IF NO PICQUET WAS ON THE SPOT BEFORE.
_By Day._
Being arrived at the spot chosen by himself, or pointed out to him,
he forms his Picquet, and takes out as many men as he thinks he has
occasion for as Videttes. To fix upon the number of Videttes, is
much facilitated by riding on the top of a hill, and observing the
number of roads and hills in front. With these Videttes he goes on,
and places them in such a manner that every one of them is able to
see individually what is coming towards the Picquet, as well as the
neighbouring Videttes. The remainder of the Picquet dismounts in the
mean time, with the exception of one Sentry, who is to be placed a
little in advance. The bridles are not to be taken off. In placing
the Videttes the Officer will have acquired a sufficient knowledge of
the country to be able to judge whether any of them are superfluous,
(which is much to be avoided, as men and horses are unnecessarily
fatigued by it,) or whether there ought to be more. Two-thirds of
the Picquet now unbridle: it is to be recollected that the whole of
a Picquet should never unbridle. The Officer then reconnoitres the
country. Every one ambitious to do his duty well will make a little
sketch, in which the following are to be marked;
1. Roads; 2. Rivers; 3. Bridges and Fords; 4. Morasses, cavities,
hollow roads, and mountains; 5. Wood; 6. Towns, Villages and their
distances.
If the Officer does not acquire such an exact knowledge of the
country, he cannot be responsible for the security of his Picquet, and
of the corps to which he belongs.
By this time he will have had opportunity to fix upon the spot where
his Picquet and Videttes ought to be placed at night.
_By Night._
It is impossible to lay down any fixed, principles on this subject;
but the general rules are, to advance the Picquet at least two or
three English miles in front of the main body: to place it behind a
bridge, ravine, wood, or bog through which the road passes, in order
to be enabled to make a stand immediately on being attacked, and to
place Videttes in front and flanks. Small Patrols of two or three men
in front, and flanks at half an hour's interval, and constantly kept
in motion, will give perfect security, particularly if one of the
men sometimes dismounts, and listens with his ear on the ground: he
will hear the march of troops at a great distance. This precaution is
indispensable in stormy weather. Upon coming by night to a new spot,
particularly in a mountainous or woody country, small Patrols must be
pushed forward immediately in all the roads, &c., to secure in the
first instance the placing of Videttes, &c., &c.
If the enemy is near, no fire is to be lighted, and the spot where the
Picquet stands should be changed very often; one-half of the Picquet
should be mounted, the other stand with the bridles in their hands.