Chapter XVII

DIVISION TACTICS AND SUPPLY 337-380
MARCHES 337-344
Length of a day’s march. Marching rate. Rest days 337
Strength of advance guard. Splitting tactical units 337
Different arms and auxiliary troops with an advance guard 337
Position of division commander 337
Initial point of march and time of departure, in march orders 337
Rotation of units in position in column during a march 337-338
Division cavalry on the march. Time of starting. Duty 338
Distribution of artillery on the march. Artillery with
advance guard. Heavy field artillery.
Combat trains of the artillery 338-339
Artillery with flank guards or in two column formation 339
Artillery in rencontre engagements. Right of way for
firing batteries 339-340
Engineer troops and bridge trains on the march 340
Road space and capacities of light and heavy bridge equipage 340
Distribution and duties of signal troops on the march.
Telegraph and telephone lines 340-341
Time of starting the march. Details of the start. Assembly
of trains. Escort for trains. March outposts 341
ORDER FOR THE FORWARD MARCH OF A DIVISION 342-344
COMBAT 344-353
Time required for deployment of a division 344
FRONTAL AND ENVELOPING ATTACKS 344-345
Separation of attacks. Coordination. Launching the
attack. Obstacles of terrain 344-345
TURNING MOVEMENTS. Advantages and disadvantages 345
Plan of attack based on best dispositions of the infantry 345
Development and attack orders 346
FRONTAGES FOR DEPLOYMENT OF LARGER UNITS 346
Timing the advance. Signals 346
Distance from hostile line at which brigades deploy 346
Position of reserves 346-347
Depth of deployment. Distribution in depth 347-349
CONSIDERATIONS INFLUENCING DEPTH OF DEPLOYMENT 348
Dispositions of artillery 349
Release of trains on entering combat 349
Posts of artillery and small arms ammunition 349
Sanitary and engineer trains 349
Ambulance companies and field hospitals.
Stations and duties 349-350
Messages during combat 350
DUTIES SUBSEQUENT TO COMBAT. Evacuation of wounded.
Police of battlefield. Replenishment of ammunition
and rations. Prisoners. Trains. Instructions to
commander of line of communications 350-351
ORDER FOR A DIVISION ATTACK 351-353
CAMPING 353-360
TACTICAL AND SANITARY REQUIREMENTS OF A CAMP SITE 353-354
EXAMPLE OF A DIVISION CAMP ILLUSTRATED AND DISCUSSED 354-356
Routine orders in connection with camp. Issues,
disposal of empty wagons, etc. 356
ORDER FOR CAMPING AND OUTPOSTING OF A DIVISION 357-360
SUPPLY 360-380
AUTHORIZED TRAINS OF A DIVISION 360-361
Bakery train. Engineer train 361
SOURCES OF SUPPLY FOR ARMIES IN THE FIELD 361
Purchase and requisition. Methods 361-362
Authority of field Commander 362
Living off the country 362
Base depot. Advance supply depot. Means of transportation 362-367
Zone of the advance 364
Multiple lines of communication 364
The supply unit 364
Classes of trains. Ammunition, supply and field trains.
General supply trains. Combat trains 365-368
Access to trains by troops. Excessive size of trains 365
Methods of replenishing trains 366-367
Rations carried by individual soldiers and in trains 366-367
General supply column. Flying depots and refilling points 367
Personnel of field transport service 368
EXAMPLE OF THE SUPPLY OF A DIVISION ON THE MARCH,
WITH DISCUSSION 368-370
Problem of the supply of an advancing division
mathematically illustrated 370-372
Refilling points. Location 372
Maintenance of advance supply depot well to the front
Railroads and steamboats 372
Field bakery on line of communications 372
GENERAL RULES FOR GUIDANCE OF SUPPLY OFFICERS 372-373
Supply of Sherman’s army in the Atlanta campaign,
and of Grant’s army in the campaign of '64 373
Protection of supply depot 373
Camping place of division trains.
Issues of rations and ammunition 373-375
Access to trains by troops 375
Supplies for the cavalry 375
Arrangement of division trains on the march according
to probable needs 376
Stations of trains during combat 376
Rates of march of wagon trains 376-377
Supplies obtained locally 377-378
Miscellaneous data on supply and transportation 378-380
Table of rations, kinds, weights, number of rations
to an army wagon, a railroad car, ship’s ton, etc. 379