IN TIME OF WAR.

353

5- Is the camp be intersected by canals, ditches,rivulets, or other obstacles to a free communicationbetween every part of it, bridges should be laid andpassages opened, that the whole may easily move to thesupport of any part that is attacked.

218. In nothing is the ability of a general more conspi-cuous tasn in the choice of his encampments; and fewcircumstances have conduced more than this to gainingthe moss brilliant victories; but as the full discussion of thisinteresting part of tactics would be foreign to the purpose,our observations will be confined to a few points.

(Fig. in, PI. 6) The sixth plate represents a commonencampment of'40 battalions and 40 squadrons ; A, the en-campment of the first line ; B, that of the second, distantfrom the first 6 or 800 paces; C, brigades of infantry offive battalions each; D, brigades of cavalry and dragoonsof 10 squadrons each; E, the park of artillery; F, headquarters; G, the village whence the camp takes itsname; H, ground for the first line to draw up in orderof battle, distant from A at least 600 paces; I, ground forthe second line to draw up in order of battle ; K, houses orbarns occupied by the advanced guards of infantry; L,advanced guards of cavalry, as posted during the day; M,points to which the cavalry retires during the night to becovered by the infantry.

As many paces are allowed for the front of each battal-Jion as it contains files ; and an interval of at least 2V pacesis left between every two battalions of the first line, thatthose of the second line may, if necessary, pass through themand form at I.

As many paces as there are files in each squadron andone half more are allowed for the front of each squadron ;with an interval between every two of at least half the frontof a squadron, that those of the second line may pass withoutinterruption, and form at I. This disposition is nearlyregular when the ground is level and open; but is deviatedfrom, if superior advantages can be gained by a differentposition, or the safety of the camp better secured. Whenone flank is covered by a ravine, river, lake or impassablemorass ; and there is on the other a flat open piece ofground, all the cavalry is encamped on this flank.

219. This mode of encampment has been generally prac-tised for these two last centuries; but in the defensive system,.

Z other