1203. In war, every commander of a fortified place shall always hold himself prepared with his plan of defense, as if at any time liable to attack. He arranges this plan according to the probable mode of attack; determines the posts of the troops in the several parts of the works, the reliefs, the reserves, and the details of service in all the corps. He draws up instructions for a case of attack, and exercises the garrison according to his plan of defense. In seacoast works, he provides the instructions for the different batteries on the approach of ships.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 839.]

1204. In framing his plan, he studies the works and the exterior within the radius of attack and investment, the strength of the garrison, the artillery, the munitions of war, subsistence and supplies of all kinds, and takes immediate measures to procure whatever is deficient of troops or supplies, either by requisition on the government or from the means put at his disposal.—[Regs. 1863, ¶ 40.]

1295. On the approach of an enemy, he removes all houses and other objects, within or without the place, that cover the approaches, or interrupt the fire of the guns or the movements of the troops. He assures himself personally that all posterns, outlets, embrasures, &c., are in proper state of security.-[Regs. 1863, 1841.]

1206. He shall be furnished by the War Department with a plan of the works, showing all the details of the fortifications and of the exterior within the radius of attack; with a map of the environs within the radius of investment; with a map of the vicinity, including the neighboring works, roads, water-channels, coasts, &c.; with a memoir explaining the situation and defense of the place, and the relations and bearings of the several works on each other, and on the approaches by land and water-all which he carefully preserves, and communicates only to the council of defense.— [Regs. 1863, ¶ 842.]

1207. He consults his next in rank and the senior officer of the Engineers and of the Artillery, either separately or as a council of defense. In the latter case he designates an officer to act as secretary to the council, and to record their proceedings and their joint or separate opinions, which are to be kept secret during the siege. The members may record their opinions under their own signature. In all cases the commander decides on his own responsibility.[Regs. 1863, ¶ 843.]

1208. The commander of the place and the chiefs of Engineers and of Artillery shall keep journals of the defense, in which shall be entered, in order of date, without blank or interlineation, the orders given or received, the manner in which they are executed, their results, and every event and circumstance of importance in the progress of the defense. These journals and the proceedings of the council of defense shall be sent after the siege to the War Department.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 844.]

1209. There shall be kept in the office of the commandant of

the place, to be sent after the siege to the War Department, a map of the environs, a plan of the fortifications, and a special plan of the front of attack, on which the Chief Engineer will trace in succession the positions occupied, and the works executed by the enemy from the investment; and also the works of counter approach or defense, and the successive positions of the Artillery and other troops of the garrison during the progress of the siege.—[Regs. 1863, 845.]

1210. The commander shall defend in succession the advanced works, the covered way and outworks, the body of the work, and the interior intrenchments. He will not be content with clearing away the foot of the breaches, and defending them by abattis, mines, and all the means used in sieges, but he shall begin in good time, behind the bastions or front of attack, the necessary intrenchments to resist assaults on the main work.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 846.]

1211. He shall use his means of defense in such manner as always to have a reserve of fresh troops, chosen from his best soldiers, to resist assaults, retake the outworks, and especially to resist the assaults on the body of the place; and a reserve of provisions for the last period of the siege, and of ammunition for the last attacks. [Regs. 1863, ¶ 847.]

1212. He must, in every case, compel the besieging force to approach by the slow and successive works of siege, and must sustain at least one assault on a practicable breach in the body of the place. [Regs. 1863, ¶ 848.]

1213. When the commander thinks that the end of the defense has come, he shall still consult the council of defense on the means that may remain to prolong the siege. But in all cases he alone will decide on the time, manner, and terms of the surrender. In the capitulation he shall not seek or accept better terms for himself than for the garrison, but shall share their fate, and exert his best endeavors for the care of the troops, and especially of the sick and wounded.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 849.]

1214. No commander in the field shall withdraw troops or supplies from any fortified place, or exercise any authority over its commandant, unless it has been put subject to his orders by competent authority.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 850.]

RECONNOISSANCES.

1215. Near an enemy, daily reconnoissances are made to observe the ground in front, and to discover whether the advanced guards of the enemy have been increased or put in motion, or any other sign of his preparation for march or action.-[ Regs. 1863, ¶ 656.] 1216. Reconnoissances are made by small parties of Cavalry and Infantry, from the brigade, under direction of the General of division or the General of a separate brigade, and to less distance by the patrols of the grand guard, and are not repeated at the

same hour or by the same route. On the plain, they are made by Cavalry; among mountains, by Infantry, with a few horsemen to carry intelligence.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 657.]

1217. Reconnoitring parties observe the following precautions: To leave small posts, or sentinels at intervals, to transmit intelligence to the advanced posts of the Army, unless the return is to be by a different route; to march with caution, to avoid fighting; and see, if possible, without being seen; to keep an advanced guard; to send well-mounted men ahead of the advanced guard, and on the flanks of the party; to instruct the scouts that no two should enter a defile or mount a hill together, but to go one at a time, while one watches to carry the news if the other is taken.[Regs. 1863, ¶¶ 658, 659.]

1218. Before daybreak the advanced guard and scouts are drawn closer; the party then marches slowly and silently, stops frequently to listen, and keeps the horses that neigh in the rear. The party should enter no wood, defile, village or inclosure until it has been fully examined by the scouts.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 659.]

1219. Special reconnoissances are made under the direction of the general officer in command, by such officers and with such forces as he may direct.-[Regs. 1833, ¶ 660.]

1220. Offensive or forced reconnoissances are to ascertain with certainty points in the enemy's position, or his strength. They are sometimes preludes to real actions, and sometimes only demonstrations. They drive in his outposts, and sometimes engage special corps of his line. They are only made by the order of the General commanding in chief, or the commander of an isolated corps.— [Regs. 1863, ¶ 661.]

1221. In all reports of reconnoissances, the officer making them shall distinguish expressly what he has seen from the accounts he has not been able to verify personally.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 662.]

1222. In special and offensive reconnoissances, the report must be accompanied by a field-sketch of the localities, the dispositions and defenses of the enemy.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 663.]

CONVOYS AND THEIR ESCORTS.

1223. The strength and composition of the escort of a convoy depend on the country, the nature and value of the convoy, and the dangers it may incur. A larger escort is required for a convoy of powder, that the defense may not be near the train.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 748.]

1224. Cavalry is employed in escorts chiefly to reconnoitre; the proportion is larger as the country is more open.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 749.]

1225. Pioneers or working parties are attached to convoys to mend roads, remove obstacles, and erect defenses. The convoys

should always be provided with spare wheels, poles, axles, &c.[Regs. 1863, ¶ 750.]

1226. The commandant of the escort should receive detailed instructions in writing.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 751.]

1227. As far as the defense permits, the commander of the escort shall refer to the officer in charge of the convoy for the hours of departure, the halts, the parking and order of the train, and the precautions against accidents.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 752.]

1228. Officers who accompany the convoy but do not belong to the escort shall exercise no authority in it except by consent of the commander. If these officers be junior to the commander he may assign them to duty if the defense requires it.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 753.]

1229. Large convoys are formed into divisions, each with a conductor. The distance between the wagons is four paces. A small party of Infantry is attached to each division.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 754.]

1230. Generally munitions of war are at the head of the convoy, subsistence next, and then other military stores; the traders last. But that part of the convoy which is most important to the Army shall always be where it is most secure from danger.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 755.]

1231. The commandant should send out reconnoitring parties, and never put the convoy in motion until their reports have been received. He always forms an advance and rear guard, and keeps the main body under his immediate order at the most important point, with small guards or posts at other points.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 756.]

1232. In an open country the main body marches by the side of the road, opposite the centre of the convoy; in other cases at the head or rear of the column, as the one or the other is more exposed.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 757.]

1233. The advance guard precedes the convoy far enough to remove all obstacles to its advance. It examines the woods, defiles, and villages, and by mounted men gives information to the commander, and receives his orders. It reconnoitres places for halts and parks.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 758.]

1234. If the head of the column be threatened, the advanced guard seizes the defiles and places which the enemy might occupy, and holds them until the main body advances to the front and relieves it; the main body holds the positions until the head of the convoy arrives, and then leaves detachments which are relieved by the parties marching with the divisions; the posts are not abandoned until the whole convoy has passed and the position is no longer important.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 759.]

1235. When the rear is threatened, like measures are taken; the rear guard defends the ground and retards the enemy by breaking the bridges and blocking the road.—[ Regs. 1863, ¶ 760.]

1236. If the flanks be threatened, and the ground is broken, and many defiles are to be passed, the defense of the convoy becomes more difficult; the advance and rear guards must be reduced, the flanks strengthened, and positions which will cover the march of the convoy must be occupied by the main body of the troops before the head of the convoy reaches them, and until it has passed.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 761.]

1237. If the convoy be large, and has to pass places that the force and position of the enemy make dangerous, the loss of the whole convoy must not be risked; it must pass by divisions, which reunite after the passage. In this case the greater part of the troops guard the first division; they seize the important points, and cover them with light troops, or, if necessary, with small posts, and hold them until all the divisions have pased.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 762.1

1238. If there be Artillery in the convoy, the commander of the escort uses it for the defense.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 763.]

1239. To move faster and make the defense easier, the wagons move in double file whenever the road allows it. If a wagon breaks, it is at once removed from the road; when repaired, it takes the rear; when it cannot be repaired, its load and horses are distributed to some of the other wagons kept in the rear for that purpose.[Regs. 1863, ¶ 764.]

1240. Convoys by water are escorted on the same principles. Each boat has a small Infantry guard; one portion of the escort precedes or follows the convoy in boats. The Cavalry march opposite the convoy; the advance and rear guard move by land, and all are connected by flankers with the convoy. Where a river runs through a narrow valley, the body of the Infantry moves by land to prevent the enemy from occupying the heights and disturbing the convoy.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 765.]

1241. Convoys halt every hour to let the horses take breath and the wagons close up. Long halts are made but seldom, and only in places that have been reconnoitred and found favorable for defense. At night the park is arranged for defense, and in preference at a distance from inhabited places, if in an enemy's country.— [Regs. 1863, ¶ 766.1

1242. The wagons are usually parked in ranks, axle against axle, the poles in the same direction, and with sufficient space between the ranks for the horses. If an attack is feared, they are parked in square, the hind wheels outside, and the horses inside.[Regs. 1863, ¶ 767.]

1243. On the appearance of the enemy during the march, the commander closes up the wagons and continues his march in order; he avoids fighting; but if the enemy seizes a position that commands his road, he attacks vigorously with the mass of his force, but is not to continue the pursuit far from the convoy. The convoy halts, and resumes the march when the position is carried.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 768.]