The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-04
AFFAIRS AT RIcHmoND.
THE IMPORTANCE OF RECONNAISSANCE :
How they are nfade.


hend the modus operandi and Importance of
reconnaissance, the following, from the Rich
mond correspondence of Philadelphia paper,
viii give the needed information.
Reconnaissance are expeditions by small
/ force usually cavalry into the enemy's eoun-
+ try, and are intended to elicit information con
corning the location and plans Of the enemy:
"For instance, during certain day rumor
reaches the ears of Gen. Mcclellan at the
enemy are making demonstration that will
affect our position upon the left. To ascertain
| the truth of so' report, courier is Dispatch
ed from headquarters to the commander of one
OF our cavalry regiments (cavalry being test
suited Tor such an expedition) to send imme-
diately squadron or detachment to the local.
ity indicated. The courier arrives and deliv-
ers his dispatch. The colonel then sends for
his adjuLant, TO whom he communicates the
desire of the commander who makes ntces-
sary detail of men.
The choice of companies depends, in most
cases, upon the importance of the expedition,
the duty being assigned to those, 1t may be,
who are either AGO aainted with the roads lead
ing to the locality named, or on account of the
condition in which their horses are. In few
moments from the time of the reception of the
/ dispatch, hundred or more men are mounted
command of competent leader, the party
moves off
"It may be that the tour is early one in
the morning. that the weather is stormy, and
that the route, for the most part of the way,
lays through dense woods or an extensive
marsh, where the movements Of the body are
necessarily slow and tedious. Added to this,
the fact that the reconnaissance is penetrating
a country aboundiag with the enemy, where
f.Ei of ham flxy
into rebel camp, and the dangers attending
the exhibition may, even at the outstar: of our
account, be imagined by the reader.
The point where the rebels are supposed
to be concentrating their force, it may be, is
eight, ten and sometimes even fifteen miles
distant from the encsmpment of the regiment
We have named. 81 WHY, carefully, the little
body pursues It's way, obstructed at intervals,
It may be, by fallen tlmbers, or seemingly I'M
penetrable swamps, in which the horses of the
caValrymen sink breast deep a. every step.
Frequently the horses, unable to extricate
themselves, oblige their riders to dismount,
and, after five or ten minutes exertion, they
are finally led out to point not so mry, and
again their riders mount them and move off.
"All this in the dark be it remembered,
with the wind bowling and the rain descend
ing in torrents, wetting the soldiers to the
skin. Nothing daunted, however, the column
moves on, and in about half hour or so
reaches solid ground, only again, it may be,
in a few moments, to go through similar pro-
cess as that just described. Thus advancing,
mile after mile is passed over, and our soldiers
approach within short distance of the rebel
pickets. Previous to this, from the time Of
leaving our pickets, an advance guard has
been thrown out which consists Cf some six
teen men, which body, under the command of
lieutenant, keeps habitually about three or
four hundred yards in advance of the main
column.
"Sometimes the frs intimaton that is had
of the enemys presence is the whistle of
| rife ball, which passes in such close proximity
to ones head as to cause him to change his
| position an inch or two to one side or other.
This summary admonition, supposng that it
is our design to push as far as possible into the
| enemy's country, summons the commanding
officer to the front The report of the COM
mander of the advance guard having been
received by him, and being des.rous Of feeling
| the enemys position and strength, he may or
/ der the lieutenant, accompanied by three or
| four men, to "make a dash" as it is called,
upon the enemy, with q view of driving in
their piekets
"1f the enemy is in strength and has conf
dence in his position, he strategieaily falls
back, with the design of capturing our ad-
vance guard, the latter it may be, with equal
confidence in successfully engaging the enemy,
having advanced. This act upon cur part will
probably call forth volley of musketry from
troops stationed either side of the road,
| which the enemy has detached from its main
| body in its retreat, thus eRdeavoring to draw
| our men into an ambush, and retardihg our
I progress until they are reinforced or have time
/ to retire.
-sOf the case may stand thus: The COM
/ mander of the squadron may wish to capture
their pickets or appear in force For this
purpose he win send small parties on different
roads to surround the enemy. An advance
| in severel different columns is made, this be-
/ ing the safest and surest method of
ascertaining their strength and position. The
enemys pickets viii, most probably, if
mounted, retire at gallop, and our force may
be opened upon by small howitzer, or
company their cavalry or infantry. The
commander, having gained all the necessary
information, will retire.
"Or third cnse may be cited: reconnois-
sance may bein force There will be one or two
squadrons dismounted, as occasion requires,
aud deployed as skirmishers on the right and
left of the road. These then advance, while
the advance guard moves up the road, on a
line with those on either side of it. In case
of our retiring, where we are met by superior
force there is required considerable amount
of Judgment and coolness-that Is where we
desire 20 mount and retire strategically, as it
would be our advantage to do, if we would
not, in the confusion that would otherwise en-
sue, lose some of our men from the bullets of
the enemy.
In all cases the greatest danger attending
these reconnaissance is that of being cut off by
the enemy. In too rapid advance movements
on our part and in skirmishing with the en-
emy, he may detach certain portion of his
troops to go to our rear, thus preventing any
means of escape on our psrt. In this case a
squadron or more may be captured, and that,
too, without much skirmishing having taken
place.
"We have thus attempted to describe the
modus operandi of making reeonnoissances
To meke them successfully. as we have before