The Officer detaches the Sergeant's Troop to the right, the Corporal and four men to the left, and himself remains with his men in the centre. The Sergeant sends two men to the skirts of the wood; these must look at the tracks, and one of them occasionally rides to the top of a height, if any be near; the remainder divide themselves to the left of these two men, at such a distance that they can keep one another in sight. The Corporal divides his men in the same manner, between the Right Flank of the Column and the Officer's Troop. If the officer perceive that these two lines are not extensive enough to cover the ground towards his troop, he detaches a sufficient number of men to the right and left, to form a perfect line, which line must be careful never to pass the head of the Column. The Non-commissioned Officers endeavor to keep their men in the same line with the Officer's division. All this should be done quietly, without hurry or fuss, and will be so done, wherever the men have been previously instructed in their duty. To see men unnecessarily galloping and fatiguing their horses on such occasions, from mere want of instruction, and without doing any more good than if at a walk, really excites one's pity.

SECTION II.

PATROLLING A WOOD.

This is done in the manner just described (SECTION I) for a Side Patrol, with the difference, that two men are also sent round to the left skirt of the wood.

SECTION III.

PATROLS OF DISCOVERY

Consist generally of a considerable force, so as to be enabled to defend themselves against small parties or patrols of the Enemy, and are sent for the purpose of ascertaining, whether a certain place is in the Enemy's

possession, whether he is on the move against us, or whether a certain district is occupied by him. Such a Patrol usually has three men for an Advance and two for its Rear Guard; and, if necessary, sends one man to its right, and another to the left, along its heights.

As not only the safety of the Patrol frequently, but the very object for which it is sent, depends upon its not being seen by the Enemy, it is of the utmost importance to impress well upon the men in front, that they are not to be satisfied with merely looking out before them, but to examine closely the tracks along the cross-roads, ascend the hills with caution, &c.

If this be done, the Patrol will sometimes have a chance of making prisoners. A Patrol which sees the Enemy advancing towards it with not too strong a force, must conceal itself, and at the proper moment attack him vigorously; whereby he will be thrown into confusion, fly, and perhaps lose some prisoners. When the Enemy is too strong, the Patrol avoids him, and, if circumstances permit, continues its march, and endeavors to carry out the object for which it was sent.

A Patrol must never enter a village or wood, which has not been examined; but this is to be so managed as not to delay the Patrol. For, it must be borne in mind, that the officer who sent it out has calculated the time of its return; should it not come back at that time, he may get apprehensive, and send another one out to look for it; whereby both men and horses will be unnecessarily fatigued.

In passing, at night, a village which the Enemy may have occupied, the Patrol is to halt about five or six hundred yards from it. When no Vedettes of the Enemy are visible, a few men are sent to the right and left, who approach stealthily, to ascertain if the entrances to the village are occupied by troops, and to try and pick up an inhabitant, whom they may bring back with them. If nothing can be learned in this way, the Patrol moves on, observing the precautions mentioned in a former Section.

When a Patrol is ordered to ascertain, by night, whether a village is occupied, and how, three of the best mounted men are picked out for the lead; eight others follow at a distance of twenty-four yards; and the remainder of the Patrol, at a hundred yards. The Enemy's Vedettes are then approached without noise, and as soon as one challenges, the three men in advance bear down on him at full speed.

to take him prisoner. Should they not succeed, they with the other eight must make a dash at the Guard, to bring off a prisoner, with whom they retire. The alarm will be given in the village to a certainty, and the sounding of trumpets or beating of drums, will enable the Patrol to judge by what kind of troops it is occupied. If a Patrol go so far as to be obliged to feed, it must never stop to do so in a village, but always in an open country under some trees, and, while halting for this purpose, must never omit to throw out Vedettes. The horses must be watered and fed by detachments-never all at the same time—so as to guard against surprise.

Provisions and forage, if it be necessary to get them out of villages, must be brought out by the inhabitants.

On such occasions, as on all others, the inhabitants are to be treated with kindness; any attempt to rob or ill-treat them, must be promptly and most severely punished.

But the object had in view by the Patrol, and the direction of its route, must be carefully concealed from them. Guides that are sent home must, if possible, be deceived, by the Patrol's marching in a false direction, until they are out of sight. If information about the road be wanted, the inquiry must embrace several roads, that the true one may not be suspected.

SECTION IV.

SECRET PATROLS.

THESE only consist of a few men, say six or eight, and are generally sent out on the flanks, sometimes in rear of the Enemy's Army. They have frequently to go far, and be long gone, to make the necessary observations; and of all the duties of Light Cavalry, therefore, this is the most difficult to perform.

Many of the rules laid down for other Patrols, are likewise applicable here.

A Patrol of this kind marches without Advance or Rear Guard. Only one man must be detached to look over the country from the hill-tops. The high roads must be avoided as much as possible, and