IN TIME OF WAR. 259

When there is a sufficient number of boats, the wholeshould set off at once, and form but one convoy ; but whenfrom the scarcity of boats, several trips must be made, thepreceding directions for land-carriage should be attendedto, and a detachment of artillery sent with each convoy,reinforced, if necessary, by a party of infantry : a particularguard composed solely of artillery-men, should be put onboard the powder-boats, which in the evenings should bemoored at a distance from the others. The place of de-barkation having been pointed out by the commander inchief, to the officer who was sent forward to the camp (33)the carriages which that officer has provided are ready toreceive the guns and stores when the boats arrive, andtransport them to the park. The landing-place oughtto be spacious and commodious, and a working party ofinfantry without arms should assist in unloading the boats.

42. It is taken for granted, that the country, throughwhich the convoy is to pass, is entirely clear of the enemy’stroops; so that the guard will only have to preventemissaries or marauders from pillaging or privately settingfire to the stores, or endeavouring in any other method todestroy them or impede the march.

But if the country be infested with flying parties of theenemy, it will be necessary to take other precautions withregard to the march and halts of the convoys ; accordingas the danger seems more or less pressing. The train ofcarriages, &c. should be drawn up if possible in some secureplace, as a walled town. In cafe of parking in the opencountry, a strong spot should be pitched on, and the acces-sible points fortified with pallisadces or abbatis.

43. The necessary dispositions to be made in marchingthrough a suspected country, may be reduced to the fol-lowing eases: when there is apprehension from flying par-ties only, detachments to check their incursions are postedin the towns and places contiguous to the route of theconvoy, and a sufficient escort marches with it for its pro-tection.

When the convoy is exposed to be attacked by a con-siderable body of troops, there are three methods of coveringit: the first, by marching a corps superior in number to theenemy, between them and the convoy, till it reaches thecamp; this supposes but one convoy : if there be severalthis corps must advance to the enemy, follow their motions’

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