PLACING OF VIDETTES.
Although little can be said upon this subject, (everything depending
upon the nature of the country,) the following rules may be applicable:
_By Day._
They are generally placed upon hills, to enable them to have a good
view of everything in front. In a mountainous country the ravines and
narrow valleys now and then cannot be observed at the top of a hill;
in this case a Vidette is to be placed in the bottom. It is desirable
to place the Videttes on the top of hills, near a tree or large
stone, to prevent the enemy from seeing them, as he may conclude,
by seeing one of them, what position the whole line of Videttes and
Picquets, and even sometimes the corps to which they belong, have
taken up.
When the Videttes are placed in such a manner that they can overlook
their front, see each other and the ground between them, so that
nothing can pass unperceived, they are placed as they ought to be.
In order to spare men and horses, no more Videttes than necessary are
to be out.
In a thick fog the Videttes stationed at a considerable distance on
the flanks are taken off the hills and placed on more suitable spots.
The country may require that the position fixed upon for the night
should be taken up during the day, in which case the country in front
must be continually scoured in all directions by small Patrols; which
measure always gives sufficient security.
_By Night._
The Videttes are taken off the hills, and placed on the roads, behind
fords, bridges, ravines, &c., by which the enemy may approach the
Picquet. At a clear moonshine they ought to be near a tree or bush, to
prevent their being seen by the enemy, as in a close country it may
happen that he approaches them unperceived, notwithstanding all their
attention. They should be placed at the bottom of a hill, so that
any object moving on the top would be easily perceived even in the
darkest night.
They are by no means to be advanced further than that, their firing
can be distinctly heard by the Picquet, even in a stormy night.