Terrain ExercisesWaldron, William H. (William Henry)
History
Terrain Exercises
Waldron, William H. (William Henry)
Tactics
The Director will indicate the exact position of each man so that all
members of the class will enter upon the solution of the next situation
on the same basis.
The Director will now distribute the sheets bearing Situation No. 5 to
the class and make such explanations as may be necessary.
The Problem
=Situation No. 5=:
The patrol has occupied a position at this point. At this moment you,
Sergeant Wilkins, observe a party of enemy cavalry approaching along the
road at a trot.
Two troopers are in the lead; at a distance of about 75 yards two more
follow; about 150 yards in rear there are four more troopers with short
distances between them. Apparently they have not observed your patrol.
_Required_:
What action do you take?
Procedure
The Director will point out to the members of the class the position of
each of the troopers at the moment. They should be far enough away to
allow the orders of Sergeant Wilkins to be given.
Solution
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Baker, what class of cavalry detachment do
you estimate this to be?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I should say it is a contact patrol sent out from a
larger body to reconnoiter. If it were the point of an advance guard we
would now be seeing other troops farther to the rear of them.”
_The Director_: “What would you do?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I would open fire on the cavalrymen.”
_The Director_: “When would you open fire?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “There are only eight of them. We have an ambuscade
and ought to be able to bring down practically all of them. There would
be no danger in letting them come close up.”
_The Director_: “How close would you let them come?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “Well, sir, I would let the leading men come within
50 yards, if they would do so, before opening fire. The man farthest
away would then be about 450 yards distant. I would assign a target to
each man beginning at the right man taking the rear trooper and so on
through the squad to the left. I would make it my particular business to
see that no man passed this point.”
_The Director_: “Just what orders would you give? I want you to state
the exact words that you would employ in meeting the situation.”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “As soon as I determine how close I am going to let
the enemy come before opening fire I will order:
“‘Four men on right. Range: 450 yards. Target: Enemy cavalry on
road, four men at rear of patrol. Renolds and Shane. Range: 300
yards. Target: Enemy cavalry on road, two men in center of patrol.
Healy fire on second man. Corporal Jenkins take the leading man.
When you get your man fire on the man next farthest away. Wait for
my command to open fire.
“‘When the enemy patrol has advanced to the point where I have
indicated the ranges I will command:
“‘Fire at will.’”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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