_The Director_: “Lieutenant Baker, what class of cavalry detachment do
you estimate this to be?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I should say it is a contact patrol sent out from a
larger body to reconnoiter. If it were the point of an advance guard we
would now be seeing other troops farther to the rear of them.”
_The Director_: “What would you do?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I would open fire on the cavalrymen.”
_The Director_: “When would you open fire?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “There are only eight of them. We have an ambuscade
and ought to be able to bring down practically all of them. There would
be no danger in letting them come close up.”
_The Director_: “How close would you let them come?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “Well, sir, I would let the leading men come within
50 yards, if they would do so, before opening fire. The man farthest
away would then be about 450 yards distant. I would assign a target to
each man beginning at the right man taking the rear trooper and so on
through the squad to the left. I would make it my particular business to
see that no man passed this point.”
_The Director_: “Just what orders would you give? I want you to state
the exact words that you would employ in meeting the situation.”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “As soon as I determine how close I am going to let
the enemy come before opening fire I will order:
“‘Four men on right. Range: 450 yards. Target: Enemy cavalry on
road, four men at rear of patrol. Renolds and Shane. Range: 300
yards. Target: Enemy cavalry on road, two men in center of patrol.
Healy fire on second man. Corporal Jenkins take the leading man.
When you get your man fire on the man next farthest away. Wait for
my command to open fire.
“‘When the enemy patrol has advanced to the point where I have
indicated the ranges I will command:
“‘Fire at will.’”
_The Director_: “Let us assume that the patrol came up the road and that
you opened fire in accordance with your orders. The two leading men and
one of the next group of two were brought down and one of the latter
made his get-away. At least two of the last group were brought down. You
have then inflicted five casualties on the patrol and the three
remaining men got away. Now, Lieutenant A will hear the firing and will
want to know what it is all about. How would you meet this requirement,
Captain Hall?”
_Captain Hall_: “The action will be over in a minute. I would want to
get an identification as soon as possible. I would say to Corporal
Jenkins:
“‘Go out to the leading trooper we brought down and see if you can
get an identification.’
While Corporal Jenkins is doing this I will call Halley, who is the
expert semaphore man to me and say to him:
“‘Go back to the cross-roads and signal Lieutenant A:
“‘“Eight men, Sixth Cavalry fired on, disabled five of them, three
got away.” Bring me any message that Lieutenant A may send.’
“I would assume that Corporal Jenkins secured an identification on
the leading cavalryman. If he did not the message would be modified
accordingly.”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “I do not understand why we go to so much trouble at
this particular time to get an identification.”
_The Director_: “Suppose you were commanding the Blue force and you ran
into the enemy in this locality. Cavalry troops are operating on your
front and flanks. If the advance guard picks up an identification of the
6th Cavalry in its front, the flank guard does the same and we get our
identification here. This information put together indicates to the Blue
command that he is being opposed by a single regiment of cavalry and
considering the front he is covering he cannot be very strong at any
point. But suppose the identification of three different regiments are
picked up. This puts a different aspect on the situation. Our commander
would estimate that he is probably confronted by a cavalry division and
his plans would have to be made accordingly. Make it a general rule that
you secure an enemy identification when it is possible to do so. It may
have little value at the time and again it may be most valuable. You
play safe by getting it and sending it in.”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “I see the point.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Hunt, there are five dead or wounded men of
the enemy lying out there in the road. Would you do anything about
them?”
_Lieutenant Hunt_: “Except to secure the identification, I would not.
The men of the enemy who made their escape probably did not have a very
clear idea of where the fire came from and I would not want to surrender
any of the advantages I now possess with respect to position and
concealment. When the enemy learns of the disaster to his patrol he may
send out a strong detachment to secure their dead and wounded and punish
us. Our own main body is marching away from us and our position is
becoming momentarily more dangerous. I could do nothing for the enemy
wounded. They would have to stay where they are for the time being.”
_The Director_: “When do you estimate that you should leave here?”
_Lieutenant Hunt_: “In the absence of orders or other circumstances
which I do not now see, I will leave here when the time designated by
the flank guard commander is up.”