Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1817 edition. Excerpt: ... country and watches the safety of the march, reconnoitre minutely the route of each column, clear obstacles, erect the necessary bridges, fill up ravines, cut through woods, and mark out the direction that it may be followed even at night. Numberless operations have failed by columns losing their way in the night and taking false directions, ordemf march. Orders of march are the consequence of the impossibility of 3d order described in art. 39, the arrangement of the columns would be different. The whole front of the march would then be composed of columns of infantry, more numerous and with larger intervals; and each column of infantry would be followed by a column of heavy cavalry, &c. and number of i J columns. marching in.order of battle, and of the necessity of forming co lumns that separately move to the designated position by the route indicated in the plan of march. It is obvious, that the more numerous the columns, the sooner the army will reach and occupy the new position in force; supposing that they do not arrive all at the same time. If therefore a country be perfectly open and unbroken, this order may be adopted, and the several arms divided into many columns; but if the country be wooded and broken, this is impracticable; the number of columns will therefore be determined by the communications indicated in the topography and reconnaissances. the'Saneanlent "De order of march strictly means the disposition of the cooruiecoiuiMioflunns 0f tne iliflferent arms and of baggage. When there are arms-no fears of an attack from the enemy, the nature of, the com munications, and the order of encampment on the new position, determine the disposition of the columns; it should be such, that they will arrive on the new...