DURING HIS STAY ON PICQUET.
_By Day._
A Dismounted Sentry who is able to see the movements of the several
Videttes, and who can acquaint the Picquet with them, is a measure so
necessary for the safety of the Picquet, that it never ought to be
omitted.
One-third or one-fourth of the horses are always bridled up and ready
to advance; the men must never take off their swords and belts;
one-half of them may sleep in the middle of the day, the other in the
afternoon, that they may be all perfectly alert at night.
The men must not be allowed to go into houses or villages in the
neighbourhood; such straggling leads to irregularities, and on being
rapidly attacked by the enemy the horses will be lost.
When the men water their horses, they must bridle them up, and take
everything with them; none but inexperienced and negligent Officers
will allow the men to water their horses at any distance with merely
the halter on, and leaving the bridle with the Picquet.
In short, a Picquet must at all times be ready for an attack in half a
minute.
How often the Picquets are to patrol, where to and how far, is
generally ordered by the Officer commanding the outposts. If there are
no orders upon these subjects, the following Patrols will be sent:
The first at half an hour before daybreak, or so early that it has
time to arrive at the place of its destination at daylight; here it
will remain until it is full daylight. Whoever leads the Patrol is to
go up on the top of a hill, where he can look about to a considerable
distance, and then he returns, the second Patrol at ten o'clock;
the third at two o'clock; the fourth towards evening; the fifth at
midnight.
This arrangement, however, depends upon the distance of the enemy,
except the morning Patrol before daylight, which is to go under all
circumstances.
It cannot be too frequently told to all Patrols, that they are often
to look to the rear when they return. The Enemy very frequently
succeeds in following a negligent Patrol of this kind, and surprising
the Picquet, which thinks itself perfectly secure. In a close country
it is very advisable after the return of a patrol, to send forward
again a few men at the distance of a mile, to be certain that the
Enemy did not follow the Patrol.
_By Night._
The proper time for the Picquet to go to the night post is when it
gets too dark for the day Videttes to see at any distance; they are
then called in, and the position for the night is taken up.
If there are any apprehensions of being betrayed to the enemy by spies
or inhabitants of the country, it is advisable to change the spot
again, but the Videttes will remain.
In case the enemy is very near, the Picquet must be mounted; this is,
however, very fatiguing for men and horses; it is, therefore, better
to cause one-third or one-half to mount and to advance about a hundred
yards; the remainder is to stand by their horses.
At night the Videttes may be relieved every hour. The Relief should
ride along the chain of Videttes; this may be considered, at the same
time, as a visiting Patrol. Besides this Patrol, the Videttes are to
be visited every half hour to be quite sure that none of them have
deserted or fallen asleep. If the enemy is near, the Videttes should
be all double; which is at all times to be recommended in preference
to single Videttes, if the strength of the Picquet will allow it.
In case a man deserts, the spot where the Picquet is stationed ought
to be instantly changed to some hundred yards' distance, and the fire
to be extinguished; the Videttes are to be made acquainted with this
change, and double attention paid. In such cases double Videttes
patrol among themselves in the following manner:
_Fig._ 1.
1 2 3 4 5 6
....0 0 .... 0 0 .... 0 0....
Videttes.
No. 1 patrols to his left, and when returned No. 2 proceeds to No. 3,
and returns to his station: No. 3 patrols to No. 2, and when returned,
No. 4 will go to No. 5 and return; 5 and 6, and all the other Videttes
do the same. If this is done it is impossible that anything can pass
unperceived. The desertion of any man must be reported without delay.
When the Enemy is close, the following measures not only contributes
to insure security, but is the best way to learn when the Enemy is
on the move. A few men are to patrol during the night every hour
beyond the chain of Videttes, in different directions, and to go as
close to the Enemy as they can, unperceived. As soon as they are far
enough, one man dismounts and listens with his ear on the ground;
he will be enabled to hear at a considerable distance when Troops
march. This undoubtedly gives security to the outpost; but it is
particularly recommended, being the only means to ascertain the secret
movements of the enemy in the night, to discover which the greatest
exertions ought to be made, as it is of the utmost importance to the
Commander-in-chief to be immediately acquainted with them.
The Picquets have frequently no orders to detain people that pass
through the line of outposts towards the enemy; but in the evening
and during the night every one attempting to do so must remain with
the Picquet until daylight. Persons suspected of carrying any papers
with them are to be searched, and sent to the Commanding Officer, with
a written statement why they appear suspicious. Half an hour before
daylight the morning Patrols will be sent on the roads in front, and
as soon as it is quite light the Picquet and Videttes take up their
position for the day.