Chapter IV: Advance Guards

_Strength and Composition._ The strength of an advance guard in actual campaign, is from 1-3 to 1-20 of command, usually nearer the former figure. In general, for a company, 1 platoon, for a battalion, 1 company, for a regiment, 1 battalion, for a brigade, 1 regiment, for a division, 1 brigade, reinforced. A company sends out a point or advance party, a battalion an advance party or support, a regiment a support. An advance guard smaller than a battalion usually has no reserve, but it is permissible for a battalion to have a reserve. Machine guns of leading regiment generally at tail of leading battalion. In an advance guard of 1 battalion machine guns are with the reserve usually at the tail. In a larger body with the support. It is a general rule to have at least a battalion in front of the machine guns.

There should always be some mounted men with an advance guard. If preceded by independent cavalry the advance guard does not need much cavalry. Otherwise it should have some. A number of mounted orderlies may be attached to the advance guard for patrol duty if no cavalry is available for the purpose.

Engineers are generally useful with an advance guard but seldom accompany one smaller than a regiment. The mounted section may accompany the advance cavalry.

Advance guard cavalry is the cavalry assigned to the advance guard commander. Advance cavalry is that portion of the advance guard cavalry which precedes the mounted point. Some or all of the cavalry, if the force is small, may be attached to the support for local reconnaissance. Mounted men are almost invariably assigned to the support. They may be sent out as flank patrols under officers, and used for mounted point and for nearby reconnaissance. In exceptional cases the advance guard commander may send out special patrols of mounted men to front or flanks, without attaching them to the support. In such cases their duties are somewhat similar to those of advance cavalry but usually more restricted.

Signal troops are seldom attached to an advance guard, unless it be at least a reinforced brigade.

The sanitary troops properly belonging to an organization accompany it in advance guard. A brigade as advance guard usually has an ambulance company assigned to it, a regiment, 3 ambulances.

Artillery is not usually assigned to an advance guard of less than a brigade, but a battery might be assigned to two regiments in advance guard. Artillery is usually not safe with a small advance guard on account of its limited reconnaissance. Also a small infantry force with artillery becomes merely an escort for the artillery and neglects its more important duties. Artillery should have _at least_ a regiment in front of it.

Advance guard artillery is generally with the reserve with at least a battalion and preferably a regiment immediately in front of it. Artillery is seldom placed in an advance guard in close country.

If there is much infantry patrolling to be done (usually in absence of mounted men) the advance party, whose special duty is patrolling, should be strong and commanded by an officer. But if there be plenty of mounted men, the advance party is relieved of this duty to a great extent and need not ordinarily be stronger than ¼the support.

The field trains of a small advance guard are usually with the main body during the march. This is also better with a large advance guard, unless the situation is such that a combat is not probable during the day and the trains could not reach the advance guard to supply it at night. On halting for the night the field trains of the advance guard troops (baggage section and one day’s rations) habitually join their organizations.

Avoid splitting organizations in forming an advance guard or any of its fractions. If you need more than 1 battalion better send the entire regiment.

“Leading troops” are not the same as an advance guard and should not be confused therewith. They are generally used where a regular advance guard is unnecessary, as for instance, ahead of the trains in a retreat or retrograde movement. If it is intended to delay the enemy or to prepare positions for delaying actions, engineers should generally be with “leading troops”--sometimes constituting their entire strength. They “prepare bridges for demolition,” and a mounted section of engineers (with the rear guard) completes the demolition when last friendly troops have cleared, if necessary to delay the enemy.

The engineers, with either advance guard or leading troops are charged with the duty of removing obstacles to the march and repairing crossings, etc.

_The Start._ The supreme commander may order the advance guard to clear a certain point at a certain hour, or he may designate the hour of march and point of departure of the main body and the distance at which the advance guard will precede it. From these data the advance guard commander figures the time of departure of the different parts of his command. He usually designates for the start an initial point which all organizations can reach by one or preferably several convenient routes without countermarching, delay or confusion. The point, while well forward should generally be inside the outpost line. The hour of departure of the advance cavalry is designated in advance guard order as well as its route unless this is the same as that of advance guard and there is no danger of interference. In the advance guard order the hours at which the support will clear the initial point, and the head of the reserve reach it are also designated. The advance guard always marches by same route as main body. The outpost troops (if part of the advance guard) are usually assigned to the reserve. They remain in position until the support has passed the outpost line, and then close in time to take their places in the column.

Some convenient advanced point on the line of march beyond the initial point may be designated as the place at which the cavalry on outpost duty (day positions) may join the advance cavalry as it passes. The approximate time of junction should also be given in the order. Similar arrangements may be made for mounted orderlies on outpost duty to join their regiment, or head of reserve, etc., if they are out to the front.

The field trains with the advance guard should be assembled immediately after the departure of the advance guard (and in time to be out of the way of the main body) clear of the main road, preferably on a branch road on the less exposed flank. They will then usually join those of the main body. The trains with the outpost troops must move to the rear in time to be off the main road before any troops move. They are brought back the evening before the march, after supper, or else early next morning.

A small command may be assembled in column of route on the road before starting, but with a large command this is neither desirable nor (ordinarily) practicable.

Do not allow anything for elongation at the beginning of a day’s march.

_Assembly Order._ In a large advance guard, in order to allow all the troops as much rest as possible, it is sometimes desirable to issue an “assembly order” (written or dictated) the night before the march, the “march order” being issued the next morning. The assembly order should not be issued later than 11 p. m., if this can be avoided, and the earlier the hour the better for the troops. The usual form of an assembly order will be a statement of the time at which the command will be in readiness to march in the morning. If the force be a large one different hours may be designated for different troops in order to give all as much rest as possible. To determine these times proceed as follows: Considering the position of the organization in the column calculate the time at which its head should reach the “initial point,” then subtract the time required to reach the initial point from the camp of the organization. This gives the time at which the organization should march from its camp. The organization should be “ready to march” from 3 to 10 minutes sooner--depending on size of entire advance guard. In writing an assembly order make sure that the marches of various organizations do not interfere. This would be a serious mistake. The assembly order should close with a statement of when and where the march order will be issued next morning. The assembly order may or may not contain information as to the enemy, the commander’s plan, etc., depending on the situation. If it is practicable to issue the complete march order the night before it is usually better to do so, as this gives subordinate commanders time to estimate the situation so far as it pertains to their commands, and to make all the necessary preliminary arrangements in ample time. This is usually practicable if there is not apt to be a _change in the situation_ before morning, if spies are not feared, etc. The assembly order may sometimes include everything except the exact time of departure, objective of the march and route to be followed, this information being reserved until morning. Thus the commander avoids betraying prematurely his full plans. (See also “Field Orders,” Chap. II.)

The order of the advance guard commander divides the advance guard into two main parties only (usually support and reserve). The subdivisions of the leading body and their distances are left to the commander thereof.

_Distances._ The distance at which the advance guard precedes the main body should be sufficient to secure the latter against surprise by rifle fire or, if a large command, by artillery fire, and in case the enemy is encountered, to permit of his being delayed long enough, and sufficiently far to the front to allow the main body ample time to make the dispositions necessary to meet him. Each fraction of the advance guard should be similarly disposed with regard to the fraction next in rear, it being remembered that small bodies are not likely to be made targets for artillery fire. Distances are greater in open country than in close country, greater if artillery fire is to be feared than if rifle fire only, greater if there is a possibility of attack in force by cavalry, than if foot troops alone are apt to be encountered, greater for a cavalry advance guard than for one of infantry or mixed troops. Distances are often reduced at night. The dispositions of a cavalry advance guard are similar to those of infantry, but usually with greater distances.

If any fraction of an advance guard consists of a battalion or more the fraction next in rear (including the main body) usually guides on it, following at a certain distance. If the fraction is smaller than a battalion it regulates its march on the fraction next in rear, preceding it at a certain distance. This should be covered in orders. This regulation of one body on another must be more or less reciprocal.

_Reconnaissance._ If there is a mission for the cavalry outside the sphere of the advance guard commander it should be used as independent cavalry. This will usually be the case if contact with the enemy has not been gained. But if approximate position of enemy is known and a combat is imminent it may be better to use cavalry as “advance cavalry.” This will allow it to go far enough out to gain contact with enemy in time, and yet does not allow it to get so far out of hand that it can not perform its proper functions during the combat. The cavalry should protect the advance guard from surprise by artillery fire.

Patrolling is very fatiguing to foot soldiers, hence mounted men are used where practicable. Parallel roads adjacent to the line of march (not more than 1 to 2 miles distant) may be used for flank guards or patrols. A flank guard of an advance guard should usually be of mounted men. But if it is liable to encounter resistance or is expected to delay an enemy’s advance it must be supported by infantry. Usually observation alone is sufficient for flank protection.

A mounted point of a few men, ½ to 1 mile ahead of the infantry point is very desirable, especially if there is no advance cavalry.

Flank patrols should not march through the fields, especially as this would be of little use. If there are no suitable parallel roads available, flanking patrols (mounted or foot) are sent out to all good lookout points or country which it is desired to search, from the advance party when the latter is abreast of these points. These patrols occupy the lookout points until the advance guard has cleared them and then close in on the road and join the reserve. In a small force these lookouts remain in position until the main body has cleared, and then join the tail of the main column, rejoining their proper organization during a halt, or at the end of the day’s march. A large advance guard would always have mounted men, and so need not adopt to any great extent, this method of patrolling or lookout with dismounted men. Small patrols on parallel roads should occasionally rejoin, report, and be relieved by new patrols.

Connecting files must be maintained between all fractions of advance guard and between the reserve and the main body. It is the duty of each fraction to maintain communication with the one in front. Mounted orderlies are useful for this purpose. If these are not available, foot soldiers must be used, in which case they should be not over 200 yards apart.

A flank guard at a distance of two miles is far enough out to prevent surprise by artillery fire--the greatest danger to be anticipated on the flank (See “Flank guards” for further discussion of this subject.)

The support commander attends to details of nearby reconnaissance and makes the necessary divisions of his command.

If cavalry has been attached to advance guard it is, of course, not to be used as independent cavalry. It usually has the function of gaining contact with the enemy to the front or exposed flank. After gaining touch it reconnoiters the enemy’s flanks, and may operate against his “flank and rear.” If there are friendly troops within its range, especially if it is marching to join them, the advance cavalry should maintain contact with them. The advance cavalry should not duplicate the work of the independent cavalry when there is such.

The advance cavalry should generally proceed in one body toward the place where the enemy is supposed to be. After contact is gained it will work around his flanks.

It is the duty of the cavalry or other mounted troops with the advance guard to establish contact and to keep in touch with the flank guard (if there is such), with the escort of the trains if these are marching by separate road, with the independent cavalry, with any friendly troops in the vicinity (especially if a junction with them is to be effected), and with the enemy. These duties should be specified in orders.

The important features of the terrain to be considered by the advance guard commander are: those affecting reconnaissance, such as branch and parallel roads, woods, hills, ridges, etc., those which may impede the march, such as road grades and surfaces, woods, bridges, streams and defiles; those bearing on attack and defense, including the foregoing, also towns, fences, etc., and exceptionally, artillery positions and camp sites.

The commander of the advance guard may be with the supreme commander at the head of the reserve. Otherwise he will be between the support and reserve or with the support. The support commander is usually with the advance party.

_Miscellaneous duties of advance guards._ On halting it is the duty of an advance guard to put out temporary or march outposts. This must never be neglected. (See also Chap. X.) On entering a hostile town the advance guard should seize the railroad, post, telephone and telegraph offices.

All possible methods by which the inhabitants might communicate with the enemy, whether wire, road or rail, should be controlled. If the local means of communication and transportation are not already under military control the supreme commander will issue the necessary orders for their regulation with a view to the service and safety of the armed forces. Civilians, especially if mounted or in automobiles, should not be allowed to precede the advance guard or advance cavalry, either on the route of march or any parallel route. If overtaken on the march they are compelled to remain in rear. Neglect of this precaution, especially in hostile territory or near the frontier, may result in information of the numbers and movements of the troops being furnished to the enemy.

An advance guard must act aggressively in brushing aside small bodies of the enemy so that the march may not be delayed. Each part of an advance guard should try to handle any hostile force of less strength than itself without causing larger bodies in rear to deploy, thus delaying the march.

The conduct of an advance guard on encountering the enemy in force, must be governed by the circumstances and the mission of the command as a whole. If the latter be on the aggressive this will usually warrant aggressive action by the advance guard. Nevertheless the advance guard must be cautious about risking its own defeat and possibly that of the main body also, by becoming too deeply involved in a combat with a greatly superior force before the main body is up. If the strength of the enemy is unknown the advance guard may make a reconnaissance in force to develop him. It is not necessary to attempt to push home an attack if this appears too risky. If fire superiority can be gained the advance guard can then press the attack vigorously, being watchful, however, of its flanks. (See also Chaps. XI and XIII.)

Avoid intricate maneuvers and wide turning movements. Go straight at the enemy. The advance guard should not uncover the front of the main body.

If the support has been deployed in driving out the enemy, time may be saved by pushing out a new support from the undeployed reserve on resuming the march.

Do not deploy a large part of the force when fired on by a small body of the enemy. Otherwise the march may be unnecessarily delayed.

In passing a bridge or defile it is advisable to send strong infantry flank guards well out in order to drive out any hostiles on the flanks.

A cavalry advance guard, on account of its great flexibility of gaits may use the method of “successive bounds” for its advance. (See “Patrolling.”)

OUTLINE OF SOLUTION OF SMALL ADVANCE GUARD PROBLEM.

_Estimate of Situation_: (By advance guard commander.)

1. Have you any special mission besides that usual to an advance guard, if so what measures does it call for?

2. What forces are likely to oppose you, infantry, cavalry, artillery? How about their distances from critical points as compared to yours, and their probable movements?

3. _Terrain._ (a) Consider the network of roads, specifically those by which you may advance, those available for flank guards or patrols, those by which enemy may approach. (b) Other features affecting reconnaissance. (c) Features affecting facility of march. (d) Features bearing on questions of attack and defense.

4. How shall the cavalry be used? The order of importance is (a) Advance cavalry. (b) Mounted point. (c) Nearby reconnaissance. (d) Flank reconnaissance. If there is a mission for cavalry outside of sphere of support commander use as advance cavalry--generally if contact with enemy has not been gained, or there is an important point in front to be seized. Do not use a relatively weak force as advance cavalry.

5. _Distribution of troops._ As much cavalry as possible should be assigned to the advance cavalry. The support should be made sufficiently large to provide for all necessary patrolling both mounted and dismounted, as well as for resistance. The necessary mounted men for nearby reconnaissance should be attached to the support. Dismounted patrolling is the special function of the advance party. To the reserve are assigned all troops not specially required elsewhere.

6. _Starting times._ Advance cavalry, starts at ______, proceeding via ______. Support will clear such point by ______. Reserve in order of march will start from camp at ______ (or head of reserve will pass such point at ______). Field trains usually join those of main body, forming on a branch road to wait for their arrival.

7. _March_--how regulated--depends on size of fractions.

8. _Orders._ One order issued as late as practicable (or about 10 p. m.) preceding night is best. But if there is apt to be a change in situation over night, issue assembly order (except in small advance guard) and reserve march order for morning. Complicated orders should not be issued late at night, usually not after 10 p. m. An assembly order may be issued somewhat later, say up to 11 p. m.

_Advance Guard Order (verbal) for a Battalion._ (See Gettysburg-Antietam Map.)

Verbally to co. commanders, staff, and commander of m. g. company.

“The enemy is believed to have a bn. in NEW OXFORD guarding supplies in the village and the railroad bridge over the LITTLE CONEWAGO, three quarters of a mile northwest thereof, and to have several bns. in GETTYSBURG.

The remainder of our brigade should reach YORK SPRINGS by 10 a. m. today.

Our regiment advances today to break the railroad west of NEW OXFORD and to destroy the supplies in the town. Our mounted patrols have been sent early this morning to GRANITE HILL and towards NEW OXFORD.

The 1st Bn. reinforced by the machine gun company and seven mounted orderlies will constitute the advance guard under my command.

Cos. A and B with 7 mtd. orderlies will constitute the support, under command of Capt. A. Lieuts. X and Y will report to Capt. A to command patrols.

The support will clear the crossroads at BOWLDER at 5:58 a. m. preceding the reserve by 500 yds. and marching via ______ on NEW OXFORD.

The reserve, in order of march, Co. C, the machine gun company, Co. D, will start from the crossroads at BOWLDER at 6:04 a. m., preceding the main body by 600 yds.

The field trains will join those of the regiment in camp by 6:15 a. m.

Messages to head of support.”

Report of dispositions to regimental commander.

_Assembly Order._

Advance Guard, 1st Div., 1st Army Corps,
Farmhouse of ______ near ______
Field Orders } 8 Aug., '12, 10:00 p. m.
No. -- }
Geological Survey Map.

1. Organizations will, tomorrow, be ready to march from their respective camps as follows:

1st Inf.; 8 Mtd. orderlies, 2d, Inf.; Co. A, 1st Engrs. (less mtd. detch.) at 5:30 a. m.

2d Inf. (less 8 mtd. orderlies); 1st Cav. (less Tr. A); 1st Bn. 1st L. A.; mtd. detch. Co. A, 1st Engrs., at 6:20 a. m.

2. Supports of the outpost will remain in position until further orders. 6 Mtd. orderlies, 3d Inf. will join the reserve at ______ at 7:00 a. m.

3. Field trains of the 3d Inf. will be at crossroads ______ by 5:45 a. m.

4. Orders will be issued at the JOHN SMITH farmhouse at 5:15 a. m.

A,
Brig. Gen.

Dictated to officers detailed to receive. (Record names and organizations.)

Report of dispositions to division commander.

The march orders for an entire command are quite similar to those for an advance guard.

Following is an example of a reinforced brigade acting as advance guard to a division:

6 troopers. Tr. A, 1st Cav. (Mounted point)
½ to 1 mile
Sergt. and 1 squad, Co. A, 1st Inf. (Infantry point)
250 yards.
Lieut, and 2 plats., Co. A, 1st Inf. (less 1 squad)
500 yds.
1 plat., Tr. A, 1st Cav. (less 6 troopers)
1st Bn., 1st Inf. (less 2 plats.) (Advance party)
M. G. Co., 1st Inf.
600 yds.
1st Inf. (less 1 bn. and m. g. co.) (Support)
1 radio sec. pack, Sig.
800 yds.
1st Bn., 2nd Inf. (Reserve)
1st Bn., 1st L. A.
2d Inf. (less 1 bn.)
3d Inf.
Co. A, 1st Engrs.
1st Amb. Co.
1 to 2 miles
1st Division (less advance guard) (Main body)

(See also Fig. XV)

The foregoing indicates the approximate distances between elements of varying sizes in advance guards of any strength up to a brigade.

_A Battalion_ with 10 mounted orderlies and a machine gun platoon, as advance guard:

4 Mtd. orderlies (Mtd. point)
¾ mile.
Sergeant & 8 men, Co. A (Inf. point)
250 yds.
Co. A (less Sgt. and 1 (Adv. Party)
squad) and 6 Mtd.
orderlies.
(Adv. Gd. Commander)
400 to 500 yds.
1st Bn. (less Co. A) (Support)
1 Plat. M. G. Co.

ADVANCE GUARD ORDER FOR A REINFORCED BRIGADE.

Advance Guard, 1st Div., 1st Blue Army Corps,
EMMITSBURG, MD.,
Field Orders, } 20 Nov., '12--9:30 p. m.
No. -- }
Gettysburg-Antietam 3" Map.

1. Our independent cavalry is north of LITTLESTOWN tonight. The enemy’s columns halted east of NEW OXFORD and BRUSHTOWN this afternoon, and outposted the line of the LITTLE CONEWAGO. The advance of our 2d Division reaches BOYD SCHOOL, north of GETTYSBURG, about noon tomorrow. Our division marches on GETTYSBURG tomorrow, via the EMMITSBURG-GETTYSBURG Road.

2. The Advance Guard is ordered to precede the main body by 1½ miles.

TROOPS

(a) Advance Cavalry:
Capt. B
Tr. A, 1st Cav. (less 1 plat.)
(b) Support:
Col. C
1st Inf.
1 plat., Tr. A, 1st Cav.
(less 6 troopers)
Co. A, 1st Engrs.
(c) Reserve, in order
of march:
6 troopers, Tr. A, 1st Cav.
2d Inf. (less 2 bns.)
1st Bn., 1st L. A. (less C. Tn.)
2 bns. 2d Inf.
3d Inf.
C. Tn., 1st Bn., 1st L. A.
1st Amb. Co.

3. (a) The Advance Cavalry will move out at 6:30 a. m. to the vicinity of ROUND TOP, whence it will connect with our independent cavalry, and the 2d Division, and reconnoiter towards NEW OXFORD and BRUSHTOWN.

(b) The Support will clear FLAT RUN (first stream northeast of EMMITSBURG) at 7:00 a. m., marching by the GETTYSBURG Road.

(c) The Reserve will follow at 1,000 yards.

(x) The Outpost Troops will close in on the line of march in time to take their place in column. The mtd. orderlies, 3d Inf., will join the Reserve in FAIRPLAY at 8:10 a. m.

4. The Field Trains (less those of 3d Inf.) will cross the highway to the west immediately after the departure of the last troops from camp. All field trains will assemble by 8:00 a. m. on the country road diagonally 200 to 500 yards west of the highway with the head of column at the entrance, on the country road, to EMMITSBURG. They will take their proper place in the division trains when these come up.

The wagons of the 3rd Inf. will be southwest of EMMITSBURG by 6:30 a. m.

5. Messages to the Support.

A,
Brig. Gen.

Dictated to staff and representatives of:

Tr. A, 1st Cav. 1st Bn., 1st L. A.
Co. A, 1st Engrs. 1st Amb. Co.
1st Inf. Outpost
2d Inf. F. Tn.
3d Inf.

Copy to C. G., 1st Div., by mtd. messenger.