_The Director_: “Captain Hastings, you have arrived at a point which is
sufficiently far out on the road to prevent the enemy from firing into
the main body. You have here very good observation over the country to
your front and flanks. You have a fairly good field of fire. As you
know, only cavalry has been reported operating on this flank and on
account of obstacles, wire fences, etc., their operations will be
confined more or less to the roads. After considering all of these facts
what is your reaction?”
_Captain Hastings_: “I can see no necessity for going further. I do not
think anything more could be accomplished by doing so. From a position
here we could certainly stop any small body and we could administer
considerable punishment to a body as large as a troop if we caught them
mounted on the road. I would take up a position here and make my
disposition so as to cover the road.”
_The Director_: “Having decided to take up a position in this vicinity,
just how would you do it, Lieutenant Wallace, where would you place your
men?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “There is sufficient space on the road and at the
sides of the road to accommodate the squad. I think I would place them
so they can fire straight down the road.”
_The Director_: “What do you think of that solution, Lieutenant
Ralston?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would not do it that way.”
_The Director_: “Why?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “Well, sir, the men would be too much exposed.
Suppose the enemy appeared on the road with as much as a troop. We fire
into him. Perhaps the hostile captain’s orders are to check the advance
of our main body. He decides to take his losses and charges down the
road. Our small detachment would be in a precarious situation, only
eight men against an entire troop. The men know they have no means of
getting out of the way. They would be thinking more of their own safety
than of hitting the enemy. They would shoot wild, and the chances are
that the squad would be ridden down and destroyed. On the other hand, if
we put the men on the other side of the wire fences, they will know that
a mounted charge cannot hurt them. They will have more confidence in
their ability to stop it and the firing will be much more effective.”
_The Director_: “Then you would place your men on the other side of the
fence, would you?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “Yes, sir.”
_The Director_: “On which side of the road would you place them?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “On both sides, sir. Half a squad on each side.
This disposition would give me a good cross-fire on the road.”
_The Director_: “Have you any objections to that disposition, Captain
Harvey?”
_Captain Harvey_: “Yes, sir. It divides the force and makes it very
difficult for Sergeant Wilkins to control and direct the fire.”
_The Director_: “Captain Hodges, do you see any other objections?”
_Captain Hodges_: “Yes, sir. I would not only want all the men on the
same side of the road but I would want them on this side (indicating the
side in the direction of which the flank guard is marching). If it comes
to the point where we are compelled to fall back we can do so directly
on our own troops and not have to expose ourselves while climbing the
fences and crossing the road. And the field of fire is about as good on
this favorable side, too.”
_The Director_: “I think your points are well taken. Let us decide that
we are to place the patrol in position on this side (indicate) of the
road. Captain James just how would you go about it?”
_Captain James_: “I would get the men through the fence, and to the
vicinity of the position that we are to take up.”