A military dictionary

by William Duane

For the proper positions for camps, see the word [Reconnoitring]; and for the encampment of a park of artillery, see the word [Park].

Camp, in military affairs, is the whole extent of ground, in general, occupied by an army pitching its tents when in the field, and upon which all its baggage and apparatus are lodged. It is marked out by the quarter-master-general, who allots every regiment its ground. The extent of the front of a regiment of infantry is 200 yards, including the two battalion guns, and depth 520, when the regiment, contains 9 companies, each of 100 private men, and the companies tents in two rows; but when the companies tents stand in one row, and but 70 private men to each row, the front is then but 155 yards. A squadron of horse has 120 yards in front, and 100 for an interval between each regiment.

The nature of the ground must also be consulted, both for defence against the enemy, and for supplies to the army. It should have a communication with that army’s garrisons, and have plenty of water, forage, fuel, and either rivers, marshes, hills, or woods to cover it. An army always encamps fronting the enemy, and generally in two parallel lines, besides a corps de reserve, about 500 yards distant from each other; the horse and dragoons on the wings, and the foot in the centre. Where, and how the train of artillery is encamped, see [Park of artillery], and [Encampment of a regiment of artillery], under the word [Artillery]. Each regiment posts a subaltern’s guard at 80 yards from the colors to the officers tent, called the quarter guard, besides a corporal’s guard in the rear: and each regiment of horse or dragoons, a small guard on foot, called the standard-guard, at the same distance. The grand guard of the army consists of horse, and is posted about a mile distant towards the enemy.

In a siege, the camp is placed all along the line of circumvallation, or rather in the rear of the approaches, out of cannon-shot: the army faces the circumvallation, if there be any; that is, the soldiers have the town in their rear.

One thing very essential in the establishing a camp, and which should be particularly attended to, if the enemy is near; is, that there should not only be a commodious spot of ground at the head of the camp, where the army, in case of surprise, may in a moment be under arms, and in condition to repulse the enemy: but also a convenient field of battle at a small distance, and of a sufficient extent for them to form advantageously, and to move with facility.

The arrangement of the tents in camp, is nearly the same all over Europe, which is, to dispose them in such a manner, that the troops may form with safety and expedition.

To answer this end, the troops are encamped in the same order as that in which they are to engage, which is by battalions and squadrons; hence, the post of each battalion and squadron in the line of battle, must necessarily be at the head of its own encampment. Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, was the first who formed encampments according to the order of battle.

By this disposition, the extent of the camp from right to left, of each battalion and squadron, will be equal to the front of each in line of battle; and consequently, the extent from right to left of the whole camp, should be equal to the front of the whole army when drawn up in line of battle, with the same intervals between the several encampments of the battalions and squadrons, as are in the line.

There is no fixed rule for the intervals: some will have no intervals, some small ones, and others are for intervals equal to the front of the battalion or squadron. The most general method is, an interval of 60 feet between each battalion, and of 36 feet between each squadron.

Hence it follows, 1st, That the front line of the camp must be in a direction to face the enemy; 2dly, That at the head of the encampment of each battalion and squadron, there must be a clear space of ground, on which they may form in line of battle; and 3dly, That when the space taken up by the army is embarrassed with woods, ditches, and other obstructions, a communication must be opened for the troops to move with ease to the assistance of each other.