SECTION IX.

DESERTERS COMING FROM THE ENEMY.

BY DAY.

As they may be seen at a distance, but cannot be known as deserters à proportionate number of the Guard must already have advanced to the line of Vedettes to meet them. Deserters generally make themselves known by flourishing their caps and calling out "Deserter!" but this is not to be depended upon; their further behavior must be carefully watched. They are then disarmed and taken to the General's quarters, one, two, or three at a time.

Whenever any private property is taken from a deserter, the act must be severely punished.

BY NIGHT.

Great caution must then be observed, especially if they are in force The Vedettes must order them to halt at some distance, and by no means allow them to come too near. The Guard advances; the deserters are ordered to approach, one by one, and are immediately disarmed. They are then taken to the rear. Deserters must be examined respecting the movements, &c., of the Enemy.

The Officer immediately sends word to the rear, and communicates the fact to the Grand Guards on his flanks. He then advances with his Guard, but warily, so as not to be cut off, and begins to skirmish with the Enemy. It will seldom be practicable to advance farther than the chain of Vedettes. If obliged to retire, he must do it as slowly as possible, endeavoring to gain all the time he can, for the corps in his rear to turn out. If he has previously fixed upon places

where to make a stand, (as enjoined to do in SECTION II,) now is the time to make use of them. The following (see Fig. 2) is the best way of defending such places, (generally a bridge, ravine, or ford;) we will suppose, in this case, a bridge:

On arriving within three or four hundred yards of it, the Officer takes the gallop, and passing over it with the main body of his men, posts himself in A, as close as possible to, and with his right flank on it, leaving the passage clear. As soon as his Skirmishers see that this has been done, they likewise gallop over the bridge and face about again in B. The enemy is thus compelled to halt, and time is gained, the grand object-on which may sometimes depend the honor and welfare of the whole corps.

GRAND GUARDS ON THE FLANKS.

When the Grand Guards on the flanks are not attacked at the same time, they can be sometimes of service in acting upon the Enemy's flanks, though not if the nature of the ground would endanger their being cut off.

As a general rule, the Grand Guards that are not attacked, retire in a line with those engaged, and, while doing so, omit no favorable opportunity, which offers, of assisting the latter.

BY NIGHT.

It is mentioned in SECTION VII, that the Vedettes, on discharging their fire-arms, must gallop back, by a certain road. This is a point of the utmost importance, and which must be well impressed on the Night Vedettes, that in the event of being suddenly attacked, they are not to retire in the direction of the Grand Guard, but a hundred and fifty yards to the right or left of it, and by a circuitous route, firing all the while, and doing all they can to mislead the Enemy, and to draw him after them. The Grand Guard, by this means, gains time to mount, and to fall, with loud shouts, on the flank or rear of the Enemy, who may be thus led to suspect that he has fallen into an ambuscade, be thereby puzzled, and perhaps lose some prisoners. After making such an attack, it will usually be best for the Grand Guard to

fall back again along the road fixed upon for a retreat. The men must therefore be shown, during the day, both the road which the Vedettes are to take, when attacked at night, and whereabout they are to rejoin the Grand Guard. The retreat, otherwise, is conducted in nearly the same way as by day, with only this difference, that there cannot be skirmishers in front, but only two or three men at the head. It is necessary to fire as much as possible, and wherever a stand can be made, an obstinate defence should be attempted. It is almost unnecessary to remark, that the attack, as soon as made, should be reported.

REPORTS.

All Officers in command of Grand Guards, Patrols, &c., must make written reports of everything which occurs. There are few occasions when it is necessary to send a verbal report, and it should, as far as possible, be avoided, as it is very difficult to find Non-commissoned Officers and soldiers who will deliver one correctly. A Commander of a Post or Patrol must be very cautious not to create unnecessary alarms; he must report as fully and as correctly as possible. In reporting the movements of the Enemy, let him recollect that considerable confusion may arise from saying "to the right," or "to the left;" he must say to our right, or to our left, or "to the Enemy's right," or "to the Enemy's left." If a Non-commissioned Officer cannot send a written report, he must explain the message thoroughly to an intelligent Private, and should the latter deliver it incorrectly, he must expect to be punished.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

A great deal of responsibility rests with a Non-commissioned Officer on Outpost duty; he has frequently the command of Patrols, small posts, &c.; it is, therefore, necessary for him to obtain a thorough knowledge of his duty. He is to recollect that the safety and honor of his Regiment may frequently depend upon the manner in which he executes his duty. Unless, therefore, he can enforce the strictest discipline, and make the men under him conform scrupulously to their orders, he is not fit for his situation.