S U R ( 8re ) S U R

measures which are adopted hy onearmy in the field to surprize another, orto those which are followed in theattack of fortified places. The Frenchmake a distinction between surprises decampagne, and surprises des places; orthe surprizes which are practised againstan army in the field, and those whichare executed against fortified towns orplaces. What has been said under thearticle Stratagems of War , will equallyapply to the latter system.

When it is found expedient to at-tempt a surprize in the field, a sufficientnumber of men must be collected, forthe purpose, not only of advancing withconfidence against the enemy, but ofbeing able to make good a retreatshould he prove stronger than was ex-pected. The troops that are selectedfor this duty should be remarkable fortheir fidelity, and be able to undergo thegreatest fatigues. Intelligent and faith-ful guides must be distributed amongthe different troops and companies, inorder to keep up the continuity of themarch, and to put those of the rear inthe right paths, should they have de-viated from the direct route, or line ofmarch.

If the detachment or corps, that isentrusted with the secret expedition orsurprize, be marched out of an en-trenched camp, proper precautions mustbe taken, to prevent any intercoursebetween the enemy and persons em-ployed to send, or give intelligence. Todo this effectually, the instant the rearguard has left the camp, the gates mustbe shut, and the strictest orders beissued to prevent spies, or deserters,from stealing out. Small parties ofdragoons and riflemen must likewise besent forward to scour the roads, and topick up stragglers. Care is taken tohave it understood by the people of thecountry, that these parties are detachedfor no other purpose than to escortsome wagons, which are expected forthe use of the army, to parley, or, ap-parently, to execute some business thatcan neither create jealousy, nor give un-easiness.

About an hour after, it must he pro-claimed, in and about the camp andadjacent country, that no officer, soldier,sutler, or inhabitant of the villages, &c.shall, on any account, go more than onequarter of a league from the army.

Small scouring parties, with the provostmarshal's field patroles, must be dis-tributed beyond these limits, in order topick up stragglers, and to search theirpersons lest they should be the bearers ofletters, &c. A great number of smallambuscades must be laid along the lead-,ing avenues between the enemy’s campand your own. If, notwithstanding allthese precautions,you should learn, thatthe enemy has gained some informationrespecting your movement,a report mustbe instantly spread to make him imagine,that you have some other design in con-templation.

If, duriug the night, or in the courseof the day, small reconnoitring parties,belonging to the enemy, should be dis-covered upon the road, or about it, onehalf of your patrole or scouring detach-ment must he placed in ambush alongone side of the road, in order to takethem in the rear, whilst the other halfattacks them in front, and hy thus sur-rounding them, prevents any intelligencefrom being carried to the enemy.

When such parties consist of a re-gular advanced detachment from theenemy’s forces, that challenges you onyour approach, your out-scouts must in-stantly give the name of the prince orgeneral against whose troops you aremarching, or make them imagine, thatyou are returning from some secret ex-pedition which had been undertaken inhis favour, or that you came out of aneighbouring state which is in alliancewith him. As you draw near, propermeasures must be adopted to get uponits flanks; so as ultimately to surroundthe whole guard, and to prevent any in-formation from being forwarded to themain body of the enemy. This opera-tion cannot fail of success, if you actwith promptitude; and most especially,if you can get possession of the enemy'swatchword, or countersign.

Such are the leading precautions tobe observed at the first outset of anarmy, whose design is to surprize itsenemy. But these are not all. A per-fect knowledge of his position must havebeen acquired; correct descriptions ofall the posts and stations, local as wellas artificial advantages, must likewisehave been given in, with a specific ac-count of the bridges, fords, &c. thestate of his provisions, and of thegeneral-shead-quarters.