Instructions for Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of Cavalry, on Outpost Duty

by Alexander Carl Friedrich von Arentschildt

3. To whom the reports are to be sent.

4. Where the Picquets on the flanks are stationed; what roads lead to them; how often Patrols are exchanged between them in the night. In case the roads to them are little known, or difficult to be found, the Non-commissioned Officer of the old Picquet must show them to that of the new one, who takes another man with him.

5. Inquiries must be made as to the knowledge the Officer has of the enemy, particularly where he patrols to; whether he thinks that the Picquet has been well posted, at night as well as in the day, or whether improvements can be made. If such an improvement is found to be necessary by placing one or two more Videttes, they ought to be posted immediately, but the same is to be reported without delay.

At the relief of the Videttes, both the officers of the old and new Picquets should be present. They must listen to the delivery of instructions from the old Vidette to the new one, and the latter is to be desired to repeat what has been delivered to him, to prevent any mistake. The principal points of these instructions should be: on what roads and from what part of the country the enemy may be expected to advance; where the neighbouring Videttes are stationed, in order to be able to repeat their signals, which they may have particular orders to make. The new Vidette must be very particular in occupying the same spot that the old one did, as sometimes the difference of one yard may be of great consequence in observing or being observed at a great distance.

If the relief is not made with the above-mentioned exactness, all orders that have been issued may be misunderstood or quite forgotten in the course of two or three days.

After all the Videttes have been relieved in this manner, the spot where the Picquet and Videttes have been stationed in the night are to be pointed out to the Officer of the new Picquet.

The old Picquet now marches off, and the new one takes its place. The horses may be then unbridled, except one-third or one-fourth.

SECTION V.

DURING HIS STAY ON PICQUET.