them to receive a share of the issues made, ex-
empts their houses from occupation, etc.
Every squadron commander who, even during a long
campaign, leaves a cantonment after having occupied it
for twenty days without having had all necessary re-
pairs made, should be considered an inefficient officer.
Q. What is the best method of attacking a canton-
ment ?
A. To take it by surprise. To do that it is necessary,
1st, that the orders to prepare for the attack should be
given only when the command is about ready to mount,
in order that any spies lurking about may not have time
to warn the enemy.
2d. Vedettes should be posted in the direction of the
enemy so as to arrest any spies trying to escape.
3d. The men must saddle their horses as secretly and
rapidly as possible.
4th. The detachment should take advantage of the
night to get in rear of the enemy’s cantonment.
5th. The attack should be made with the greatest
energy, and as prescribed in the chapter on Surprises.
Q. If our cantonment should be attacked unexpect-
edly f
A. Do not allow the men to run to their horses. Fire
through the windows of the lodgings until the troops
can be assembled at the alarm-post.LIGHT CAVALRY AND INFANTRY.
305
LIGHT CAVALRY AND INFANTRY ACTING
TOGETHER.
If, on reconnaissance, advance or rear-guard, a body
of infantry falls temporarily under the command of a
cavalry officer, he must take the greatest care of it and
regard it as his duty to spare it more than his own
mounted troops.
In bivouac the cavalry should share like brothers
with the infantry. In battle they should support it,
and never abandon it. If the country becomes open,
let the cavalry hold the first line; if it becomes close,
the infantry should be nearer the enemy, and the cav-
alry should watch its flanks, to prevent its being cut
off, and its rear, so that in case of repulse the infantry
may find a prompt and vigorous support.
If, while on rear-guard duty, these mixed troops
should be attacked by very superior forces and com-
pelled, as a matter of prudence, to leave the direct
route and take a less open one, on which the defence
may have greater chances of success, the cavalry should
consult, in advance, the convenience of the infantry,
and regulate its gait by the march and strength of the
latter.
The cavalry officer should keep his infantry on the
side where the country is broken and interspersed with
hedges, copses, vineyards, and hills.
If a foot-soldier is wounded let a trooper give him his
horse, and take his musket, until another horse, or a306
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
farm wagon, can be obtained for the transport of the
wounded man.
When the command halts for the night, the bivouac
should be chosen so as to shelter the infantry and pro-
tect it from surprise by the enemy’s cavalry. In this
bivouac there should be no vedettes, but only infantry
sentinels and continuous cavalry patrols.
With the advance-guard, the infantry should be kept
out of sight and shown only at the proper time. The
unexpected appearance of the infantry will produce a
powerful effect on the enemy, especially if his force
consists of cavalry only.
An excellent way of disclosing the presence of in-
fantry is to place it in ambush, then lead the enemy’s
cavalry in mass upon it. A quarry, a copse in the open
country, a garden wall at the entrance to a village, are
all excellent places for concealing troops, especially if
the infantry, desirous of performing its duty, keeps
silent, lowers its arms, removes its head-dresses, creeps
and crawls—in fact, employs every means to conceal its
presence until the arrival of the time for it to show
itself and act.
Our cavalry should not hesitate to pass by the ambush,
but should re-form quickly and, with sabre in hand,
charge back vigorously and thoroughly after the in-
fantry has fired its point-blank volley. If it takes advan-
tage of the enemy’s surprise, it will send him flying. If,
in this affair, it does not succeed in cutting the enemy
in pieces, it will, at least, teach him to be more careful;
the morale will rest with the victors, and it may be
presumed that the enemy will take no more chances
with these same troops.
If you manoeuvre with the infantry be careful to avoidLIGHT CAVALRY AND INFAHTRY.
307
masking their fire so as to hamper or paralyze their
action.
Suppose that your detachment is composed of one
battalion and four squadrons, and that you are com-
pelled to retreat across an open plain. Put the infantry
in the centre in echelons of half battalions. On the
right and left place a squadron in column of platoons,
and keep the other two squadrons united in rear of the
centre of the line.
The infantry will be able to give full effect to its fire.
If threatened, its two lines will form squares in echelon.
Your squadrons on the wings will be like the arms of
this body, acting together as one man. The central
position of the reserve squadrons will enable them to
reach, in a few seconds, any point threatened by the
enemy.
As soon as the ground becomes broken, so as to
afford good positions for the infantry, the square
farthest from the enemy will take up one of them,
occupy the line, and increase its fire in order to pro-
tect the other, which will pass beyond their its posi-
tion and echelon itself, in turn, in rear, leaving the
second half battalion as rear-guard. If the squadrons
on the wings have suffered, they will be relieved by the
central squadrons, whose place they will take.
If the command is not to halt, the position will be
held for a short time only, and the retreat will continue
in the same manner. If the road is bordered on one
side by vineyards, woods, hedges, ditches, etc., and on
the other by open ground, the cavalry will retreat, in
echelon, by the road or in the open ground, and the
infantry will retreat, in the same formation, under the
protection of the natural obstacles of the ground.308
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Shorld the enemy, with superior forces, push our
retreat vigorously, when night comes the infantry will
remain in our bivouacs for a few hours only, to obtain
absolutely needed rest; then it will move on quietly,
while our cavalry, of whom one half will keep their
horses bridled, will keep up the fires to deceive the
enemy, and will slowly retreat only an hour before
sunrise.
If the confidence and determination shown by the
enemy lead us to fear that he may take advantage of
the night to arrange ambuscades along the road we are
to follow in the morning, we should thwart his designs
by silently leaving our bivouacs as soon as the fires
have been lighted, either to take up a new position
much farther to the rear and out of danger, or by
leaving the road and turning off to the right or left, in
a direction which the enemy could not possibly antic-
ipate our choosing.CONCLUDING REMARKS.
309
CONCLUDING REMARKS,
Many useful details have been necessarily omitted in
this little manual, written in haste sixteen years after
the close of the war and in my complete isolation from
books of reference and counsels of every kind. Many
things have been repeated because, in such a subject,
there is so close a relation existing between the various
parts that by the mere mention of one, through the
association of ideas, many others are brought to mind.
However, I do not consider this repetition a fault; but
if it is, the blame rests with me alone. As I have
already said, I care very little for censure of that kind,
as I am not an author, nor do I desire to be considered
one; I am not writing a book, but simply putting on
paper sketches of my recollections of certain things,
believed to be useful, which, during a long peace, have
been forgotten.
In reading over these pages again, I realize how im-
perfectly my task has been performed. To look on one’s
work in cold type is indeed a terrible revelation. The
printed sheet is, so to speak, a mirror which reflects the
naked truth with a severity all the more cruel because
there is no longer any means of correcting the faults
disclosed. There is nothing to be done but submit
gracefully or break the glass.
I go on, then, without any self-delusion, trusting to
this shor.t Post-face—a rear-guard, as it were—to pick
up and reassemble a small part of that which has been310
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
overlooked or forgotten. It will doubtless glean to little
purpose in this great, rich field—that is to be expected;
but what little it does bring will be thankfully received,
for it will add to the value of that which already exists
by explaining what would not otherwise be clearly
understood.
The word Chief is not intended to signify a grade,
but an office. What is said of him applies equally well,
in a general way, to a sergeant of cavalry and a superior
officer, as soon as either assumes the responsibility of
command. I assert that, in any position whatever, a
Chief should be a personified example; that the proper
performance of his duties requires unceasing vigilance
and tireless energy; that he may neither swerve from
the right path nor break down under the burden, as it
would be more difficult to restore a disordered machine
than to create an entirely new one.
In the chapter on Saddling and Packing I see that
the copyist left out the last page. Here it is: “A squad-
ron commander must devote his attention at all times
to his horses. Everything pertaining to them is a
subject for inspection, and every moment should be
employed in looking after them. The saddlery should
receive especial attention because it often causes the loss
of horses and consequent loss of success. Let him
bear that constantly in mind.
“The dismounted trooper must be made to under-
stand that if he is ordered to save his equipments it is
not for reasons of economy. The reason is a nobler
and grander one, and founded entirely on his personal
interest. For, if he finds an extra horse at the rear,
being already supplied with an equipment, he will be
able to reappear immediately in the ranks, and returnCONCLUDING REMARKS.
311
to the battle, where he will obtain the reward of his
conduct and courage.
“ Sometimes, to the disgrace of their regiments, men
are seen who deliberately injure their horses so as to
have a pretext for concealing their cowardice in the
shelter of the small depots. These accomplish their
purpose either by wrinkling their saddle blankets or by
placing small pebbles between their folds. If such
scoundrels can be caught in the act, a terrible example
must be made of them.
“When a campaign opens, the first care of a Chief
should be to have the mouth-pieces of his curb and
snaffle bits tinned or plated; to have all the leathers
greased instead of waxed, and to keep them so while
the war lasts. These two things would relieve the
trooper from attending to a multitude of details which
consume his time uselessly; prevent the horses from
becoming disgusted with rusty bits; relieve the packs
of a ridiculous number of brushes; and preserve the
equipments in good condition.
“The Chief should see, with his own eyes, that the
trooper’s housewife contains everything necessary for
the repair of his clothing and saddlery. He should also
assure himself, by personal inspection, that each squad-
ron possesses a sufficient number of pots, tin canteens,
and scythes, and that these articles are all suitably
packed on the horses.”
The trooper can never give too much care to his
saddling, to his packing; and to be sure that both are
just as they should be, he must never mount his horse
until after he has walked around him to make his
inspection.
I cannot lay too much stress on the adjustment of312
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
saddles, the packing, the loading of the effects, and the
method of bridling. Our horses are almost always
saddled too far forward, which occasions a pressure on
the withers almost as disastrous in its effects as that
produced by pommel plates which are not raised high
enough nor sufficiently rounded. Some maintain that
the crupper, which holds back the saddle, will wound
the tail; but these wounds come, almost always, not
from pressure, but from the dirtiness and dryness of
the crupper and the insufficiency and inequality of
the material with which it is stuffed. The crupper
should be thick, smooth, clean, often rubbed with oil,
and the trooper in putting it on should be very careful
to see that none of the hairs of the tail get caught
in it.
The care to be bestowed on the folding of the saddle
blanket is a matter of the greatest importance. If the
blanket is folded so as to have six folds, with the edges
on the near side and uppermost, and not allowed to
extend more than one finger’s length to the rear or four
or five beyond the front of the sides of the saddle, the
horse will never be injured by a saddle at all suitable
for use, especially if the trooper frequently passes his
hand between the withers and the pommel arch, to
judge of the pressure, to give greater freedom, and to
remove the hairs of the mane.
Generally the holsters are inclined too much to the
front. It would be better to have them placed more
nearly vertical, which would prevent the pistol from
falling out at rapid gaits, and would enable the trooper
to draw and return his pistol more easily.
The rolled cloak may be given a length of 3 feet, in-
stead of 3 feet 6 inches, and still be completely coveredCOKCLUDIKG REMARKS.
313
by the schabraque; but its upper part should not rise
above the pommel of the saddle, and the buckles of the
coat straps should be turned from front to rear (the
tongue towards the cantle), except the middle one,
which will be turned in the opposite direction.
Cloaks are often traded, but the squadron command-
ers are generally slow to discover the fact. This may
be very easily prevented in the following manner: Have
the cloaks marked on the left side of the line of the rear
opening so that the last figure of the number will be seen
6 inches from the holster. When the cloak is rolled the
number will always be visible, either on the holster of
the near side or on the right shoulder-blade of the
trooper, so that the numbers can be easily made out at
any time.
In order to pack well, the nosebag should be fastened
separately, so that while marching the cloak may be
removed without the whole front pack having to be
taken off.
The regulations direct the sack and buckram trousers
to be put up with the cloak. I believe this would be
found to be very inconvenient in war, for it would com-
plicate the front pack and increase its weight, while, on
the contrary, we should use our best endeavor to sim-
plify and reduce it. It would be better to relieve the
horse’s shoulders by placing the trousers and sack on the
seat of the saddle. Bv this means we might be able to
dispense with the saddle-pad.
The regulations also direct the effects to be placed at
full length in the valise; but, in the field, one of our
principal cares should be to avoid injuring the horse’s
loins, and that can be done only by placing the clothing
at each end of the valise. Therefore the trousers should314
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
be rolled lengthwise, the width of the leg, and placed on
one side; the linen should be rolled in the same way and
placed at the other end. This arrangement, which will
be graceful enough, will allow the valise to be strapped
in a curved form, will not rumple the clothing, and will
prevent injury to the horse’s loins. One hundred and
fifty young men of the Thirteenth Chasseurs, having
their effects packed in that way, travelled by forced
marches from Auch to Cadiz without having a single
horse injured.
The wallet should be placed so as to be invisible from
behind. The straps securing it should be drawn tightly
enough to prevent the load from slipping under the
point of the cantle or falling to the rear. The valise
must be kept in place, and the boots must be laid on
their flat sides, so that their heels cannot fall forward,
as might otherwise happen.
As a general thing the horses are badly bridled, which
is due to several causes not sufficiently attended to. In
the first place, the brow-band is so short that the cheek
pieces are brought too close together and prevented
from being brought far enough to the rear; in the sec-
ond, the cheek-billet does not fill the eye of the upper
branch. The bit sways backward and forward, and the
noseband is tightened beyond all reason, and tortures
the horse without remedying the evil.
I have already said that all leather kept waxed in gar-
rison should be greased when in the field. If, after a
campaign, you go into cantonment, remove the grease
from the leather and use the following dressing:
4 pound of white wax,
If pints of hatter’s blacking,
f pound of salts of tartar.CONCLUDING REMARKS.
315
Take a new, glazed earthenware dish; put into it a
small quantity of the hatter’s blacking, and dissolve the
salts of tartar in it; afterwards add the wax, and when
it is melted add the remainder of the hatter’s blacking.
When the whole mass has melted add enough lamp-
black to give it the thickness of pomade. The whole
operation should be performed on a fire of coals and
without allowing the preparation to come to a boil.
An officer entering on a campaign should carry with
him some pieces of waterproof cloth, with which to
cover his horses and his effects during long-continued
rainy weather, or to put under and over himself in biv-
ouac. Waxed cloth is too apt to break; waterproof
cloth which can be bought is too heavy and too dear;
the officer should, then, make his own waterproof cloth.
To do so, let him stretch cotton or linen cloth over a
frame, and smear it with the following preparation, laid
on with a brush: Put into a glazed earthenware pot
two pounds of linseed-oil, two pinches of arsenic, and a
piece of white rosin as large as an almond. Suspend in
the oil, and firmly secured in a cloth, eight ounces of
powdered litharge, so that it cannot touch the bottom
of the pot. Let the whole boil for six hours over a slow
fire. After it has cooled, use it as a paint, and allow
the cloth to dry on its frame in the shade.
I have said that a detachment should always make a
long halt when one half of the day’s march has been
accomplished; this halt should be utilized for the writing
of reports.
In the chapter on Remounts, in saying that horses
should have strong limbs, I did not intend to be under-
stood as saying that they should be heavy like those just
sent to a regiment I could name, or to a depot I could316
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
also mention. We should not admit cart horses to our
ranks, but in many cases light legs are no more indica-
tive of activity than heavy ones are of the opposite
quality. The horse must be judged by his general con-
formation; that is to say, by the proper relative propor-
tions of all his parts. A heavy body cannot be properly
supported by thin legs, and a horse with a short body,
round barrel, light head, rounded hips, strong hocks,
short cannon-bones and pasterns, may have heavy limbs
without detriment to his action, as he will be none the
heavier for them; on the contrary, they will improve
him.
In speaking of officers commanding detachments in
war, I forgot to say that they should seize and carry off
all the maps they find. Often in city halls, in the houses
of farm agents, civil engineers, government agents, and
in country houses will be found maps exceedingly valu-
able on account of the details they contain; we must
not fail to enrich ourselves and correspondingly impov-
erish the enemy by taking them away with us.
In going into cantonment near the enemy, the first
thing to be done is to indicate a place of assembly; then
the outposts should be so arranged that they can be re-
lieved often enough to allow them to participate equally
in the repose enjoyed by the rest of the army.
In some chapters I have taken the liberty of discuss-
ing the regulations, and have drawn comparisons be-
tween wThat I have seen on the actual theatre of war and
their precepts, and have sought to harmonize theory
and practice. It is permitted, I believe, as a convincing
proof, to scrutinize the tables of the law, and I see no
impiety in criticising the regulations, when my only
object is to arrive at the truth.C(WCLUDI!*G EEMAEKS.
317
In the chapter on Arms, if I have indicated the sabre
thrusts and cuts which seemed to me those most gener-
ally employed in war, I have not desired in that way to
deny the utility of the instructions of Captain Muller;
on the contrary, I wish to render full justice to that offi-
cer, to whom the cavalry is so largely indebted; for he
has certainly perfected the method of handling a weapon
to which no one in our army had specially devoted him-
self until his time. He has" shown its capabilities, and,
if cavalrymen in general could use it as he does, his
theory would be applicable, in its smallest details, in
war; but, unfortunately, up to the present time, this
general use of it has not been free or active enough to
allow it to be compared with the model, which, by its
remarkable skilfulness, has been, and will be for a long
time to come, the exception; and as the theme which I
have proposed to myself is the application on the field
of battle of that which exists to-day, I have been obliged
to reduce the list of requirements, to discuss facts, and
especially to mention those which I have personally ob-
served to be the easiest and most useful on the battle-
field.
How ever, until you are called on to cross sabres in
battle, apply yourselves to Muller’s system of fencing;
learn how to handle your weapons, and howr to make
use of them. The moulinets, especially, by suppling
and making the wrist and forearm strong, without
deranging the position of the body, will advance your
instruction, as the practising of the scales does that of
the musician.
I have already told y®u how lancers should attack.
I have not, however, told you howT to attack them; but,
for an intelligent officer, the first should be sufficient to318
CAYALEY OUTPOST DUTIES.
teach the second. Still, a few words on the subject will
not be amiss.
Lancers should charge in compact, retreat in dispersed,
order. Carbineers should, then, attack lancers as they
would cuirassiers; that is to say, charge in column, and
pierce their centre. Once among them, the carbineers
should close in on them, hand to hand, and try always to
roll them up in mass, to drive them back huddled together
and helpless, as far as possible. Thrust! thrust! al-
ways thrust! The lancers, crowded together, can
neither point nor parry, and one of two things must
happen: either they will throw away their lances to
draw their sabres, in which case you will fight them
with equal chances, or they will decide to keep the
lances, in which case you will get them very cheaply.
Our flank files in the lancers of the Imperial Guard did
not carry lances. I remember in two cases in 1814
(at Hoogstraaten, near Breda, and Pont-Atrecin, near
Lille) coming in contact with a body of Russian and
Prussian lancers who, like ourselves, were bent on hold-
ing a narrow road, bordered by deep ditches. I placed
at the head of my column our gallant carbineers, and
ordered my lancers to follow them, after having put
their lances in the boots and drawn sabres. Having
penetrated to the centre of the enemy’s crowded masses,
our success exceeded our highest expectations, as we
sabred them without risk to ourselves.
In the chapter on Escorts I forgot to say that in a
hostile country the commander of a convoy should
watch with the greatest vigilance the peasants employed
as teamsters, especially during the night. If they are
not constantly kept under the eyes of sentinels they will
certainly desert and take their horses with them.COtfCLUDIITO REMARKS.
319
Whenever, in a hostile country, there exists between
an exposed detachment and the inhabitants a kind of
tacit understanding, based on a mutual half-confidence,
it will be well to take some hostages, and keep them in
your bivouac. This measure will impress the inhabit-
ants, and take away from them all desire of betraying
you, or perpetrating outrages on isolated soldiers.
In the chapter on Partisans and Provisions I as-
serted that one could and should levy contributions.
Those in kind are more lawful, especially when de-
manded in order to relieve a pressing necessity; req-
uisitions for money should be made only by order of
the commanding general, and every officer charged
with making a requisition and accounting for the
amount of it should receive his orders in writing.
In Belgium and Flanders, at the close of the cam-
paign of 1814, the Cossacks, aided by the inhabitants,
continued their attacks on us notwithstanding the
armistice signed by General Maison. The general sent
a hundred lancers of the guard to put an end to this
state of affairs, and to operate against Lille, Furnes,
Nieuport, and Dunkirk. The detachment set out, their
schapskas covered and their schabraques turned back.
The unfriendly inhabitants, seeing no eagles and
deceived by the scarlet uniforms, received the detach-
ment with cries of, Down with the French! Long live
the English and the Saxons! The commander of the
detachment, appreciating the situation, instead of flying
into a passion, was content with keeping the inhabitants
at a distance, and communicating with them only
through the medium of some of his Alsatian lancers,
who were ordered to say that they were in the English
service. By that means he was able to obtain informa-320
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
tion of the most valuable kind, of which he availed
himself to direct his march and military operations;
then, taking advantage of the enthusiastic friendship
of the people, he made requisitions of all kinds, signed
receipts in the name of the chief of staff of the Duke of
Saxe-Weimar, and then, one night, after having made
a general attack, withdrew to Dunkirk with his loaded
wagons and prisoners. There he exchanged the pro-
ceeds of his expedition for red and blue cloth and
everything else which his men, reduced to rags by their
hard service, needed, and reclothed and re-equipped his
detachment.
I repeat and reaffirm that, just as the education
received in colleges and families differs from that ob-
tained by contact with the world, and that the latter
often proves the falsity of the other, so the garrison
instruction given at the present day will often • be dis-
covered to be utterly worthless in war. This training,
it seems to me, is entirely insufficient for the cavalry-
man. I have yet to learn why the same theory is taught
the cuirassiers and the hussars, when the services de-
manded of them in war are not only entirely distinct,
but even opposed to each other.
On your marches you have sometimes encountered a
column of cuirassiers. Like myself, you have, from the
back of your medium-sized horse, measured the height
of those giants, and gloomily compared in your own
mind your strength wTith that of those colossal men,
covered with iron and heavily armed. And yet you
may be opposed to just such men a hundred times in
war. Through your fanatical devotion to the pre-
scriptions of your regulations, would you attempt to
manoeuvre as they do ? In a charge, would you opposeCONCLUDING REMAKES.
321
a line to theirs and meet them hand to hand, breast to
breast, to be overthrown and ground to powder, with-
out the least hope of obtaining either success or revenge ?
If you confine yourself strictly to what is taught in the
schools you will be infallibly worsted; if you practise
expedients not known to the schools you will conquer.
Make up for your want of strength by increased shrewd-
ness. As you are lighter, more active than your ad-
versaries, turn their flanks, harass them, demoralize them
by frequent surprises, exhaust them by constantly an-
noying them, defeat them by skilful manoeuvring.
Dexterity is more powerful than mere brute force: the
small tiger is the only animal that can overthrow the
elephant.
General Morand, in his remarks on cavalry, says:
“While the Tartars, brave and skilful, mounted on
light, swift, and hardy horses, were ravaging Asia and
spreading terror throughout the north of Europe, certain
other horsemen were trying their skill on one another
with battle-axes and war-clubs, and harmlessly breaking
lances against one another’s breastplates. These horse-
men were mounted on enormous animals, covered, like
themselves, with iron; they looked like travelling
fortresses; they made the soil of France, Germany,
Italy, and the mountains of Austria resound beneath
their feet. Their bodies, enclosed in thick, heavy cases,
had to maintain a state of equilibrium in the saddle;
the thighs and legs hung down, stretched by the weight
of the iron on them; the least shock was enough to dis-
place them, as is always the case with a body in equilib-
rium. Their offensive arms were proportioned to the
resistance to be overcome. Such was the cavalry of the
Middle Ages.322
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
“ Opposed to the Tartars and Arabs they were power-
less, as was shown in the plains of Antioch in Palestine,
in Egypt, at Nicopolis, and especially in Hungary.
“What a miserable spectacle was presented by these
knights, covered with iron and concealed in the defiles
extending between Bavaria and Vienna, trembling
before the Turkish army, which, spread out in the vast
plains under the walls of that capital, was conducting
the siege of the city, undisturbed !
“ It was all over with these knights, their armor was
about to become trophies, their unburied corpses the
prey of wild animals, when suddenly a few thousand
warriors, clothed in skins of wild beasts and sheep, their
shoulders glistening with resounding wings, their lances
adorned with scarlet pennons, mounted on small, swift,
and hardy horses, sallied out from the forests of Bo-
hemia, crossed the Danube, and appeared at noon of a
beautiful day in the camps of these terrified knights
whom all Christian Europe had combined together to
send to the relief of Vienna.
* ‘ It took but a moment for Sobieski to reconnoitre the
Turkish army and decide on his plan of attack. ‘ For-
ward ! ’ he cried. These magic words thrilled the
hearts of his brave men; his Poles dashed forward to
the attack, and in one short hour the Turkish camp
contained only the corpses of the dead, the bodies of the
wounded, and the immense amount of booty left by the
enemy.
“The German Emperor can once more leave his
casemate.
“A young Pole dismounts from his horse to kneel
before Sobieski, clothed in his golden vestments, his
eyes sparkling with pride. ‘No servility, Palatine,’COtfCLUDIHG REMARKS.
325
said the hero to him, and then turned away, and, pass-
ing through the throng of heavy knights to whom he
had restored confidence, he took the road to his own
country, delighted with the prospect of relating to his
wife, a Frenchwoman, whose heart was as heroic as
his own, the story of his battle and victory—a victory
which subsequent ingratitude rendered so disastrous to
his country.
“If to reason from cause to effect is correct, as the
schools teach; if the teachings of experience are to be
trusted; if the same causes always produce the same
effects; if we may judge of the future by the past—it
cannot be denied that it is only the best cavalry that
has achieved great victories.
“The hussars and lancers, organized in imitation of
the people who are recognized as born cavalry, ought,
then, to be better than the cuirassiers, who represent
the knights of the Middle Ages; and every approach
towards the original model ought to increase their
superiority. It would be well, I believe, to still further
develop their strength and dexterity by gymnastic
exercises; to shorten their stirrup leathers so that they
may stand up in their stirrups, make more effective
use of their weapons, and lean forward so as to reach
their mark; to simplify the construction of the saddle
so that it will assist the trooper in retaining his seat,
and substitute something else for the movable blanket
on which it rests, which is always becoming displaced,
injuring the horse, and causing the rider frequent falls;
but it is especially necessary that they should have
horses, not bought in German pastures, but those which
have been raised in the dryest and roughest parts of
France, accustomed to scant food and to running over324
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
rugged and difficult ground. Frederick the Great has
said that ‘ a trooper should be able to follow an infantry
soldier anywhere, and an infantry soldier should be
able to follow a goat.’ ”
To fight successfully, it is not only necessary to know
yourself, but your adversary also. The strength of the
enemy is not a mathematical quantity to be estimated
according to the number of men he has; courage, in-
struction, familiarity with war, the difference in tactics,
and a hundred other things are also to be taken into
consideration. Why do your peace-time professors
persist in trying to falsely balance weights with numeri-
cal forces ? Why do they not take into consideration
circumstances, differences, special facts, which exercies
so potent an influence, and frequently upset all calcula-
tions and totally overthrow every so-called rational foun-
dation ? Are they, then, prepared to expose you, ignorant
of all these important things, on a battlefield where you
would remain for a long time a prey to surprise before
you could comprehend your enemy and adopt the best
means to attack or repulse him ? Are the Kirghiz,
Kalmuck, Cossack, Russian, Prussian, Austrian cavalry
all armed in the same way, and taught to manoeuvre by
the same methods ?
In fighting by the side of Abdallah, Mirza, Soliman,
and many other valiant Mamelukes, I have learned to
appreciate the military riding of the Asiatics; in Brazil
I have had an opportunity to see the riding of the
South American troopers; on the battlefields of the
Empire I have been personally engaged with the cav-
alry of every European nation, without exception, from
the English to the Kirghiz, so that I have seen them all
in action; and I am convinced that no one of them isCOKCLUDIKG REMARKS.
325
exactly like another, but that they all have their dis-
tinguishing characteristics, of a very decided kind, and
that each should be opposed by entirely different
methods.
It is natural for man to never do more than his
necessities demand, and, consequently, to submit his
individual or collective actions to their requirements.
Previously to 1815, armies were kept on foot to fight
one another; since that time, only for parade purposes.
Fighting men are no longer needed, but men of the
same size, uniform in dress and drill; and this demand
has been perfectly complied with. The military art,
in changing its object, has also changed its action and
language; its movements have been divided, regulated
by rule and compass, and its language reduced to arith-
metical formulas. Your peace regiments are beautiful
statues, no doubt, but they require to have life infused
into them. They lack movement, blood, dash, fire, and
life, and war alone can teach you whether they are
good for anything or not.
Some one will say, perhaps, that under the Empire
theoretical instruction was as incomplete as it is to-day,
and included none of those things which I regard as
indispensable. That is true; but at that epoch when
all was action, theory, so-called, played only the one-
hundredth part in our instruction; the dangers, the
every-day experience, made up the other ninety-nine.
War will render you another very important service:
it will recall from exile the good-fellowship which the
Restoration thought to banish forever, and which the
Revolution of July has only amnestied, without being
able, so far, to restore to all its rights. Military com-
radeship is a passion so powerful, pure, and elevated,326
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
one to which all true soldiers owe so much gratitude, so
many pleasures, so much enthusiasm, so much glory,
that, its worship once re-established, it will banish all
unpleasant recollections and fill you with love for your
profession.
I call on you, my noble brothers in arms, Lawoestyne,
Duchand, Bro, Thierron, Jacqueminot, and so many
others who hear me, Friand, Moncey, Letellier, all so
valiant on the battlefield, so steadfast and warm-hearted
in adversity, to witness that it was not the conscription
that decided our career, but the powerful, invincible
demand of an ardent ambition. Our object was not,
then, to obtain, by thirty years’ service, the office of
town adjutant, nor to secure the charity of the Inva-
lides, but glory.
Our aim was as great as the epoch in which our youth
was passed, and surely such ambition was permissible in
a career so fraught with danger that every day the
chances of meeting death or acquiring fame were about
equally balanced in the scale. In those glorious days
how much pleasure and friendly assistance we owed to
our mutual affection! And when, victims of the basest
treachery, we laid down our arms under the guard of
English bayonets and Southern poniards, and left them
in the hands of beardless boys, then too weak to take
them up, but who have now grown strong—in those
sad days, during fifteen years of mourning, how much
consolation did we find in the friendship bom of the
battlefield and sanctified by the same dangers and the
same devotion !
I have spoken of the Cossacks, and have represented
them as perfect models of light cavalry, and I desire to
impress on you the truth of what I have said of them.CONCLUDING REMARKS.
327
Some officers who have had no experience in war, or
have had it elsewhere than at the outposts, have under-
taken to speak contemptuously of the Cossacks. Do not
listen to them. To depreciate one’s enemy is always a
false and mischievous policy, and the best way of learn-
ing how to fight an enemy is to observe him carefully,
instead of speaking disparagingly of him.
Ask our distinguished officers, Marshals Soult, Gerard,
Clausel, Maison, Generals Morand, Lallemand, Pajol,
Colbert, Corbineau, Lamarque, Preval, our gallant
chiefs, Generals Aumesnil, Earine, etc., any of our great
leaders, in fact, what is their opinion of the Cossacks,
and they will tell you that such light cavalry as they
are, who surround their army with a vigilant and im-
penetrable defensive net, who harass the enemy, who
are always making attacks, but receiving few them-
selves, completely and perfectly accomplish the object
which all light cavalry should determine to attain.
In the memoirs of M. de la Yalette you may read:
“The Cossacks rendered military operations very dan-
gerous, especially for the officers charged with the duty
of making reconnaissances. Many of these, and espe-
cially the officers of the headquarters staff, selected by
the commanding general, preferred to send in reports
obtained from peasants to exposing themselves at a dis-
tance to the attacks of the Cossacks. Under such cir-
cumstances it was impossible for the Emperor to keep
himself properly informed in regard to the enemy.”
Here we have an instance of officers being unwilling
to run the risk of capture, even in France, and the
genius of the Emperor paralyzed by the activity of the
Cossacks. Are those facts of any importance ?
General Morand, in his turn, speaks thus of the Cos-328
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
sacks: “These natural horsemen are not organized into
divisions; pay no attention to regular alignments and
the order so highly prized by us; clasp their horses
tightly between their knees; rest their feet in great
stirrups which serve as supports to them when using
their weapons, so that they can bend their bodies for-
ward to deliver a blow, or backward to avoid one.
Trained to pass at once from the halt to the gallop, and
from the gallop to a halt, their horses second their dex-
terity and appear to be a part of themselves. These men
are always on the lookout, move with extreme rapidity,
have but few wants, and warlike thoughts are the only
ones that can arouse their interest.
“ These are the kind of men who have several times
swept over the world, and who may, perhaps, before
long, change the destinies of more than one nation, etc.”
And further on: “ The march of the Grand Army was
first delayed by the Cossacks, and later they cut it off
from every source of supply, and swarmed around its
flanks like savage bees engaged in tormenting and ex-
hausting a roaring lion with their innumerable stings.”
And again:	“What a magnificent spectacle was
that presented by that European cavalry, resplendent
with gold and steel shining in the brilliant sun of the
month of June, spreading out its lines along the flanks
of the hills bordering the Niemen, and burning with
ardor and audacity! What bitter recollections we have
of their vain and exhausting manoeuvres against the
Cossacks, heretofore so proudly disdained, and who
have done more than all her armies combined for the
salvation of the Russian Empire ! Every day they ap-
peared, extended in an immense line along the horizon,
while their light skirmishers came almost close enoughCONCLUDING REMARKS.
329
to beard us in our ranks. In this long line they marched
and manoeuvred, but the moment they were attacked
they disappeared like magic, and the only objects visible
on the horizon were the birch and pine trees; but an
hour later, while our horses were feeding, the attack was
renewed, and the long black line came into view once
more, and the same manoeuvres were repeated, with the
same results.”
“ In that manner the bravest and most beautiful cav-
alry was exhausted and consumed by troops whom it
was wont to consider unworthy of its steel, but which
sufficed, however, to save the Russian Empire, of which
they were the true supports and sole liberators.
“To crown our affliction, we must add that our cav-
alry outnumbered the Cossacks; that it was supported
by the lightest, bravest, and most terrible artillery ever
employed as a minister of death; and it must be still
further said that the chief of our cavalry, the idol of the
soldiers, was supported in every manoeuvre by intrepid
infantry, and, notwithstanding all that, the Cossacks
returned, laden with spoils and covered with glory, to
the fertile banks of the Don, while the soil of Russia
was strewn with the corpses and arms of our soldiers, so
brave and fearless, and so devoted to the glory of our
country. Such is the power of organization, such the
secret of the conquests of Zinghis, etc.”
After having read the foregoing remarks, eloquently
beautiful, historically true, heart-rending in their state-
ment of facts, can we longer refuse to recognize the
true models for light cavalry ? Have we not the right
to hope that the system of instruction for our cavalry
will be revised from the very foundation, corrected and
perfected in all its details ?330
CAYALBY OUTPOST DUTIES.
Let the government, putting aside the traditions of
fifteen years of slumber, and of the Lower Empire, and
recognizing the needs of our cavalry, like those of the
other special arms, send selected officers among the born
cavalrymen of the world to learn all the improvements
that can be introduced into our service; require these
officers to report the results of their thorough, conscien-
tious, and valuable investigations, and publish them to
the army, so that they may be employed, not only to
improve it in its material details, but serve to perfect
its methods of attack, and instruct it in conducting de-
fensive operations.
Sometimes officers and non-commissioned officers think
they can give their chiefs an exalted idea of their zeal,
and of their manner of performing their duty, by taking
advantage of their presence to nag their subordinates,
and shout at them. This is a detestable practice and
will impose upon no one. It produces an effect exactly
the opposite of that intended.
The officers and non-commissioned officers who per-
form their duty the best are those who nag and bluster
the least, and get the most work out of their men. In-
justice, blustering, the abuse of punishments, all tend
to harden and disgust men, and, if I may so express
myself, deprive punishment of all its value by robbing
it of its moral effect and leaving only its small material
vexations.
Before punishing an inferior, especially if he is a young
soldier, he should be reproved gently several times;
then, if he shows himself deaf to these paternal warn-
ings, let him be severely punished; for you may be quite
sure that you are not punishing one trespassing throughCONCLUDING REMAKKS.
331
ignorance, but intentionally, and conduct of that kind
must never be tolerated.
By the abuse of punishments a regiment becomes so
hardened as to lose all noble feeling. Its moral tone
once lowered, it will never again recover it.
General Colbert, the commander of the Seventh Hus-
sars, in the field, warned his officers that any one of
them who subjected himself to arrest three times would
be sent back to the sub-depot. In three years not a case
arose in which so cruel a punishment had to be re-
sorted to.
The first of our faculties is attention; all the others
may be recalled by means of it; and it may be aroused
in men of the most limited intelligence by teaching
nothing which exceeds their capacity. The habit of
studying becomes easy when the instructors are patient
and adapt their instruction to the different capacities of
their pupils.
There are some officers who have seen nothing (for to
serve only in peace-time is to see nothing), who deliber-
ately cultivate dissipated habits, in order to be, as they
think, light-cavalry officers, and to makeLasalles of them-
selves. They might as well spare themselves such useless
trouble. Lasalles are born, not made. The imitations
of the noble, high-toned original are shamefully ridicu-
lous. Those who have made the charcoal sketches of
the Lasalle of the tavern have either never seen him
at all, or never looked high enough to see his head.
They ought to know that General Lasalle, whose mili-
tary talents and brilliant courage placed him at the
head of all the light-cavalry generals of the Empire, pos-
sessed the keenest and kindliest wit, the most polished
and distinguished manners, the greatest amount of332
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
valuable and varied information, and that—if nature
was pleased to complete and perfect this unique exam-
ple by so largely endowing him morally, physically,
and intellectually—he expended in his pleasures only
the superfluity, the excess of his strength; and that
on the seal of good taste and distinction was impressed
all his actions, no matter what they were.
The would-be Lasalles of peace-times are only dis-
reputable Falstaffs, and excite nothing but pity and
disgust.
What I have said of officers and their relations to
the club applies as well to non-commissioned officers.
If the latter are no longer allowed to enter a tavern and
sit at the same table with a corporal, they are also for-
bidden to make the club their permanent lounging-
place, to incur debts, and to waste time which might
better be employed in receiving instruction. The non-
commissioned officers ought to remember that they are
almost officers; that they form a corps within a corps,
and that they have a double corps dignity to maintain.
They should exercise a mutual supervision over one
another—not as a matter of espionage, which would be
unworthy of them, but to look after one another as
members of the same family, to give good advice, to
use necessary reproofs in order that slight faults may
not degenerate into vices, to prevent their becoming
known to the public—which would injure the reputa-
tion of the squadron or regiment—and to preserve the
dignity of the corps untarnished and worthy of respect.
Should one of their corps prove deaf to this fraternal
advice, and they decide that there is no hope of his
reform, they should not hesitate to demand, by unani-
mous vote, that their chiefs expel him from the corps.COXCLUDIKG REMARKS.
333
Remember, non-commissioned officers, that you are,
to-day, the nursery of the army, and that your chances
of promotion have never been so good. Let nothing
which may happen discourage you. You will doubtless
see, as I have, if you have been engaged in war or be-
come so in the future, boys who were not even in the
service when you were already valuable non-commis-
sioned officers—grown up in the shadow of peaceful
colleges or depots—become your superiors while you
remain without promotion in war. Be not sur-
prised at this, for such always has been the case, and
probably always will be. But these favorites of fortune,
having once attained the apogee of their little orbits,
will stop by the mere force of things. You will then, in
your turn, grow to the full height of your acquired
knowledge, of your real rights, which no one will deny,
and you will take your proper place with just pride;
the previous vexations will be forgotten, or, if remem-
bered, will only remind you that it is to them, perhaps,
that you owe the efforts you have made, and which have
brilliantly justified your success.
If lazy seniority carries off promotion which you be-
lieve due to you on account of your active service, do
not be astonished at that, either, but yield without a
murmur, for you will soon receive your revenge. The
principal thing is to fix on your objective, and then
prove your incontestable right to attain to it. To do
that, work! work! work! Do not limit your instruc-
tion to the restricted number of prescribed duties; clear
them by study, by that close study which, so to speak,
throws our whole soul into the search after that which
we desire to know. Your chiefs will recognize your zeal;
it will soon become a passion with you, and will not334
CAY ALKY OUTPOST DUTIES.
only hasten your advancement, but will also guide you
usefully and nobly through your whole life.
To-day the point of departure is the same for all; the
arrival depends entirely upon yourself.
Somewhere I have read the following: “Aboutimir
had no ancestry. After he had conquered Egypt, some
one dared to ask him to what family he belonged.
Pointing to his army, he said: ; There is my family,5
and to his sword, 1 here is my pedigree.’”
As to you, officers, as soon as you enter on a cam-
paign, let everything become an object of observation
and study. Study every movement, as a whole and in
all its details, which is executed within your view, even
though you take no active part in it; endeavor to seize
the idea which directs it; examine it; anticipate, if pos-
sible, its successive developments. In that way you
will learn the art of war, and fix in your well-stored
memory a number of practical examples which may be
very usefully employed when, left to your own re-
sources, the same conditions suddenly present them-
selves. What you do not understand* get better-in-
structed men to explain to you, and let nothing remain
undecided or confused in your mind.
I have said that young officers should consult and
religiously learn from their seniors. I repeat it: these,
warned by their age and their wounds, are retiring from
the service; to-morrow they will all have disappeared
from our ranks—so much the worse for the fighting
army. I admit that these old officers are not very
familiar with books; but the art of war is not altogether
confined to books. The battlefield and the bivouac
have their science also, and that cannot be acquired by
ransacking all the libraries in the land. Consult, then,CONCLUDING REMARKS.
335
those who possess it, and respect these masters who
have so painfully acquired their knowledge. You are
no longer gentlemen enough to know everything with-
out having taken the trouble to learn anything; and if
in battle you are fortunate enough to serve under these
old, practical professors, you will be able to appreciate
them at their full value, and learn that what remains
of their former selves is still good for something.
I have cited a few actual occurrences because an ex-
ample is a kind of practical, indisputable instruction
which, if repeated on the battlefield, will find you fully
prepared in advance to meet it, without being taken by
surprise. As I have been sparing of these instances,
which my recollections have brought swarming in
crowds under my pen, I cannot resist the temptation to
give you a final example of an ambuscade:
The Emperor was hastening to avenge, in the plains
of Toeplitz, Yandamme’s defeat. Our columns, de-
scending from Kulm, were moving on, when the enemy,
wishing to make an attack similar to the one he had
so successfully made on us a few days before, turned
our left flank, and placed a battery of twenty guns in
position in front of a strong line of infantry. A hun-
dred lancers dashed into a ravine whose windings al-
lowed them to approach the enemy under cover; then
they charged boldly, and, in spite of the hail of grape,
the musketry fire, and the sabres of Kinmyar and Hesse-
Homburg, they captured the battery, and then leisurely
retired without losing a single prisoner.
In mentioning General Curely I have personified the
union of all the military qualities that go to make up
the typical soldier; if I had known a better model I
should have presented him to you in his place. How-336
CAVALRY OUTPOST DUTIES.
ever, I admit that I am happy and proud to find in one
for whom my recollections evoke only the warmest feel-
ings of friendship, a distinctive example, and to strew
a few flowers, poor and withered ones, perhaps, upon
the humble but precious grave of one so shamefully
ignored by his country.
To his children, Curely left only his name. It is a
heavy one to bear, but a fortune in itself. His chil-
dren, to-day non-commissioned officers in our army, if
in need of support, of protectors, have only to pro-
nounce that name. Wherever it shall be heard by an
old hussar or chasseur of the Grand Army, or any other
true soldier, it will receive the tribute of a sigh and a
tear, and the child or young man will find a protector
and a second father.
This manual is intended to treat of the employment
of light cavalry, as organized to-day and with our
present resources, in the presence of an enemy. If
peace continues and time can be found for the work, I
shall endeavor to treat of cavalry as I understand it.
I shall draw upon my personal experiences for this con-
scientious work, and the height of my ambition will be
attained if my observations shall prove to be useful to
an arm which I believe is not thoroughly understood
to-day, and to which I have consecrated my life.