An army should be ready every day, every night, and at all times of the
day and night, to oppose all the resistance of which it is capable.
With this view, the soldier should always be furnished completely
with arms and ammunition; the infantry should never be without its
artillery, its cavalry, and its generals; and the different divisions
of the army should be constantly in a state to support, to be
supported, and to protect itself.
The troops, whether halted, or encamped, or on the march, should be
always in favorable positions, possessing the essentials required for
a field of battle; for example, the flanks should be well covered, and
all the artillery so placed as to have free range, and to play with the
greatest advantage. When an army is in column of march, it should have
advanced guards and flanking parties, to examine well the country in
front, to the right, and to the left, and always at such distance as
to enable the main body to deploy into position.