_The Director_: “Captain Harvey, what would you do?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I am going back to the support in a few minutes now,
so I think I would take the prisoner along with me.”
_The Director_: “Captain Hodges, what do you think about that?”
_Captain Hodges_: “I would not want to be bothered with him. Besides we
may run into some more enemy scouts any time and this man would be in
the way and might make his escape. I would take no chances. I would send
him back to the support commander at once.”
_Captain James_: “Why not send him over to outguard No. 2 for the time
being?”
_Captain Hodges_: “That might be all right. But if I were a support
commander and one of my visiting patrols picked up a prisoner, like we
have, I should want to see him as soon as practicable. I think it would
be much better to send him directly back to the support. The support
commander can question him and make his plans for finding out where the
other scouts of the patrol to which he probably belongs, are.”
_The Director_: “That is the point that I wish to bring out. In the
first place, the Outguard Commander will have no time to question the
man. He will have to busy himself immediately making arrangements to
send out patrols in his immediate vicinity to see if he can find any
other members of the enemy’s forces. It is not likely that the man is
running around in our lines alone. There are others with him. Corporal
Canes would send the prisoner back to the support commander immediately
in order that the Lieutenant may question him before he gets over the
confusion of being captured, and in order that patrols may be sent out
to find any of his comrades that may also be within the lines.
“Now, having decided to send the prisoner back, Lieutenant Baker, how
would you go about it?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “There are several things to be considered in this
procedure. The commander of outguard No. 2 must be informed of what has
happened so that he may take the necessary action. The support commander
must be informed by a verbal message of the circumstances attending the
capture of the prisoner. He must also be informed of the immediate
future action of the visiting patrol. I would cover all of this in
orders and a verbal message. Private Kline has been with me when I was
questioning the prisoner. He knows the circumstances attending the
capture. I would send him back with the prisoner and a verbal message to
the support commander. I would say to the prisoner:
“‘Step over here and face in that direction. I am going to send you
back to our support commander by this soldier (indicating Kline). I
want to warn you that any attempt to escape will be disastrous for
you.’
“I will say to Private Kline:
“‘You conduct this prisoner back to the support commander as quickly
as possible. Have him march in front of you. Place the point of your
bayonet close to his back. Do not let him escape. As you pass
outguard No. 2 notify Corporal W of the circumstances and tell him
that we have gone on over to outguard No. 3. Tell the support
commander where we captured the prisoner; that I could get nothing
out of him except that he is lost; that you have notified Corporal W
at outguard No. 2. That I am going to outguard No. 3 and will
reconnoiter in that vicinity and over as far as outguard No. 1 of
Support No. 3. You will remain at the support to be available as a
guide in case the Lieutenant needs you. Do you understand all that
you are to do?’
“On receiving an affirmative reply I would direct Kline and the prisoner
‘Move out.’”
_The Director_: “I should say that you have covered the situation most
completely. It is most gratifying to see you officers go about the
solution to these problems in this manner. It shows that you appreciate
the necessity for going into the details of them.”