Instructions for Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of Cavalry, on Outpost DutyArentschildt, Alexander Carl Friedrich von
History
Instructions for Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of Cavalry, on Outpost Duty
Arentschildt, Alexander Carl Friedrich von
Cavalry drill and tactics; Guard duty
6. Upon relieving a Picquet, the new one should form in the rear of
the old, the Videttes should be relieved, and the detail of duties
should be thoroughly explained to the non-commissioned Officers and
Privates. The Commander of the old Picquet should deliver over to the
new one all written Orders, and the verbal Orders should be written
down and signed by the Officer relieved: he should likewise inform
him to whom reports are to be made, and give him every information
he has relative to the Enemy, the Patrols, the Country, &c., and the
night posts should be pointed out. At the relief of the Videttes, both
officers of the old and new Picquet should be present, and listen
to the instructions given by the old Vidette to the new one. These
instructions should be from what part of the country the Enemy may be
expected, where the neighbouring Videttes are stationed, in order to
be able to repeat their signals. A Vidette should never move from the
spot upon which he is placed, as the difference of a yard may prevent
his observing, or being observed, at a great distance.
7. A dismounted Sentry should be placed in front of the Picquet, where
he can observe the movements of the different Videttes. One-third of
the horses must always be bridled up, and be ready to advance; the
men must not take off their swords or belts; one-half may sleep in
the middle of the day, the other half in the afternoon, so that they
may be all perfectly alert at night. The men must not be allowed to
leave the Picquet, or to go into the villages, or houses, in the
neighborhood. When the men water their horses, they must bridle them
up, and take everything with them; in short, a Picquet must be always
ready for an attack in half a minute.
PATROLS.
8. In sending out Patrols, the following Rules should be observed: The
First should go out in the morning in time for it to arrive at its
destination before daybreak, where it should remain until the Officer
who commands it has had time to go to some rising ground and look over
the country. The Second at Ten. The Third at Two. The Fourth towards
Evening. And the Fifth at midnight. This arrangement, however, depends
upon the distance of the Enemy, except the morning Patrol, which is
to go under all circumstances. A Patrol, in returning, should look
often to the rear, as the Enemy frequently succeeds in following a
negligent Patrol. The Non-commissioned Officer should be particularly
careful not to allow the men to fatigue their horses; if it should be
necessary to feed, it should never be done in a village, but in an
open country, and a Vidette should be placed during the time. No man
should be permitted to leave his horse for a moment, and any man who
attempts to use an inhabitant of the country ill, or to take anything
from the town by force, must be severely punished.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account