The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-04-30
Rlrbmo1ln pispattb.
WEDNESDAY :<sIEs 's4...APRILsa 20.
A CATEC HISM
On the Theory and General Principles
of Outpost Duties.
From tie "Monna Of Outpost Duties
A ATE HIS
From tie "Manual Of Outpost Ducie,."
BIZ LizuT. I'm LovsL FaBpsRIcK FIT.
oLlREycE u. u Z. Londce.
Compile fos ths a,efo.oad Dap..sh.l J

of lvooas cal'st Ia The British service, 20 laid
DOWN In .Ee Field E1syciss Boob, which oct In
front CT 8n army, for it's Pre- tee tion aud So.
cnrity, Wheo in camp or cancunnents'
ensWer - The O'atia,taS Piegues, i.s Pa.ros
ana OaoeA'@ Pa,t'es, aad the Keseros for the
PtcQae.s-in al, four.
Q, w oat is an outl.yius p,cauet. end il,
otJsct,
A.-An outlsyipg picauet Is a certain num-
Der OF men, under taa comnand of a cap.aln
OF sotaltera. detached to ths freut OF .as
',siD body Of troops. Its priuctaal zties are
to secure t.,s safsty and r,poss Of ,hs camp
sfcantonE1en IS bg cCcipyirg trc5 ground,
ana coinmardi;ig such reads. thas par, OF
the eteThy's forcs caa approx Il Iitho at
being seen
Q what is thu reserve:
-iE ts b3dy II troops OF EceS force,
the picqusts OF .heir heti & attacked, or thst
the pi qaets can retire on If found necessary
and TO tnipnde he adsaTcs at the enemy, SO
es rna1 g the man body 70 get un der arms
4 - :, nsi is patrol'
s-ae re'a,i' & to IA oUt,aying ptquet 1t
- co,1rp.ed OF r. small body OF men, under
command of Il Sd baltern Or rnon-c1Tnmissioned
cfloer, 70 he sPnt the frcu aud fianks Of the
peqnet, for he pnrpcss OF gaining informs-
tioi In regard 70 the movements ard position
OF the enemy that may oa IL their vicinity
Q On being ordered to ts lie charge OF an
ouliaying pitqust with a view Of covering
any part OF ths camp or cantonnsnt what
would be your frat duty
ITO make q ncmiua. list oftha non-com.
y n.
1rd inspect thsir arms, ammuni ion, anu ra-
tio.s.
Q-How would yen move ths pscq1.. to the
ground yon are o-c cred to occupy'
A.! sh )ult move rs sn advance guard tn
AVOID being surprised, with advance, n4ux,
and connecting fies.
Q.-Cn moving to the ground yor are TO
occupy, what observation " onld you III AXE ,
Al should take particular notice OF all
roads on Uy fanks, anc sncn positio as that,
should be driven ii, could dsfend.
Q:--What IL your FtrA Duty'' on arriving
on the groano you are occupy,
A.-Ths roand b h1vipg been poiu ted out to
I Ins bye superior officer, where my right and
left II lnks are TO rest, l Immediately guard
cgsinsa surprise by placing sentries In such
situations that no enemy en- approach I5y
picauat without being seen Besides walch
shs advance fllss of my PIX quet will 1eel their
Wiy. and ascertain Ii any lmmetlate attack Z,
| pro babe
q --W1a.tis is the second duty after takirg
TIE foregoing preeautioLf
] A--TO communicate with the = q aers OF
tn" .quets On my right and isfi hapks.
u how 90 you communicated
FL take ss many me1 as thrrk will be
| requisite 30 keep ura chain of sen ntrus from
~ ptcquss 10 the picq0ea this an gong to
coz nuaicsts with, posa. douoie entries
as pass along aaa kseping them - v'aw
and hsvlng G, IN nnnicated with thu fa g
Oh my nank, or on-cGmmiesiohsd fhcer il.
] charge Il the 1ank plrties, I rs4ur@ 20 ny
peg te', reducing or Increasing the sen sriss
| 9s nld r. 'quisise, ard piactug shem III lhe
most aGvan tageoas rositioix 10 overlook the
| approaches 10 my ptq ret. lny 1uIfor officer
| or sergeant having q dJIe the same Gu the other
| flank, then, by visiting myself. personally
| asceT tam that ihsy have posted the s,L tries
l according 10 orders, and communicate with
] the oft,cer Gu my osner finK.
| Q.-N hen do you conceive that your sen
/ tiles are pos ted as they ought TO bef
| A.-Wh hea th.y compile tely command every
| approach TO the picQu L. AID can ace the se4
lies Oh ,hsirrigat nd left, an ars as inuch
q staf ,t,t fy VII.
Q.-Shouid the picquet b. n fl -rk pitq0et,
what precautions would yol J "a -Jr ia Sc
CUIit5
Al shouId, afier .aking Gaze ot NV ts,s.e-
dtae security, SaaG out patrols, unaer
ofh eer non commissions III Ger. ~ the un.
| p4oiec,el tank which l shc uld d. every han
| hour, day and light.
O Into how many rsiiafs ID yea divide
your pitQuets and how often do you r. iiess
your sen riesi
| A.-lnto Ihree RELIEF. Of doubls sentriss,
| and reileve them every hour. taking care 10
ha ~ Sc f1 cielt men TO patrol.
| Q-A.ter your communications ara estab.
iisued with the picq1sts Oh your Il ]inKs, aud
| your own secuiity from surpriss ensured,
/ what 90 ytudo7
| A-With paIrol / make myself thorough
| ly at q aaia.ed wi.a the approaches unQ envI-
| roIs Of my pos: and II ordered to dyead Il, do
| my bes, 10 ssreIg hen it, by throwing us ob-
| s.acles, making loop holes should my p.cquet
| occupy nouse, and in the neigh boring
l walls throwing up breastworks, if Aave
tcols, and making my defence 80 ~ to have as
many cross fires as possible
Q Are the sentriss on an out laying pic
q net posted dou BILE
| AYES, and q communicating fsirgle) ser
l try frem them 10 the body of tne pilqust, TO
| con veg any signai or order that might come
l from the front.
| Q-How do you place your sen. tries at
| nigat'
| they ooc upied during the day, rarticclariy
I should they have been seen by the e. asmy,
| and If they have been on q height, move
them to lower ground, ia order that thsy D1ay
| greater ease than lookiCs down ,hsy would
| be able to do. and place them in Ihe most al
| ntegeous positions
o1W9,sbta n,sbi you increase 'he number Of sen
| AIS. I. rule, yes, with tbs view OF pre-.
venting tho possibility OF The enemy stealing
| in o. tween tEsn, I-
Q.--Would you increase your sansrlas a.
! any other time
A.-Ysr, during fogsy weather
| O Ought you 10 post your sentTtes thick.
~ vr notY
| Alt possible, not but 1t must depend on
the nsture Of the ground ard tbs state OF tbs
! atmosphere. The srs1s object should be 70
| save my men AS MN as possible, always
| bearing III mind tina; very unnecessary sen-
| ~ en- .aiis addition s2y on al! kts comrades.
9-When tha adv nee sen ary is very ear
| the entny, what precautioLs wouid yoa take
| 20 aecnre MS prsservaic2s
i
| proaches 10 his post, about thirty yards Ia his
| front, - we'll as Il aHks, when ! IL practicaSe q
to Go 30, SUCH as attis, c., which lAs Try
couii see over, aud 90 that they may not ef,rd
shslser 10 t' eneiny, Ia order 10 ssop any saulen
| rush that mlght be made upon hum. lshouId
particularly iaxe this precautiO at night, OF
| SHOULD tbs sentry be placed at the end of a
bridge where hs must actually etand on the
| end Of the dedle
Q.-Wers you not to take this pyscautiou
| what might haPPenf
A-The sentry nigh. be suddenly over.
| come, and not aIle TO IRE or give the alarm
and, consequently. tins ricqust might bs sur
! prIeed from being unable 70 get under a.me
/ In time 10 meet The ensmy. E..
/ Ola IL generally recommended ihas The
! adcaaee3 sentries should be 60 prot.ctsdi
| Axes, where practicable, for tbs above
1 res sons.
| Q--Hhen q wood IL In your front, hc "
| would you place your aenTys
A Az Tar from tns wood aS would be I'D.
| viseh.e, WITH view OF keeping sS good ioos
| out rs pos &sibie. but bsiaG meet par .ica:as nc
10 endsnger the sentry from sadaea ru1h
II m tho wool.
@ How % you insure The body OF n.
pit qusl being ios1autiy made aeq aaiatsd vi q
| any itrmediase threatened approach OF Ii,
| eneIny11
| a.-ay the com IA anlca.ia sentry 4 .!lx. oI
| making tEe preccac RED sigaat.
| Q.TWenI regulates the eatusi position
| where yeu place tae body Ct Your pit Z act
A.-Aftsr having ascss -aiued tho Ii. y. ad
1 NoAsok~0uS iNAtt ASA posing lily .bSsuAIcu
| senIriss, place Iny picqest 81 as 10 b. within
hearing ~ tne connecting sen.ries' Are, and
ont OF sight OF the eAemy. ant as rear the
| centre of my line OF seE.rses as possio.c.
| q DO YETI exs mine the entries ax they art
| reite vea
A--Yss; Ia order 70 ascsr saia whsth.f the y
| have observed Dytaing III heir tfcat, xnu
II OF importance, imm sdiatsiy to report th,
!; circumstance to tas Held oEtcer OF he Tic.
gusts, always taking care 10 state In my re.
| port Y 1ataer the movements cr waaIeyal
I demonstration wNs otaervec, was On or figh
or sa@ es,Eys iers, or e.cs eersc
q -S,a ;ocetviag yeroai osd srS If0ra 81 4.